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By Philip Wong, CNET Asia
Nov 02, 2007

It was a long wait but nevertheless a worthy and much welcomed one. Despite analysts' prediction of a shrinking plasma TV market share, the big three--Pioneer, Hitachi and Panasonic--are fighting back with newer and better plasma entries. A new battleground is emerging and Panasonic is one of the forerunners with an affordable Viera TH-50PY700H, the first full-HD plasma TV to hit below the Singapore S$10,000 (US$7,028.39) mark. In fact, it's also cheaper than most, if not all, 46-inch 1080p LCDs out there. How's that for a made-in-Japan panel?

Design

The TH-50PY700H is truly a heavyweight that simply dwarfs the other review units in our Labs. Measuring 1,266 x 802 x 138mm, it's like most other Vieras in that it has a side profile with a slim top and heavy bottom. For the minimalist, it offers plenty of clean lines and a clutter-free front, dressed in a combination of matt and glossy blacks. The latter is used for its plasma panel frame sandwiched between a pair of streamlined speakers lined along the sides. The entire 48kg TV is, in turn, supported by a sturdy but fixed diamond-shaped pedestal stand.

To allow maximum installation flexibility and ease of use, its designers have the onboard TV controls and auxiliary A/V inputs housed beneath a flip cover. The same stealth approach is extended to the blue-lit SDHC card slot mounted on the bottom front, ideal for recessed feature walls. That said, sufficient clearance is definitely recommended for this hot-running panel, cooled by three silent thermal-controlled fans on the rear. The wall-mounting bracket is available for S$180 (US$126.51), while cable management provision is a standard.

Panasonic is bundling the same eye-catching remote controller we have seen for the earlier 2007 models. This curvy stick offers multifunction capability out-of-the-box with support for its DVDs and VCRs complete with dedicated playback and recording controls. We were particularly fond of the tactile and responsive feedback provided by the oversized buttons, though video switching could have been better. This is implemented via a separate TV and A/V toggle key with no active signal filtering--imagine scrolling through nine sources.

It's another love-and-hate affair for the stylish software menu. First-time flat-panel owners will probably find the onscreen guide and simplified submenus a blessing and breeze to navigate. Having said that, the miserable selection of advanced settings is likely to be a major turn-off for the tech-inclined. In fact, diving deep into the menu registered little more than dynamic color management and noise reductions settings, hardly relevant for an indepth SpyderTV Pro calibration. If you need extra help in deciphering the technicalities, a well-illustrated user manual is in hand for quick and easy references.

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