Official Panasonic VT50 owners thread - Page 303

+1. I've generally been very happy with the quality and service from Monoprice. I've had one bad cable (iPad cable, not HDMI or audio) and they replaced it without question.

So I have been watching lots of different full screen content and not leaving anything up on the screen too long so I decided to run the slides and check how bad the IR is because I have noticed the ESPN logo in the bottom right still. When viewing the slides (especially gray and white slides) I can still see the ESPN logo and to my amazement the big Food Network logo on the screen. This is unbelievable because we don't leave these channels up on the TV and watch other full screen content. We will watch Food Network for like an hour each night but that definitely shouldn't remain on the screen. Does this sound like an issue with this panel or are others experiencing some IR or what do you do to prevent it? I could probably run lots of different patterns to dim the IR and I'm sure it would go away but this scares me that it will continue to happen.

I bought the TV at Best Buy and have until January 24th to return it. Do you think I should definitely swap it out for a different one? There is nothing wrong with the set (dead pixels that I have found) so I am afraid if I get a new VT50 then it might have other issues and still have the IR issue. Now that we are in the next year and the VT60 and ZT60 have been announced, I am wondering if they have enough improvement to wait and get one of those instead? I'm sure I would have to wait until the end of next year to get a deal on one similar to what I got the VT50 for. Thoughts please!
Edited by Mac13 - 1/10/13 at 7:06am

Thanks for the reply. Did you happen to watch the video, curious if what I am seeing is the same thing you see on your set.

Just watched the video.....yup, basically the same thing. Don't forget it could be the OCD in all of us.

I watched a college bowl game this weekend on ESPN and afterwards I ran some slides to check for IR. Of course after an entire game I did see the ESPN logo in the bottom right corner and some evidence of the scrolling text/score section across the bottom of the screen. I ran the IR sliding blocks from the VT50 menu twice, and then ran slides that night. In the morning there was barely a trace of the IR and when I checked again yesterday it was gone. Based on my understanding, my experience is what would be considered acceptable. From your post I can't tell if you are just reporting the initial IR or if it has lessened or disappeared since you noticed.

Hm. Ya I ran the scrolling bar once and then watched a couple hours of Homeland last night and then ran the slides to check the IR and it looked pretty much the same...Very frustrating..I never had this problem with my 500M and I know others have had this issue with the VT50 so I'm afraid a replacement may not help. Does anyone know if they did anything with the VT60 or ZT60 to help reduce IR? Has IR been a problem on previous year Panasonics?

It will go away. My opinion is that you're overreacting but it's your money and your TV. If you aren't happy with a little IR then switch to LED and get ready for another myriad of issues.

As long as you get the 1.4 hdmi cable right? Do you need those angled cables or straight in style?

I have my Network router in same room as the TV. on the back right corner. i will need a 30ft cat5/6 cable to use for the Ps3.

Question, all i need is a switch to run that cable to a switch then i can split off from that to the TV & Recv & Ps3?

Thanks for all the help.

Which mount do you have? I have a Sanus LL11 which is the slimmest mount I have seen (0.55") but I used the smallest spacers because I figured the power cord would hit the wall since it is sticking out. I may try it without the spacers but I may have to get an angled adapter like you mentioned. What plugin adapter are you talking about? I didn't know if we could use a different plug or adapter for the TV especially since the connector on the plug kind of snaps in.

My mount is the VLL10 . It says .67" . I could use the spacers but wanted it as close to the wall as possible so I'm headed to the hardware store to look for a 90 degree plug in. I can just wire the new plug.

I agree, if the only time you can see it, is running slides, then it's really a non issue.

No I can definitely see it on regular content but mainly when the screen is white or gray. I just used the slides to make it easier to check.

Just make sure the HDMI cable is high speed. Something like this will work. They have a bunch of different lengths so if in doubt grab an extra that's longer to make sure you can reach.

I would go with a cat 5e or 6 network cable to support gigabit.

Technically you could connect the VT50 and PS3 wirelessly to your router and just run the cable to your receiver. Personally I try to keep things wired whenever possible though for a more reliable connection. Remember if you get a switch you'll need 3 additional shorter network cables to connect all the devices to it.

Ya if your power cord is hitting then mine definitely would. I wish they had made the power cord plug in vertically like my 500M. Let me know what you come up with for the angled adapter. If I end up running my cables through the wall then I thought about just trying to place the box opening behind where the plug is so that it would sit in the recess in the wall. With only the power cord and one slim HDMI running down from the TV and my center channel mostly blocking that, I thought about forgetting putting in a new power outlet etc behind the TV to run the wires through the wall. If I do that then I would be concerned about surge protection since I couldn't plug the power cord into a power strip. I know they make in wall surge suppressors but the Joule ratings on those are really low.

EDIT: When you said the plug was hitting the wall did you mean the wall plug or the plug going into the TV? I was thinking you meant the plug going into the TV but I didn't think about you maybe already having a wall outlet behind the TV.
Edited by Mac13 - 1/10/13 at 9:51am

Its good to hear that. Im glad we could help you out in the es8000 thread. Like I said there, my wife chose the es8000 as well and she's finally come around to the new one since the vertical banding was visible to her as well.

That's right. I meant that you should let your display warm up a little before you worry about what you're seeing.

I have a ton of HDMI cables. How do you tell if they are high speed?

A lot of people, including me, use this group of cables for runs of 6-15'.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240#1024008

Be sure to install them so that there is as little strain on the connection as possible.

HDMI cables are not sold by version number. What you need are cables designated as high speed cables.

Since it's a band width issue, if the cables you have work, then they are fine. If you start getting "sparkles", "blocking" or hand shake problems then try a new HDMI cable that's designated as "high speed". Our high speed cables have version 1.3 printed on the sleeve, but they all handle signals without any glitches.

In my Bluray player, what setting should I have my color space conversion? Auto?, 4:2:2?, 4:4:4?, or rgb?

auto generally works well, but if you use the player exclusively for bluray discs and want to be extra sure you're in the right mode you'd want it at 4:4:4 and also want to set the 1080p pure direct option to enabled in the tv menu.


for more information on the mode I referenced, see here http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/panasonic-tx-p50vt50b-p50vt50-201204101757.htm?page=Performance

as always the performance differences will be minimal/subtle, but hey, that's the type of stuff we are all here to read about :Danyway

Thank-you for your response .... I have Fios TV, and with the Panasonic I just use the Netflix Button on the Remote. (BTW I really dislike the Netflix Menu on this TV)
On The Pioneer I have an apple tv, and I Think I will have to buy another one and connect it to the Panasonic foregoing it's Netflix Menu as there is no comparison
between the apple Menu and the one that comes with the VT50 ..

I will try try hitting the pause and seeing what the numbers come back as... and will report back here....

Again thank-you @mo949

@floridaman, thanks for your response... I will reset Netflix to the highest quality on my account as you suggest...
Especially as I pay for the 2nd fastest speed that Fios offer...

Download Speed is 35.44 MBPS
Upload Speed is 32.89 MBPS

I used Speedtest to do the test on my computer... I did tell Netflix this and according to them it had very little to do with the speeds
it was more to do with the wifi signal... Which again is fine so I have no idea what Netflix is talking about....

I will change the quality on my account as @mo949 suggested and see if that makes a difference.....

Will report back thankyou for your help

I read somewhere in this thread that the ads that come on when you first switch on the TV can be disabled?
Can anyone tell me where and how? Thank-you for your help...

Hello all

Am new to this forum but am hoping the forum will be able to help me out a bit. I bought a p65vt50 uk spec.. The tv is superb but what worries me is if it is a brand new piece or a nicely cleaned up ex display unit. Everything was in covers but didn't look as if it was factory packed. Can anyone pls tell me the indicators on how to check for a brand new factory packaged tv. I paid a lot of money for a gadget first time in my life so am extremely nervous. Pls help..

I tried to check on old postings on how to check usage hours but it didn't work. The steps described though were not for this model but was hoping panasonic would keep them same for all models. Can anyone please help with this as well.

Can anyone tell me how to get audio out from my vt50 viara Netflix, to my reciever? I have my hdmi connected to hdmi1.

I hope it all works out for you. And about the netflix app via the tv, it really is subpar to having a good device such as a bluray/roku/apple tv doing it - not sure why this is, but seems to be the common experience is subpar through the tv.

Goodluck!