PICTURE QUALITY This model had excellent high-definition picture quality. It did a top-notch job displaying the finest detail. Color accuracy was excellent, so colors looked very natural and lifelike. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images showed some depth and dimension. In this respect, the TV was similar to most of the models we test. Brightness level was only fair, dimmer than most, best-suited for a darker room. The TV had deep black levels, just shy of the best sets. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. Film mode operation for HD film-based content was very good, with no visible jaggies along the edges of objects during motion scenes. Deinterlacing on the other hand was only good, with some jaggies visible when converting 1080i content to the display's native resolution.
VIEWING ANGLE The overall viewing angle on this display is unlimited, as with all plasma TVs we've tested. Color accuracy, contrast, and depth of black level did not vary regardless of viewing position, unlike what we've seen with LCD TVs.
MOTION BLUR This Panasonic TV has excellent motion performance, like most plasmas, with no visible blurring on our motion tests.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY The glossy screen surface on this plasma TV is susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window, though the darker screen technology it uses minimizes reflections to some extent. The dark screen also makes it less prone to glare than most plasmas we've tested and helps maintain good contrast even in a bright room.
3D PERFORMANCE The overall 3D effect was very good, on par with the better 3D displays. 3D images showed very effective depth, with little or no ghosting (left eye/right eye crosstalk) on our 3D test patterns and on a wide variety of 3D program content. We didn't see any increase in ghosting when viewing at off angles. In 3D mode, we saw 1080i (interlace video) performance rather than true 1080p (progressive video) performance -- we saw flicker on fine edge detail on our test patterns and graphics, and subtle jaggies along the edges of image content during motion scenes. Image brightness was on the dim side, less than we expect for normal 2D viewing.
SOUND QUALITY This TV's sound is only fair, acceptable for typical programming but shortcomings become obvious with movie soundtracks and music. It has a limited volume range, allowing the TV to play just adequately loud. At more typical listening volume levels the TV's sound has only decent bass and is thin-sounding. If sound quality matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or other external speaker system to this set.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was very easy, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is easy to navigate.
For convenience the remote has a dedicated button to access Internet features and 3D settings. All buttons on the remote are backlit so they're easy to see in the dark and the major function buttons were sufficiently large with high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the TV to the included support stand is fairly straightforward. The stand requires the assembly of a few parts before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capability. Panasonic's 2013 step-up Smart Viera smart TVs have a new customizable My Home Screen interface for organizing and accessing content, aided by voice-guided setup tutorials. You can choose to use one of the premade templates (such as the default Info Screen, or Lifestyle Screen, for example) that include live TV in a decent-sized window, surrounded by a number of select apps, or you can create your own home screen and populate it with your favorite apps. Features include a full Web browser with support for Flash, which allows access to a wider selection of websites. Access to a library of applications is provided via "Viera Connect Market." Movie streaming services include: Amazon Instant Video, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Vudu. These top of the line models also come with a redesigned smaller secondary remote that uses a touchpad interface with trigger button to help make navigating the Websites and Internet content easier. The remote also has a built-in mic with a dedicated button to make select voice commands including searches and speech-to-text text entry. It also includes channel, volume, and menu access buttons so you can perform most tasks without the bigger control. These models also include a built-in, pop-up web camera that can be used to record video messages that will be displayed on the TV's homepage, as well as for Skype video calls. With Panasonic's "Touch Pen" (an optional accessory) you can interact directly with the screen's surface to draw multi-colored lines over a live TV program, photo, or freeze frame, or play interactive pen-enabled games through Viera Connect. An updated Swipe & Share 2.0 feature lets you send photos and videos between the TV and a compatible portable device simply by swiping your finger across the device's screen.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes three HDMI inputs, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, built-in Wi-Fi, and a Secure Digital memory card slot. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing, and Bluetooth audio connection. The cable connections on the rear panel are recessed with side or bottom-facing ports, so wires don't protrude beyond the display's depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, two remotes with batteries, and two pairs of 3D glasses. ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
