1004wv01Panasonic TX-28PM1

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FACT FILE

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28in 16:9 CRT TV 50Hz pictures One RGB Scart Noise reduction S-video input

Panasonic TX-28PM1

eve got so used to Panasonic TVs being really quite fancy that the absolutely basic TX-28PM1 initially comes as a bit of a shock. Theres no built-in digital tuner, no 100Hz processing, no Acuity detail boosting system and no fancy designer looks. Its just a 28in 50Hz analogue TV in a more or less bog-standard, plasticky silver box, with its only standout attraction being as youd expect its 500 price tag. Its connectivity does nothing to stand out from the 500 pack, either. For your money you get just a pair of Scarts (one RGB), stereo audio outputs, and a full set of front AV jacks, including an S-video one. So far so unspectacular and this flavour continues with a trawl for unusual features. Theres an Ambient sound mode, picture noise reduction, and an unusually flexible degree of tilt correction for sorting out sloping caused by the effects of the earths geomagnetic fields. But beyond that, its all pretty basic stuff. Of course, the lack of a frippery or two is actually perfectly acceptable on a 500 TV provided its performance offers us something to get our teeth into instead. And happily this is exactly what the 28PM1 does even if its more of a veal cutlet than a 32oz steak!

28in widescreen TV 500

FEATURES 28in 50Hz TV; autotuning; Q-Link; geomagnetic correction; noise reduction; picture presets; postcode security system; teletext; Ambient and Music/speech audio modes; off timer; volume correction SOCKETS 2 Scarts (1 RGB); S-video input; composite video input; stereo audio input; RF jack; headphone jack; stereo audio output CONTACT www.panasonic.co.uk TEST DATA Colour: good no tizzing or ghosting but minor traces of bleed Convergence: good bit of red seepage but to bottom right only Geometry: fair a few slight bends here and there and picture can kink around bright spots Frequency response: fair only faint traces of detail past 4.8MHz For a full explanation of test data, see page 128

PERFORMANCE

First impressions are actually a touch disappointing, though. The screens geometry isnt great, with pictures showing quite a bit of bending, as well as kinking slightly around really bright
picture elements due to some iffy voltage control. Whats more, the 50Hz flicker seems strangely more noticeable than usual, even on this 28in (as opposed to 32in) model. More protracted viewing uncovers enough strengths, though, for us to suggest that the TX-28PM1 deserves another chance. For starters the picture is appealingly vibrant, thanks to a highly satisfactory contrast range/black-level performance and impressively rich colours. In this respect, in particular, the TX-28PM1 outguns many a budget rival. The picture is also pleasingly noiseless, at least when using RGB Scart feeds from a DVD deck or Sky Digital receiver. Theres a touch more grain with tuner footage but overall, the noiselessness of the picture merely enhances the appealing directness of the viewing experience already kickstarted by the contrast and colours. We should say that some of the lack of noise in the picture may be down to an ever-so-slightly soft overall tone. However, while this softness does shave off a touch of the TX-28PM1s fine detail response, its never acute enough to leave things looking unrealistically textureless or short of field depth. Especially as edges are presented with negligible haloing, tizzing, ghosting or colour bleed. The TX-28PM1s audio is also fair for a 500 set. The soundstage is a bit cramped, but at least the cramping is only caused by a shortfall at the treble end of the audio spectrum. By this we mean that theres actually a decent effort at bass but rather little in the way of treble
subtlety or detail. At least this problem doesnt have too detrimental an impact on vocal tones. Our test sample showed one final, rather unfortunate flaw, however, in the form of sound seepage from the tuner while watching the RGB Scart. You cant hear this during loud or musically accompanied movie scenes but its definitely audible during quieter movie moments. In the end the best and worst you can say about the TX-28PM1 is that it does exactly what it says on the tin, giving you the level of performance youd expect at 500 from a brand as accomplished as Panasonic. Just dont expect any miracles, thats all John Archer

WHATS GOOD

WHATS BAD
Sound seepage from tuner during AV viewing
PICTURE SOUND FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE ALSO CONSIDER.
PHILIPS 28PW8608 Very decent 100Hz TV now being widely discounted to around the same price as the TX-28PM1 Reviewed: Apr 04 THOMSON 28WH403 Now selling for around 430 in some places, this 100Hz TV with extra High-Focus is a bargain Reviewed: Nov 03

OVERALL VERDICT

Not vintage Panasonic by any means but does a good job at a fair price
Pretty to look at, a doddle to use
October 2004 s WHAT VIDEO AND WIDESCREEN TV 55

0410HCC05 Panny TX-28PM1*P_v1

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WidescreenTV

PANASONIC TX-28PM11 N 590 (APPROX) N 357 N www.panasonic.co.uk
Siren call of the budget screen
Panasonic offers 100Hz on a budget with its latest 28in widescreen. John Archer goes in search of cut corners
a simple, no-nonsense proposition whereby you can upgrade to 28in 100Hz pictures delivered by the TX-28PM11 for just 90 more than if you went for the set's 50Hz sibling, the 500 TX-28PM1. Hmm Given the extra solidity, vibrancy and stability 100Hz usually brings to the table, this makes the TX-28PM11 a seriously tempting proposition. Excellent Average At first glance it looks like the initial cost-saving measure Panasonic took to Poor get the TX-28PM11 so affordable was to give its visual design team the week off. It looks like an exercise in blandness an uninspired chunk of silvery plastic. Its only when you stare at it for a long time that you discover a few distinctive flourishes a slightly raised frame Good
anasonic's TX-28PM11 wears its chief attraction on its sleeve or rather, its price tag. It offers
already mentioned, there's an extra, optional level of processing in the form of Flicker Reduction for additional stability, plus a straightforward noise reduction system, an unusually flexible Geomagnetic adjustment for correcting tilting caused by the earth's magnetic field, an Ambience soundstage widener and a handful of picture presets. Reduction option we suspect that you'll be taken with the picture's stability, too. Regular readers may recall that on some of Panasonic's past TVs using the Flicker Reduction mode has led to a few unpleasant processing artefacts, in particular smearing behind fast moving objects. But on the TX-28PM11 Flicker Reduction's benefits are generally achieved without side effects. The first real hint that the TX-28PM11 is a price-led rather than performanceled product comes from the screens geometry. It looks uncomfortable, for want of a better word, curving noticeably into the corners, especially at the bottom. Also evident is a shortage of fine detail especially towards the edge of the screen where the TV's tube seems to lose focus. Finally, during our tests the set's automatic widescreen switching seemed to have a slight glitch that occasionally zoomed a picture in size as if it was detecting the presence of letterboxing black bars, even when no such bars were present.

Quintrix tube highlight

In some ways the TX-28PM11's pictures rise above the expectations raised by its price yet in other ways they make the ticket seem about right. The high point is the excellent colour performance. Panasonic's Quintrix tubes have always excelled in this department, and the TX-28PM11 is a chip off the old block. In terms of both natural tone and saturation they're far in advance of the pasty, muted efforts found on many rival sets at this price. Even better, they're practically noiseless too. The set's colours give a clue to one of its other key strengths black level response. Dark scenes exhibit enviable background detail and subtlety, resulting in a pleasingly homogeneous viewing experience that's never a strain on the eye. Provided you activate the Flicker

LAB REPORT

Colour Geometry Contrast Frequency response

SIGNAL COMPATIBILITY

DVD (NTSC) 480i DVD & DVB (PAL) 576i NTSC/PAL progressive 480p/576p High-definition 720p High-definition 1080i G G
around the screen, and a gentle backwards curve towards the bottom. The set's connections never rise above average though, no matter how long you stare at them. Average on a TV at this price level equates to two Scarts (one RGB), an RF jack, a pair of stereo audio outputs, a pair of stereo audio inputs, a headphone jack, a composite video jack and an S-video jack. The provision of only one RGB Scart is particularly hard to swallow in these days of games consoles, digital receiver boxes and DVD players. In light of what's gone before and the sub-600 price, it comes as no surprise to discover that the TX-28PM11 isn't exactly bulging at the seams with features. Beyond the 100Hz factor

HCC PRACTICAL TIP

While in general we recommend the Flicker Reduction facility on the Panasonic TX-28PM11, it can still cause slight problems with some sporting footage, especially football, in the form of slight smearing behind running players. As a rule of thumb, treat all picture processing modes with some caution. Avoid the temptation to switch on every picture 'improvement' facility (including simple noise reduction) a TV has to offer no matter what sort of footage you're watching. Remember, if you place too many demands on a TV's digital picture processing engine you can actually make the picture worse with these 'improvements', thanks to the processing side effects they can create.

FEATURES

Specifications: 28in 100Hz TV; auto tuning; Q-Link; geomagnetic correction; noise reduction; picture presets; postcode security system; Teletext; Ambient and Music/speech audio modes; off timer; volume correction; flicker reduction Connections: Two Scarts (one RGB); S-video input; composite video input; stereo audio input; RF jack; headphone jack; stereo audio output Dimensions: 766(w) x 515(h) x 529(d)mm Weight: 38kg
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DECEMBER

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The TX-28PM11's slightly puny-looking speakers just about pass muster. The soundstage their 2 x 10W RMS of power creates isn't exactly verbose, but at least there's a decent amount of distortion-free bass on hand, and dialogue is always clear and well rounded no matter how large the tumult behind it. One word of advice, though: give the Ambient mode a miss unless you want the soundstage to lose 50 per cent of its cohesion.

RATINGS

Highs: Strong, vibrant colours Lows: Lack of detail, only one RGB Scart
Picture Sound Features OVERALL

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Conclusion
When push comes to shove, Panasonics TX-28PM11 just about does enough to make itself worthy of an audition by anyone who's got a maximum of 600 to spend on a TV. Its pictures and sound
both fall on the positive side of average which is more than can be said for many similarly priced rivals. That said, the TX-28PM11 can't entirely escape its price-enforced limitations this cheap TV is still a cheap TV I
Just two Scarts and only one of these is RGB enabled
The remote control is logical and easy to use