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Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV
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Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV

 
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NEW! 50" Class (49.9 " Diagonal) Widescreen VIERA Plasma 1080p HDTV with Increased Native Contrast Ratio, PC Input, New Anti-Reflective Filter, Deep Color Technology, Game Mode, Built-In SD Card Slot/GalleryPlayer® Ready to View, 3 HDMI Inputs and VIERA Link® HDAVI Control.

 
List Price: $2,199.99
Our Price: $1,395.00
You Save: $804.99 (37%)
 
 

Note: Item may be sold and shipped by another company. Learn more.


Product Details
Product Length:54.5 inches
Product Width:351.7 inches
Product Height:12.7 inches
Product Weight:104.0 pounds
Package Length:54.5 inches
Package Width:36.4 inches
Package Height:13.0 inches
Package Weight:106.0 pounds
Average Customer Rating: based on 138 reviews

Features
  • 1920 x 1080 Resolution

  • 1000000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio for the Brightest whites and darkest blacks

  • 4096 Shades of Gradation for spectacular Color Reproduction

  • Viera LinK™ HDAVI Control lets you operate all of your home theater components by pressing a single button on your TV's remote control

  • GalleryPlayer® allows you to enjoy the world's finest high definition art and photography on your Panasonic HD plasma TV


Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:4.5
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

1We loved it until today when it died.  Jun 24, 2010
It was a great TV for a year and a half. Now it's dead. $487.00 to fix it. It only has a year warrenty for a reason. It doesn't last much longer. :(

115 months later...a paper weight  Apr 23, 2010
Loved the tv. Looked and worked great....for first 15 months. Bought from Amazon in December 2008. Stopped working end of March 2010. Out of warranty, so I am trying to get fixed with local repairman. Was flashing power light 10 times. According to the internet, that means a bad power supply or something similar. Thought I was getting a good deal buying off of Amazon....now I am paying for it.

0 of 1 found the following review helpful:

1Buyer be ware  Feb 17, 2010
My husband and I absolutely loved this TV...I bought it for him as a Christmas present in 2008. I did tons of research...took me over 3 months, yes I am very picky and frugal, and I finally decided on this set and bought it on line thru Amazon.com. Had an absolutely great experience, until exactly 9 days out of "official" warranty. Purchased it on 14 Dec 08, delivered 22 Dec 08 and set it up on Christmas Day. Well, on 23 Dec 09, we were watching a DVD, had it on pause when suddenly we heard a pop, saw a thick black line appear across the screen. We turned it off immediately...To make a real long story short, the bottom line is since it is out of the warranty, which is considered one year from the purchase date, there is nothing they will do about it, even though part of the warranty offers 2 years on the glass. The Concierge repair folks said the set was not repairable. So now, we have a $1500 piece of trash sitting in our living area in the hope that someone from Panasonic will stand behind their product and replace it.....So far, no such luck...I am not finished trying to go up higher on the authority chain, so if anyone has any suggestions or a point of contact, I would certainly appreciate that....But if anyone is considering this TV or any other Panasonic, please protect yourself with an extended warranty or purchase something else all together....



5Wonderful TV  Feb 13, 2010
I have owned this TV for about 1-1/2 years now and couldn't be happier with the flawless picture quality and sound.
I do use a 5:1 speaker system to amplify the volume for enhanced effect. Usually after owning something this long I get bored and stop caring about it much.
But this TV has been an exception to that rule. It goes to show that there are truly some things in life which can be a joy forever.

5Plasma is the way to go!  Feb 09, 2010
I read a lot of reviews and did a lot of research. When Plasma came up on top in quality and over LCD and lower in price, I was very surprised. Plasma still has a bad name from when they first came out, but trust me, those problems are gone. I got this TV for $900 in NOV of 09 on sale at Best Buy, a deal I have not seen replicated. The picture on this TV is outstanding. Yes, Plasma is not as bright as LCD but I would rather have a TV with better picture and invest in some blinds for my windows :) The lack of motion blur is amazing. LCD is getting better with their motion blur but Plasma is by far superior. Some of the motion blur reduction on the LCD's makes the picture look 'live' or like a documentary to me and it drives me crazy. But without the motion blur reduction on LCD is it just annoying.

The moral of the story is the clarity, the color, the contrast (the contrast is insane!) and the overall viewing experience is fantastic on plasma! Everything I read said Panasonic is the king of plasma and I have not been disappointed. If you're worried about burn in just don't walk away from your TV on pause for and hour. And if you do pause it, just turn off the screen! The only other suggestion I have is to get a decent power strip. Don't spend a hundred dollars, but everyone told me that the life of the TV will easily be 15 years if you get a good power strip. It regulates the flux in your electricity and protects your TV. You will not be disappointed with this TV!


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From the Manufacturer
BRAVIA XBR HDTVs have become the benchmark by which all others are measured, and the performance-oriented feature set on the XBR6 series shows why. Exclusive motion and color technologies deliver legendary XBR performance. 10-bit processing and 10-bit displays, x.v.Color technology and Deep Color render a wide color gamut and smooth color transitions. Motionflow 120Hz and 24p True Cinema provide smoother picture performance with unprocessed 24p film reproduction. XBR6 Series HDTVs include Sony's innovative DMex technology which "future-proofs" them by creating an expandable platform for connecting to devices that haven't even been invented yet. Of course, right now they will also connect seamlessly with other Sony products like camcorders, computers, digital cameras, and the interesting new Bravia Internet Video Link. HDMI-CEC compatibility means you can control everything from one remote. They are even DLNA compliant, offer Sony’s unique PhotoTV HD, and include swivel stands.

A bold new design with a color-accented speaker grille complements the gloss black finish, which also hints at the floating glass look of previous XBR models. If you’re looking for some personalization you can purchase an optional speaker grille in multiple colors.


Key Features

  • New:TV Guide IPG
  • New:Enhanced (XMB) User Interface with Rich 3D Graphics
  • New:DLNA Compliant
  • 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920 x 1080p)
  • BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processor
  • Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE)
  • 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
  • 24p True Cinema capable
  • DMeX capable
  • BRAVIA Sync capable
  • S-Force Front Surround Voice Zoom
  • Robust Connectivity with 4 HDMI inputs, 2 HD Component inputs, and a PC Input
  • Piano Gloss Black with Onyx Speaker Grille
  • Remote: RM-YD023


Learn More


Full HD 1080p

Full HD 1080p logoFull HD 1080p means our connections accept 1080p signals and the display will render that signal in Full HD 1080p. The flexibility of native 1920 x 1080 displays allows any high definition content to be viewed without the need to downconvert images to the native resolution of the display. Take full advantage of Blu-ray Disc players and PlayStation 3 systems that can deliver 1080p content.

(Found in S, V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs)


Digital Media Extender (DMex)

Sony's DigitalMedia Extender (DMex) offers a digital connection path for optional modules like the BRAVIA Internet Video Link, as well as other modules you can add in the future. Innovative DMex expansion capabilities integrate into the award-winning XMB user interface making HDTVs a powerful entertainment platform that not only meets current needs, but expands to meet tomorrow’s needs as well.



BRAVIA Engine Technology

The latest version of Sony’s respected BRAVIA Engine fully digitalvideo processor uses a collection of unique SONY algorithms to significantly reduce noise and produce sharp, vibrant, life-like images.
  • Dynamic Noise Reduction: Intelligently identifies and dramatically reduces noise in the signal according to the motion and brightness of each scene for clearer, crisper images.
  • Detail Enhancement: Improved image enhancement algorithms render greater overall detail.
  • Contrast Enhancement: Works with the Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit to optimize the contrast for every scene to create better depth and reality.
BRAVIA Engine technology optimizes the color, contrast, detail and clarity of every scene for the exceptional performance that BRAVIA HDTVs are known for.



Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE)

Part of the cinematic drama in film-making comes from details found in shadows and dark areas of the picture. Sony’s Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE)n uses real-time image processing to dynamically adjust backlight levels for improved contrast without masking details the filmmaker intended you to see. ACE delivers deep blacks in darker scenes, as well as fine details in shadows and other dark areas of the picture for a difference you can truly see.



Motionflow™ 120Hz Technology


No Motion Flow

With Motion Flow
Motionflow 120Hz technology doubles the number of existingframes by calculating in real time and inserting 60 entirely new frames between the original 60 frames. It uses a special Sony-developed algorithm that detects specific objects, as well as the movement of the overall scene and intelligently applies the right amount of enhancement. There’s
more to the story.

Unlike some other high frame rate technologies, Motionflow also includes Sony’s unique Image Blur Reduction algorithm, which reduces blur from the original source image captured by a camera before applying motion enhancement technology.

Judderis a visual artifact that shows up in video content that has been converted from film-based content. A visible jerking or stuttering effect can sometimes be seen during motion sequences on converted film-based content that may be noticeable on scenes that include panning.

There are many forms of high frame rate technology in the market today, but only Motionflow 120Hz technology uses special Sony algorithms designed to intelligently detect and apply the right amount of enhancement to reduce judder and deliver a smoother, sharper picture with more natural motion of the original film.



24p True Cinema

Movies and many prime time TV programs are shot at 24 frames per second. This means that TVs operating at any refresh rate that is not an even multiple of 24 will have to do some interpolation to present the content. TVs operating at at 30Hz or 60Hz traditionally solved this via a method called "2:3 pulldown". The television repeats the first film frame over the first two fields of video, and the second film frame over the next three fields of video (1, 1, 2, 2, 2), and continues to do this with the 3rd and 4th frames, the 5th and 6th framer (1,1,2,2,2 - 3,3,4,4,4 - 5,5,6,6,6), and so on until 24 frames are displayed over 60 refresh cycles. This discrepancy in the number of times frames are displayed can lead to a jerky motion in filmed material which some viewers notice  for example, especially with scenes that pan.

120, on the other hand, is an even multiple of 24. Televisions with 24p capability, operating at 120Hz, can display an equal number of frames for every refresh cycle.

The benefit—You can watch movies in natural, cinematic motion, the way they are seen at the cinema. Every single frame of the movie can now be seen without using additional video processing that converts film-based images to video reproduction. Additionally, 24p True Cinema input capability can be used along with Motionflow™ 120Hz technology for outstanding fluid motion beyond what you would typically see at the cinema. Once you experience 24p video it will be hard to view video without it.

(Found in S, V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs).

Sony's Blu-ray disc players wisely take advantage of this by including 24p output capability.



x.v Color

Standard RGB Color Profile
RGB Color Range
xvycc Color
xvYCC Color Range
Thanks to the adoption of a newly approved international color standard called xvYCC (an option in the HDMI v1.3 spec and which Sony participated in creating), the color space has been greatly expanded.

 All XBR HDTVs support the xvYCC color profile (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color" for short. Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation “xvYCC” color space actually offers  an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize.
  • Next-generation “xvYCC” color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals
  • Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately
  • Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors
Select products such as four Sony Handycam High Definition camcorders include x.v.Color to reproduce color that takes you beyond HD.



10-bit Processor and 10-bit Panel

deep color eliminates visible color banding 10-bit colorWhile it’s great to state that a TV is capable of creating billions of colors it’s a whole lot better when you have a true 10-bit display that can actually display them. Sony combines 10-bit processing with a 10-bit panel, allowing 64 times the levels of color expression. What that translates to is smoother transitions from color to color and subtle color changes faithfully reproduced without a paint-by-numbers look.

So, where x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color.
  • Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors
  • Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors
  • Enables increased contrast ratio
  • Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white.
 (Found in all Z and XBR Series HDTVs)



Rich Graphic On-Screen Control Interface

Delivering a fun user experience is what the new rich graphics are designed to do. Accessing video content and sharing digital photos with your family and friends on an HDTV is now fast, easy and fun. Colorful thumbnails cascade before your eyes allowing you to visually choose what you want to see. Viewing digital images through Sony’s photo viewer is now more organized and can be quickly accessed.



TV Guide On-Screen Interactive Program Guide

TV GUIDE logoThe TV Guide On-screen IPG delivers continually updated program listings to users. The guide requires no subscription fees or phone connection and is available at no extra cost to the consumer. Sony is the first company to integrate the TV Guide On-Screen User Interface into a custom interface — Sony’s exclusive Xross Media Bar user interface.

(Found in all V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs)



Connectivity

In 2007 Sony included HDMI CEC capability in select HDTV and BRAVIA Theatre Home Audio products, which led to a one-touch function Sony feature called BRAVIA Theatre Sync. This feature allows the access and control multiple tasks and system operations with one button ease. BRAVIA Sync is now being introduced as the name for a new family of control features that not only includes BRAVIA Theatre Sync, but will now include BRAVIA Sync. This feature allows the user to control a CEC-enabled camcorder connected to a BRAVIA HDTV via an HDMI cable by using the HDTV’s remote control and an on-screen display that shows camcorder transport functions.

(Found in all V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs)

All Connections
  • 4 HDMI — High Definition Multimedia
  • 2 component video inputs
  • PC Input: Limited to resolutions supported by both the PC and the Sony TV. See Sony TV users manual and PC documentation for supported resolutions.

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)

DLNA logodlna daisy chainAll 2008 XBR and Z-Series BRAVIA HDTVs are DLNA-compliant.

You already know something about digital living. There’s the TV and digital video recorder in your family room. (And another set in your bedroom.) You have a PC and digital printer in your office, along with a network attached storage device. And you’ve copied all your music onto your portable music player and haven’t had to open a CD case for years. But getting them to talk to each other can be pretty tough. Why is it still so difficult to send digital content from one device to another?

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is a collaboration of the world’s leading consumer electronics, PC and mobile companies that has created design guidelines for a new generation of products that can work together — no matter the brand.

Think for a moment about all of the photos “locked away” on your home PC that you wish you could access while entertaining your friends and family. Now, thanks to DLNA enabled devices, a DLNA-enabled PC can be accessed from the comfort of your living room or family room via a DLNA-enabled HDTV, where you can enjoy your memories with friends and family, without having to deal with the hassle and non-intuitive “PCexperience”.

Or, say you recently downloaded your daughter’s birthday party video from your digital camcorder to your PC. Now you want to share it with your parents who are visiting. Without DLNA, you probably have to burn a DVD of the video or hook up the camcorder to the TV. With DLNA, you can just use your TV’s remote to call up the video on your TV. That’s it.


Live Color Creation featuring WCG-CCFL Backlight

Many colors in the real world such as deep reds, greens and clear blues cannot be expressed with conventional display technologies. Working in combination with Sony’s special WCG-CCFL backlight in LCD HDTVs in our HDTVs, Live Color Creation technology achieves wide color reproduction using advanced chroma signal processing algorithms. The primary benefits are clear blues, natural greens and an overall vibrant color for all scenes.

(Found in XBR6 Series HDTVs)



Optimized Theater Mode

Developed in consultation with the Sony Pictures Entertainment movie studio, most 2008 Sony BRAVIA LCD HDTVs feature our optimized Theater Mode. Selecting the THEATER mode on the BRAVIA HDTV remote automatically adjusts a number of key elements that have an important impact on reproducing movies better. Skin tones and lighting are seen as natural without over-enhancing color and contrast. The picture is fine-tuned for a dark viewing environment just like the cinema and optimized for LCD display technology. Even the right amount of film grain is included. All of this helps preserve the mood and detail so you enjoy the cinema
experience that you go to the theater to see, right in the comfort of your home.

Optimized Theater Mode is another great example of Sony HDNA in action. We not only create the exciting movies that you see at the cinema but also enhance the home viewing experience to
recreate it as only Sony can.

(Found on most Sony® BRAVIA LCD HDTVs.)

Note: Optimized “Theater Mode” was developed in consultation Columbia Pictures, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.


Audio Features

S-Force Front Surround
Built around a sophisticated set of Sony algorithms, the S-Force Front Surround enhancement function generates realistic surround sound from the two speakers in the TV. Unlike some other "virtual surround" technologies, S-Force Front Surround sound does not need to be bounced off of side walls or other surfaces to hear three-dimensional sound. No matter what the size or shape of the room it's possible to hear sounds from behind you.

SRS TruSurround XT
TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two-speaker playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. It is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels. High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the two hidden, downward-firing side-mounted 2.2-channel dome speakers built into the TV.

SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass.

TruSurround XT audio also adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.
  • Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
  • TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
  • The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.
Stereo broadcast reception is offered for MTS and SAP with 181-channel capacity. A sound leveler keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing.



Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

size chart
With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get.
  • Minimum size= Viewing distance/3
  • Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

Which Sony Bravia Series is Right For You?


Series
Size Range
Resolution Bravia Engine ACE True 24p DMex TV Guide IPG 3D Graphic Onscreen Controls 120 Hz 10-Bit
Deep Color x.v. Color DLNA
Backlight Dynamic Contrast Multi Device Control Component Inputs HDMI Inputs Speakers Standard Features
L 32",37"
720p
(1366x768)












8,000:1
1 2 2 x 10W
1 PC Input

178 degree viewing angle

VESA mounting compatible

8 ms panel response

ATSC/NTSC tuner with QAM







M (19-inch) 19"
720p
(1440x900)












9,000:1
1 1 2 x 5W
M 26",32",37"
720p
(1366x768)
BE2 ACE









9,000:1 Bravia Theatre Sync 2 2 2 x 10W
N 26",32",37" 720p
(1366x768)
BE2 ACE









9,000:1 Bravia Theatre Sync 2 2 6 (2x7W + 20W internal subwoofer + 2x7W external)
S 40",46"
1080p
(1920x1080)

ACE check








25,000:1
2 3 2 x 10W
V 40",42",46",52"
1080p
(1920x1080)
BE2 ACE check check check check





25,000:1 Bravia Sync 2 4 2 x 10W
W 40",46",52"
1080p
(1920x1080
BE2 ACE check check check check check




30,000:1 Bravia Sync 2 4 2 x 10W
Z 40",46"
1080p
(1920x1080
BE2 ACE check check check check check check check


30,000:1 Bravia Sync 2 4 2 x 10W
XBR6
(37-inch
or smaller)
32",37"
1080p
(1920x1080
)
BE2 ACE
check check






25,000:1 Bravia Sync 2 4 2 x 10W
XBR6
(40-inch
or larger)
40",46",52"
1080p
(1920x1080
BE2 ACE check check check check check check check check check WCG-CCFL 50,000:1 Bravia Sync 2 4 2 x 10W
XBR8 46",55"
1080p
(1920x1080
BE2
Pro
ACE Pro check check check check check check check check check TRILUMINOS RGB LED over 1,000,000:1 Bravia Sync 2 4 TBD



Consumer Reports Says: Buy HDTV at Amazon!

Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2008) -- When it comes to price, Consumer Reports says shoppers are most likely to find the best deals online. And the publication called three ecommerce sites "standouts" in this year's Consumer Reports ratings of electronics stores: Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com and B&H (bhphotovideo.com)

The magazine's survey was based on more than 38,000 purchases of electronics, including flat-screen TVs, between January 2007 and June 2008. The report indicated that online stores consistently offered better prices. (The magazine's full report can be found in its December 2008 issue.)

"
Buying online can be better," the magazine said in a press release. "The higher-rated electronics retailers in Consumer Reports annual reader survey are Web sites. Readers who bought online rated their overall satisfaction at 90 out of 100 -- higher than those who bought in a store. Additionally, many Web merchants offer free shipping, even on TVs, which could spare the hassle of struggling to fit a bulky carton in the car or paying a local store for delivery."

Consumer Reports said that while no single retailer scored excellent in all shopping categories, Amazon.com and Crutchfield.com came closest.

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