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#1 · (Edited)
Looks like the new S60 series is beginning to hit store shelves the first week of March.....

TC-P42S60 $729 (still $729) http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P42S60

TC-P50S60 $899 (now $829) http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P50S60

TC-P55S60 $1,099 (now $999) http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P55S60

TC-P60S60 $1,299 (still $1,299) http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P60S60

TC-P65S60 $1,899 (now $1,699) http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P65S60



S60 Owner's Manual (contains line drawings with dimensions): http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/TCP42S60.PDF

S60 E-Help Manual (that's built into the TV): http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/E-HELP_S60.PDF



There is also a limited-run Costco/Sams Club version of the S60 called the S64 series that is exactly the same as the S60 series, but simply adds the Anti-Reflective Louver Filter from the higher-end ST60/VT60 models. The S64 is only available in 50" and 65" screen sizes:

S64 Owner's Manual (dimensions but NO line drawings):http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/TC50PS64.PDF

S64 E-Help Manual (that's built into the TV): http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/E-HELP_PS64.PDF


Some Owner Settings:

PlasmaPZ80U's Settings: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread/4260#post_23785326


Fairchild99's Settings: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread/1290#post_23290695



D-Nice Settings thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1466472/2013-panasonic-settings-issues-thread



Quick way to Check the Hours Used Via the regular User Menu (same for all 2013 models):

Go to Menu > Help > Version > and scroll down to Status4. On that line you'll see a letter A or B or C followed by a 4-digit number which is the number of hours. A0039-0000 for instance would be 39 hours. C1926-00000 would be 1,926 hours.


(link is apparently broken since the forum upgrade):
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread/4770#post_23863508


How to Check the Hours Used Via the Service Menu:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1403635/o...hread-no-street-price-talk/5100#post_22769982


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#2 ·
Scanning the manual it looks like the S60 has a lot more features than the U50 that it replaced:


Has Pro Settings Menu in Custom and also in Cinema mode


Copy Settings function to copy your Custom or Cinema settings to another input or all inputs


Has a new Home Theater picture mode - provides a soft film-like picture for watching movies in a dark room


24p Direct In


1080p Pixel Direct - Enables 1080p 24/60 4:4:4 signal


Has HDMI/DVI RGB range Auto/Standard/Non-Standard adjustment (standard RGB 16-235 or non-compliance 0-255)


Overscan On/Off setting (looks like it replaces HDMI Size 1 and HDMI Size 2)


Has more stretch modes, and adds vertical size adjustment to the Just mode


Screen Display On/Off (useful when listening to sound without watching the screen - press any key and picture returns)


Screen Wipe (Scrolling Bar) doesn't mention being timed out after 15 minutes like before, pressing any key cancels it


Built-In Wireless


Does not have an Anti-Reflective Filter (according to AVJ)


42" Warranty is Carry In, but 50" and larger is still In-Home
 
#5 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23031166


Scanning the manual it looks like the S60 has a lot more features than the U50 that it replaced:


Does not have an Anti-Reflective Filter (according to AVJ)

You mean it's just a bare sheet of glass with no coating of any kind?
 
#7 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by RWetmore  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23034158


You mean it's just a bare sheet of glass with no coating of any kind?

Yes, presumably just like it was on the 2012 U50. There is no AR Filter on the outer glass so it will be pretty reflective.
 
#8 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23034506


Yes, presumably just like it was on the 2012 U50. There is no AR Filter on the outer glass so it will be pretty reflective.

That's great. I hate AR filters, as they dramatically reduce the depth and clarity of the image. Do you know if the panel itself is the same as the ST60? Specifically, is the only difference in black level that which is the result of the AR filter and not the pixels themselves?
 
#9 ·
There's amazing value with this series. If it performs similarly to last year's UT50s, it'll be a great bargain- especially the 60" panels and this is before any drop or EPP.


If you're looking for a quality set and don't care too much about calibration, looks like you can't go wrong.
 
#10 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by RWetmore  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23034618


That's great. I hate AR filters, as they dramatically reduce the depth and clarity of the image. Do you know if the panel itself is the same as the ST60? Specifically, is the only difference in black level that which is the result of the AR filter and not the pixels themselves?

The U models had blacks that were just as good as the ST/GT. Under bright lighting blacks washed out due to the lack of a filter.
 
#13 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by chunon  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23042497


It has been under advanced audio options the last few years.

Hmmm, apparently it's not in that section this year. It looks like they might have moved it to to the Viera Link HDAVI Control menu (Speaker Output - Select Home Theater or TV) but i don't know if that kills the speakers when you're not using the Viera Link feature. I don't use Viera Link, and i just turn my TV volume all the way down when i'm using my Surround Sound system.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the heads-up, Randy. In a word: IMPRESSIVE. The 65" variant for $1700 is an amazing, amazing deal.


I'm glad I have not bought the 65VT50 that was on sale for $2500. I was THIS close last night at Best Buy, where they only had one left. But they were asking for $180 for the delivery/installation, so I passed. In all honesty, after paying a small fortune for a 65V10 back in 2010 and then being burned with the dreaded black level rise, I don't think I'll go back to spending a large amount for a supposedly "premium" product ever again. I saw the VT50 at Best Buy last night, and it looked great, BUT it had TERRIBLE burn-in. I do realize the deplorable conditions these sets are used in at the showrooms (conditions I would never reproduce at home, of course), but at this point IR and Burn-in should not be an issue in a premium TV that used to retail for close to $4K. Ironically, my V10 NEVER had any burn-in nor even image retention issues. It has been great in that sense. It seems that you can never win with these expensive sets, and if it's not one problem it is another. The ST60 sounds like the deal of the year. Lots of things I really wanted (24 fps, no overscan, pro-mode, etc) and many I don't need at all (3D). I even like the design of the more traditional bezel and stand. The rest of the sets in the higher-up series look flimsy, cheap and I hate all that shiny silver... If black levels in the S60 models are anywhere near the previous GT/VT50, I think I'm in. I would feel much better minimizing my expense in the event that a new set of issues arise. Not to mention, with so many new technologies and formats, etc. shaping up to once again change the entire TV landscape soon, I'd rather spend as little as possible for something that may or may not perform as advertised for a few years...
 
#16 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Esteban Medaglia  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23043385


Thanks for the heads-up, Randy. In a word: IMPRESSIVE. The 65" variant for $1700 is an amazing, amazing deal.


I'm glad I have not bought the 65VT50 that was on sale for $2500. I was THIS close last night at Best Buy, where they only had one left. But they were asking for $180 for the delivery/installation, so I passed. In all honesty, after paying a small fortune for a 65V10 back in 2010 and then being burned with the dreaded black level rise, I don't think I'll go back to spending a large amount for a supposedly "premium" product ever again. I saw the VT50 at Best Buy last night, and it looked great, BUT it had TERRIBLE burn-in. I do realize the deplorable conditions these sets are used in at the showrooms (conditions I would never reproduce at home, of course), but at this point IR and Burn-in should not be an issue in a premium TV that used to retail for close to $4K. Ironically, my V10 NEVER had any burn-in nor even image retention issues. It has been great in that sense. It seems that you can never win with these expensive sets, and if it's not one problem it is another. The ST60 sounds like the deal of the year. Lots of things I really wanted (24 fps, no overscan, pro-mode, etc) and many I don't need at all (3D). I even like the design of the more traditional bezel and stand. The rest of the sets in the higher-up series look flimsy, cheap and I hate all that shiny silver... If black levels in the S60 models are anywhere near the previous GT/VT50, I think I'm in. I would feel much better minimizing my expense in the event that a new set of issues arise. Not to mention, with so many new technologies and formats, etc. shaping up to once again change the entire TV landscape soon, I'd rather spend as little as possible for something that may or may not perform as advertised for a few years...

Just to clarify the S60 series has no 3d the ST60 does, IR was a sporadic issue on all 2012 panasonic models not just the Vt50
 
#19 ·
Posted on the other thread for when s60s start shipping, figured I should post here instead.


Looking at the eHelp pdf posted above. According to wikipedia, Panasonic calls it's motion interpolation "Intelligent Frame Creation (IFC)" but I don't see any reference to that in the s60 eHelp.


I see under advanced picture you can select 24p Direct, which I suppose works if watching Bluray films but what about DVD or non hi-def TV/movies?
 
#21 ·
Just picked up my 50S from Bestbuy about an hour ago....TV is nice better than my ST from last year which I have sitting right beside it...Got it from best buy for 729.....Any questions lemme know....
 
#22 ·
Lestat, does your S60 have a pair of analog audio output jacks? Analog output would be useful to me, and I don't think Panasonic plasmas had that last year. According to the Future Shop site (a division of Canada BestBuy) it has a "stereo audio output" plus an optical digital audio output, and no headphone output. But the FS specs might be wrong. Also the manual PDF link that Randy posted doesn't show analog audio output jacks.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/panasonic-panasonic-viera-50-1080p-600hz-plasma-smart-tv-tcp50s60-tcp50s60/10241751.aspx?path=44f5b737dcb5ede66a7a984aa7527bfcen02


BestBuy USA site just says one audio output but no details.
 
#23 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by thousandaire  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23058604


Lestat, does your S60 have a pair of analog audio output jacks? Analog output would be useful to me, and I don't think Panasonic plasmas had that last year.

Panasonics haven't had an analog audio output since 2005, and maybe 2006 at the latest (my 2005 has one but my 2007, 2009, and 2012 models do not). Everything since then has been line-level digital optical out only.
 
#25 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by SonGohanX  /t/1461177/official-panasonic-s60-series-discussion-thread#post_23058745


Hoping for some accurate input lag results on this set.


If it's as good as the ST50, I may have just found my next TV.

Nobody's had the opportunity to test this FP as they just shipped. That being said my local BBY has the 50" version already. I'd keep an eye out for it though rather soon.


Check the Input Lag wars thread on the LCD FP display section here at AVS or check displaylag.com
 
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