In the past few years, Plasma TVs have made a lot of progress in catching up with LCD televisions. Indeed, many Plasma TVs can now prevent and treat screen burn-in, which is considered one of the biggest problems with Plasma TVs. Some have even found ways to consume much less energy than usual, just like the Panasonic TC-P50S1, which also comes with some great features.

Picture

One of the best things about the Panasonic TC-P50S1 is the fact that it creates deep black levels. Although this is a common feat among Plasma TVs, the black levels of the TC-P50S1 are still worth mentioning since they are the best that Panasonic has come up with so far. The other colors are saturated, too, although less than accurate in some situations. The shadow detail is excellent, as well.

These remain true in fast-motion sequences. After all, Plasma TVs have the edge over LCD televisions in terms of delivering excellent fast-moving images and the TC-P50S1 is no different. In fact, it comes with a 600Hz sub-field drive and a Full-Time 1080 TV Lines Moving Picture Resolution to make sure the images appear just as crisp and clear even in very fast motion.

Design

The TC-P50S1 has a simple and elegant design similar to other models, sporting logos, buttons and an indicator light that blend in nicely with its glossy black frame, which also comes with gently rounded edges and a thin silver strip at the bottom. It also has a glossy black stand. What sets the TC-P50S1 apart, though, are its hidden speakers, which add style and appeal.

Remote Control

The remote control of the TC-P50S1 is similar to other models, though it has three additional buttons for the Viera Link, Viera tools and the SD card. Unfortunately, it does not have a backlight but it does come with buttons that can be easily distinguished from each other since they have different shapes, sizes and colors.

Inputs and Outputs

There are a lot of devices that you can connect to the Panasonic TC-P50S1, though not as much compared to high-end models. It has three HDMI inputs where you can plug in your Blu-Ray player, DVD player and game console, as well as your computer, if it is HDMI-capable, since this HDTV does not come with a VGA input like some. While it does not have a USB slot, it has an SD card slot, and several other inputs and outputs which make it satisfactory when it comes to connectivity.

Energy Efficiency

The strongest point of the Panasonic TC-P50S1, though, is its energy efficiency. While Plasma TVs normally consume twice the electricity used up by LCD televisions, the TC-P50S1 consumes less because of its new plasma display panel and the low light output of its standard picture setting. How much less? Enough to qualify for an Energy Star 3.0.

Other Features

The Panasonic TC-P50S1 also comes with the Viera Link, a feature which allows you to switch on all your HDMI-capable devices, such as your DVD player, Blu-Ray player and surround sound speakers with just the press of a button. It has features to prevent and treat screen burn-in, as well, so you can always have great images on your screen. All these make the Panasonic TC-P50S1 a good HDTV, and definitely one worth considering with its relatively low price.

Edward McKellen is an HDTV expert who writes LCD TV Reviews for HDTVreviewlab.com. To read more about the Panasonic TC-P50S1 or check out the latest Toshiba HDTV reviews visit HDTVreviewlab.com

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