early review
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cnetuk/crave/televisions/0,39029474,49305047,00.htm
Phil Hinton:
The VT20 has advanced phosphor timing (which works!), black filters and ambient light rejection that are based on Kuro tech, sublime black levels, great colour reproduction from what we have so far seen, plus ISFccc and THX. It's 2D picture quality on the show floor was really impressive (there were dark areas to fully see the image). When you look at this set and then compare it to the £2600 LX-5090 Kuro and add in the fact it can do 3D if you want it, you have a TV that is getting myself and David slightly excited as to what it can possibily do and we are itching for the review sample to get stuck in. The bezel finish has a touch of brown in there, but to be honest the light has to hit it a certain way to really see this, and in my opinion I think it looks ok, more black than brown.
The VT20 and V20 are offering the same high contrast of the now dead Kuro's and the same black level performance with great looking colour reproduction.
The V20 doesn't have the same phosphor technology or 3D mode, but it does match from what we have seen in the 2D picture stakes with deep blacks and very good colour reproduction. It also has THX and ISFccc controls which allow complete calibration by the end user or professional. It also has what I consider to be a really nice finish to the bezel (but really you watch the picture not the frame Ha ha ).
The G20 is really a killer product from what we have seen and although it uses slightly different filter and black level driving, it still produces a black level that in my opinion is still close to the VT/V20 models, just a slightly reduced contrast look. But it still trounces every LCD (and LCD LED) I have seen for image contrast and uniformity and motion and probably every other plasma in its price range (we have yet to see the LG in the flesh) on what we have seen so far. Added to this it also has accurate image quality from the THX certification and picture mode this year and it really starts to hit the right spots to become a classic core plasma model for the mass market. AND it also has ISFccc as well! Plus all the other added content streaming etc... This to me is the most promising model for the mass market and people wanting what Pioneer used to do at a third of the price. I really want to get one next to our reference Kuros and just see how far the G20 gets, and that will happen soon hopefully.
Plus all the new screens from G20 up have
new video processing onboard, so fingers crossed that the slight issues of scaling and de-interlacing seen on the 2009 sets is sorted for this year. Plus with all new panels and drivers its likely that the issues of raised blacks that are affecting a hndful of users will not be seen on these models.
It been a while since myself and David were excited by any movement in plasma development (probably the last Kuro launch was when we were last impressed so much with new screens). As you know we never pass judgement on stuff until we have tested the hind legs off it, but what we can say is we are itching to get these panels in the testing rooms and get started on measuring and testing them fully. Are we going to see the most accurate Plasmas yet? Let's just say the signs are very promising on what we have seen so far and it looks like another good jump in plasma quality.
Plus the S20 is going to offer the budget end of the plasma market neo PDP for the first time, which is also promising for those with more restricted budgets.
So lots of things to get interested in from what we have seen. The G20 will probably be the core model for kuro like performance, and tweakability for not much money, with the added contrast and blacks in the V20 for those who want a little better and 42" sizes, with the VT20 likely becoming the 2D TV of choice for those wanting the absolute best technology and image quality (and it has 3D if you want it). So going by that it looks like Panasonic have listened and added the tech everyone asked for....we wait to test them all and give you guys the final verdicts in the reviews.
Plus, someone said in a thread recently "Why would Panasonic listen to AVF members and staff?" Well I think its ok now to tell you guys that Panasonic consulted in quite a few areas of the market - including myself and David and followed the feedback on the forums for well over a year. Way back early last year, we gave Panasonic UK a presentation on image calibration technology and getting accurate images from a consumer TV, and put across what the majority of AVForums members wanted on their new TVs. This was the first time any manufacturer had gone to these lengths (although to be fair to LG they also take a great interest in what the actual end users want). We didn't have any input into the actual TVs this year or what Panasonic were planning, but we did give them everything you guys had been saying, plus our own opinions on what they should be adding. So, it's refreshing to see that they listened and now from G20 up AVForums members have shaped the features included by your feedback directly presented to Panasonic UK. Manufacturers these days in most cases do want what you members and us reviewers feedback.
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