0705WHC17 Panasonic TH-37PE50B

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37in Plasma TV #

T BESY

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Panasonic TH-37PE50B Despite the lack of high T definition
compatibility, the latest plasma in town delivers sensational images
here are three key things you need to know about Panasonics stunning 37PE50B right off the bat. First, it uses Panasonics new 8th and allegedly much improved generation of plasma screen. Second, its got a built-in digital TV tuner. And third, its not truly high definition ready. It can take in and show analogue high-definition pictures via the component video inputs, but due to a native resolution of just 852 x 480 and the absence of any digital video inputs, it doesnt meet the stringent HD Ready criteria recently laid down by industry organisation, EICTA. So does this mean you should discount the 37PE50 straight away? Not necessarily. You see, Panasonic is perfectly aware that its screen is not HD Ready, having actually deliberately made it that way as part of its idea for having
accompanies it. Then theres a sub-pixel controller to tackle jagged edges; a new black filter enhancement to Panasonics long-respected Real Black Drive for improving black levels; and finally the screen brightness has been upped by 10 per cent from previous Panasonic models.

A walk in the park

Connectivity, as we suggested earlier, isnt state of the art due to the lack of digital video inputs. Sadly there are no PC inputs either, leaving you with only the aforementioned component video options and a slot for a PCMCIA card (for additional digital TV functionality) beyond the customary TV stalwarts. With pretty high expectations, we let the 37PE50 loose on our test DVD of Finding Neverland and experienced some suitably magical results
Colours retain their richness and naturalism, and the picture looks as sharp as possible
one range of cheaper, lowerspecced screens for people that arent interested in HD, and a more expensive, higher-specced range of screens (the upcoming 500 series) for people who are. The technical advances made with Pannys 8th generation plasma panel are numerous. Panasonic seems particularly proud of its new Viera colour management system, which delivers a claimed 2,084 shades of colour gradation. Couple this with a new 3D Colour Management system that alters the colour displayed pixel by pixel and controls the level of brightness each pixel holds, and you get a claimed total range of 8.6 billion colours. Elsewhere in the 8th-gen panel drivers theres new motion-sensing circuitry that detects motion in a picture and then suppresses the fizzing noise that commonly Especially striking given our growing disillusionment with plasma technology in this area is the lack of picture noise. Particularly impressive is the almost complete absence of those familiar twin plasma nasties of green dot crawl over blacks, and fizzing noise over motion. The scenes where Barrie first meets the Llewelyn-Davies family in his local park benefit from stunningly natural colours, as the lush, vibrantly portrayed greens of the grass and trees are perfectly complemented by some strikingly authentic skin tones.

AT A GLANCE

I FEATURES
852 x 480 resolution Not truly HD Ready 4000:1 contrast ratio 2 x 8W audio output Real Black Drive Sub-pixel control Viera Colour Management MPEG noise reduction Side panel brightness adjust

I CONNECTIONS

Composite video input Component video inputs RF jack Digital CAM slot Stereo audio input Three Scarts (two RGB) Stereo audio output S-Video input
Revealing its true colours
The subtlety of the 37PE50s colour gradations is also outstanding. Although we cant actually confirm the presence of 8.6 billion colours

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# 37in Plasma TV
OUR RESIDENT HOME CINEMA DOC GIVES THE LOWDOWN ON HIGHDEFINITION Skys high-definition broadcasts, which are set to invade the airways in 2006, will certainly divide the men from the boys in the world of home cinema. But, while some of you will only be interested in what hi-def has to offer in terms of improved picture quality, not everyone will be ready to make the transition from digital or analogue to the new format. Which means that screens like the Panasonic, reviewed here, will still have a limited appeal.

The impressive and stylish-looking TV stand is both attractive and functional
we gave up counting at 23 million or so! we can state categorically that weve seldom if ever witnessed such an astounding range of subtle colour shifts. Furthering the images 3-D impression provides a terrific fine detail response that picks out each individual blade of meadow grass and weave of Barries suit during the heart warming kite-flying sequence. Whats more, the fine detail levels even look impeccable with a 1080i high definition feed! Talking of sources other than our trusty Finding Neverland test DVD, the 37PE50 also impresses with pictures via a Sky digital receiver or, more importantly, its built-in digital tuner. Colours retain their richness and naturalism, while the picture looks as sharp as possible given digital broadcasts inherent weaknesses. Thankfully the 37PE50s sonics dont let its outrageous visuals down. The soundstage enjoys both depth and width; is underpinned by full, distortion-free bass; given scale and detail by tight, harshness-free trebles; and finally rounded out by an expansive mid-range that never leaves vocals floundering. The 37PE50 really is frighteningly good. But funnily enough, we still personally wouldnt buy one. Why we hear you ask? Because of its lack of true HD compatibility. But thats just our choice. If you can say for absolute certain that youre not interested in Skys high definition TV services or digital picture feeds from the new breed of DVD players and want to save yourself the 500 or so needed to step up to Pannys upcoming true HD 500 series, then the 37PE50 is simply as good as it gets I

TEST SCENE

Finding Neverland
During the kite flying sequence the full extent of the screens extraordinary colour range is apparent especially in the faces of the onlookers

PRICE 1,900

www.panasonic.co.uk 08705 357357

RATINGS

Style Ease of use Features Picture Sound Value Overall ##### ####$ ####$ ##### ##### ####$ #####

WHC VERDICT

Provided youre not too fussed about high definition (if you are, look out for a review of the 500 series in the next issue), the 37PE50 is to die for

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WHV304.27_Panasonic_th37pe

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37in plasma IDTV G Approx price: 1,250

On test

Fact file
I 37in plasma TV I 852 x 480 pixels I HD capable (but not ready) I Built-in digital tuner I Viera colour management

Panasonic TH-37PE50B

Test Data

CONTRAST RATIO LUMINANCE

Reading

250:1 24.1fL

COLOUR TEMPERATURE 6200k
For a full explanation of test data, please see page 120

Details

FEATURES
Screen size and shape: 37in, 16:9 Tuner: Digital and analogue Sound system: Nicam, with speech, music and ambience presets Resolution (pixels): 852x480 HD Ready: No Quoted contrast ratio: 4,000:1 Quoted brightness: N/A Screen dimensions: 968(w) x 641(h) x 96.5(d)mm Weight: 28.5kg Other features: Real Black Drive; Viera colour management; Freeview EPG support with genre search; MPEG NR; teletext; volume correction

SOCKETS

3 scarts (2 RGB); S-video input; composite video input; component video input; RF input; CAM slot; stereo audio output; stereo audio input

CONTACT

www.panasonic.co.uk
e realise that high definition isnt for everyone.Not least because getting all the kit needed to go HDcosts a pretty penny.Cue Panasonics PE50 plasma TVs,which dont meet the industrys HD Ready specification,but cost relatively little. The 37in TH-37PE50 were looking at, for instance,costs a mere 1,250. This doesnt just buy you some bland piece of grey plastic,either.The 37PE50 enjoys a swish black screen frame,offset tastefully by silver trim and speaker section.The design is particularly spectacular if partnered with the optional (add 200) floorstanding cabinet. Price-fuelled compromises have been made on the connectivity side, though,since there are no HDMI or DVI digital video inputs.The set is thus not fully compatible with all the upcoming HD sources,because some HD content (even a few Sky broadcasts) will only be viewable through HDMI or DVI jacks with HDCP anti-piracy measures. The set also lacks PC inputs and,very unusually,any S-video or composite video connectors.Blimey. Oh well,at least there are three Scarts, analogue HD-capable component video jacks,and a CAM slot (reflecting this TVs provision of a built-in digital tuner). The 37PE50 benefits from the same picture improvements on Pannys HD Ready PV500 range.These include a new colour management
system reckoned to deliver up to 8.6 billion colours,processing to remove motion noise,10 per cent more brightness,and boosted black levels. Before assessing its performance, though,we should state that its not just a lack of digital video inputs that cost the 37PE50 full HD Ready status. Its native resolution of 852x480 also falls short of HD requirements. Having said that,with standard definition,the 37PE50s pictures are as good,if not better than those of any rival plasma TV including Pioneers outrageously good PDP-43XDE. Colours are extraordinarily vibrant, but always enjoy a 100 per cent natural tone.And Panasonics nearlegendary talent with plasma black levels continues,too,as the 37PE50 reaches dark parts other plasmas simply cannot.Also,when it comes to traditional plasma artefacts such as motion noise,green dot crawl,and colour striping,this Panny more or less removes all of them. Overall,theres a simple clarity, directness and noiselessness about SD and even digital tuner feeds that speaks volumes for the quality of image processing.Its here that the relatively low screen resolution helps, as its easier to scale SD to a 480-line panel than a 766 or more line panel. The downside is that componentfed HD pictures,while still good,dont look quite as pin-sharp or textured as on premium true HD panels like the aforementioned Pioneer.

Happily,the 37PE50s belting pictures are backed up by first-rate sonics.The speakers serve up a soundstage free from harshness, rounded out with generous amounts of bass,and capable of serious volume without distortions. As usual with a Panasonic plasma, theres no knocking it in performance terms especially given its very affordable price tag.In fact,its nigh on irresistible if youre not an HD-ophile,of course John Archer

Ratings

WHATS GOOD
Picture; sound; design; price

WHATS BAD

No digital video input; low native resolution; not HD Ready
Picture Sound Features Ease of use Value
##### ##### ##### ##### #####

OVERALL VERDICT

A stunning performer at a low price. Just remember its not truly HD Ready
Issue304 I What Video and Widescreen TV I 073