PhilipO38
08-31-09, 04:11 PM
Hey guys,
I decided over the weekend to return a recently purchased Panasonic 50" S1 model for the 50" G10 model, for the added $200 difference.
The reason why i did so was mainly because the S1(after 100+hrs of use) was pushing the primary color green a bit too much(cnet observed this in the're review), and this was very noticable in HD baseball broadcasts(MLB, SC, YES, SNY..ect) as well as on the golf channel(HD) and during 360 and PS3 gaming, compared to my reference 34" Sony XBR(CRT).
Otherwise the S1 is a tremendous Plasma in every which way.
After turning on the G10, there are a bunch of noticable differences in both PQ and design and features, that i have to admit, i did not think were worth $200 when i bought the S1, but once you see the difference, you will be very thankfull you opted for the G10 series.
First and foremost, in THX the primary colors are dead on accurate and i'm not yet noticing any problems with secondaries(i will look harder for cyan and magenta in the future), and since our LR is dimly lit, the light output in THX mode is more then enough, and that's with the contrast at 54 and brightness at 42.
I have to say the THX mode alone is worth the jump in $200, because there is no green push at all(finally), and no push towards red as well(S1 had a slighter red push as well).
It seems both the THX and Custom modes are the closest in terms of PQ, with both displaying accurate colors.
The color accuracy is now alot closer to my reference XBR960 then the S1 was.
Now that i'm finally at peace with a Panasonic Plasma's colors(i went from a U1 to the S1 to this G10), let me just say for the extra $200 there are a bunch of other features i thought would be nice, but i'm blown away in how much more there is on the G10 over the S1.
First off, there's the Vieracast web content, which is extremely easy to access and use, it's sweet to have your local weather, Youtube and other content(ie..Amazon movie on demand should please my wife) all in menu's on the same screen, along with a small version of the current input video your watching.
Now Vieracast still has very little content, but i'm sure Panasonic will be updating this as time goes on with more content.
Iv'e seen the Samsung version of it's web content(widgets) and Vieracast is done alot better, is displayed smarter, and is fast to access.
Second, the user menu's have more options, such as 3 levels of video NR, now there is 5 temp. settings, as well as other features like x.v color and a few others.
While not having the level of adjustable settings as the Samsung lineup has, it does have more then the U and S series, which is a nice improvement for Panasonic.
Third, the design of the screen is a bit changed, with a gray tint on the bottom of the panel and the screen is designed with a added or thicker glass panel, that looks like this ---> [[ ]] as opposed to the S1's design of [ ]. Inside the [[<-- is that the panel is slanted, to the point were at a distance it looks like at full mode the screen is not displayed at 100%, but when you look close it's just that the panel slants inwards to the main screen, which at a off angle(75+ degrees) looks a bit 3d'ish.)
At first i was thinking..uhh, i loved the flat panel like design of the S1 alot better, but i'm quickly getting used to this and being i have my 5yr old running around here alot, it may help in the future in case of accidents...lol
But cosmetic change aside and the VieraCast feature and a few others(ie..pc input, xv color, movies can now be viewed off sd cardthe remote light up..ect), the most important difference from the S1 model to this G10 model is it's THX mode and that there is no push of primary colors.
And as a gamer first and foremost the Panasonic S1/G10..ect line has the least input lag, the best IR prevention, and a full 1080p moving resolution, so with the color accuracy being improved upon, i'm so glad i opted to go with the G10 over the Samsung B650.
I have to be very honest here, if anyone is one the fence in purchasing a S1 or G10, you will not regret the extra $$ spent, because the color accuracy difference is so noticable that it's puzzling why Panasonic does not have a THX mode(and better green accuracy on all the S1 modes) on it's S1 series, as well.
One last thing, i knew i had to get that S1 professioally calibrated because of the green(and slighter red) push, eventually, and that would run me some $300+.
But with this G10(at this very early time), it looks like i'll be using the THX most of the time, as i have to give Cnet credit here, it is as easy to one step calibration (without accessing the SM or getting it professionally done) as possible.
The only negative i have now is that Panasonic just released the G15 series..(lol, it figures), and they announced that the 2010 models will be 3D.(i wish i had a choice to wait until 2010, but my last HDTV broke down).
Phil
I decided over the weekend to return a recently purchased Panasonic 50" S1 model for the 50" G10 model, for the added $200 difference.
The reason why i did so was mainly because the S1(after 100+hrs of use) was pushing the primary color green a bit too much(cnet observed this in the're review), and this was very noticable in HD baseball broadcasts(MLB, SC, YES, SNY..ect) as well as on the golf channel(HD) and during 360 and PS3 gaming, compared to my reference 34" Sony XBR(CRT).
Otherwise the S1 is a tremendous Plasma in every which way.
After turning on the G10, there are a bunch of noticable differences in both PQ and design and features, that i have to admit, i did not think were worth $200 when i bought the S1, but once you see the difference, you will be very thankfull you opted for the G10 series.
First and foremost, in THX the primary colors are dead on accurate and i'm not yet noticing any problems with secondaries(i will look harder for cyan and magenta in the future), and since our LR is dimly lit, the light output in THX mode is more then enough, and that's with the contrast at 54 and brightness at 42.
I have to say the THX mode alone is worth the jump in $200, because there is no green push at all(finally), and no push towards red as well(S1 had a slighter red push as well).
It seems both the THX and Custom modes are the closest in terms of PQ, with both displaying accurate colors.
The color accuracy is now alot closer to my reference XBR960 then the S1 was.
Now that i'm finally at peace with a Panasonic Plasma's colors(i went from a U1 to the S1 to this G10), let me just say for the extra $200 there are a bunch of other features i thought would be nice, but i'm blown away in how much more there is on the G10 over the S1.
First off, there's the Vieracast web content, which is extremely easy to access and use, it's sweet to have your local weather, Youtube and other content(ie..Amazon movie on demand should please my wife) all in menu's on the same screen, along with a small version of the current input video your watching.
Now Vieracast still has very little content, but i'm sure Panasonic will be updating this as time goes on with more content.
Iv'e seen the Samsung version of it's web content(widgets) and Vieracast is done alot better, is displayed smarter, and is fast to access.
Second, the user menu's have more options, such as 3 levels of video NR, now there is 5 temp. settings, as well as other features like x.v color and a few others.
While not having the level of adjustable settings as the Samsung lineup has, it does have more then the U and S series, which is a nice improvement for Panasonic.
Third, the design of the screen is a bit changed, with a gray tint on the bottom of the panel and the screen is designed with a added or thicker glass panel, that looks like this ---> [[ ]] as opposed to the S1's design of [ ]. Inside the [[<-- is that the panel is slanted, to the point were at a distance it looks like at full mode the screen is not displayed at 100%, but when you look close it's just that the panel slants inwards to the main screen, which at a off angle(75+ degrees) looks a bit 3d'ish.)
At first i was thinking..uhh, i loved the flat panel like design of the S1 alot better, but i'm quickly getting used to this and being i have my 5yr old running around here alot, it may help in the future in case of accidents...lol
But cosmetic change aside and the VieraCast feature and a few others(ie..pc input, xv color, movies can now be viewed off sd cardthe remote light up..ect), the most important difference from the S1 model to this G10 model is it's THX mode and that there is no push of primary colors.
And as a gamer first and foremost the Panasonic S1/G10..ect line has the least input lag, the best IR prevention, and a full 1080p moving resolution, so with the color accuracy being improved upon, i'm so glad i opted to go with the G10 over the Samsung B650.
I have to be very honest here, if anyone is one the fence in purchasing a S1 or G10, you will not regret the extra $$ spent, because the color accuracy difference is so noticable that it's puzzling why Panasonic does not have a THX mode(and better green accuracy on all the S1 modes) on it's S1 series, as well.
One last thing, i knew i had to get that S1 professioally calibrated because of the green(and slighter red) push, eventually, and that would run me some $300+.
But with this G10(at this very early time), it looks like i'll be using the THX most of the time, as i have to give Cnet credit here, it is as easy to one step calibration (without accessing the SM or getting it professionally done) as possible.
The only negative i have now is that Panasonic just released the G15 series..(lol, it figures), and they announced that the 2010 models will be 3D.(i wish i had a choice to wait until 2010, but my last HDTV broke down).
Phil