Is 720p vs 1080i worth being concerned about? Yes and no. If you’re a buyer looking for a new TV, you may happily ignore the 720p vs 1080i debate because each TV which is described as HDTV or HDTV Ready is required to help both formats. NOTE: You will have to be conscious altho that a large total of TVs which help 1080i have less than 1080 lines and so scale the 1080 signal down. That’s not a huge issue as even scaled down 1080i is far in front of a regular NTSC signal. It is worth bearing in mind that more costly HDTVs tend to have better scalers than for less ones, and this may be an issue. However, for broadcasters it’s a live issue. Should they broadcast 1080 lines of interlaced video or 720 lines of progressive scan? They could just broadcast two signals, one in each format, but that would use up a big chunk of bandwidth and be hugely highpriced for very little gain. To answer the question, it’s essential to grasp the divergence amid 720p vs 1080i. A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed in it is entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is know as progressive scan (hence the ‘p’)The quality is like looking at 30 photographic images a second on TV. A 1080i signal comprises 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the ‘i’), ie each other lines is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the substitute lines are displayed for 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously. Most of the time interlacing works fine, but for fast moving images, such as sports like baseball and hockey it may cause difficulties which manifest themselves as a ‘stepping’ effect on-screen. Progressive scan signals don’t have this problem and so are better suitable to sports. ESPN puts it like this: ‘Progressive scan engineering formulates better images for the fast moving orientation of sports television. Simply put, with 104 mph fastballs in baseball and 120 mph shots on goal in hockey, the line-by-line basis of progressive scan technology better captures the inherent fast action of sports. For ESPN, progressive scan engineering makes perfective sense.’ Bottom line? For us, as buyers 720p vs 1080i is not a debate worth worrying about, so you may relax and focus on all the other criteria on your list when you buy your next HDTV.

Building on it is award-winning 2009 Plasma line, Panasonic’s 46-inch VIERA TC-P46S2 Plasma HDTV features a new panel with NeoPDP technologies that provide the best remainder of black and white beneath more magnificent environments while likewise providing higher energy efficiency. The new NeoPDP Plasma panel also further reduces reflections and gives rise to sharper pictures with higher contrast in more glorious environments. This S2 series model provides 1080p resolution, full-time 1080 TV lines of moving picture resolution, and 600Hz Sub-field Drive for superb motion clarity.

This and other models in the S2 line offer Panasonic’s VIERA Image Viewer feature, which enables you to play slideshows of JPEG images stored on SD memory cards, as well as the VIERA Link feature for controlling a potpourri of compatible components–from Blu-ray Disc players to digital cameras–through a single remote. This model also includes Panasonic’s Clean Touch Bezel, which resists fingerprints to aid keep the surface clean. Adhering to Panasonic’s commitment to the environment, this VIERA model–as well as all 2010 models–features bettered power consumption and meets the new, more stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements. And you’ll get a long Plasma panel life of up to 100,000 hours–more than 30 years of observing when watched 8 hours a day–before the luminance of the panel decreases to half.

Panasonic’s VIERA S2 series Plasma HDTV.

Key Features

NeoPDP: By redesigning the Plasma panel’s cell structure and constructing an progressed new filter, Panasonic has tripled the luminous efficacy (compared to 2007 models) of it is VIERA Plasma HDTVS–resulting in stunningly finelooking images while also reducing power consumption.   1080 Moving Picture Resolution: With 1080 lines of moving picture solution and integrated NeoPDP technology’s high-speed drive performance, the display time for each effigy frame is shortened to denigrate afterimages, making decisive calls in football matches and delicate motions in figure skating performances appear crystal clear.   600Hz Sub-field Drive: 600Hz engineering lets you view superb full-HD motion and still images with 1080 lines of resolution. For even more outstanding clarity with motion images, Panasonic uses it is own distinguishable image-analysis technology, which converts the motion in each scene into data. And each frame is practically displayed for a shorter length of time than in former systems, to reduce aftereffects (see an illustration of 600Hz technology).

VIERA Image Viewer: View full-HD images with the integrated SD card slot, enabling you to view JPEG photos captured from your digital camera or camcorder on the huge screen. Navigate your images by way of an easy-to-use thumbnail display.   VIERA Link: Allows the interlinked operation of respective AV devices–from DVD and Blu-ray Disc players to home theater sound systems to digital cameras and camcorders–using only the VIERA remote control by merely connecting the gadgets to each other by an HDMI cable (see pop-up illustration).   Game Mode: With Game Mode, more immediate effigy response increments the enjoyment of video games when a game consolation is connected to the TV. What’s more, VIERA formulates the dark images in video games more clearly. This mode works with the anti-image retention (wobbling) function, too.

Key Specifications

Series: S2 Screen type: Plasma Screen size: 46 inches Native resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels Contrast ratio: Native: 2,000,000:1 Shades of gradation: 6,144 equivalent Receiving system: ATSC/QAM/NTSC HDTV display capability: 1080p, 1080i, 720p EDTV display capability: 480p Speakers: 2 full range, 20W total power; surround sound capablenesses Image viewer: JPEG compatibility Aspect control: Normal, Just, Zoom, Full, H-fill Optional wall-mounting bracket: TY-WK4P1RW Multi-lingual menu: English/Spanish/French Energy Star qualified: Yes

Connections HDMI: 3 (1 side) Component (Y, PB, PR): 2; each with audio input Composite A/V: 2 (1 side); each with audio input Digital audio output: 1 Dimensions TV with stand: 44.6 x 30.4 x 14.1 inches (WxHxD); 63.9 pounds TV without stand: 44.6 x 28.5 x 3.7 inches (WxHxD); 59.5 pounds What size TV must you get?

What’s in the Box

Panasonic S2 series Plasma HDTV, removable stand, remote control (with batteries), operating instructions

Series:

VT25 Plasma

GT25 Plasma

G25 Plasma

S2 Plasma

U2 Plasma

C2 Plasma

U22 LCD

X2 LCD

C22 LCD

Models: TC-P54VT25 54″
TC-P50VT25 50″ TC-P50GT25 50″
TC-P42GT25 42″ TC-P54G25 54″
TC-P50G25 50″
TC-P46G25 46″
TC-P42G25 42″ TC-P65S2 65″
TC-P58S2 58″
TC-P54S2 54″
TC-P50S2 50″
TC-P46S2 46″
TC-P42S2 42″ TC-P50U2 50″
TC-P42U2 42″ TC-P50C2 50″
TC-P46C2 46″
TC-P42C2 42″ TC-L42U22 42″
TC-L37U22 37″
TC-L32U22 32″ TC-L37X2 37″
TC-L32X2 32″
TC-L22X2 22″ TC-L37C22 37″
TC-L32C22 32″

VIERA Cast – – – – – –

VIERA Image Viewer
(AVCHD/MPEG2/JPEG/MP3 playback)
(AVCHD/MPEG2/JPEG/MP3 playback)
(JPEG)
(JPEG)
(JPEG)
(JPEG)
(JPEG)
(JPEG)
(JPEG)

VIERA Link
webcam capable
webcam capable
webcam capable

NeoPDP Panel – – – – – – –

THX Display – – – – – –

Contrast Ratio Infinite Black Pro / 5,000,000:1 Native Infinite Black / 5,000,000:1 Native Infinite Black / 5,000,000:1 Native Dynamic: 2,000,000:1 Dynamic: 2,000,000:1 Dynamic: 2,000,000:1 Dynamic: 20,000:1 Dynamic: 20,000:1
22″: 15,000:1 Dynamic: 18,000:1

Moving Picture Resolution 1080 lines 1080 lines 1080 lines 1080 lines 900 lines 720 lines – – –

Anti-Reflective Filter – – – – –

Display Capabilities 1080p, 1080i,
720p, 480p 1080p, 1080i,
720p, 480p 1080p, 1080i,
720p, 480p 1080p, 1080i,
720p, 480p 1080p, 1080i,
720p, 480p 720p, 480p 1080p, 1080i,
720p, 480p 720p, 480p 720p, 480p

600Hz Sub-field Drive – – –

Game Mode – – –

Speakers 3; 30W total 2; 20W total 2; 20W total 2; 20W total 2; 20W total 2; 20W total 2; 20W total 2; 20W total
22″: 6W 2; 20W total

Surround Sound

HDMI input 4 (1 side) 3 (1 side) 3 (1 side) 3 (1 side) 3 (1 side) 2 3 (1 side) 3 (1 side)
22″: 1 2

Component input (Y, PB, PR) 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1

Composite input 2 (1 side) 2 (1 side) 2 (1 side) 2 (1 side) 2 (1 side) 2 (1 side) 2 (1 side) 2 (1 side)
22″: 1 2

PC input 1 (side) 1 (side) 1 (side) – – – 1 1 1

USB 2 2 2 – – – – – –

Ethernet LAN input 1 1 1 – – – – – –

Digital Audio output 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

iPod Universal Dock – – – – – – – –

Energy Star

Series: VT25 Plasma GT25 Plasma G25 Plasma S2 Plasma U2 Plasma C2 Plasma U22 LCD X2 LCD C22 LCD

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Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable looking at a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the solution is so much better that you may sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule have a tendancy to be you may sit anyplace 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 must go once you get it, you may figure out the size HDTV you will have to get. Minimum size = Viewing distance/3 Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

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Most helpful customer reviews

65 of 65 people found the following review helpful.
Beautiful Television
By James D. Lambert
I bought this television from Amazon & have lived with it for a couple of months.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
Quality picture and good value
By Gadget Freak
Bought from Fry’s on a fantastic sale of $549. Thought the 46″ might be too big for my room, but it’s not at all. It’s replacing a 42″ plasma and this is actually lighter than my old 42″. At under 70lbs it was relatively easy for my wife and I to lift this 8 ft onto a wall mount. It looks fine on the wall and not too bulky.

After playing with the settings using cinema mode and changing black level setting to black, the picture is awesome. It may not look as vivid if you compare to a top line LCD, but it’s it’s not necessarily poorer quality it’s just a different look. Image looks the best about 8 ft back. I’m using AT&T uverse for cable and haven’t tried DVD or blu ray, but it should look great based on the hd cable picture.

The panasonic g series looked better in the store next to this but is a couple hundred more. Aside from pioneer, which doesn’t make plasmas anymore, panasonic is the plasma leader.

Sound quality is fine for a bedroom. It has very incremental volume adjustments for setting to the right level so as not to wake the kids.

Has lots of inputs, but most only need a couple hdmis and maybe a 3rd for games, but this has all most will need.

If money is not a concern there are better tvs out there, both plasma and LCD, but for the price this is a great deal. Since new models are coming out for 2011 grab one of these under $600 in the coming months and you’ll be happy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Great choice for HD TV
By Michael Mshar
So far, this has been a great purchase. The picture quality when viewing a blu-ray disc is truly stunning. With Comcast hi-def (which is actually only 1080i), the picture is still very good. It took some fiddling with the various settings to get the picture just right, but I am very happy with the results. One note for those considering a hi-def TV: get a plasma if you need to be able to see the TV clearly from locations that are not directly in front of it. The picture on this plasma still looks good at high viewing angles (say 80 degrees from center). LCD’s still look dim at even small angles from center.

See all 24 customer reviews…

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