Official Panasonic UT50 Series Discussion Thread - Page 65

Originally Posted by anikun07 

Regardless of what tech support says, the UT50 does send a signal to the Samsung 4100 3D glasses and they recceive it. I own a pair as do many others and they work fine.

Originally Posted by dmaul1114 

The Samsung 4100 GB use CR2025 batteries--they aren't rechargeable. They come with one battery and a small microfiber cloth. You can get 5 packs of the batteries on Amazon for around $3. No case, and the glasses don't fold (the arms pop off if you wanted to make them smaller for storage.

The Panny's fold and are rechargeable. Also do a better job of blocking light from the sides. For me, not enough to be worth the price difference. And I prefer regular batteries as if they're dead when I want to watch something I can just pop in a new battery, where as the rechargeable ones you have to wait until the recharge.

Originally Posted by therealjustin 

I didn't think the 2D>3D conversion would be any good but it actually works well for certain content that has depth. I recently watched a nature film about mountainous regions and it looked stunning!

Originally Posted by mpsmith01 

Hi guys. Can anyone help me with ut50 and 4k capability? I'm not sure I understand the concept and whether it's worth it to get the Sony BDP S790 for the upscaler or not.


Thanks!

Originally Posted by babyxbuffalo 

Hi, I, new to the forums. I just got my tv last weekend from Costco. Great tv. Thing is, I was wondering if anyone knew if there were any settings for the digital audio out? I'm connecting the optical cable to an old Sony AVR and it only inputs PCM 48. So no blue light or 5.1 audio. I have my Xbox 360 and AT&T Uverse STB connected via HDMI and the digital optical out connected to my AVR. On my older Sony LCD the optical out would decode out to the receiver and it would play though the AVR in Dolby Digital 5.1.

Originally Posted by DWells55 

Could someone perhaps help me understand HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)? I'm a bit fuzzy on how it works, particularly with this TV. I'll be connected to a Harman Kardon AVR 1700 receiver.

• Does only the second HDMI port that says (ARC) support this feature?
• I understand that this feature allows me to return the sound from the apps and TV tuner to my receiver. Will it also return the audio from a component or composite video source with RCA audio plugged into the TV, or will I need an optical cable for that?
• Will the TV speakers automatically turn off when ARC is active, or do I need to disable the TV speakers?
• I have to select ARC as an input on my receiver, right?

Originally Posted by dmaul1114 

Well I got my Panansonic TC-L55ET5 LED set today and sent the UT50 back--was a painless return process.

Someone asked for my impressions of the two when I got the new one so hear goes.

In short, I love the LED set. Yes, the blacks aren't as good and motion isn't handled as smoothly. But both are vastly better than on the Sony LCD RPTV I was upgrading from so I can't complain. Bright and colorful scenes I prefer on this new set. Being brighter such scenes really pop. Dark scenes were definitely better on the plasma--but are still very good on this LED set. And I watch more sports and play more games that I watch movies really, so that's a good trade off for me.

3D is one area I'm really impressed/surprised as being passive rather than active I expected it to not be as good as on the UT50. But it's actually better IMO. The 3D on the UT50 tended to have some blurring/double imaging on pop out type stuff--much clearer on this set. And I much prefer having passive glasses and not having to mess with batteries etc. Even better since 4 pairs were included with this tv, where as I had to shell out $38 for the Samsung 4100GBs for the UT50 (already returned them to Amazon).

Best of all, TV is completely silent. No buzz on white screens at all, where as my buzzing UT50 was driving me nuts. I love not having to worry at all about IR and being able to game as long as I want or leave the set on ESPN all day etc.

Only minor nit pick is the screen is still a tad reflective--though not nearly as bad as the UT50 that was near unwatchable with the blinds open during the day or more than one lamp at night.

So overall, I'm super happy. LED is just a better fit for my uses due to not having to worry about IR and no buzzing (which I'm very sensitive too apparently as I've returned two plasmas for buzzing).

Originally Posted by chunon 

Glad it worked out for you, your bad plasma experience is not typical. I watch ESPN days on end and not one hint of IR and no buzzing ever. Gaming different story why folks think plasma is a good match for that is beyond me. Its well documented the UT50 is poor in a bright room environment so no suprise there.

Originally Posted by dmaul1114 

Yep. I wouldn't knock plasma at all. Just not for me. I've tried it twice now (tried a Vizio 6 or 7 years back) and was annoyed by buzz and IR on it.

I think I just have a combo of bad luck with getting ones that buzz louder than the minimal level and being particularly sensitive to buzzing (I heard it at times my girlfriend did not--but she could hear it on bright scenes with sound muted and commented on how loud the white slide was when running the break in slides).

The IR was manageable as anything from ESPN or CNN usually went away pretty quickly. Game IR was worse--I was just willing to take a chance on that to get the better blacks etc. for movies as I'm more into movies than games these days.

Bright room I was aware of. I have a good blind so I was willing to just keep that shut during the day (though I hate losing my 21st story view!) if I was happy with all other aspects of the UT50. That just didn't work out. The ET5 is much better with the blinds open--but it's still glossy so reflections are a bit annoying fi watching something darker. But the picture doesn't get washed out like on the UT50 so still much better as expected.

Again, nothing against plasmas. And the UT50 gives a great picture for the price especially. Plasmas just aren't my bag as I'm apparently very sensitive to the buzz and drive myself nuts worry about IR since I do a decent amount of gaming and ESPN/CNN etc. watching. So not posting my experience as any type of knock on plasmas or the UT50. Just putting it out there for others researching TVs--may save someone with similar uses/pet peeves and sensitivity to buzzing to go LED from the start.

Originally Posted by generallee 

I need a little help.......I want to mount my new UT50 on the wall so I will need to purchase a wall mount. Since I know nothing, I am trying not to make a mistake. I will be watching in bed so I have to calculate how high to mount the tv and since I see the mounts have a max of 15 degrees down angle I intend to measure the room and will use a Cadd program to find the center point. But I am a bit confused aboutt the mount. The Panasonic book says that the Vesa hole pattern is 400 X 300. When looking on the net I see people who have made mistakes and there are cheap to expensive mounts available. I know that my wall studs are on 16" centers so the mount arms must fit the 400 X 300 hole pattern and ge mountable up to 9" off center on either side of the wall bracket in order to center the TV so it is not obstructed by tthe bed post from either side of the king size bed. I would also prefer that the tilt angle be adjustable rather than fied.

When I google the 400 X 300 Things like Peerless adapters pop up. I asked a salesman (mistake) and he said a 400 X 400 would work. When I asked "Then why are there 400 X 300 adapters being sold he could not answer. Weight is pretty easy to understand but the ability to shift the TV right or left without a long ugly wall bracket sticking out on one side or the other is important.

I hope those who have installed their own mounts share their experience and recommendations

Originally Posted by undermined 

odds are you"ll have to use a receiver with HDMI . I'm not sure but most TVs that have ARC don't decode/transcode from HDMI over to the optical output because it needs an extra license versus HDMI just passing the data over ARC so you need a receiver with ARC if the sources are plugged into the display or just have the sources direct to the receiver with HDMI.

the optical out is more so you have dolby digital when you watch OTA from the built in ATSC tuner. sadly it seems the older TV's handled audio routing better since AVR's didn't have HDMI as commonly and kinda had to be capable of processing the HDMI inputs.

I could be wrong , but looking at the manual I don't see a setting to change that would get you Dolby Digital, only reference to NTSC from the optical being PCM and that it can do PCM 48,44.1 and 32khz

a good excuse to get a AVR that can handle the newer lossless audio formats and HDMI

It is a possibly a reason the UT50 is a lower cost option or a really really well hidden setting

Originally Posted by highdefav1 

What size UT50 did you get?

Monoprice have the best/cheapest wall mounts. I've bought many without any issues. Buying one from Target/BB and you're just overpaying. When you look at a mount, it will tell you the min/max VESA mount and as long as the 400x300 fit in those figures, you're good.

When mounting, try to have 4 carriage bolts hit the studs and you'll be good to go.

I was a little intimidated on my first one, now all my friends call me up to help them with their wall mounts....takes less than 10 minutes.

Originally Posted by highdefav1 

What size UT50 did you get?

Monoprice have the best/cheapest wall mounts. I've bought many without any issues. Buying one from Target/BB and you're just overpaying. When you look at a mount, it will tell you the min/max VESA mount and as long as the 400x300 fit in those figures, you're good.

When mounting, try to have 4 carriage bolts hit the studs and you'll be good to go.

I was a little intimidated on my first one, now all my friends call me up to help them with their wall mounts....takes less than 10 minutes.

Originally Posted by generallee 

I got a 50UT50 and have it on the stand. Am waiting for the Network cable to come from Monoprice (Thursday) and the glasses (I overpaid) net week. Also I am researching the cable mounts that hide the cables. I have a problem though. I know my house has fire stops which are 4 ft off the floor. The 120V outlets are in the lower partition and the electrical conduits were installed during construction. I was able to fish the D" cables down alongside a pipe and left 75' of 50# fish line back through the attic to pull the net cable through but getting all of the cables and the power back up the wall through the fire block is a roblem. I may end up having to cut the dry wall to get to the fire block to cut a channel. I have seen video of a drill bit on a flexable stick but have no idea who sells these or what size would be needed to put in something like the Monoprice Power thru wall 4652 $47.18> Any suggestions?
The studs are easy to find with my stud finder. I assume you use 3/8 lag screws rather than carrage bolts. What length?

Originally Posted by anikun07 

I haven't looked at Monoprice, but the PartsExpress catalog I received a couple weeks ago had them for $25 for whichever size. Are they pretty much all the same in terms of build strength?

Originally Posted by highdefav1 

Hmmm, never had to deal with fireblock before, it might be best to open up the dry wall a little bit to get take care of that obstacle.

Here is the mount I used for my 55 inch....solid and secure. When I put it up, I would have been comfortable to put a 65 inch on it. All the hardware you need will be included with the mount. I think mine came with 6 lag bolts and I only used 4 because all 4 went into the studs.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082801&p_id=3900&seq=1&format=2

I used these up behind the TV and down below to route my HDMI and another cables that I might need. Depending on your cable needs though, you might want to get larger ones.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042510&p_id=4001&seq=1&format=2

Originally Posted by anikun07 

My current set up has my 50" on my TV stand and my center channel speaker "sits" on top of my TV, would it seem or sound odd to have high corner mains and a chest level (when sitting) center channel? I've considered wall mounting, but I like having my TV just that little bit closer.