Aiming to buy a cheap HDTV can often bring disappointment. Rather, you should think about getting an HDTV that offers great value for its price. The Panasonic TC-P58S1 is one good example, offering breathtaking images sure to make your jaw drop without burning a hole in your wallet.
Design
The Panasonic TC-P58S1 may not stand out in terms of its design, which is just a plain glossy black bezel with curved edges and a thin silver strip at the bottom, but this means you will be able to focus on the
Panasonic TC-P58S1
images you’ll see on the screen. Indeed, the only interruptions on the frame are the Panasonic and Viera logos, the power button and the indicator light, which are easy to disregard.
The remote control is quite basic, too, although the texture and shape of the keys is something to appreciate, making the remote easy to use in spite of missing a backlight. The on-screen menu, with its blue and yellow lay-out, is also easy to use, though it’s pretty basic compared to that of other HDTVs, like the Samsung models, which still offer the best menu.
Screen/Picture Clarity
Picture quality is the strength of the TC-P58S1, with its very deep shades of black and impeccable shadow detail that make the images more realistic and the rest of the colors more saturated. Unfortunately, the colors are not too accurate – a problem which continues to plague Panasonic Plasma sets – but this does little to mar the overall superb quality of the images on the screen. Screen reflections are at a minimum, as well.
In terms of processing, the TC-P58S1 comes with a 600Hz Sub-field drive for excellent motion resolution, making it excel even more in an area where Plasmas already have the upper hand. It is unable to process images from a 1080p source properly, though. Still, this flaw is hard to discern, except for videophiles.
Features
The Panasonic TC-P58S1 lacks interactive features. Then again, it is not the only HDTV model in its price range to do so. It also offers a number of picture controls, like five picture modes, five aspect ratio selections and three color temperature presets. It even has features to combat burn-in and the Viera Link to control HDMI-compatible devices, while its Neo PDP panel reduces its power consumption, even if it still consumes more than LCD sets. Connectivity-wise, it offers three HDMI inputs for the best audio and video connection, along with two component-video inputs, and an SD card slot so you can share the files from your digicam and mobile phone easily, although lacking in a USB input, a PC input and an analog audio output.
In spite of what it lacks, the Panasonic TC-P58S1 remains a Plasma HDTV worth considering. After all, picture quality is the main buying point of HDTVs. Still, those who want more than that will have to look elsewhere and pay a bit more.
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