I e-mailed Maxent regarding their new 58" 768 plasma and asked who they were getting their 58" panel from. They answered that all they could disclose was that it was sourced from a Japanese manufacture. According to cnet, Panasonic is the only 58" manufacture out there. If this is true I wonder how much else in this display is from Panasonic.

Ask them where it's made. AFAIK, Panasonics are only made in Japan and Mexico.

But ... if it's sourced from Panasonic, that doesn't say that they aren't "skimming" for quality panels. I.e., Panny keeps the good ones, and gives the "less good" ones to Maxent.

You could be right but aren't Panasonics 58" 1080p panels different then the 720p panels? The only 58" 720p for this year from Panasonic will be the 10UK series.

Bingo!

I e-mailed Maxent regarding their new 58" 768 plasma and asked who they were getting their 58" panel from. They answered that all they could disclose was that it was sourced from a Japanese manufacture. According to cnet, Panasonic is the only 58" manufacture out there. If this is true I wonder how much else in this display is from Panasonic.


If true and it is Panny glass, I still wouldn't get to excited about it. The hardware is what's going to make or break the product in the end, and if Maxent's track record remains consistent it won't matter if it's panny glass or blown glass, it will still look like crap. ;)

As I said, it depends on if Maxent is incorporating other Panasonic technology. Since Panasonic has flip flopped on releasing the 58PX75 it certainly begs the possibility I think. Because of this possibility I am surprised at the lack of attention to this thread. Look at the hundreds pf posts for other as yet not released displays, like the Pioneer 5010 and 6010, the Vizio 52" LCD, the 81 series Samsung. This Maxent will be available next week with a list price of $2395 and a $400 coupon. The possibility that it could be more Panasonic than just the glass (it's specs and looks seem to be Panasonic 58PX600U). Maybe it's just the glass, but what if it's not?

As I said, it depends on if Maxent is incorporating other Panasonic technology. Since Panasonic has flip flopped on releasing the 58PX75 it certainly begs the possibility I think. Because of this possibility I am surprised at the lack of attention to this thread. Look at the hundreds pf posts for other as yet not released displays, like the Pioneer 5010 and 6010, the Vizio 52" LCD, the 81 series Samsung. This Maxent will be available next week with a list price of $2395 and a $400 coupon. The possibility that it could be more Panasonic than just the glass (it's specs and looks seem to be Panasonic 58PX600U). Maybe it's just the glass, but what if it's not?

No, your right it's worth the investigation, but I would have a hard time buying a Maxent even if it was a completely rebaged Panny. ;) Now did I miss something, I know Panny decided not to release the 768p 58PX75, they haven't changed again have they?

As I said, it depends on if Maxent is incorporating other Panasonic technology. Since Panasonic has flip flopped on releasing the 58PX75 it certainly begs the possibility I think. Because of this possibility I am surprised at the lack of attention to this thread. Look at the hundreds pf posts for other as yet not released displays, like the Pioneer 5010 and 6010, the Vizio 52" LCD, the 81 series Samsung. This Maxent will be available next week with a list price of $2395 and a $400 coupon. The possibility that it could be more Panasonic than just the glass (it's specs and looks seem to be Panasonic 58PX600U). Maybe it's just the glass, but what if it's not?

I looked at it yesterday at Costco, and the picture was not that great from up close. However, they were feeding the component inputs, not HDMI. Don't know how big a deal this is. From a distance, it looked OK, but not as good as the 50" 720p Panasonic they had displayed.

The unit has a cheaply made look to it, especially the boxy sheet metal enclosure on the back of the set. Regardless, the size of this unit is a huge plus. Having a display that big certainly makes up for some flaws.

Is that why that hot chick is with that poor ugly dude? ;)

I went in yesterday ready to buy it and give it a shot, but left emptyhanded.

Like pirspilane said, it did not look that good. I know the feed was bad. They had it hooked up to ESPN2 hi-def, but were running a 4:3 show with the ESPN bars on the side. It had a lot of noise. I asked the guy to hook it up to the hi-def commercial feed, and it looked better. But the whites and blacks were both crushed on that signal.

All said it could probably be dialed in better at home - all those settings were out of the box on the floor. The 50" Pani did look better, but I think I have to attribute alot of that to the smaller screen size.

I may go back and take a chance on it - I am pretty torn right now.

-Gerry

When you go back, see if you can check the back for where it's manufactured. I would think that if it's Japan or Mexico, like most Panasonics, then it's more likely that it includes more Panasonic sourced components. But the panel is the panel, and the electronics and processing can still be something else entirely. If you're familiar with Panny's menu structure, you could check that too.

I love my analogy that I posted within the other Maxent thread:

This is like driving a Toyota Camry. It drives pretty good, plenty of leg and head room, agile, and cost effective, but it is not luxury, like the Lexus ES350. You will feel a difference in suspension, overall quietness, and smoothness of the ride over the Camry. Thats what makes the Panasonic a luxury sedan and the Maxent a good sedan!

Chris

When you go back, see if you can check the back for where it's manufactured. I would think that if it's Japan or Mexico, like most Panasonics, then it's more likely that it includes more Panasonic sourced components. But the panel is the panel, and the electronics and processing can still be something else entirely. If you're familiar with Panny's menu structure, you could check that too.

Regretfully, I couldn't get to the back of the set to peak inside, as it was up high and surrounded by boxes below.

As far as the menus go, the user manual contains some screen shots of the menu. If anyone wants to take a look and see if they compare to 60/600u's menu and comment, here is the link to the service manual (http://www.maxentusa.com/uploads/files/286.pdf) .

Thanks.

Regretfully, I couldn't get to the back of the set to peak inside, as it was up high and surrounded by boxes below.

As far as the menus go, the user manual contains some screen shots of the menu. If anyone wants to take a look and see if they compare to 60/600u's menu and comment, here is the link to the service manual (http://www.maxentusa.com/uploads/files/286.pdf) .

Thanks.

Not that it really means anything, but those menus don't look anything like the ones on my PX60U. Unless someone else knows of another company manufacturing 58" glass, we can be fairly sure that at least its Panny glass. Maxent doesn't manufacture any glass themselves, at least as far as I know. The rest, could be any combination of dozens of different companys supplying the hardware.

Does the use of Panny glass insure the use of anything else Panny? I mean do they just order a boat load of glass by itself? If everything else is like the Maxent 50" will the Panny glass make a difference?

Companies commonly share panels with each other, however, to share the processor and the guts is very unlikely. Much of the "top secret I'll-have-to-kill-you-if-I-tell-you" technology is in there, and isn't likely to be sold out.

A panel is a panel, what drives it one of the most important things.

I did check out the menus on the PX75, PX60, PD60 and XVS30 - that menu does not resemble any of the Panasonic menus.

I spent about an hour at the store with this set today. It finally had the same high def loop as the others.

I'm no expert by any means. I tried everything I could but I could never get the colors to look right to me. There always seemed to be alot of noise too. Finally, when I got it as good as possible, the blacks were still crushed. Part of the feed has an animated pig in a black blazer. Until I looked at the Pani, I didnt realize the pig's blazer had grey elbow patches. They were non-existant on both the Maxent and the Vizio.

The reality is that with my budget constraints, I think I am going to have to settle for a quality 50" pdp.

I am deciding to go for quality as opposed to quantity.

-Gerry

I am deciding to go for quality as opposed to quantity.

:) I usually go this way too. And when I don't, I usually regret it!

I am waiting for a professional review to see what Maxent has put together. I will be greatly surprised if the set is anything but a low dollar item for the budget shopper. I would however love to be surprised and find that with some home calibration this set is a hidden gem. I'm not counting on it but ya just never know.

The hidden gem is the 58" Panasonic 60u sitting next to it for less, with over a half dozen units still available at my local store.

The hidden gem is the 58" Panasonic 60u sitting next to it for less, with over a half dozen units still available at my local store.

Tell me about it - I am forced to pass on it because the silver does not fit in with our room decor.

Were you able to compare the two side by side? If so, any comments?

I just got back from Costco and my wife and I were very impressed with the new Maxent. They no longer had the Panasonic, which I have looked at many times. My wife thinks the 60U is the ugliest display she has ever seen. The 600 is unavailable and not worth the price difference just for looks. The Maxent was displaying a Blu-Ray disc which was pretty smart of Costco because it looked beautiful. No other hook up was available. The $400 coupon expires today which brings it below $2K. I'd sure like to see what it looks like with a variety of feeds.

It would not surprise me at all if the Maxent has other panny parts in it. My 50x3 has other panny parts, besides the glass. Does anyone know if BB is going to carry this model?

When you go back, see if you can check the back for where it's manufactured. I would think that if it's Japan or Mexico, like most Panasonics, then it's more likely that it includes more Panasonic sourced components. But the panel is the panel, and the electronics and processing can still be something else entirely. If you're familiar with Panny's menu structure, you could check that too.

I don't know where this specific display was manufactured..but my Maxent 50x3 was made in Taiwan. If there is a boxed unit at costco it should state on the box where it is manufactured. After looking at the owners manual pdf the menu is slightly different from the x3. Looks like it has been refined a bit..by adding icons to the menu. Most of the other stuff seems the same as the x3. The owners manual itself, is written just like the 50x3's.

There was 8 or 9 boxes next to the 58" display at Costco. I just wasn't smart enough to read the information on them.

Tell me about it - I am forced to pass on it because the silver does not fit in with our room decor.

Were you able to compare the two side by side? If so, any comments?

I may have time to get by there early in the week. If so Ill check. Didnt really give them much of anything but a glance. They were side by side on the endcaps. They had just rearranged everything for the Vizio 52, as well, though it was not up on display.