The Official TC-P65S2 Owner's Discussion Thread

The TC-P65S2, which supersedes last year's model (the TC-P65S1, which I just cancelled my order for so I could get the S2), is due out soon so I thought that it was time that it had its own thread. (Cleveland Plasma's website says it's due out any day now).

This baby is the only Panasonic 65" alternative to the much more expensive TC-P65VT25 (which will sell for a street price of about 60% more than the P65S2). Its retail price and power consumption is lower than the previous years model P65S1 (and the price is lower than 50-inchers were available for just a few years ago).

Although it may not satisfy the most discerning of videophiles as it lacks some features of the more P65VT25, the price makes it an incredible value for a 65" plasma.

It would be great to hear from the first P65S2 owner on here.

It's tough to know all of the differences since the full specs haven't been released and no one has tested it yet, but most improvements are with regard to picture quality rather than any functional differences (such as more ports, etc).

The main improvements/differences in the S2 over the S1 and the V25 over the V10 are:

- lower list price (For the S2 it is $2,799 vs $3,199 for the S1. The VT25 is $3,999 and although this makes the VT25 only about 43% more expensive at list, the highest end Panasonics always get discounted a lot less than the next highest and this should make the difference in street price about 60% more for the VT25 than the S2 )
- improved black levels, colour and contrast (For the S2 it's 2,000,000:1 vs 40,000:1 for the S1 and for the VT25 it's even better)
- lower power consumption (EDIT June 23, 2010: On-Mode Average Power Consumption of the S2 is 214 watts, while the S1 is 365 watts, so the S2 uses 59% of the power of the S1. You would save $30/year if electricity costs you 10 cents/KwH and you used it 5 hours/day every day)
- lighter (the S2/S1 weights are 136.7lbs/145.6lbs with stand, 123.5lbs/132.3 without stand so the S2 is 8.9 lbs lighter than the S1 with stand and 8.8 lbs lighter than the S1 without stand)
- no S-video on the S2 (they used to have it on the S1, but then you only get an SD picture with S-video input)
- no PC or RS232 input on the S1 or S2 but they have it on the V25 (makes no difference if you don't want to hook up your PC to the TV)
- no 3-D capability, TXH mode or 24P cinematic playback mode on the S1 or S2, but the VT25 has it.
- more tweakability of settings in the service menu of the VT25 than on the S2 (and it is suggested that only a professional calibrator should touch those settings unless you are very careful and know what you are doing). I think the S2 has the same settings as the S1.
- the bezel is slightly different on the S2, but the 65" (and 58" for that matter) S2 does not have the 'clean touch' bezel that the 54" and smaller S2 sizes have.

The main reasons to go with the VT25 are for the 3-D capability, THX mode and/or 24P cinematic playback. If you want any, some or all of these features then you have no choice but to go with the VT25 series. If you are not interested in THX mode, 3-D or 24p cinematic playback then you are left with the decision of whether the (possibly) improved contrast, colour and blacks (but we won't really know this until the tests are in) are worth paying the 60% premium over the S2. You be happy to know that many calibrators have noted that they can get quite close to making the pictures on the P65S1 and P65V10 look very similar, albeit not the same, but who knows if this will be the same with the new models, S2 and VT25. But, remember, when you have the set in your home, you have no reference point (ie the set you did not buy) with which to compare and you will probably be very happy with either set.

One other consideration that should be noted is that a lot of people will look to others on here to guide them on whether to go with the S2 or the VT25 set, but, other than the empirical differences (some of which can be measured by test equipment, but possibly not perceived depending on the pair of eyes you were given and on how your brain processes the visual information) much of it is subjective. What is bothersome to some is not to others. What looks better to some looks only marginally better or un-noticeable to others. Some see a differnece in 24p playback and others who have seen it don't know what the fuss is about. Many actually don't like THX mode (some find it too dim) while others want it. 3-D is really a personal decision again. And then some people just have to have 'the best', ie, the V25 regardless of how much it costs (but still are likely influenced in their decision about how much better it looks by the fact they paid 60% more than the S2).

Is the V25 a better set? Undoubtedly it probably is, but at a cost. You have to decide for yourself whether it is worth 60% more and the only real way to determine that is for you to see both setsbeing play side-by-side, displaying the exact same source material, either from cable HDTV and/or a Blu-Ray player. I have yet to find a place that I can do this test with my own eyes. Otherwise, if you see the sets displaying different source material at different times from different source equipment you are subject to a wide range of biases, most of which you won't even be aware of.[/b]

If anyone knows of any other differences or corrections to the above, let me know and I'll edit this post and add them.

I know, but they are street prices, not suggested retail prices.

And I notice that ths P65S2 is noted as being available 'any day' which is much earlier than I had expected!

There is no 65" size TV in the Panasonic G10, G20 or G25 series so it's a moot point. (Compare them @ panasonic.com)

Wrong thread for that question! This is about the 65-inchers.

The list prices and availability dates have been released now in Canada too for the S2 series, but the 65" (and the 58" for that matter) are curiously missing just like in the US. Odd because the 65VT25 Canadian retail pricing ($4,999 CDN) and availability date (June) has been released.

Maybe Panasonic has too much stock of the P65S1 and need to clear it out first.

Sears finally has it listed on their website with a price and specifications and it can be ordered, but who knows what the delivery date is. There's a note on the product page there that says 'First Available: March 22, 2010' but that is probably the date Sears put it on their website for order. Still no specs posted on Panasonic's website for this unit.

Amazon has a note on their web page for the P65S2 that says: 'This item will be released on June 7, 2010'. The only other two retailers I could find say 'In stock' but the item is not even showing on Panasonic's website, nor is the manual available on their site either. I doubt these 2 retailers can ship the product.

And the price they are quote is not much off full retail actually.

That's awesome for the P65S2. And, another 2% (off the discounted price) if you use the coupon code on the website which makes it 21.6% off the $2,799 MSRP and there's free shipping too. That makes it the same street price as the P65S1 is selling for so they'll have to reduce the P65S1 even further if they want to move the units remaining in inventory.

Wish I could see the manual and detailed product specs for the S2 on Panasonic's website though.

I don't have a clue, but I know that Amazon, Best Buy, Sears, Cleveland Plasma, etc do not have it in stock and it supposedly isn't being released until June.

Today, Panasonic finally posted the specs for the P65S2 and the US MSRP is EDIT: $2,799.95 (made a typo before and said it was $2,999.95)

Shipping date is listed as May/June and they are available for 'Pre-Order'.

The specs are the same as all of the other sizes in the S2 line-up except for the following for the 65" (and 58", for that matter):

- No 'clean-touch' bezel as in the smaller units
- Rated & standby power consumption not listed.
- Gross weight & weight with & without stand not listed.

(None of these are listed for the entire VT25 series either).

You're right. That was a typo on my part. It's $2,799.95 and I edited my post to change it.

And, given the big boys don't have it in stock and Panasonic says it is only available for pre-order I doubt that the smaller guys have it in stock (I've only found 2 online that claim to have it in stock). They are likely hoping to get orders by saying it is in stock and then shipping when they are able to (ie when Panny finally starts shipping to retailers). This strategy can sometimes work when it is so close to shipping date if the delay does not end up being so long that it starts to bother customers.

Has anyone actually seen one at a retailer?

The weight is posted now (but only on the product page, not comparison page)

P65S2 With Stand 136.7 lbs. vs 145.6 lbs. for the P65S1, so 6.1% lighter

P65S2 Without Stand 123.5 lbs. vs 132.3 lbs. for the P65S1, so 6.6% lighter

Sears is one of the few other retailers that shows as 'in stock' when you do a broad google search on 'p65S2 price', but no matter which area code I type in on Sears' website the product is not available. I think Amazon (who run a pretty tight ship) are accurate when they post on their web page for the P65S2 that it will not be available until June 7th, 2010.