New Panasonic THX Certified 42PZ800U, 46PZ800U, and 50PZ800U Thread!

Jack White · 03-13-08, 01:20 PM

I'm so tired of waiting for them checking the stores and not seeing them.
Let's discuss them while waiting for them to show up in stores.
I'm probably going to buy the 42PZ800U for my bedroom as I only have a 5 foot viewing distance, it would be perfect. I'm also going to get a bluray player and probably a 4 year service plan on the Plasma.
I only wish I had something like a Onkyo 605 to go along with it, but unfortunately I have an Onkyo 504 which is 7.1, but only TRUE 6.1.

videoaddikt · 03-13-08, 04:11 PM

Good. I'm waiting for more people to jump in and buy these, along with publications that do reviews. After a couple of months when the dust settles, I will make my decision based on my own observations as well reviews, and experiences of the first owners.

Wow, 5' sounds close even for a 42". Not for real HD programming but SD would have been going back another couple of feet I think.

Ericthemidget · 03-13-08, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack White

I'm so tired of waiting for them checking the stores and not seeing them.
Let's discuss them while waiting for them to show up in stores.
I'm probably going to buy the 42PZ800U for my bedroom as I only have a 5 foot viewing distance, it would be perfect. I'm also going to get a bluray player and probably a 4 year service plan on the Plasma.
I only wish I had something like a Onkyo 605 to go along with it, but unfortunately I have an Onkyo 504 which is 7.1, but only TRUE 6.1.

What is TRUE 6.1?

AlexInvision · 03-13-08, 04:30 PM

You may not see these units until the end of April to early May.

jhusky · 03-13-08, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexInvision

You may not see these units until the end of April to early May.

counting the days man

spincut · 03-13-08, 06:00 PM

why start a seperate thread when they're not out yet??

anyway i just called panasonic and their rep didnt even have to think about the question, he almost immediately shot back mid-late may, he seemed pretty confident.

then again i'm not acting like that's finite at all, i'm just saying thats what happened when i called and asked.

AlexInvision · 03-13-08, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhusky

counting the days man

I will post updates when I can for guys, I recieved the PZ85 series earlier than they said it would be out. This series might be the same case.

Jack White · 03-13-08, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ericthemidget

What is TRUE 6.1?

DTS ES 6.1 Discrete is TRUE 6.1

Dolby Digital EX is fake 6.1(matrixed).

Dolby True HD(Lossless Compression) and DTS HD(Lossless Compression) are TRUE 7.1

Dolby Digital 5.1 is TRUE 5.1

DTS 5.1 is TRUE 5.1

Dolby Digital PLUS is up to True 7.1

joeLTron · 03-13-08, 06:42 PM

When I check the in-stock date at work, it shows 3/23...I'll keep checking and keep you guys informed.

I work at MHT btw.

neobunch · 03-13-08, 06:51 PM

I had decided on the 50PZ700 a little over a month go and then the 2008 models were anounced, so obviously now I'm waiting to get the 800.

I'm only buying it to play videogames on it, so I'm concerned with a couple of developments:
- The game mode: last year's line didn't have this feature because IT DIDN'T NEED IT! I'm hoping it's only a marketing gimmick to go against LCDs and not a real necessity of the displays (to cut on processing stuff to minimize in/out lag).
- The green phospor firing being reported on the new lower models (PZ80). Regarding this, I read through all of the PZ700 thread and don't recall any concern in this regard, mainly IR and Burn in but I know those are tamed beast now. Do any of you recall seeing this phospor trail thing in connection with last year's models?

This will be my first HDTV so I'm pretty anxious about everything

AlexInvision · 03-13-08, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neobunch

I had decided on the 50PZ700 a little over a month go and then the 2008 models were anounced, so obviously now I'm waiting to get the 800.

I'm only buying it to play videogames on it, so I'm concerned with a couple of developments:
- The game mode: last year's line didn't have this feature because IT DIDN'T NEED IT! I'm hoping it's only a marketing gimmick to go against LCDs and not a real necessity of the displays (to cut on processing stuff to minimize in/out lag).
- The green phospor firing being reported on the new lower models (PZ80). Regarding this, I read through all of the PZ700 thread and don't recall any concern in this regard, mainly IR and Burn in but I know those are tamed beast now. Do any of you recall seeing this phospor trail thing in connection with last year's models?

This will be my first HDTV so I'm pretty anxious about everything

It is always a great experience when you buy your first HDTV. Whichever one you buy I hope it works out for you.

Bill1313 · 03-13-08, 06:59 PM

I'm guessing that you won't be able to get them until the beginning of June probably pretty much the same as the PZ700's release date last year & remember usually the first ones into the stores end up as display models.

I hate to say it but if the opening price for the 42" is going to be around the $2,000 mark they can keep them.

Jack White · 03-13-08, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeLTron

When I check the in-stock date at work, it shows 3/23...I'll keep checking and keep you guys informed.

I work at MHT btw.

So it's going to be in the Magnolia section? I'm surprised it's not in the regular Home Theater section. I mean even the Kuro 5010 is in the regular Home Theater section and that's far more expensive than the PZ800U.

Jack White · 03-13-08, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1313

I'm guessing that you won't be able to get them until the beginning of June probably pretty much the same as the PZ700's release date last year & remember usually the first ones into the stores end up as display models.

I hate to say it but if the opening price for the 42" is going to be around the $2,000 mark they can keep them.

I heard $2,299

It will be cheaper online though.

creemail · 03-13-08, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack White

I heard $2,299

It will be cheaper online though.

For which model?

Chris

Trackman · 03-13-08, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack White

DTS ES 6.1 Discrete is TRUE 6.1

Dolby Digital EX is fake 6.1(matrixed).

Dolby True HD and DTS HD are TRUE 7.1

Dolby Digital 5.1 is TRUE 5.1

DTS 5.1 is TRUE 5.1

Dolby Digital PLUS is TRUE 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED.

DD+ is compressed - usually at 667k to 1.5 mps.

AuDiOBoY529 · 03-13-08, 10:11 PM

Hey Jack -

As a gesture you might want to add the pz850 series to the title of this thread because they are also THX Certified displays.

Bill1313 · 03-13-08, 11:33 PM

From what I'm reading the 850 is not going to be THX certified.

Peejay926 · 03-13-08, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1313

From what I'm reading the 850 is not going to be THX certified.

Why wouldn't it be it's better than the 800u?

Jack White · 03-14-08, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creemail

For which model?

Chris

42PZ800U

RandyWalters · 03-14-08, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1313

I'm guessing that you won't be able to get them until the beginning of June probably pretty much the same as the PZ700's release date last year & remember usually the first ones into the stores end up as display models.

I wouldn't go by what happened last year, the PX80U was released a month or two before the PX75U was last year so maybe the PZ800U will come out a month or two before the PZ700U hit the stores last year.

Quote:

I hate to say it but if the opening price for the 42" is going to be around the $2,000 mark they can keep them.

They'll probably be going for MSRP for the first month or two in B&Ms, then start to go on sale after that (like what happened with the PZ700U last year).

Jack White · 03-14-08, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackman

DD+ is compressed - usually at 667k to 1.5 mps.

You're right, it was Dolby True-HD and DTS HD that use LOSSLESS compression which is basically EQUAL to Uncompressed sound.

Jack White · 03-14-08, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuDiOBoY529

Hey Jack -

As a gesture you might want to add the pz850 series to the title of this thread because they are also THX Certified displays.

Well, let's be democratic and take a vote, who thinks the 850 series should be included in this thread, and who thinks the 850 series deserve a whole new thread? The only reason I didn't just add it was because there were people arguing if the 850 series were THX certified or not.
In fact I don't know if it is or isn't.
It's up to the other Panasonic fans to decide.

AuDiOBoY529 · 03-14-08, 12:46 AM

Bill1313 -

Actually I work for a panasonic retailer on the west coast, and I get in touch with the panasonic. He conform that the 850 are THX certified. It wouldn't make any sense to have it on the lower model (800s) and not have it on the 850s.

Jack White -

I vote that we should include the 850s series in this thread.

To all whose wants the know that availbilty of these tvs. Panasonic is trying to release all the models available by summer. In other words the Bejing Olympics. That also includes the bigger sets: 58" and 65".

am777 · 03-14-08, 01:03 AM

According to this comparision chart - http://www.brightandsleek.com/pdf/Pa...ison_chart.pdf

the 850 doesn't list THX.

It may be due to the 850 having DCC that the 800 does not have....

This was discussed in the main 2008 panny thread -

Quote:

Originally Posted by am777

Another thing to note guys is that in this comparision sheet, the PZ850 seems to have a different glass from the 800...

800 - "One Sheet of Glass Design"

850 - "One Sheet of Glass Design with Color Enhancement"

See the 2008 step up features column....

http://www.brightandsleek.com/pdf/Pa...ison_chart.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDPeeT

Here's a new article over at Home Theater Mag:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/news/031208panasonic/

They talk about the new color settings on the PZ800/850 models, and seem to indicate that the THX certified 800 may actually have more accurate color reproduction closer to the ATSC standard than the more expensive 850 models which will not be THX certified and instead will feature Digital Cinema Color. Talking about the Digital Cinema Color Mark said "A quick A/B demo showed more intensely saturated colors in flowers, strawberries, and the like. Whether they were more realistic was hard to say. Note that THX Certified Display and Digital Cinema Color are mutually exclusive. You can't buy them both in the same product."

This sounds like good news for those of us looking forward to the PZ800Us. More accurate colors for a lower price is always a plus in my book.

This different glass for the 850 probably has to do with the DCC and it's 120% extra (of HDTV std.) color gamut (See DCC in - http://panasonic.net/pavc/viera/features/america.html)

I agree...more accurate colors (closer to the HDTV std) for less $$$ seems like a plus to me also

EDIT - Although they do say that current digital movie theater projectors have this larger color gamut....so it'd be interesting to know what color gamut movies on Blu-ray disc use..... (maybe they have a wider gamut than HDTV std?)....more reading required.....if anyone knows please chime in....

am777 · 03-14-08, 01:14 AM

on deeper inspection, while the 850 does not list THX in it's "2007 to 2008 feature change" it does say "PZ800 features plus"...which would imply it has the THX from the 800 plus....

BUT on the other hand for the other features like "game mode" which none of the 2007s had they do list that for each 2008 model in the "2007 to 2008 feature change" section, but they do not do for THX in the 850.....so that implies that it does not

panny likes to tease.....

EDIT - also the hometheatermag.com article did state "Note that THX Certified Display and Digital Cinema Color are mutually exclusive. You can't buy them both in the same product" Maybe a different thread for the 850s would be better.....

videoaddikt · 03-14-08, 01:16 PM

I would like to see these judged on their own, without a 'certification' label having any bearing at all. I guess that's what HTmag was intending to do. But most less than savvy consumers do not read such articles.

As it stands, it just throws more confusion in the pile, just what consumers still struggling to understand the technology and what they are getting for their money, don't need.

sirbrillo · 03-14-08, 01:35 PM

any idea if the professional versions will get the THX certification and 24p playback?

AlexInvision · 03-14-08, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1313

I'm guessing that you won't be able to get them until the beginning of June probably pretty much the same as the PZ700's release date last year & remember usually the first ones into the stores end up as display models.

I hate to say it but if the opening price for the 42" is going to be around the $2,000 mark they can keep them.

I have seen the pricing and it is not as bad as you would think.

iatacs19 · 03-14-08, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbrillo

any idea if the professional versions will get the THX certification and 24p playback?

800U and 850U will have 1080p24 @ 48Hz according to Panasonic.

800U is THX certified.

03-13-08, 01:20 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
Jack White Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 786	New Panasonic THX Certified 42PZ800U, 46PZ800U, and 50PZ800U Thread! I'm so tired of waiting for them checking the stores and not seeing them. Let's discuss them while waiting for them to show up in stores. I'm probably going to buy the 42PZ800U for my bedroom as I only have a 5 foot viewing distance, it would be perfect. I'm also going to get a bluray player and probably a 4 year service plan on the Plasma. I only wish I had something like a Onkyo 605 to go along with it, but unfortunately I have an Onkyo 504 which is 7.1, but only TRUE 6.1.

03-13-08, 06:51 PM	#10 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
neobunch Grateful Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mexico City Posts: 45	I had decided on the 50PZ700 a little over a month go and then the 2008 models were anounced, so obviously now I'm waiting to get the 800. I'm only buying it to play videogames on it, so I'm concerned with a couple of developments: - The game mode: last year's line didn't have this feature because IT DIDN'T NEED IT! I'm hoping it's only a marketing gimmick to go against LCDs and not a real necessity of the displays (to cut on processing stuff to minimize in/out lag). - The green phospor firing being reported on the new lower models (PZ80). Regarding this, I read through all of the PZ700 thread and don't recall any concern in this regard, mainly IR and Burn in but I know those are tamed beast now. Do any of you recall seeing this phospor trail thing in connection with last year's models? This will be my first HDTV so I'm pretty anxious about everything

03-14-08, 01:14 AM	#26 \| Link
am777 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York Posts: 447	on deeper inspection, while the 850 does not list THX in it's "2007 to 2008 feature change" it does say "PZ800 features plus"...which would imply it has the THX from the 800 plus.... BUT on the other hand for the other features like "game mode" which none of the 2007s had they do list that for each 2008 model in the "2007 to 2008 feature change" section, but they do not do for THX in the 850.....so that implies that it does not panny likes to tease..... EDIT - also the hometheatermag.com article did state "Note that THX Certified Display and Digital Cinema Color are mutually exclusive. You can't buy them both in the same product" Maybe a different thread for the 850s would be better..... __________________ Don't Shudder at the Judder - 24p Judder and Smear 1080p Does Matter - Here's When (Screen Size vs. Viewing Distance vs. Resolution) Last edited by am777; 03-14-08 at 10:29 AM..

03-14-08, 01:35 PM	#28 \| Link
sirbrillo Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 132	any idea if the professional versions will get the THX certification and 24p playback? __________________ Panasonic 42PX60U Plasma Onkyo 706 THX Reciever Sony PS3 Paradigm Monitor Series Speakers M&K THX Subwoofer

03-13-08, 04:11 PM	#2 \| Link
videoaddikt AVS Special Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Clovis, CA Posts: 2,759	Good. I'm waiting for more people to jump in and buy these, along with publications that do reviews. After a couple of months when the dust settles, I will make my decision based on my own observations as well reviews, and experiences of the first owners. Wow, 5' sounds close even for a 42". Not for real HD programming but SD would have been going back another couple of feet I think.

03-13-08, 04:30 PM	#4 \| Link
AlexInvision AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,312	You may not see these units until the end of April to early May.

03-13-08, 06:00 PM	#6 \| Link
spincut AVS Special Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,865	why start a seperate thread when they're not out yet?? anyway i just called panasonic and their rep didnt even have to think about the question, he almost immediately shot back mid-late may, he seemed pretty confident. then again i'm not acting like that's finite at all, i'm just saying thats what happened when i called and asked.

03-13-08, 06:42 PM	#9 \| Link
joeLTron Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 212	When I check the in-stock date at work, it shows 3/23...I'll keep checking and keep you guys informed. I work at MHT btw.

03-13-08, 06:59 PM	#12 \| Link
Bill1313 AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,633	I'm guessing that you won't be able to get them until the beginning of June probably pretty much the same as the PZ700's release date last year & remember usually the first ones into the stores end up as display models. I hate to say it but if the opening price for the 42" is going to be around the $2,000 mark they can keep them.

03-13-08, 10:11 PM	#17 \| Link
AuDiOBoY529 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 175	Hey Jack - As a gesture you might want to add the pz850 series to the title of this thread because they are also THX Certified displays.

03-13-08, 11:33 PM	#18 \| Link
Bill1313 AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,633	From what I'm reading the 850 is not going to be THX certified.

03-14-08, 12:46 AM	#24 \| Link
AuDiOBoY529 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 175	Bill1313 - Actually I work for a panasonic retailer on the west coast, and I get in touch with the panasonic. He conform that the 850 are THX certified. It wouldn't make any sense to have it on the lower model (800s) and not have it on the 850s. Jack White - I vote that we should include the 850s series in this thread. To all whose wants the know that availbilty of these tvs. Panasonic is trying to release all the models available by summer. In other words the Bejing Olympics. That also includes the bigger sets: 58" and 65".

03-14-08, 01:16 PM	#27 \| Link
videoaddikt AVS Special Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Clovis, CA Posts: 2,759	I would like to see these judged on their own, without a 'certification' label having any bearing at all. I guess that's what HTmag was intending to do. But most less than savvy consumers do not read such articles. As it stands, it just throws more confusion in the pile, just what consumers still struggling to understand the technology and what they are getting for their money, don't need.