★★★ Buy Now ! Before Price Gone Up or Sell Out ★★★

Very nice for the price

By VSDude – May 10, 2012 – Full review provided by Best Buy

Pros: Large, sharp image. Crisp built-in speakersCons: Contrast needs to be set very high for a good pictureI picked this up after our 7-year-old 42″ plasma started having audio/video problems. At about half the price (amazing how technology gets better and cheaper), I consider this a nice upgrade.50″ is a nice, comfortable size for most living rooms. This TV doesn’t offer 3D or network capabilities. That’s fine with me – I’d rather have external devices for media and I’m definitely not sold on 3D in its current state. This panel doesn’t have much in the way of ports. There are no PC connections (no DVI or VGA) and only two HDMI ports. I’m using an automatic HDMI splitter so I can hook up my 4 devices – which works fine and only cost about $40. Assembly of its wide foot was very easy and holds the set nice and level (a problem some thin post sets have, I’m told). I did find it necessary to purchase a digital audio cable (a clear, plastic tube which relays the sound as impulses of red light) so I could connect it to my stereo (which doesn’t have HDMI inputs). Using only HDMI and the digital audio ensures the best possible signal. The set does have your typical array of RCA jacks for input from analog devices but I advise sticking with digital for best results.As for the picture, the first thing my family and I noticed was it wasn’t as bright as our previous set. Here’s what I did to get things looking right (for me, at least):I found the best setting (so far) for mine to be custom:
1> Set all extra video controls to “off”
2> Set contrast to 100 (yeah, all the way up!)
3> Set brightness to 80
4> Set sharpness to 100
5> Set pull-down (advanced video settings) to auto
6> Tint and color settings are at their default settings (zero).
7> HDMI settings are set to normal – no “photo” or other settings enabled.I used a “Monsters Inc” DVD to calibrate it. Not many people know this but any movie with the “THX” logo on the back has a “THX Optimizer” set of test

Wow, this is a big TV!

  By Dan1961 – May 12, 2012 – Full review provided by Best Buy

Pros: Size, picture qualityCons: Some background reflection, remote codes conflict with HD box remote functionsI bought this TV after some research, including viewing at a store and talking with a relative who owns a Panasonic plasma TV. I had purchased a new TV stand to replace an aged entertainment center which would only accomodate a 26″ Panasonic flat screen LCD. So naturally, I had to get a new TV to put on this stand. Seriously, I have less than perfect eyesight, and it had become difficult to read screen graphics, so I needed a larger TV just to enjoy the experience again of watching sports, movies, etc.
The picture on this TV is really awesome. The only change I made to the picture settings so far is from standard to cinema setting, which seems to be a little brighter. I have noticed some background reflections from certain angles, but it’s only really apparent when the scene is a darker lit scene with a lot of shadows and darker colors. I knew this was a downside of plasmas and the glass screens, but I think the trade off for the picture quality and image size are worth it. For many of us that was norm with CRT TV’s until the LCD’s came along. I’ll continue to play around with the settings to find the best fit for me and my viewing habits and conditions.
One odd thing. I have a set-top HD cable box w/remote. When I programmed the remote to control the power and volume on the TV, it somehow disabled 3 functions of the cable box remote. I reset the cable remote to default and the problem was fixed. I tried again and the same thing happened. As I said, odd. I’ll contact my cable supplier next week about it.
A minor complaint. This TV only has 2 HDMI inputs. I don’t use more than 2, but if I had a game console, it would be a drawback. My 3 year old 26″ Panasonic has 3 HDMI’s and a S-Video, which this unit also lacks.

★★★ Buy Now ! Before Price Gone Up or Sell Out ★★★

The U50 series is a low priced plasma television available in only one size, the 50″ TC-P50U50. It is one of only two Panasonic plasma HDTVs that are not 3D ready in 2012. This is a budget model that does not include any online features or other picture processing features found in higher tier models.

Picture and Viewing Feaures

At 1080p the U50 has full HD resolution, though for a lot of programming this isn’t really an issue. With cable and satellite, most programming is still 720p or 1080i and not 1080p. Most video games also have a native resolution no higher than 720p. But with Blu-Rays and other 1080p programming, the television will have no problem.

Standard definition programming still looks pretty good on this plasma television. It does a nice job of maintaining color rendition even with lower signals and the aspect ratio adjustments for proper sizing are also well done, Panasonic has always had a good scaling algorithm for stretching 4:3 content into 16:9. There are some motion artifacts to contend with, but overall this TV still delivers a sound picture.

Black Level And Contrast

Black levels and contrast on the TC-P50U50 are not as strong as the higher end plasma models but the black performance of this television is still excellent when compared to budget priced LCD and LED televisions.

Side Angle Viewing

Unlike LCD and LED televisions, ide angle viewing is not a concern with plasmas, the U50 retains its contrast and black performance at angle where you can still see the picture.

Sound Quality

Panasonic continues to do well with their onboard speaker systems, dialog is clear and sound is fuller than it is on many more expensive models.

Read More at http://reviews.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/panasonic-plasma-tv/panasonic-tcp50u50.html

The TC-P50U50 is a budget plasma from Panasonic. It is, in a way, a spiritual successor to 2009’s U1 series, albeit a modern, improved version. The U50 series is also the only series in 2012 to support neither internet access or 3D viewing. It is the meat and potatoes Panasonic for 2012.

Panasonic tends to produce simple low-end plasma televisions that feature deep blacks and modest “variable” features, such as where input ports and interface customization are concerned. The TC-P50U50 is a testament to that tradition. For under $1000, getting a 50-inch plasma is not a bad deal. However, there are some negative quirks to this model—such as its poor viewing angle, and inability to swivel—that consumers should be wary of.

We definitely enjoy reviewing a TV that’s got all kinds of bells and whistles. Playing with smart features, motion control, and 3D settings is great, but there’s something to be said for running a simple, no-frills TV through our gamut of testing. TVs like the P50U50 have no gimmicks or extraneous functions to hide behind, and are—in a way—the purest representation of a company’s ability to produce a TV with solid core performance.

With that in mind, we were very pleased with the Panasonic TC-P50U50. While it doesn’t have much to offer in the way of connectivity or customization, its performance proved it to be a viable alternative. It’s good to know that, for a comparably cheap price, consumers who just want a strong plasma—who have no desire to yet test the waters of 3D, and who don’t want to pay the extra money to clumsily browse websites via a television browser—have the option.

The P50U50 sort of feels like an afterthought on Panasonic’s part. It’s the only size in the series, by far the most basic television they’ll produce this year. It’s also the only TV in their entire line-up that doesn’t have 3D or internet. However, it’s a good example of what their TVs can do when left only to the realm of contrast/color performance: the P50U50 boasts one of the deepest black levels we’ve seen in a long time, and it’s got strong—though imperfect—color accuracy.

If you’re in the market for a “classic” plasma—50-inch screen, dim whites, deep blacks—the P50U50 (MSRP $899) might be your best choice in 2012.