I think I'm going try to rearrange my cables and hook up a HDMI to the D* box since I have another one laying around. My 700u looked perfect except for the glare. When i exchanged it for the 77u I also signed up for D* TV so I really did not have a chance to view the 77u on the same equipment as the 700u. Although the D* box should be better than the old Moto STB I had on the 700u(it didn't even have HDMI output.) We'll see what happens.

I would try using a regular cable from the STB to the RF in on the TV and see how your SD looks.

Many/most cable Co do not have 100% digital cable stations and the STB changes the analog stations to digital to send it over HDMI, most do a poor job. :(

I would try using a regular cable from the STB to the RF in on the TV and see how your SD looks.

Many/most cable Co do not have 100% digital cable stations and the STB changes the analog stations to digital to send it over HDMI, most do a poor job. :(

I called my cable company (Comcast) and asked that they switch on "all digital simulcast". This option was not advertised, but I found out about it through a cable tech. After 5 minutes, my standard def. channels were sent in digital rather than analog, and it made an amazing difference on my 50 inch 77U. Worth asking to see if its available in your area.

No
i think this may be wrong. the 77u accepts a 24 Hz signal, but will 3:2 pulldown the signal to display it at the set's fixed 60 Hz refresh. If someone is having a wierd picture when sending a 24 Hz signal, you may need to go into "picture/other adjust" and turn the 3:2 pulldown on.

i guess the question is, should you let the plasma or the source player do the pulldown? probably doesn't matter -- both (assuming a decent source) should perform this alright. most HD players pass this test on the 1080p silicon optics disc. (or, you could spend a lot more $$$ than necessary, IMO, for a pioneer that refreshes at 72 Hz)

i think this may be wrong. the 77u accepts a 24 Hz signal, but will 3:2 pulldown the signal to display it at the set's fixed 60 Hz refresh. If someone is having a wierd picture when sending a 24 Hz signal, you may need to go into "picture/other adjust" and turn the 3:2 pulldown on.

i guess the question is, should you let the plasma or the source player do the pulldown? probably doesn't matter -- both (assuming a decent source) should perform this alright. most HD players pass this test on the 1080p silicon optics disc. (or, you could spend a lot more $$$ than necessary, IMO, for a pioneer that refreshes at 72 Hz)

Sorry, the PZ77U doesn't accept 1080p/24. It puts the picture into a small, partial screen the the corner...it is unusable. Anyway what is the point of excepting 24 hz if the display cannot process it into a multiple of 24. Judder is judder no matter where the pull down comes from.

By the way, I started a poll to see how many people returned their PZ77U's for the PZ700U's. Check it out when you get a chance.

my mistake! and Crutchfield.com's mistake too!

lots of people have differing opinions regarding the difference between these 2 sets (700 & 77). i got my 77u because i have a bright room and the anti-glare coating IMO is no worse than an LCD, and i think it is a better set than most LCD's (and less expensive).

the question that i can't find the answer to on these forums (and seems to have been asked several times), is whether the 77u actually upconverts/upscales all signals to 1080 resolution? one of the panasonic concierge reps tells me with certainty that sending the panel a 480p DVD signal results in me seeing the picture in 480p, which i don't think is correct.

my mistake! and Crutchfield.com's mistake too!

lots of people have differing opinions regarding the difference between these 2 sets (700 & 77). i got my 77u because i have a bright room and the anti-glare coating IMO is no worse than an LCD, and i think it is a better set than most LCD's (and less expensive).

the question that i can't find the answer to on these forums (and seems to have been asked several times), is whether the 77u actually upconverts/upscales all signals to 1080 resolution? one of the panasonic concierge reps tells me with certainty that sending the panel a 480p DVD signal results in me seeing the picture in 480p, which i don't think is correct.

The native res of the PZ77u is 1920x1080 anything you send to it is shown at 1920x1080. The panal like ALL consumer digital TVs (Plasma,LCD,DLP....) have a native res and convert every thing you send to that.

The native res of the PZ77u is 1920x1080 anything you send to it is shown at 1920x1080. The panal like ALL consumer digital TVs (Plasma,LCD,DLP....) have a native res and convert every thing you send to that.

Correct. If it didn't scale the image a SD DVD would be about a 3rd of the size of your screen. On a 50 inch display that would be around 17 inches diagnally.

I am seriously thinking about purchasing the TH-50PZ77U but need to know if the HDMI ports are 1.3. Can anyone verify? Panasonic's web site does not give this info. thanks.

I am seriously thinking about purchasing the TH-50PZ77U but need to know if the HDMI ports are 1.3. Can anyone verify? Panasonic's web site does not give this info. thanks.

indeed they are.

I have the 42" and it has developed a green tinge,mostly on low light scenes.Adjusting the tint to the red side to where faces appear red does not even resolve this.Also tried adjusting all other adjustments.Tried new cables and it is present on OTA as well.Any suggestions?Great picture otherwise and this only started a couple of days ago.

Hello everyone I recently purchased a Samsung LN-T4061F and I am very unhappy with uneven uniformity. I watch mostly movies and many of them have darker scenes and are letter boxed, needless to say not very pleased. Also, not so happy with response time...

I'm sick of the return game with LCD's as it seems every set has backlight issues. Thinking about making the move to plasma. The TH-42PZ77U is in my price range, but I do have a few concerns.

Contrary to the many mouths who spread the word that burn in and image retention is a thing of the past, I am still hearing stories that involve the two.

Is there still a break in period with these plasmas?

I will mostly be watching movies, nearly no television, a lot of what I watch is letterboxed, how will this play into the wearing of phosphors on the display?

Also I game occasionally and sometimes for many hours at a time, can these newer plasmas deal with this sort of use?

Are there any known defects related to this model that will have me returning it a bazillion times?

Thanks.

I bought the TH-50PZ77U a week ago and thought it had a 10000:1 contrast ratio. Just discovered it is actually only 5000:1 contrast ratio. Would the Costco (TH-50PC77U) version with the lower 720p resolution but higher contrast ratio have been a better set at a 12-15 foot distance (and wanting some glare reduction)?

You know, I just went to panasonic's website to post a link to the specs showing you that the tv was in fact 10,000:1 and it now lists 5,000:1 for it and the 42PZ77U. I know for a fact it use to say 10,000:1. What is this, bait and switch?

You know, I just went to panasonic's website to post a link to the specs showing you that the tv was in fact 10,000:1 and it now lists 5,000:1 for it and the 42PZ77U. I know for a fact it use to say 10,000:1. What is this, bait and switch?

I found out about this when I read a review of the 42" TV from 1/24/08 on Amazon that Panasonic claims they made a Typo. Then saw it myself on Panasonic.com also. When I researched this TV online the fact that the contrast ratio was 10000:1 instead of the 5000:1 of the 700U was mentioned all over the place. Since contrast ratio is much more important than resolution, particularly if you arent' in the sweet spot for 1080p vs 720p, it seems one of the lower res. higher contrast sets were the better deal.

Is there still a break in period with these plasmas?
Thanks.

I just emailed VIERA support..here is reply..although i dont think you are wrong to break it in more.

Thank you for your e-mail. Please be advised that our panels have already been operated for 100 hours at the factory prior to distribution. We do recommend that you change the Picture Mode from the default of Vivid to either Standard or Cinema, based on which you feel looks better in the room that the Plasma is in (lighting conditions). All of the other settings are based on your own personal preference.



Sincerely,

Panasonic Canada Inc.

Viera Support Team

You know, I just went to panasonic's website to post a link to the specs showing you that the tv was in fact 10,000:1 and it now lists 5,000:1 for it and the 42PZ77U. I know for a fact it use to say 10,000:1. What is this, bait and switch?

I was just on the panasonic.ca website, went to viera, and specifications and all pz77 have 10,000 : 1 max contrast

http://panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/plasma/specs77.asp

I have noticed this as well. I bought the TV a few weeks ago at best buy and the store and the panasonic Web site both showed 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Now I go on the Web site and it shows 5000:1. Odd.

How do contrast ratios differ from plasma to LCD? Are they the same or measured differently.

I have noticed this as well. I bought the TV a few weeks ago at best buy and the store and the panasonic Web site both showed 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Now I go on the Web site and it shows 5000:1. Odd.

How do contrast ratios differ from plasma to LCD? Are they the same or measured differently.

Per the CDN Panasonic website. Listed as 10,000:1

http://www.panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/plasma/specs77.asp

Does it really matter? The pic is outstanding. They could list 5:1 there and it's not changing the picture it delivers.

Just saying.

:D

I mentioned this also in another thread. I also have alot of graniness and fuzziness , the backgrounds on HD broadcasts. It gets really bad on dark sences. I was watching "prison break" and some parts of the show the picture was competely fuzzy/grainy. Also see the grainy picture shows up on blu ray movies too but doesn't seem as bad, although I havn't watched but 2 blu ray movies.

I origianlly purchased the 700u and returned it for the 77u cause I had too much glare. But the 700 the picture looked perfect no grainy/fuzziness. The 77u has looked grainy since I hooked it up. Besides the background graininess the picture looks great.

Is this a biproduct of the AG screen or is there something wrong with this TV???

Thanks

Yea I don't think there is anything wrong with it either. I went the BB yesterday and compared them again. Both the 77u and 700u have the same graininess. It just seems to stand out more in my house environment. I guess it's just the nature of the beast. It seemed that all of the TV's at BB hand the same graininess to some extent. Anyway I'm pretty happy with this TV the picture seems great 95% of the time especially with animated movies on Blu ray it is just amazing. Even though I liked the 700u better but it was pretty much unwatchable during the day(I have 3 windows directly opposite of the TV).

Thanks

When I first got the TV I saw a lot of graininess. It really bugged me. After watching the TV the graininess went away. I don't think I've gone insane or I've tricked myself not to notice.. I just think it might have been a function of the set being brand new. Now I don't notice any graininess at all.

The other issue I have is that my source quality is really poor. I have a really crappy cable company. Everyone who complains about Comcast should have my cable company inflicted on them. :) The noise reduction options REALLY work wonders with on the analog SD channels for me.

First, a quick thanks to everyone in these forums as they really helped me narrow down my choices. At the end of the day, I got the 50PZ77. Magnolia made my decision for me as they were running a promotion where I basically got the Panasonic Blue Ray DVD for free with my purchase. I had spent countless hours on forums and going to stores comparing TV's that had near identical pictures in the showrooms. The magnolia offer sealed the deal for me, but I just want to make a few comments for any other "average joes" ready to make the jump to HDTV.

1. Take all the talk of picture quality with a grain of salt. Right off the bat, if you are going from an el cheapo TV you got from Wal-Mart your freshman year of college like yours truly, you are going to notice a humongous difference in picture quality no matter what TV you get. Notice how many complaints come from guys who are on their 3rd or 4th plasma or LCD TV. If this is your first plasma or LCD, I am pretty sure you will be impressed regardless.

2. With that said, I love this TV. The picture quality is outstanding. Every plasma I looked at would display a certain amount of graininess when I stood close to the TV at the store. Now that it is home, I have not noticed any at all. Most times, graininess is due to the source not the tv itself. The DirectTV HD and Blue Ray picture on this tv is outstanding The SD picture is not bad, but naturally you won't want to look at it after seeing your HD channels. I have adjusted the settings to my liking and there is more than enough "wow" for me in this TV.

3. The product works as advertised as I have had no problems viewing this TV in the daytime. I have two very large windows in my living room, so that also factored into my decision.

4. Maybe most important of all, don't just blindly chase specs. Go into the stores and look at the TV's for yourself. Then, think about the set-up of your own living room and make your choice. Companies make different products to appeal to the different needs of their customers. Get what you need based off your own eyes and your own set-up and don't look back. Besides, there will ALWAYS be something bigger and better coming out around the corner.

5. Panasonics are widely considered as the best plasmas on the market. I find it hard to believe that you can go "wrong" with any of them.

Happy hunting and enjoy your TV purchase. I am certainly enjoying mine.

Again I would mostly use this display for movies and many are letterboxed. Any repercussions of such usage?

I am very very sorry for doing this, but this thread is huge and I have a couple questions that will help me decide whether to purchase the 50PZ77. I have looked at the manual for this TV and I'm about to order it, but I do have 2 quick questions. Most of what I watch is SD, and I currently have a 37" vizio LCD. I HATE stretching, and zooming is not at all desirable, so I don't, and have sidebars. Will this new TV be more susceptible to burning in the sidebars than my vizio? I have not experienced any burn in of sidebars whatsoever with my vizio.

Secondly, If i have my directv dvr outputting dolby 5.1 through HDMI and have that hooked to my TV through HDMI, can i pass that 5.1 through to my surround receiver using an optical cable from the tv? I have both an xbox 360 and a directv dvr, and both use HDMI and I would LOVE if i can pass the 5.1 from each into my surround box.

Again I would mostly use this display for movies and many are letterboxed. Any repercussions of such usage?

I am very very sorry for doing this, but this thread is huge and I have a couple questions that will help me decide whether to purchase the 50PZ77. I have looked at the manual for this TV and I'm about to order it, but I do have 2 quick questions. Most of what I watch is SD, and I currently have a 37" vizio LCD. I HATE stretching, and zooming is not at all desirable, so I don't, and have sidebars. Will this new TV be more susceptible to burning in the sidebars than my vizio? I have not experienced any burn in of sidebars whatsoever with my vizio.

Since these two questions are basically the same, I'll answer them at the same time. Image retention (IR) happens when phosphors at different locations of the plasma panel age at different rates (because of a significant difference in how much they were used). The early plasma panels were very susceptible to IR and it was easy to burn-in an image to your screen (such as the logo in the corner of a frequently watched channel). In the current generation of plasmas, it is much harder to get IR, but it can still happen. As long as you regularly watch fullscreen (16:9) content on your plasma TV, I would not expect a problem during the life of the set, even if most of the time you are watching either 4:3 or 2.4:1 content, but it all depends on your mix.

I am very very sorry for doing this, but this thread is huge and I have a couple questions that will help me decide whether to purchase the 50PZ77. I have looked at the manual for this TV and I'm about to order it, but I do have 2 quick questions. Most of what I watch is SD, and I currently have a 37" vizio LCD. I HATE stretching, and zooming is not at all desirable, so I don't, and have sidebars. Will this new TV be more susceptible to burning in the sidebars than my vizio? I have not experienced any burn in of sidebars whatsoever with my vizio.

All you got to do is leave the set on full screen for a few hours when you're not watching it to combat the problem if you're worried about it. If it did develop a problem there are ways to age the black bar portion of the screen to catch up with the rest of it. For instance, turn off the auto shutoff feature on the TV, set your sidebars to bright or medium, and leave it on with no signal.

Secondly, If i have my directv dvr outputting dolby 5.1 through HDMI and have that hooked to my TV through HDMI, can i pass that 5.1 through to my surround receiver using an optical cable from the tv? I have both an xbox 360 and a directv dvr, and both use HDMI and I would LOVE if i can pass the 5.1 from each into my surround box.

No, not through the TV as that optical out will only be 2.1 channels. The way I have mine hooked up is I have the optical out from the DVR, HD-DVD, and PS3 going to my receiver for 5.1 audio. If you only have 1 optical input on your receiver then pick up an optical splitter from www.monoprice.com. Good luck ;)

mlr2006, Did you compare the 50PZ75U? Some people feel that the anti glare screen of the 77 softens the picture. I also have some big windows and during daytime this leads to a lot of light in the room. Do you think that the antiglare screen softens the picture?

A note on the graininess, or speckle of the pz77

I have been lurking, and learning, a lot here lately, and after checking out multiple reviews of the pz700 and pz77, I went to check them out last night at Best Buy.

Both are fantastic, but on the pz77 I kept seeing what looked like speckle on skin tones. This may be what some refer to as graininess, but it seemed to specifically come from the antiglare screen as the pz700 did not have it. The speckle I speak of was stationary, in front of the image, while the image moved behind it. This is why I think it was coming from the screen itself, as you could see what ever you were watching move behind it. It's hard to explain, but it was like a glitter type of effect (VERY fine glitter) but it was definitely there. Again, I only noticed it on skin tones, like shots of faces, arms and shoulders of the people on this game show. I was also maybe 3-5 feet from the 42" screen. Now, when the loop that BB plays through all of their tvs began to play the planet earth footage of birds, ice and snow and what not i didnt see it. in fact i only saw this speckle when the channel was playing some local hd channel (and one that didnt come in very well) but either way, the pz700 did not show this same effect.

maybe this helps, maybe it doesnt, but choosing between these two tvs has been the hardest decision i have ever made. granted, life isnt too bad when choosing what plasma to buy is the hardest thing you have to deal with, but still. my room probably requires me to get the 77, but im convinced that staring at the speckle in my living room will kill me

thanks to everyone that i have learned from

Per the CDN Panasonic website. Listed as 10,000:1

http://www.panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/plasma/specs77.asp

Does it really matter? The pic is outstanding. They could list 5:1 there and it's not changing the picture it delivers.

Just saying.

:D

You couldn't be more correct! Never listen to "official" CR ratings. They are all lies.

The actual peak ANSI CR for the 50PZ77U is 1350:1. To put that in perspective, the 1080p Kuros have a peak ANSI measurment of 1500:1.

These are the TRUE CR measurements...not specs. Another piece of interesting information is the 50PZ77U has black level rating second only to the Kuros. The Kuro posted .055 nits while the 50PZ77U posted .08 nits.

The 50PZ77U is almost 30% brighter than the Kuro, but doesn't quite match it's BL. The 50PZ77U actually has a more accurate gamma curve and is in turn more accurate and brighter in the 70-100 IRE range (light greys and whites).

What does all this mean? All of you that are so worried about the listed contrast ratios being 10,000:1 or 5000:1...who cares? None of it is true and it's CR is second only to a display that costs twice as much. Further more, in the end the 50PZ77U actually has brighter, more accurate whites than the Kuros. That is what matters! Enjoy!

A note on the graininess, or speckle of the pz77

I have been lurking, and learning, a lot here lately, and after checking out multiple reviews of the pz700 and pz77, I went to check them out last night at Best Buy.

Both are fantastic, but on the pz77 I kept seeing what looked like speckle on skin tones. This may be what some refer to as graininess, but it seemed to specifically come from the antiglare screen as the pz700 did not have it. The speckle I speak of was stationary, in front of the image, while the image moved behind it. This is why I think it was coming from the screen itself, as you could see what ever you were watching move behind it. It's hard to explain, but it was like a glitter type of effect (VERY fine glitter) but it was definitely there. Again, I only noticed it on skin tones, like shots of faces, arms and shoulders of the people on this game show. I was also maybe 3-5 feet from the 42" screen. Now, when the loop that BB plays through all of their tvs began to play the planet earth footage of birds, ice and snow and what not i didnt see it. in fact i only saw this speckle when the channel was playing some local hd channel (and one that didnt come in very well) but either way, the pz700 did not show this same effect.

maybe this helps, maybe it doesnt, but choosing between these two tvs has been the hardest decision i have ever made. granted, life isnt too bad when choosing what plasma to buy is the hardest thing you have to deal with, but still. my room probably requires me to get the 77, but im convinced that staring at the speckle in my living room will kill me

thanks to everyone that i have learned from

That is very true, but only when the PZ77Us are set in vivid. I have noticed this "glittery" effect myself. It used to be much worse on another display I used to own, and I do think it has to do a bit with the light dispersion from the matte screen and overly blown brightness.

Once the display is properly calibrated and set to a proper light output, you will not see it anymore. Good eye!

That is very true, but only when the PZ77Us are set in vivid. I have noticed this "glittery" effect myself. It used to be much worse on another display I used to own, and I do think it has to do a bit with the light dispersion from the matte screen and overly blown brightness.

Once the display is properly calibrated and set to a proper light output, you will not see it anymore. Good eye!

its good to hear that im not crazy or hallucinating. :D

if what you say is true, then maybe ill go back there and mess with the settings on the tv. i really REALLY dont think that i could ever not see the speckle if it was in my house, since thats all that i would be looking for. it entirely possible that the two tvs i demoed were at different picture settings, thus causing what looked like distortion in the image (though indeed it was a fixed distortion) much like how some DLP tvs i have seen look.

All you got to do is leave the set on full screen for a few hours when you're not watching it to combat the problem if you're worried about it. If it did develop a problem there are ways to age the black bar portion of the screen to catch up with the rest of it. For instance, turn off the auto shutoff feature on the TV, set your sidebars to bright or medium, and leave it on with no signal.

You make a good point that I keep forgetting about (I always use some kind of fullscreen mode due to family preference). When displaying a 4:3 picture, you can set the sidebars to display as grey instead of black (there are a few choices). With the sidebars set to a medium grey, I would not expect any significant IR issues caused by watching 4:3 content (as part of a typical mix that also includes periodic fullscreen content).

Does anyone else have this problem/ notice this? I was watching Law & Order on HD, and the black background to the Law & Order logo, in the beginning, seemed to "break up," or did not stay entirely black. I know the depth of black is an issue for plasma, but I thought this was a strong suit for this TV. Has anyone else noticed this on any other shows, this show, or am I giving the TV (or plasmas in general) too much credit still?

Thanks

its good to hear that im not crazy or hallucinating. :D

if what you say is true, then maybe ill go back there and mess with the settings on the tv. i really REALLY dont think that i could ever not see the speckle if it was in my house, since thats all that i would be looking for. it entirely possible that the two tvs i demoed were at different picture settings, thus causing what looked like distortion in the image (though indeed it was a fixed distortion) much like how some DLP tvs i have seen look.

When you go back try these quick settings for the PZ77U to see what you think.

Use the Custom picture mode.
Set the contrast around 20
brightness around 3
turn the sharpness all the way down
try the normal or warm settings (I like normal myself)
make sure the black level is set to "light".

Don't worry about the color and hue adjustments...they aren't that far off.

That will get you in the ball park. Hope that helps!

I checked my settings when I got home. My brightness is set at three. This is according to the HD DVD version of DVE.

Does anyone else have this problem/ notice this? I was watching Law & Order on HD, and the black background to the Law & Order logo, in the beginning, seemed to "break up," or did not stay entirely black. I know the depth of black is an issue for plasma, but I thought this was a strong suit for this TV. Has anyone else noticed this on any other shows, this show, or am I giving the TV (or plasmas in general) too much credit still?

Thanks

I have run this and many other displays through their paces. The easiest way to answer your question is:

If you notice a particular problem that only exists on one source or channel, the problem lies in your source. If it exsists on all sources it is the display. I garauntee if your gamma (picture mode), contrast, and brightness are set correctly, this display will produce some of the best shadow detail on the market. You should use a cal disc and check out the cal forums. You and your display will be much happier if you do!

maybe this helps, maybe it doesnt, but choosing between these two tvs has been the hardest decision i have ever made. granted, life isnt too bad when choosing what plasma to buy is the hardest thing you have to deal with, but still. my room probably requires me to get the 77, but im convinced that staring at the speckle in my living room will kill me

By the way you describe it, I'm pretty sure you are seeing the effects of the anti-glare treatment that the 77 has. Both the 700 and 77 are good sets. All you need to do is decide which is more important (or more annoying) to you, the reflections or the sparkles. For me, it is easier to ignore small sparkles that come and go than large reflections that stay.

By the way you describe it, I'm pretty sure you are seeing the effects of the anti-glare treatment that the 77 has. Both the 700 and 77 are good sets. All you need to do is decide which is more important (or more annoying) to you, the reflections or the sparkles. For me, it is easier to ignore small sparkles that come and go than large reflections that stay.

This effect is actually the similar to SSE (silk screen effect) seen on RPTVs, which is caused by the properties of the screens (to increase viewing angle).
I think there is a similar, all be it much less, effect with the matte screen of the PZ77U. Just like with RPTVs the effect is worse with uncalibrated and overly saturated settings. All RPTVs suffered from this issue (mine did too). The effect on the PZ77U is not nearly as bad and (at least on mine) disappears with proper calibration. I don't notice it and I also found it distracting in the past.

mlr2006, Did you compare the 50PZ75U? Some people feel that the anti glare screen of the 77 softens the picture. I also have some big windows and during daytime this leads to a lot of light in the room. Do you think that the antiglare screen softens the picture?


I looked at all three 1080p panasonics and the samsung 5084. I do not think the antiglare screen softens the picture. The colors are nice and vibrant especially when playing blue ray dvd's.

When viewing content in the stores, I was able to see the 700U and 77 displaying the same movies (300 & Cars) directly connected to a blue ray player. I could not see a difference in picture, particularly with colors or brightness.

A friend of mine has the 75U. He got it mainly because of the extra hdmi slot and loves it. Again, neither of us can tell the difference between the two, but they are not side by side. Also, his is in his den and doesn't have as much light coming in.

Also, some complain of graininess in the image. Again, I think that is the source of their HD or maybe they are just sitting too close to the set. I'm sitting about 7 feet away from the tv which is probably too close for a 50 inch and I'm not noticing any graininess in lost. Just nice blacks and great colors. I did adjust my settings to the calibrations showed in one of the threads on this site, so that may be why.

But, I have to be honest, I did think the Samsung had a "brighter" picture in the store. Given that stores blast the TV's at their highest brightness settings, I am pretty sure the Samsung is capable of a brighter picture. But, I did not like the way certain colors looked on the Samsung. Faces looked orange, greens were a bit off, etc. I'm sure that can all be adjusted, but it was just my take in the store. The colors on the Panasonics just looked better and more "real" if that makes any sense.

Again, I think you're going to be happy with any one that you choose. The anti-glare does work though and I am very happy with my purchase.

I looked at all three 1080p panasonics and the samsung 5084. I do not think the antiglare screen softens the picture. The colors are nice and vibrant especially when playing blue ray dvd's.

When viewing content in the stores, I was able to see the 700U and 77 displaying the same movies (300 & Cars) directly connected to a blue ray player. I could not see a difference in picture, particularly with colors or brightness.

A friend of mine has the 75U. He got it mainly because of the extra hdmi slot and loves it. Again, neither of us can tell the difference between the two, but they are not side by side. Also, his is in his den and doesn't have as much light coming in.

Also, some complain of graininess in the image. Again, I think that is the source of their HD or maybe they are just sitting too close to the set. I'm sitting about 7 feet away from the tv which is probably too close for a 50 inch and I'm not noticing any graininess in lost. Just nice blacks and great colors. I did adjust my settings to the calibrations showed in one of the threads on this site, so that may be why.

But, I have to be honest, I did think the Samsung had a "brighter" picture in the store. Given that stores blast the TV's at their highest brightness settings, I am pretty sure the Samsung is capable of a brighter picture. But, I did not like the way certain colors looked on the Samsung. Faces looked orange, greens were a bit off, etc. I'm sure that can all be adjusted, but it was just my take in the store. The colors on the Panasonics just looked better and more "real" if that makes any sense.

Again, I think you're going to be happy with any one that you choose. The anti-glare does work though and I am very happy with my purchase.

Nice observation!

Chris

Nice observation!

Chris

Thanks!

Just trying to help people make their choice. The pull between the desire to have a plasma and trying to pick the "best" one will darn near drive you crazy.

I have to admit, I am surprised some don't like the 77. I can barely pull myself away at nights. To each his own, but I think most people will be happy with the 77.

I've asked this already in this thread awhile back, and since no one responded...

Does anyone else notice, when displaying a full screen of a single uniform color, a slightly darker vertical line anywhere on their set? It's most apparent on a light gray screen. The screen looks completely uniform when my heads a few feet away, but when I stand back with the break-in DVD running, I notice a slightly darker vertical line. It's not a big deal since I only see it when displaying a full screen of one color. I'm just curious if it's a problem unique to my set.

I've asked this already in this thread awhile back, and since no one responded...

Does anyone else notice, when displaying a full screen of a single uniform color, a slightly darker vertical line anywhere on their set? It's most apparent on a light gray screen. The screen looks completely uniform when my heads a few feet away, but when I stand back with the break-in DVD running, I notice a slightly darker vertical line. It's not a big deal since I only see it when displaying a full screen of one color. I'm just curious if it's a problem unique to my set.

never seen anything like that on mine.

+1

A note on the graininess, or speckle of the pz77

I have been lurking, and learning, a lot here lately, and after checking out multiple reviews of the pz700 and pz77, I went to check them out last night at Best Buy.

Both are fantastic, but on the pz77 I kept seeing what looked like speckle on skin tones. This may be what some refer to as graininess, but it seemed to specifically come from the antiglare screen as the pz700 did not have it. The speckle I speak of was stationary, in front of the image, while the image moved behind it. This is why I think it was coming from the screen itself, as you could see what ever you were watching move behind it. It's hard to explain, but it was like a glitter type of effect (VERY fine glitter) but it was definitely there. Again, I only noticed it on skin tones, like shots of faces, arms and shoulders of the people on this game show. I was also maybe 3-5 feet from the 42" screen. Now, when the loop that BB plays through all of their tvs began to play the planet earth footage of birds, ice and snow and what not i didnt see it. in fact i only saw this speckle when the channel was playing some local hd channel (and one that didnt come in very well) but either way, the pz700 did not show this same effect.

maybe this helps, maybe it doesnt, but choosing between these two tvs has been the hardest decision i have ever made. granted, life isnt too bad when choosing what plasma to buy is the hardest thing you have to deal with, but still. my room probably requires me to get the 77, but im convinced that staring at the speckle in my living room will kill me

thanks to everyone that i have learned from

Yea I would second to that about the graininess. But as I mentioned in another post, this is mostly visible when you are within 3-4 feet of the TV. From a distance of 10-11 ft I do not notice anything unless I am really squinting and telling myself it's there. :)

If your environment has lots of windows, there is no substitute to PZ77U. Perhaps you should bring it to your room and see. BTW I kept mine despite the graininess because of super HD picture quality. Good luck.

Hello everyone I recently purchased a Samsung LN-T4061F and I am very unhappy with uneven uniformity. I watch mostly movies and many of them have darker scenes and are letter boxed, needless to say not very pleased. Also, not so happy with response time...

I'm sick of the return game with LCD's as it seems every set has backlight issues. Thinking about making the move to plasma. The TH-42PZ77U is in my price range, but I do have a few concerns.

Contrary to the many mouths who spread the word that burn in and image retention is a thing of the past, I am still hearing stories that involve the two.

Is there still a break in period with these plasmas?

I will mostly be watching movies, nearly no television, a lot of what I watch is letterboxed, how will this play into the wearing of phosphors on the display?

Also I game occasionally and sometimes for many hours at a time, can these newer plasmas deal with this sort of use?

Are there any known defects related to this model that will have me returning it a bazillion times?

Thanks.

I play Guitar Hero III for hours on my 42PZ77u and have had no IR problems.

Congrats! Just got mine last week and am extremely satisfied.

I just purchased the same TV, what DVD did you use to calibrate, also what are your settings at, trying to get the picture just perfect.

Email me @ jsfowkes@kelcom.igs.net
Thanks

Which model did you guys get? I'm getting the 750 in late March/early April. My biggest problem is picking a stand that will hold not only the tv but the center channel speaker and all my equipment (3 dvd players, amp, Tivo). Stand suggestions would be great.

Congrats to both of you. I can't wait.

Hi all. Long time reader, 1st post. After a fair amount of research I have purchased a Panasonic TH-50PZ77U, this is my 1st plasma TV. My old set was a 51" Hitachi CRT Projection set. Definitely night and day difference.

I've seen a lot of info regarding burn in and break in periods for plasma TVs. With the newer models like the 77U is 100 - 150 hrs still a necessary amount of time? Or is that a bit overkill nowadays?

Also some people seem to swear by professional calibration and some claim to get an excellent pic just using a THXOptimizer disc, additional opinions? Professional opinions even? =)

Regarding the reflectivness of the screen, I have white walls, light colored hardwood floors and a fair amount of indirect natural lighting and this screen does an excellent job. I couldn't be happier.

Setup: TH-50PZ77U, Onkyo TX-SR705, Toshiba HD-A2, Panasonic DMP-BD30, Xbox 360, DirecTV HR-20

Any tips regarding care of plasmas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
R

Panasonic Official Plasma FAQs (http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/FAQs/details-FAQs+for+Plasma+TVs-UCM_PRD_CNT_001993#tv4)
This Applies to ALL newer Models incl. the 77U. I'm content with the PQ on my set w/ no professional calibration.

Enjoy your new TV.:cool:

Thanks for the link. So far I'm loving this TV, even with all the pic settings at 0 for break in it still looks decent. :D

Has anyone had their TH-50PZ77U calibrated. WHat are your thoughts on the results of Calibration?

Is there anyone one who has had theirs calibrated in the SW Ohio area and who did your Calibration

Tony

High all. Been lurking on these forums for about a month or so & getting a ton of information. I decided to take the plunge & join the HDTV world recently & purchased the 42pz77u. i am extremely happy with the purchase. I havent had any problems with the picture at all & though I have not calibrated it I watch it on custom with slightly tweaked settings I found here & it looks great.(vivid is really harsh on my eyes now though i was in awe of it the 1st few days watching the football games lol). Just wanted to pu tmy 2 cents in on the tv & say I love it. My father has a philips 42" ambilight & this tv looks 10x better IMO. Also not sure whether I really need a pro isf cal done or if its close enough in gray scale as is out of the box.

I just purchased the 50pz77u from Invision after reading thousands of posts about the different plasma models out there. This forum has been invaluable. BB and CC were only useful to go check out the models. Their salespeople are clueless (at least the ones I ran into).

I was torn between the 50pz77 and the Kuro 5080. However, the anti glare of the 77 did it for me in my circumstance. My family room has tons of light and our current 32" WEGA glares like crazy.

I am now in the process of ordering cables from Monoprice, upgrading my DirecTV service to HD DVR and then getting a PS3 to play BD movies and upconvert my SD DVDs. I have the break in DVD ready to go and my AVIA2 disc on order. I think I am all set and ready to go.

I just purchased the 50pz77u from Invision after reading thousands of posts about the different plasma models out there. This forum has been invaluable. BB and CC were only useful to go check out the models. Their salespeople are clueless (at least the ones I ran into).

I was torn between the 50pz77 and the Kuro 5080. However, the anti glare of the 77 did it for me in my circumstance. My family room has tons of light and our current 32" WEGA glares like crazy.

I am now in the process of ordering cables from Monoprice, upgrading my DirecTV service to HD DVR and then getting a PS3 to play BD movies and upconvert my SD DVDs. I have the break in DVD ready to go and my AVIA2 disc on order. I think I am all set and ready to go.

Congrats!

Congrats. As I'll be buying one next month I'm curious about the differences between the PZ77U and the 700 or 750.

You make a good point that I keep forgetting about (I always use some kind of fullscreen mode due to family preference). When displaying a 4:3 picture, you can set the sidebars to display as grey instead of black (there are a few choices). With the sidebars set to a medium grey, I would not expect any significant IR issues caused by watching 4:3 content (as part of a typical mix that also includes periodic fullscreen content).

Why use the grey bars?
If you set it to "Normal" with the black bars on the sides of the 4:3 picture, that should be the best situation because the pixels are off at the black bars where the grey bars would have all those pixels one.

Maybe there is another issue at hand, I better go back and read what the original problem was.

Has anyone had their TH-50PZ77U calibrated. WHat are your thoughts on the results of Calibration?

Is there anyone one who has had theirs calibrated in the SW Ohio area and who did your Calibration

Tony


Hey Schnapps,
I had my 50PZ77 calibrated this weekend. I created a thread about it and gave some details about the process. Basically the whites were running too hot, therefore shortening the lifespan of the TV, some of the shades in the shaded test patterns for the primary colors and Blacks and whites were non existent, therefore losing a lot of detail.

I'm very happy with it. As a human we usually like things to be bright and pop out at you and as we play around with settings, some colors end up popping out and being brighter than others. My TV now has a perfectly balanced picture to the degree that it looks like I'm looking out of a window at the scene on the TV. I watched the Pebble Beach tournament after the calibration and was stunned at the complete balance of the picture. No one color stood out or was brighter than the other. Watching Pebble Beach in HD yielded a large quantity of greens, blues, and blacks and they were all very well balanced and the detail was fantastic.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=992263


As far as trying to find an ISF certified tech to calibrate your TV try the Imaging Science website below.

http://www.imagingscience.com/isf-trained.cfm

I think it was well worth the money. My primary colors, whites, and blacks are all balanced and the TV is able to show more shades of these now. Also, the whites are balanced and running at the right temp and the TV is not having to work as hard and will last longer and use less energy.

Good Luck,
JP

Why use the grey bars?
If you set it to "Normal" with the black bars on the sides of the 4:3 picture, that should be the best situation because the pixels are off at the black bars where the grey bars would have all those pixels one.

This is only really an issue if you intend to watch a significant amount of content in a 4:3 aspect ratio. If the the sidebars are black, those phosphors won't age at the same rate as those that are showing the picture in the center of the screen. If this goes on long enough (how long? I don't know. we're just talking theory here), there will be obvious burn-in on the sides. Setting the sidebars to grey instead of black allows the phosphors to age at closer to the same rate, thereby significantly reducing the chance for burn-in.

Congrats. As I'll be buying one next month I'm curious about the differences between the PZ77U and the 700 or 750.

I was able to compare all three at a Best Buy Magnolia and other than a few options that weren't important to me the biggest difference was the size (77U was wider with the side speakers) and the coating on the screen. The 77U seemed to do the best job at diffusing light and the 700U the worst. To my eyes anyway. Well, once I got the 77U home I think I made the correct choice. I have a lot of indirect light and light colored hardwood floors which caused a lot of glare and reflections on my old TV. The 77U handles it brilliantly.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Rdoggy, appreciate that. Is one of the differences the number of hdmi inputs? I need at least 3. I wonder if the side speakers are better than the 700 version? Could you tell in the store? Did you do the 100 hour break-in?

StuJac,
the 55PZ77U only has 2 hdmi inputs. That is probably the only downside in my eyes with the TV. The anti glare coating suits me well also because we have lots of windows in the room.

The colors and pictures are still great though, especially after I had it calibrated.

Thanks jp. The 750 has 3 hdmi inputs so that makes it the winner in my little sweepstakes.

Thanks Rdoggy, appreciate that. Is one of the differences the number of hdmi inputs? I need at least 3. I wonder if the side speakers are better than the 700 version? Could you tell in the store? Did you do the 100 hour break-in?

Yeah, the 77U only has 2 HDMI inputs. But that wasn't an issue for me since I use an Onkyo TX-SR705 which has 3 inputs. Because I use the receiver I didn't test the speakers in store, just the picture. (FYI: the speakers are surprisingly good) I highly recommend looking at each of them before buying, there is a big difference in the look of the screen while displaying an image and under different light conditions.

A good HDMI switcher runs about $100 so depending on which one looks the best to you for your lighting conditions you may want to leave the number of inputs out of the equation. The price difference in models was like $300 when I purchased.

I am at about 100 break in hours now and when I hit 150 then I'm thinking of scheduling an ISF Calibration. I may try a calibration disc 1st and see how good I am able to get it.

Thanks again. I do need the 3 hdmi's as I already use a monoprice switcher that rarely works; I usually have to reboot my cable box to get the hdmi signal to be seen. I've decided I'm not swapping out my receiver (JVC RX8010) which has been a terrific piece of gear for me for years. I don't want to have to switch hdmi through the receiver; I want each component to connect to the tv directly. I also usually don't use the tv's speakers; everything runs through the receiver, audio wise.

Just a quick question...i have a 50PZ77U and only have a few hours of break in....if i were to leave my tv on for a few days straight, what would be the best channel to do this with??

I am a new user of plasma tvs. I have been reading this forum and it seems to me there is so much caution that has to be used when using a plasma tv.

Do you really think the probability of something bad happening, IR and Burn In, is high? I would think not...maybe I am wrong. It seems a little crazy that users of plasmas, most of which probably dont know much about them, have to be careful with how they use it.

Do you really think the probability of something bad happening, IR and Burn In, is high? I would think not...maybe I am wrong. It seems a little crazy that users of plasmas, most of which probably dont know much about them, have to be careful with how they use it.

The chance of image-retention (IR) happening is pretty high, but since it is temporary, I don't worry much about it. Burn-in (which is not temporary) is definitely a possibility, but the chance of it happening during typical use is small. The key is to keep a good mix of content at reasonable brightness levels.

The chance of image-retention (IR) happening is pretty high, but since it is temporary, I don't worry much about it. Burn-in (which is not temporary) is definitely a possibility, but the chance of it happening during typical use is small. The key is to keep a good mix of content at reasonable brightness levels.
Thanks for the info...some guy at circuit city told me burn-in, in the PZ77U can be washed out, is this true?

Thanks for the info...some guy at circuit city told me burn-in, in the PZ77U can be washed out, is this true?

I haven't tried the experiment, so I can't say for sure, but I've heard talk about the possibility. Personally, I don't worry about burn-in on my set. I don't have my levels cranked and I watch a mix of content, so I expect all my phosphors to age at similar rates.

I heard the HD CHANNEL DISCOVERY CHANNEL does a good job.

Just a quick question...i have a 50PZ77U and only have a few hours of break in....if i were to leave my tv on for a few days straight, what would be the best channel to do this with??

The HD Theater channel if you have it. It has a translucent logo and it fades on and off during programming. But you really have nothing to worry about anyway.

I can't believe I read this WHOLE thread. Is it still Saturday? February?

Thanks to all for your insight and being my research and testing team. The checks are in the mail.

Time for a little lighter reading. Now....where is my copy of War and Peace?

Is the PZ77U really supposed to have better PQ than the PZ700U?

I have a PX77U and do not like the special AG (or is it AR) screen? Why is the PZ77U's screen supposedly superior enough to provide better PQ than not only the PX77U, but also the PZ700U?

It's my understanding that the 700u & 77u have same pq but the 77u may be dulled slightly by the anti glare screen

I can't believe I read this WHOLE thread. Is it still Saturday? February?

Thanks to all for your insight and being my research and testing team. The checks are in the mail.

Time for a little lighter reading. Now....where is my copy of War and Peace?

If you think this thread is bad, you should see some of the other threads in this forum. :D

It's my understanding that the 700u & 77u have same pq but the 77u may be dulled slightly by the anti glare screen

I don't think "dulled" is the correct description, more like "less glare". I compared them both and ended up buying the 77U, because I have glare issues in my environment. The picture certainly isn't dull, it's got pop. It's hard to describe until you can see them side by side.

Got the same problem as this guy, anyone have a clue what could be causing this? Possible it's a defect or not, I don't know, my knowledge and my brain tells me it's impossible to be banding as there cannot be banding on a PLASMA, but I've had problems with LCD and banding before and let me tell you guys, it sure looks like banding!!! But I've had the set for 2 weeks, bought it at BB so I can return it if nobody else sees this anomaly, I've looked pretty much everywhere on this forum and other and made a lot of searching and have found nobody with this problem except Dos-ma and Myself!!! Are we crazy? Maybe, but I don't think so, I really SEE THESE BANDS!!!! I don't like calling them bands because there cannot be banding in a PLASMA but it's really like BANDING on an LCD.

But as for te rest, the picture looks great and everything is flawless, but I cannot live with these bands, so if anybody can reassure me and tell me that I should try another one of these sets, I will go for it, but it's a pain to pack an unpack these things and that's why I am a little weary of trying another set!!!! But I love the PQ on the set, so I'm leaning towards trying another one, but would like to know if anybody else experienced this banding problem with this set.

Thanks a lot guys!

Hi There,

I've had my TH42PZ77U for about 3 weeks now and I've noticed a problem. In certain scenes I can see light and dark vertical bands through the picture. The problem is most easily seen in scenes with quick horizontal motion, or a light colored background. Generally these bands are effectively invisible, but they stand out when watching. I'm debating exchanging this set for another one of the same type, or calling Panasonic and seeing what they have to say about the issue. Is anyone else having this problem?

Got the same problem as this guy, anyone have a clue what could be causing this? Possible it's a defect or not, I don't know, my knowledge and my brain tells me it's impossible to be banding as there cannot be banding on a PLASMA, but I've had problems with LCD and banding before and let me tell you guys, it sure looks like banding!!! But I've had the set for 2 weeks, bought it at BB so I can return it if nobody else sees this anomaly, I've looked pretty much everywhere on this forum and other and made a lot of searching and have found nobody with this problem except Dos-ma and Myself!!! Are we crazy? Maybe, but I don't think so, I really SEE THESE BANDS!!!! I don't like calling them bands because there cannot be banding in a PLASMA but it's really like BANDING on an LCD.

But as for te rest, the picture looks great and everything is flawless, but I cannot live with these bands, so if anybody can reassure me and tell me that I should try another one of these sets, I will go for it, but it's a pain to pack an unpack these things and that's why I am a little weary of trying another set!!!! But I love the PQ on the set, so I'm leaning towards trying another one, but would like to know if anybody else experienced this banding problem with this set.

Thanks a lot guys!

Does it go away if you change the source or a different input on the TV?

Does it go away if you change the source or a different input on the TV?

No it does not. At first, I thought it was normal IR that I am seeing but it's the same on any source. My HDDVD, BLU-RAY, HD SIGNAL.......even when I'm on an input with no signal at all, I see these bands.....same bands throught the TV. And I can see these bands only when the camera moves from left to right or right to left at a certain speed. When I watch a hockey game, I see them the most when the camera follows the play. I see the bands on the ice...I suppose the set is defective, as I imagine you or anybody else are not seeing this on your set?

I am just really curious to what can be causing this. I have a hunch that it's the de-interlacer in the TV that is deffective, or maybe one of the processing cards and therefore, these bands have BURNED IN the plasma....only explanation to me ....but tell me what you think and I beleive I will return the set....And thanks for the reply!

No it does not. At first, I thought it was normal IR that I am seeing but it's the same on any source. My HDDVD, BLU-RAY, HD SIGNAL.......even when I'm on an input with no signal at all, I see these bands.....same bands throught the TV. And I can see these bands only when the camera moves from left to right or right to left at a certain speed. When I watch a hockey game, I see them the most when the camera follows the play. I see the bands on the ice...I suppose the set is defective, as I imagine you or anybody else are not seeing this on your set?

I am just really curious to what can be causing this. I have a hunch that it's the de-interlacer in the TV that is deffective, or maybe one of the processing cards and therefore, these bands have BURNED IN the plasma....only explanation to me ....but tell me what you think and I beleive I will return the set....And thanks for the reply!

It certainly sounds like a defective set, you might be on to something with the processor that is handling the deinterlacing. One of the things I am most impressed about with this TV is how well it handles motion especially with sports. The pic is smooth, no blur or artifacts.
I wouldn't hesitate to take it back since you are within the 30 days. Maybe you can get them to deliver and unpack for free since you have had the hassle of having a defective one. Worth a try.

I just came back form BB and they got no more in stock up here!!! Anyway, will wait for the new Pani models coming in march, I won't die for 3-4 weeks, can't wait to see the new sets, I will definitely will be buying another Pani, loved the PQ on this set....anyway, will let you guys know when I get a new model Pani! The sotry ends pretty well in my book!!!

No it does not. At first, I thought it was normal IR that I am seeing but it's the same on any source. My HDDVD, BLU-RAY, HD SIGNAL.......even when I'm on an input with no signal at all, I see these bands.....same bands throught the TV. And I can see these bands only when the camera moves from left to right or right to left at a certain speed. When I watch a hockey game, I see them the most when the camera follows the play. I see the bands on the ice...I suppose the set is defective, as I imagine you or anybody else are not seeing this on your set?

I am just really curious to what can be causing this. I have a hunch that it's the de-interlacer in the TV that is deffective, or maybe one of the processing cards and therefore, these bands have BURNED IN the plasma....only explanation to me ....but tell me what you think and I beleive I will return the set....And thanks for the reply!

I have the exact same thing. Hockey is unbearable. Will be returning the set.

No it does not. At first, I thought it was normal IR that I am seeing but it's the same on any source. My HDDVD, BLU-RAY, HD SIGNAL.......even when I'm on an input with no signal at all, I see these bands.....same bands throught the TV. And I can see these bands only when the camera moves from left to right or right to left at a certain speed. When I watch a hockey game, I see them the most when the camera follows the play. I see the bands on the ice...I suppose the set is defective, as I imagine you or anybody else are not seeing this on your set?

I am just really curious to what can be causing this. I have a hunch that it's the de-interlacer in the TV that is deffective, or maybe one of the processing cards and therefore, these bands have BURNED IN the plasma....only explanation to me ....but tell me what you think and I beleive I will return the set....And thanks for the reply!

Sounds defective. Take it back.

Was planning on getting a pioneer 4280 but the value of the 42pz77 can't be ignored. Approx. $600 cheaper here in Canada.

I have a question regarding cooling/overheating issues. I will be wall mounting this above the fireplace. Unfortunately the design of the fireplace mantle is only 46 inches wide.

Hence a 42pz77 barely fits with only about a 3/4 inch on each side. Since plasmas run quite hot, am I going to run into cooling issues?

I ordered the TV 2 weeks ago from last Tuesday, and the local delivery service finally called me to schedule the delivery for yesterday morning between 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM. At first, I was thinking that was kinda early for a delivery, but at that point I would probably have accepted delivery at 3:00 AM. I set the alarm for 6:20 which gave me just enough time to get dressed and snooze on the couch until the delivery guys showed up at my predicted time of 9:30 AM. Well, I was awaken by my cell phone at 6:10 AM by the delivery service telling me they were at the stop sign and would be here momentarily =). Sure enough, 3 minutes later the truck was out front and they quickly carted the TV box into my living room and opened it up to reveal my beautiful new TV. The pedestal base was not attached and they did not offer to install it so I asked that they just leave the TV in the box rather than take it out and lean it against the TV stand, which is what they were getting ready to do. After scrutinizing the box and external areas of the TV for any sign of damage or mistreatment, I signed the delivery papers and let the guys get back to work. At that point, I was on my own and I needed to get the 42" TV out of the box, attach the pedestal, and on to the new TV stand. Not sure what I was thinking, but I decided to wake the wife up and ask her to help me set it up :eek:. She wasn't very receptive happy about that idea so I just did it all myself, and it honestly wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Once I got the TV on the pedestal and sitting on the TV stand, all I had to do was hook up the power cable, and the 2 HDMI cables from the HD-DVR cable box (Comcast) and the DVD player to the back of the TV. I turned the TV on and once the signal from the STB finally came through, I was a little concerned at first because the picture was not very good - it was very grainy and a little blurry. Five minutes later however, after changing the picture mode from vivid to custom and changing the picture settings to zero for the break-in period, the picture started to really come alive. I don't know if the TV was cold or it just takes a few minutes to adjust, but the picture is incredible right now, even with the settings turned way down for the break-in process.

Overall, even with my high expectations for this TV, I am extremely satisfied with the quality of both the styling and picture. I have very little experience to compare to coming from basic cable on a 15 year old CRT to digital HD on a Plasma, but I would say everything about the TV is much better than I had anticipated. I can't wait to get through this voluntary break-in period so I can start fine-tuning the picture and really get the most out of this TV.

I have to say thanks to everyone that contributes to this forum for really making this whole transition from regular TV viewing to HDTV an enjoyable and informative experience. I lurked and searched for about 2 months before making the final decision to buy this specific model plasma and now that I have it set up I feel that I made the right choice. The anti-glare filter on this TV does an amazing job and I am almost 100% certain that any other plasma TV would have been giving me second thoughts had I not purchased this one instead. I was also worried about the size being too small for my situation, but the TV is plenty big for my viewing distance of 8-9 feet.

Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to share my experience and say Thanks to AVS forums! :D

Congrats GoBlue!!!

Nice story you got going. Congrats on your purchase and enjoy the 50"

Thanks to all the reviews in this thread I ordered mine today and hope to have it within the next week or so.

I'm excited and ready to watch March Madness on this bad boy.

Only downfall is Verizon Fios isn't in my neighborhood and I think they will be the superior TV service provider once all is said and done.

Thanks again for all the time put into reviews, calibrating and research.

congrats blue & welcome.

I jumped in and got the 50pz77u lastnight. I had buyers remorse lastnight but I'm over it now.

I upgraded from a Westinghouse LVM-37w3 I bought 2 years ago. Funny thing is I got it for almost the same price (couple 100 more) as when I bought the orignal 37" LCD. The drop in prices is incredible. I am very pleased with the Panasonic.

Hint: To get a better deal look it up on the internet (Frys.com, bestbuy.com, etc.) and use that price as a negotiation tool when you go into a B&M store. Or else just buy from the web.

Nate

Hey guys. I know there is no PRICE TALK allowed, but I think it is allowed to let everyone know that there is an AMAZING price for the 50PZ77U at Frys, ie Outpost.com. I ordered it online on Thursday, picked it up at Frys Sunnyvale last night. I got it for $1100 off the price on the box which is the price in the store. The price is less than EVERY price shown on Nextag! However, they only offer in store pickup in CA at this time.

Hey guys. I know there is no PRICE TALK allowed, but I think it is allowed to let everyone know that there is an AMAZING price for the 50PZ77U at Frys, ie Outpost.com. I ordered it online on Thursday, picked it up at Frys Sunnyvale last night. I got it for $1100 off the price on the box which is the price in the store. The price is less than EVERY price shown on Nextag! However, they only offer in store pickup in CA at this time.

Got the same deal @ Frys.

Hi boardies!
I just got my 50PZ77u and saw this thread. My price was ******, but it was wholesale. Can any one here please give a highlight of this thread. There is no way I can read the whole thing. Someone said there is a break in period? Ill try to scan threw this one and the other tips and tricks thread but some of the tech talk goes right over my head. Thanks.

I just bought my 50PZ77U recently. Before it gets here, I have a few questions as I am a total n00b when it comes to HDTV's.

I currently have Comcast Digital Cable. I have just a regular cable box from Comcast(No HD box yet), will I be able to hook it up to my 50PZ77U? And if so, where do I hook up the cable? What port is it called?

No...if you hook up the cable BEFORE it goes into the comcast box you'll get the qam channels. You need a hi-def comcast box to get all the hi-def channels.

I just bought my 50PZ77U recently. Before it gets here, I have a few questions as I am a total n00b when it comes to HDTV's.

I currently have Comcast Digital Cable. I have just a regular cable box from Comcast(No HD box yet), will I be able to hook it up to my 50PZ77U? And if so, where do I hook up the cable? What port is it called?

Do not use the cable box. Use the coaxial cable from the wall and plug it straight into the back of the TV. Then, do your regular channel scan when seting up the TV (as you would do with any TV), but instead, scan for digital and analog channels. Obviously it will pick up the analog stations, but it will pick up any digital stations Comcast doesn't scramble. They cannot legally scramble any station that can be received locally with an antennae (including HD :)), but often times they conveniently forget to scramble some of the other digital stations they carry. If NBC happens to be channel 3 in your area, the digial version will be 3-1 most likely. To figure out what you get, after you do your scan (which can take about 10-15 minutes), just start with channel 2 and go up one at a time with the channel up botton. It's pretty easy. BTW, this is what I've done with my local cable network and I get 8 HD channels and 10 other SD digital stations plus 53 music stations for free! Best part it is 100% legal :D.

But if I don't use the cable box, I won't be able to get all the other channels.... right? I is confused....

Bought my 50PZ77U from Frys (outpost.com) last week. Great Price! Check it out....

But disappointed in the anti-glare. I already have a 50" 720p that's been calibrated, so I am not biased by the gorgegous display - which is great on my old 7UY Panasonic. Changed to solved the reflection problems with the old monitor.

The plasma is located directly opposite a east facing 12' window. Looking from the sweet spot is directly opposite the window and the glare, although reduced, still makes it difficult to watch during the day.

I know this is probably the worst situation for any monitor, but the question is - will LCD do any better than the 77U? Anyone have first hand experience with this?

Although my TV isn't directly opposite a window I do have a lot of glare issues and that is why I bought the 77U. When I had my 40" LCD in that room (moved to bedroom) it looked washed out during the day which in the end I actually thought was worse than the reflections from the glare so I liked the 77U better. Since glare vs. washed out is a personal preferrence I guess it is which one you can tolerate best.

I actually drove the 3 hours to Fry's to pickup my unit and I love it...although I think I went overboard on the 50" plasma. It looks a bit large for the room that I put it in.

I have a door and a window that lets in light onto the 5077U but the anti glare helps a lot in viewing the picture. Maybe you have a lot of light coming in thru the windows. I put in blinds only, and the picture looks great during day. The black borders around the panel show a lot of reflection, however the panel itself looks great.
Still doing the break-in so far, haven't done a lot of channel viewing.

Do not use the cable box. Use the coaxial cable from the wall and plug it straight into the back of the TV. Then, do your regular channel scan when seting up the TV (as you would do with any TV), but instead, scan for digital and analog channels. Obviously it will pick up the analog stations, but it will pick up any digital stations Comcast doesn't scramble. They cannot legally scramble any station that can be received locally with an antennae (including HD :)), but often times they conveniently forget to scramble some of the other digital stations they carry. If NBC happens to be channel 3 in your area, the digial version will be 3-1 most likely. To figure out what you get, after you do your scan (which can take about 10-15 minutes), just start with channel 2 and go up one at a time with the channel up botton. It's pretty easy. BTW, this is what I've done with my local cable network and I get 8 HD channels and 10 other SD digital stations plus 53 music stations for free! Best part it is 100% legal :D.

I've plugged in the cable directly from the wall into the TV , but for some reason I think all the 50 odd channels (central NJ, thru Comcast) it picked up are all in SD mode, 'coz they don't look sharp. Not sure why HD channels are not being picked up. The only channel that even looked a bit sharp and nice is C-Span (forget the channel #, 21 is it?). Am I doing something wrong or do I need an external antenna to grab the HD channels?

if the antiglare of the 77U does not help then no LCD will do better. I would expect any LCD to be worse given that the picture quality of the 77U is so good. You could try to boost the picture/contrast settings to see if that helps at all.

if the antiglare of the 77U does not help then no LCD will do better. I would expect any LCD to be worse given that the picture quality of the 77U is so good. You could try to boost the picture/contrast settings to see if that helps at all.

I'd be surptirsed to see a situation where that screen does not help. My Pz77 is in a very bright living room and even at the brighest time of the day the picture is outstanding...clearly it's better at night, but compared to screens with no antiglare the diff is remarkable. My bud has the 700 and during the day it's unwatchable.

Well, I've had my TH-50PZ77U hooked up for a couple weeks now and it looks fantastic! Watching Blu-rays on it literally takes my breath away. I do have one question, though....

Recently it's been turning off randomly on me.. It's only done it twice, but it does have me a little worried, even though I think it may be the outlet it's plugged into. We have bad outlets in our house and things seem to just shut off on rare occasions.

I have yet to get an extended warranty on it, and now I'm not sure if I can get one since I've had the TV for nearly a month. How long after you buy the TV can you get an extended warranty? If I can still get one, is there one you folks would recommend?

I've yet to try plugging the cable directly into the TV. I'll get to it eventually I'm sure.

Some places let you purchase one within the 1st 30 days. But sounds like maybe you need to invest in a UPS/Surge Protector.

i've been on these forums and checking other reviews for a few days now. i think the 77u is a good fit for me. my question is this, i know that store displays are not an accurate representation (source footage, lighting, not optimal settings, etc.), but while 77u looks great on paper i have to say i'm not at all impressed with the image in the store. actually the sony's usually look really good to me, but i do want a plasma and have read that panasonic's are great. does the 77u look that much better after optimal settings? did any of you who bought the 77u experience this? thanks!

does anyone know of any Panny set that displays OTA station programming menus and what new models may? looking towards a 50". thanks!

i've been on these forums and checking other reviews for a few days now. i think the 77u is a good fit for me. my question is this, i know that store displays are not an accurate representation (source footage, lighting, not optimal settings, etc.), but while 77u looks great on paper i have to say i'm not at all impressed with the image in the store. actually the sony's usually look really good to me, but i do want a plasma and have read that panasonic's are great. does the 77u look that much better after optimal settings? did any of you who bought the 77u experience this? thanks!

It will absolutely will look better once you dial in the settings. I love my 4277U but I have to say it is more difficult to get that image dialed in...but once you do...wow is it impressive ;) (and yes I did use the service menu tweaks discussed in the 77 tweak thread too)

Some places let you purchase one within the 1st 30 days. But sounds like maybe you need to invest in a UPS/Surge Protector.Oh? Where might I find a good surge protector at a good price? Or, is there a model you would suggest over others?

Thanks for the help.

My recommendation is to go the ups route (uninterrupted power supply) like the APC I use. It's not hugely expensive and will give additional backup by way of battery power during a blackout. So, you get surge protection and battery back-up.

Oh? Where might I find a good surge protector at a good price? Or, is there a model you would suggest over others?

Thanks for the help.

APC is a good way to go, for something a little cheaper you could get lucky with a Power Sentry or something like that. Watch thingfling and woot, also watch dealnews.net for good prices. Stay away from monster unless you can get it for like 30% of retail, they are not bad just way overpriced.

The only reason I mentioned getting a good UPS/Surge Protector is because based on your post If I were you I'd want to know for sure whether it is my electrical or if the Panny is actaully having an issue. Would be good insurance for the current or replacement TV too.

It will absolutely will look better once you dial in the settings. I love my 4277U but I have to say it is more difficult to get that image dialed in...but once you do...wow is it impressive ;) (and yes I did use the service menu tweaks discussed in the 77 tweak thread too)

I agree. Even just using the THX Optimizer after the break in period got me a better pic than what I saw in the showroom.

I know there is no price talk, per se. But, I do want to mention that I got a very good deal on the 42PZ77 at 6ave.com. The listed price was pretty low, with free shipping. But, I also used a 5% off coupon which made it way lower than even those Brooklyn rip-off stores you see listed on all the price comparison sites. (I know thw 50" at Fry's is actually a better value. I just can't use 50". Plus, I also have a 92" FP screen setup in the same room.)

OTOH, I haven't received it yet. So, I can't comment on speed or quality of delivery.

I hate to be a bother, but could somebody post some settings so I could optimize my picture? Or link to a page of this topic with settings(it's like 80 pages long, I don't feel like going through all that, lol)?

The picture looks good out of the box, but I sure would love to tweak it and get the best picture I can. And since I'm a n00b, I don't want to go at it by myself. Any help would be appreciated!

Is there a post or thread with some optimal settings for the TH-50PZ77U?????

Any help is appreciated.

Is there a post or thread with some optimal settings for the TH-50PZ77U?????

Any help is appreciated.

Check this thread out...lots of good info ;)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=938089

If I am watching HD television broadcasts (in either 1080i or 720p), will there be any difference between the quality of the picture on the pz77u (1080p) than the px77u (720p)?

Aside from less pixelation on the pz77u, I would think the 1080i signal would look better on the 1080p set and the 720p signal would look better on the 720p set. They just more closely match the native resolution of their respective plasma displays. I remember seeing previously that people thought 720 signals were better on a 720p display, and I have 3 1080p diplays, and the 1080i signals definitely look better on all of them.

So I have programmed my Onkyo SR800 remote and have everything up and running, but I can't figure out how to pull up my TV settings if I need to switch from 1:1 mode to the other HD size. How does one get the PZ77 menu up and how do you change the aspect with this remote? Thanks.

Aside from less pixelation on the pz77u, I would think the 1080i signal would look better on the 1080p set and the 720p signal would look better on the 720p set. They just more closely match the native resolution of their respective plasma displays. I remember seeing previously that people thought 720 signals were better on a 720p display, and I have 3 1080p diplays, and the 1080i signals definitely look better on all of them.

Thanks. For some reason I believe the pz (1080p) appears more grainy (I see more pixelation) than the px (720p). I dont think that makes sense, so I must just be seeing things.

I own the 50PZ77. I have read a few professional reviews of this model and they have concluded that the anti-glare screen works well. However, I've also read that many owners of this model think that the anti-glare screen diminishes the picture quality. Complaints like "lack of pop" and "muted picture" come to mind. Most of them go onto say that the PZ700 without the anti-glare is better. I would like to know what the sales staff who worked with both TV's would say when comparing picture quality. Is there really much difference between the two TV's picture quality?

Just picked up the 42PZ77 here in Tampa for 800.00 off the box price and I must say I haven't even tweaked the thing yet (will get to that in a minute) and it is ALREADY the best TV I have *EVER* demoed! Almost *EVERY SINGLE TIME* I bring a TV home or have one delivered I immediately have complaints. My last acquisition, the Sharp 46" 62U Series had the infamous "clouds" right out of the box, and wasn't that impressive. *This* thing however, almost gives Pioneer's PRO-FHD1 a serious run for it's money despite the size difference, and that was the tv I was originally going to buy. Only the Deep Encased Cell Structure of the Pio's (read crispness) can not be matched by the Pana sets. So in other words, the additional cost, size, and WEIGHT for a tiny apartment dweller like me, makes the 50" Pio unable to compete with the phenomenal value in this Panasonic.

Anyhow, I was curious if there was any way to access the menus from the set itself? I don't understand WHY manufacturers keep going back and forth on this stupid and obvious feature. Sony for the longest time never put the menu controls on the front panel and then they started doing it on EVERY model back in the day, now manufacturers are going back to practically no controls on the front.

I have a universal remote that almost works everything except for the "ENTER" button of the normal Menu. I can get into the menu, but I cant advance forward in it. As my TV was missing the remote, I guess I'll have to track one down.

Unfortuantely, my 50PZ77U died after a loud "pop" (like a cap blow off or something) and shut down itself after I got it 1 and half month ago (not even through burn in hours since I only watched average less than 2 hour per day, not keen to use burn-in DVD either even I had a copy). The red LED was blinking 10 times and pause. Anyone knows this error code? I saw 7 blinks in early thread. The Panasonic service person was scheduled, but 3 days away (he had not called me yet). And it would be big dramer again to take it down from the wall and re-connect all these cables. Frankly, I was very disppointed with the quality they have. I just donated my 10 years 25" TV (running very solid after 4 movings). And my 8 years old Sony Wega TV was still doing perfect after 3 house moving. I could not imagine for such an expansive plasma would have problem within 50 hours usage. If it was power supply issue, I might take the repair. Otherwise, I will demand for a new set.

By the way, the picture was great even I set all 0 during burn-in period. And anti-glare worked perfect well in my very lit open living-room/nook/kitchen area (many big windows). After seeing pz80/85 thread, I am very satisfy my 77U. But now, I really worried about the quality.

I currently have a 42" Philips LCD (7403), but I am seriously considering returning it for the 42PZ77U. I have heard that burn in is a serious issue when playing games. Anyone have any advice? Thanks.

I currently have a 42" Philips LCD (7403), but I am seriously considering returning it for the 42PZ77U. I have heard that burn in is a serious issue when playing games.

Anyone have any advice?Yes. Read the Master Burn-In thread stickied at the top of this forum - this is where all such questions are supposed to be asked:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=949107

Thanks for the info Randy.

hello..

sorry for noob question... but I was just wondering something...

I've read that the new Vieira model TH-42PZ85U support 24p native reproduction while TH-42PZ77U does 3:2 pulldown to display 24p content (pls correct me if I'm wrong)

My question is: how different is the 85 series compare to the 77? Can you really tell the difference? Or is it basically the same thing?

I just recently purchased TH-42PZ77U and wondering if I should spend a bit more to upgrade to TH-42PZ85U.. the 3 HDMI should help to in the future..

hello..

sorry for noob question... but I was just wondering something...

I've read that the new Vieira model TH-42PZ85U support 24p native reproduction while TH-42PZ77U does 3:2 pulldown to display 24p content (pls correct me if I'm wrong)

My question is: how different is the 85 series compare to the 77? Can you really tell the difference? Or is it basically the same thing?

I just recently purchased TH-42PZ77U and wondering if I should spend a bit more to upgrade to TH-42PZ85U.. the 3 HDMI should help to in the future..

I can't speak for the new 85 model but as I understand it 24fps is to help eliminate jitter...I have never noticed any jitter on my 77. I think it is more marketing BS than anything.

The 3 hdmi's now is another thing...and I'm sure it will be helpful. I myself got an Oppo switcher (than I believe Randy recommended). It has priority ports and auto-switches...very nice ;)

I can't speak for the new 85 model but as I understand it 24fps is to help eliminate jitter...I have never noticed any jitter on my 77. I think it is more marketing BS than anything.

The 3 hdmi's now is another thing...and I'm sure it will be helpful. I myself got an Oppo switcher (than I believe Randy recommended). It has priority ports and auto-switches...very nice ;)

hey thanks for the response.. that's what I figured.. and 24fps is mostly used for movie content right? I wonder if I'm really gonna notice the difference compared side by side...

I actually am really interested with the anti-glare that 77 offered (since I'm very paranoid about glare). I wonder why they discontinued this feature in this year's model...

I actually am really interested with the anti-glare that 77 offered (since I'm very paranoid about glare). I wonder why they discontinued this feature in this year's model...

Same reason I went for it ;) It does an outstanding job with glare but I think it does make it very hard to calibrate this set to your liking. Thankfully with the service menu tweaks and other tips posted in the pz77 tweak thread my set is now jaw dropping ;)

I think the aggressive anti-glare coating and often washed out appearance (especially in store displays) caused them to discontinue it...which is too bad seeing how many DO like it on here.

Same reason I went for it ;) It does an outstanding job with glare but I think it does make it very hard to calibrate this set to your liking. Thankfully with the service menu tweaks and other tips posted in the pz77 tweak thread my set is now jaw dropping ;)

I think the aggressive anti-glare coating and often washed out appearance (especially in store displays) caused them to discontinue it...which is too bad seeing how many DO like it on here.

I'd sacrifice a bit of PQ to get anti-glare.. really.. the reason I'm not getting LCD is because of the blurriness.. even on 120hz set! gives me a headache..

So you never experience jitter on your 77 set right? I think that's good enough for me...

2 HDMIs are probably good enough for now... cable box only accept up to 1080i right, so I guess component cable is enough?

I'd sacrifice a bit of PQ to get anti-glare.. really.. the reason I'm not getting LCD is because of the blurriness.. even on 120hz set! gives me a headache..

So you never experience jitter on your 77 set right? I think that's good enough for me...

2 HDMIs are probably good enough for now... cable box only accept up to 1080i right, so I guess component cable is enough?

I've used component and HDMI with my HR20 and I can't tell much difference....but I did go ahead and get this because I wanted my compy hooked up to it as well:

http://www.amazon.com/OPPO-HM-31-Certified-1080p-Switch/dp/B000UQCAKW

So now I have the HR20 on HDMI 1 and the Oppo on 2 with the PS3, Toshiba A30, and my compy ;)

I've used component and HDMI with my HR20 and I can't tell much difference....but I did go ahead and get this because I wanted my compy hooked up to it as well:

http://www.amazon.com/OPPO-HM-31-Certified-1080p-Switch/dp/B000UQCAKW

So now I have the HR20 on HDMI 1 and the Oppo on 2 with the PS3, Toshiba A30, and my compy ;)

Yeah I might get that as well when it's time..

Btw my set just got arrived yesterday night... it's beautiful.. no scratches, no dead pixel.. I feel like a kid on christmas morning :p Haven't really figure out the setting though... might just leave everything on 0 for a while... I know 'proper' break in might not be necessary.. but just in case...

Anyway you mentioned that you used it for computer.. how does it look like? what's the distance you're using it? did you use DVI-HDMI cable for it?

Yeah I might get that as well when it's time..

Btw my set just got arrived yesterday night... it's beautiful.. no scratches, no dead pixel.. I feel like a kid on christmas morning :p Haven't really figure out the setting though... might just leave everything on 0 for a while... I know 'proper' break in might not be necessary.. but just in case...

Anyway you mentioned that you used it for computer.. how does it look like? what's the distance you're using it? did you use DVI-HDMI cable for it?

Yep DVI-HDMI cable and it looks fantastic. I only use it for media clips and the such...some games. It is right next to my compy so I figured why not. My normal viewing distance for tv is about 8 feet, for games sometimes I sit in my desk chair and get about 4-5 feet ;)

If you haven't heard of them....monoprice is the ONLY place to get cables. HDMI, DVI, networking, you name it they have it...and cheap/great quality ;)

Yep DVI-HDMI cable and it looks fantastic. I only use it for media clips and the such...some games. It is right next to my compy so I figured why not. My normal viewing distance for tv is about 8 feet, for games sometimes I sit in my desk chair and get about 4-5 feet ;)

If you haven't heard of them....monoprice is the ONLY place to get cables. HDMI, DVI, networking, you name it they have it...and cheap/great quality ;)

LOL

yeah.. I got all of my cables from monoprice... their price is sweeeeeet..

One of my computer monitor just died last week, and the other one got a big, red, dead pixel right in the middle of the screen.. so I might just plug my comp into the TV to substitute them..

I have the following tv, TH-42PZ77U. I have basic cable on TW and get about 6 "clear Qam" HD channels. The are as follows

88.1 - (ABC or NBC or CBS) - Not sure what it was
88.2 - (ABC or NBC or CBS) - Not sure what it was
88.3 - WNED
89.1 - (ABC or NBC or CBS) - Not sure what it was
106.1 - FOX
106.2 - My Network TV
10* (CAnt remeber off hand) but it was another Wned Theater or something
111.4 - TBS

Last week I had to connect a pair of rabbit ears to watch the football game on CBS in HD (Our cable provider is feuding) and when I did that I had to rescan for antenna. This works and I watched the game. When I was done I connected the cable back up and rescanned the TV for both analog and digital with cable.

Well it found all my music choice channels, found the 111.4 channel and several others I do not care to watch. It did not find

88.1 - (ABC or NBC or CBS) - Not sure what it was
88.2 - (ABC or NBC or CBS) - Not sure what it was
88.3 - WNED
89.1 - (ABC or NBC or CBS) - Not sure what it was
106.1 - FOX
106.2 - My Network TV

When I manually go to these channels and type in 88.1 it will say channel not available.

Now if I type in 88 it will display the "snow" for a few seconds and then (NOt always) will display the 88.1 channel in HD. 88.1 is NBC and it will display it. I can hit the recall and see its in 1080I. If I tyoe in 89 it will display the WNED HD channel. Now this will not do it every time I type that channel but it will do it most of the time. Now I can type in 106 and when it works, it displays FOX. Now I cannot see the other channels. like 106-2 or 88-2.

I called and spoke with time warner and they say nothing has changed. I posted on these forums for the buffalo ny region and got replies stating the channels are still there in the same spot.

Someone suggested possible that the channel bank is messed up. Now I have done the following

1) reset tv using the reset option in setup
2) discconneced power some an extending perod of time
3) upgraded to the newest firmware on panasonics website
4) called tech support and they are mailing me out(The same firmware) for me to try again

my question is, has anyone seen this issue?
Is my TV fubar?

Need some help with my 42" PZ77U. For about two months the TV has been giving off a buzzing/chirping noise at random times. I have noticed that it often occurs during really dark sections of video, but it doesn't really have a pattern. However, when the picture has a lot of movement it very rarely occurs.

I know that these panasonics had some power supply issues and was wondering if that was the problem? I have had the set for just under two years, but the chirping noise is getting very annoying. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Is the TH-42PZ77 capable of 120 hz playback?

No, you're thinking of the 120hz that's advertised for LCD TV's, to reduce motion blur.

Plasma's work differently. You won't see any motion blur on the Plasma.

Need some help with my 42" PZ77U. For about two months the TV has been giving off a buzzing/chirping noise at random times. I have noticed that it often occurs during really dark sections of video, but it doesn't really have a pattern. However, when the picture has a lot of movement it very rarely occurs.

I know that these panasonics had some power supply issues and was wondering if that was the problem? I have had the set for just under two years, but the chirping noise is getting very annoying. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Mine is doing the same thing. Just over 2 years old. Did you find out what the cure is?

Hopefully mine does not start this or it will be time for a new 54" S series. Any updates on this problem?

This issue has been around for a long time but I've seen no mentions of a fix.
When watching over the air broadcast HD and a high contrast image comes up and sound will garble (I've read "chirp" and "crackle" too). Because this usually only happens during closing credits or commercials it's not too big of a deal for me. But I don't think the other 10 people who don't have cable should have to put up with it.
I think it's a hardware issue personally. And thus there is no solution. Someday my HTPC will take over the tuning and all will be better. But that day always seem to be in the future.

I thought I'd bump the previous post during daytime hours.
How many people have the garbled sound problem?