Official Panasonic 2011 TC-PxxVT30 Series Thread Discussion Thread [No Price Talk] - Page 9

Originally Posted by Tigerriot

I can't help but feel like Panasonic has gone out of it's way this year to screw up it's plasma lineup.

I wonder how long it will be before the first TV virus hits?


ST30 only has accurate gamma in Cinema setting, and the gamma cannot be corrected for the other inputs. Unfortunately cinema setting is not very bright at all.

GT30 has floating blacks with no way of fixing them. Also has gamma issues.

VT30 makes calibration overly difficult, and may also have floating blacks.


To top it all off they chose to limit the sizes drastically, thus forcing anyone who wants a set smaller than 50 inches to buy the ST30. So if you do not want a TV larger than 46 inches, they're forcing you to buy their cheapest 3D TV. Not exactly the smartest idea I've ever seen.

Originally Posted by RandyWalters

But they don't have Floating Blacks this year. They do have Fluctuating Brightness this year to varying extents which seems to be the exact opposite of Floating Blacks (which presumably would be similarly irritating).

Originally Posted by RandyWalters

But their cheapest 3D TV is still a great TV. I don't consider a sub-50" TV to be a candidate for folks wanting to do critical viewing regardless of brand or model. 46" and smaller would seem to be more suitable for casual TV watching. I've always preferred smaller screen sizes (42" and 46") but my next TV will be a 50 incher (maybe in a year or two). They've done their marketing research before making this decision, and based on the large number of unsold surplus 50" VT20s and VT25s still being sold 5+ months after they've ended production, which also happened with last year's 50" V10 and the 50" PZ800U the year before that, there is apparently not enough demand for a 50" flagship model, much less one that's even smaller.

This is an excellent set, though it is hampered by non functional and not fully developed adjustments.

Having downloaded the latest version of CalMAN, I got the TV interfaced with my laptop and calibration gear to check out the automatic calibration feature. Unfortunately, at this stage of it's development, the feature proved to be useless for the most part.

I agree with your findings. Calibrating these displays is a real bitch and the results are highly dependent on the windowed pattern size.

Originally Posted by Tigerriot

People use different terms for different problems.

I've always thought "rising blacks" was the term used for Panasonic's black levels slowly worsening over time.

"Floating blacks" is the term most often used for black levels suddenly adjusting mid scene. This was mentioned on the GT30 CNET review, and I've seen people mention it in this thread regarding the VT30.

Originally Posted by Tapidlittle

I'm thinking of buying this TV. I don't have a 3D AV processor, for now I am very happy with my Emotiva UMC-1. I know it doesn't support 3D. I have a PS3 to read my Blu-Rays. Is there anyway to enjoy 3D with my actual equipment? Can I buy a splitter (one for the TV and one for my UMC-1) ?

Is there any HDMI return from the TV ?

thanks!

Originally Posted by adrian s

PS3 does not require HDMI 1.4 or ARC for 3D. The only drawback is that it limits you to DD for audio.

Originally Posted by spacecoast

One of the features of the VT30 that appealed to me was the ability for the set to be quickly calibrated by a software program. Quess not. Seems at this point paying for calibration may not be a good choice, if I'm understanding the above statements. Am I wrong here?

You do realize that the autocal software will cost north of $800, right? On top of that, it will not properly setup these displays based on how these displays operate.

Originally Posted by Tapidlittle

I'm thinking of buying this TV. I don't have a 3D AV processor, for now I am very happy with my Emotiva UMC-1. I know it doesn't support 3D. I have a PS3 to read my Blu-Rays. Is there anyway to enjoy 3D with my actual equipment? Can I buy a splitter (one for the TV and one for my UMC-1) ?

Is there any HDMI return from the TV ?

thanks!

Originally Posted by Tapidlittle

Not sure I understand. Let say I buy a standalone 3D player, how do I connect it without a 3D A/V processor? Do I have to pass by the TV first and then connect another HDMI cable from the TV to the processor?

Originally Posted by whipit

You would hook up the BD to the TV via hdmi. Then the optical out from the tv to get the sound which would be 2channel(maybe pro logic surround). There is no hdmi out on tv's. Maybe if you had an hdmi splitter before the tv or a BD player with dual hdmi outs. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Tapidlittle

Not sure I understand. Let say I buy a standalone 3D player, how do I connect it without a 3D A/V processor? Do I have to pass by the TV first and then connect another HDMI cable from the TV to the processor?

Originally Posted by D-Nice

You do realize that the autocal software will cost north of $800, right? On top of that, it will not properly setup these displays based on how these displays operate.

Originally Posted by rogo

For $800, I'm getting D-Nice in my living room and having my set calibrated by a pro.

Originally Posted by GSDTrainer

Just go HDMI from the PS3 to the TV, then use a TOSlink cable from the PS3 to the UMC-1. Go into "Sound settings" in the XMB of the PS3, turn on "Audio Multi-Output" , then go into "Audio output settings" and select "Optical Digital" and you are good to go once you save those settings on the PS3.

Originally Posted by Tapidlittle

If I do buy a player with 2 HDMI outputs, will I be able to get high res audio AND 3D ??

Originally Posted by iTanas

Not correct. VT30 can output sound from HDMI as long as it's HDMI 1.4 on the other device:

ARC (Audio Return Channel)

Using a single HDMI cable, VIERA can output the audio portion of a TV broadcast to your home cinema system, so you can enjoy full-fledged surround sound. You no longer need two cables to connect VIERA to a home theater system.
http://www.panasonic.net/avc/viera/u...a.html#fimages

Originally Posted by Tapidlittle

If I do buy a player with 2 HDMI outputs, will I be able to get high res audio AND 3D ??

Originally Posted by GSDTrainer

Why would you buy a new player when all you need is a new TOS link cable ...

Originally Posted by GSDTrainer

Why would you buy a new player when all you need is a new TOS link cable that can be had for $6????? The PS3 will do video over the HDMI and audio over the TOS link connected to the UMC-1. All you have to do it turn audio multi output on in the PS3 and select digital optical in the audio output settings. It can output either LPCM 2 channel or DD 5.1 or DTS 5.1 or AAC. By default the PS3 is set to output LPCM. To get the others just check the boxes in the XMB and save. Its simpler than buying a new player and cheaper

Originally Posted by htwaits

Tapidlittle wrote that he wants hi res audio (lossless). TOS link can't do lossless audio.

Originally Posted by spdntrxi

this is turning into a playstation thread.... anyways the PS3 will NOT DO LOSSLESS audio during 3d playback.. PERIOD> end of story.

Originally Posted by milesed

What is UMC-1?

Originally Posted by milesed

What is UMC-1?

Originally Posted by GSDTrainer

But LPCM is lossless, it is just that the PS3 is doing the decoding

Originally Posted by D-Nice

You do realize that the autocal software will cost north of $800, right? On top of that, it will not properly setup these displays based on how these displays operate.

Originally Posted by htwaits

You're right. I convert lossless to LPCM and send it over HDMI to a receiver that's unable to handle DTS HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD on it's own. The same can't be done using TOS Link. LPCM over TOS Link would be lossy.