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Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ85U 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
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| List Price: | $1,899.99 |
| Price: | $1,207.84 |
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by 6ave
10 new or used available from $1,199.99
Average customer review:
Product Description
PRODUCT FEATURES:46" class (46.0" diagonal) widescreen VIERA Plasma 1080p HDTV with increased native contrast ratioPC inputAnti-reflective filter, deep color technologyGame modeBuilt-in SD card slotGalleryPlayer ready to view3 HDMI inputsVIERA Link HDAVI control
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #14753 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Black
- Brand: Panasonic
- Model: TH-46PZ85U
- Dimensions: 13.00" h x 34.00" w x 51.20" l, 100.00 pounds
- Display size: 46
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
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description--March 10, 2008
With its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings anastonishing 1,000,000:1 contrast ration to the table. advanced pixel resolution and image-processing technology with the plasma TV's natural ability to beautifully reproduce fast moving images, so every detail is rendered with amazing clarity, and all the action is delivered with a high degree of fluidity.
What's New This Year?
- Super Contrast--native contrast ratios on the PZ85, PZ800 and PX 850 series are 30,000:1, double last year's 15,000:1.
- Dynamic contrast ratios are up to 1,000,000:1.
- new anti-reflective filter; lead-free "Tough Under Force" panel is resistant to impacts and scratches
- Built-in SD card slot with Photo Viewer/Gallery Player software
- x.v. Color and Deep Color (HDMI 1.3 features)
- Game Mode auto-adjusts image quality suitable to games and includes anti-image retention
- Viera Link is now compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems
- At least 3 HDMI inputs on all models (4 on PZ800 and PZ850 series)
- THX Certification on PZ800 and PZ850 series
Which Viera is Right For You?
Click here to see a comparison of step up features on each Viera series.Amazing color reproduction
The incredible black reproduction of a Panasonic High-Definition Plasma TV results in impressive contrast and beautiful, natural colors. So you'll get warm, accurate skin tones, gorgeous greens, breathtaking blues and vivid reds. For color that's as rich and bold as life itself, look to a Panasonic Plasma TV.Consistent brightness from any angle
A Panasonic Plasma combines anti-glare and anti-reflection technology with the natural light-emitting properties of plasma, to give you a super-wide viewing range with a crisp, beautiful image from almost any angle.Smooth, graceful motion
 | When you're watching sports or movies with fast-motion graphics, you want a TV that can keep up with the action. With over 900 lines of moving picture, self-illuminating plasma displays eliminate afterimages in fast-action scenes. So whether you're watching a sporting event or an action-packed movie, you'll always get the most impressive viewing experience possible. |
1,000,000:1 Contrast
 | The Panasonic's Real Black system (a pre-discharge suppression system) and improved panel production processes combine to reproduce outstanding blacks with superb contrast. Each image is richly expressive, from bright scense, like scorching desert landscapes, to dark cave scenes. Compare the image produced by conventional HDTV on the left to the Real Black image produced on the right |
More Colors
 | Viera 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.
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Deep Color
 | 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.
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Connectivity
Viera flat panel HDTVs interact with an array of high-definition devices and services, making it easy for consumers to access and enjoy content as never before. As of 2008, Viera Link is compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems.| Videos and stills recorded on SD cards can easily be viewed via the SD slots on Panasonic Blu-Ray Disc players and Viera HDTVs. | Viera Link means easy connectivity via HDMI cables. Finally, consumers can easily operate their Blu-Ray Disc players, DVD recorders and home theater systems with a single remote control device. |
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| 4 HDMI inputs to connect all of your devices directly to your television. | Equipped with an RGB input terminal, VIERA can connect with your PC and serve as a large-screen monitor. |
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Long Life
 | Panasonic plasma panels are rated to last 100,000 hours, which is about 30 years of regular or 11 years of non-stop usage before the brightness of the display is halved. |
Get Full HD with Blu-Ray Disc Players
 | A Panasonic 1080p plasma television is able to render 1920x1080 pixels, but standard DVDs have a resolution of just 720x480. Blu-ray discs output true 1080p High-Definition resolution and have a storage capacity ten times greater than standard DVDs, so no pixel gos to waste. |
Which is the Right Viera for You?
| Screen Size Measured Diagonally | 1080p Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels | Native Contrast Ratio | PC Input | THX Cert | 24p | Speakers | HDMI Inputs | One Sheet of Glass Design | Swivel Base | Shades of Gradation | H.264 Codec | Digital Cinema Color | Studio Reference Mode | Pro Setting Menu | Serial Port | Standard Features | |
| TH-42PX80U | 42 inches | 15,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 |
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| TH-50PX80U | 50 inches | 15,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||||
| TH-42PZ80U | 42 inches |  | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-46PZ80U | 46 inches | | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-50PZ80U | 50 inches | | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-42PZ85U | 42 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-46PZ85U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-50PZ85U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-42PZ800U | 42 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 4,096 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ800U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 4,096 | ||||||
| TH-50PZ800U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 4,096 | ||||||
| TH-58PZ800U | 58 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 4,096 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ850U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-50PZ850U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-58PZ850U | 58 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-65PZ850U | 65 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | |
Customer Reviews
Great new offering from Panasonic
If you are anything like me when trying to decide on which flat screen TV to buy, let me just say that you will not go wrong by choosing this 46" Panasonic plasma TV. I spent several days and multiple trips to electronic stores before getting this one. I have had the TV for nearly a month now and here's what I think:
Pros:
1. Fantastic contrast ratio - sometimes can even get too dark for my liking! (level of contrast can be adjusted via menu options)
2. Very handy 15 pin PC connection (I use this very often to view online movies and documentaries)
3. Very good color rendering. False contouring is minimal and typically only with weaker/lower res. signals
4. Sound is awesome! There appears to be 3 channels/speakers at the bottom of the piece. You have the ability to have surround capability (I do not have a home theater sound system connected).
5. Pixelation during fast motion very minimal (typical for the plasma)
6. Very good inbuilt tuner. I use it to get the off-the-air HD channels, great quality
7. Very good form factor - looks that will please most
8. Wide sturdy base
There are a lot of other features that I have not used as yet but overall, I am really very pleased with what I have seen so far. Note that I have not tried a blu-ray disc with the TV but seeing the quality with the 1080-i quality NCAA games this month has been phenomenal.
Cons:
1. It is my belief that the anti-reflective screen not quite as good as compared to the anti-glare coating the 2007 models had. My experience is based on comparison of bright warehouse lighting reflecting from the 2007 screens and the bright living room I currently have place the 2008 model in. With the anti-reflective screen on the 2008 model, I can see a reflection of myself when the picture is dark or dull and background lighting is moderate. For e.g. even in the nights, when I have a small average intensity lamp burning, I can see a reflection of myself in the screen.
Hard to think of other cons.
I definitely do not regret the PC input option for the $90 extra it cost me! Will add more as the weeks go by but overall a fantastic choice.
Amazing tv
I have been researching tv's for the past 6 months, and finally decided on the 46PZ85U. Prior to purchasing this tv, I bought a Samsung 5084 on clearance. I returned it as it did not perform as I expected, and decided to go with my original choice.
First, the 46 inch screen is perfect. When I began shopping for a tv I was planning to go with a 46 inch lcd because of the size and where I planned to put it, but further research led me to the plasma technology. The 50 inch was a little larger than I wanted and the 42 was too small.
I am extremely satisfied with my purchase as this tv has a picture second to none. I too was concerned about the reflections, but I have this tv in my family room with a lot of windows and it is not an issue.
I have only had it for two days now, so I will list the things I've noticed and will post an update after a while.
1. As stated before, the picture quality is amazing. It even looks good on sd channels...but HD channels blow me away. I can't wait to watch the Masters this weekend.
2. The sound quality is excellent. One of the reasons I returned the Samsung is because its sound quality was horrible. While I have a stereo with surround sound set up, I do not want to turn on the stereo for day to day viewing...only when watching movies.
3. The additional inputs are hidden on the sides...but easily accessable. One reason I opted for the 85U instead of the 80U is the location of these inputs. They are behind a hidden door on the 80U in the front of the tv...I have two small children and imagined this door being broken off within a week.
4. The layout and the clean looking bezel make this a very attractive tv. My wife liked that since it is in our family room.
I will post an update to this review once I enjoy the tv a little longer. For now, I am completely satisfied with my purchase.
Update (6/1/08)...after owning this tv for a few months, I am completely happy with this purchase. The picture is amazing, sounds great, and it is everything I expected.
Great Experience
I ordered this TV after doing a lot of online research and a little in-store research (to look at the picture quality in person). I basically followed the advice of many different reviews and decided to buy a Samsung LCD or a Panasonic Plasma. I finally picked a plasma because of the black colouration advantage of Panasonic as well as the fast action. My room is about normal in terms of lighting.
After doing price research, Amazon had the best price as it included white glove delivery. I found you need to be careful with the delivery issue as you can find lower price TV's online, but then the delivery services are very different in terms of service level and price.
The delivery was great. However, the TV comes with a stand (it slides into the back of the TV) but the delivery guys won't put the TV on the stand for you. Attaching the stand to the TV was easy and then subsequent set up to my DVD and cable boxes was very easy.
The picture quality is awesome. With digital HD cable service, it blows me away. (Even the service guy from the cable company was impressed the TV - so that must be a good sign!) I have had it for about a month, and everything is working fine.
The one thing that is disappointing is the remote. My whole set up is JVC, and the Panasonic remote will not control any of my components. The Owner's Manual lists a ton of codes to try, but none of them work, and unfortunately my JVC remotes won't work the Panasonic TV. However, my Tivo remote does control the TV so the multiple-remote issue only comes into play with my DVD player.
Make sure you buy the right cables. The HDMI is by far the best picture (for my Tivo). I use the component cables (Y, Pb, Pr) for my DVD - and they perform better than the other audio/video/S video option. You can get cables cheap here at Amazon, so buy them with the TV, then you won't need to run around and pay through the nose at your local store when the TV shows up!
I hope this helps someone. This is a great TV. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
