Panasonic ST60

[Drako]

I haven't heard any such thing. Especially out of Panasonic. Source?

They've been losing money on their TV division for over 5 years now, so ...

http://gizmodo.com/5991028/panasonic-to-cut-tv-production-maybe-abandon-plasma

 

[olds]

I haven't heard any such thing. Especially out of Panasonic. Source?

Supposedly they are closing the R&D division for plasma in 2014.

http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2013/04/is-the-panasonic-zt60-the-ultimate-plasma.html

The bad news for plasma fans is Panasonic confirmed that it will no longer develop new plasma panels at its R&D labs, as those resources will now be committed to OLED TV development. So the ZT60s may be the best plasma TVs you'll ever be able to buy, at least from Panasonic. That does not mean, however, that Panasonic is pulling the plug on its plasma TV busness—it will continue selling plasma TVs for the foreseeable future. [Note: Following several reports about the company's plasma R&D facilities closing, Panasonic issued this statement: "While the Smart VIERA ZT Series introduces a new level of plasma picture quality, we believe there is still room for further improvement and intend to continue to research ways to take our plasma technology to even higher levels where it also has the potential to be applied in our other Plasma series in the future."-Ed.]

 

[KentState]

Some rumors have been circulating that they will be closing their remaining production facilities next year.

 

[Deeko]

I'm considering getting the 65" ST60 for my new basement. On one hand, I'm a sucker for good black levels, and apparently it excels there. On the other than, I do my share of PS3 and Kinect gaming, and I'm slightly concerned about all the reports of lag. Might go with a comparably priced 70" LCD...but I don't really want to. Hmm.

Ordered it today. Should be arriving next week.

 

[olds]

Well, I think I am going to wait to see some reviews on the VT60 and the ZT60 before I buy a TV.

 

[tenthumbs]

I ordered the ST60 today before even seeing this thread. I remember buying a 50" Panasonic Plasma about 5 years ago. Still have it, still love it, still use it. But it's in the master bedroom now. At the time I spent hours comparing to other TV's, reading forums and other info sources until I was finally sure of which model to get. Today I cant even tell you which model I have or why I bought it. It's an awesome TV, gets lots of use, zero burn in, excellent with the PS3 and blu ray movies. Looking forward to the ST60 doing the same (for half the price)


UPDATE: TV arrived yesterday and it's fantastic. I ordered it from Abt and the free shipping no tax makes this an even better value if you live in CA. I haven't performed any calibration yet but I did make a few changes out of the box and frankly I'm already ecstatic with the performance.

 

[destrekor]

Ordered it today. Should be arriving next week.

Still have it?

Thoughts?


I'm looking into the P50ST60, but the reports of input lag worry me.

I'm trying not to break the bank, but want the step-up (ST60) as opposed to skimping on the S60. I know the S64 version available has the AR filter from the ST60, but it still doesn't share the same panel.

On a TV, if I'm playing games, it's console games.
I leave my true competitive FPS and other gaming to my PC, but I still want to be able to compete online in console-only FPS games (PS3 only at the moment, probably get PS4, and while possible, I highly doubt I'd also get the Xbox One - no use doubling up when my focus is PC gaming and the best Xbox games I tend to get on PC)


With that said, I'd like the option to be able to play decently with PC gaming, reason being, I just built an HTPC and I have a passing interest to get Steam Big Picture Mode on there and play some indy games and other non-system-killing games (I have an HD 7750 in it). Games that go well with a controller, as opposed to demanding a KB & M, in other words.

I can do without HTPC gaming, if it really comes down to that... I just want good PQ (I have basically decided entirely on Plasma, after all ) and the ability to, at the minimum, play well with consoles, and not cause issues handling PS3 and HTPC playback through my AV receiver.


[I might throw this into a separate thread for more input... we'll see.]

 

[Deeko]

I still have it. I like it. The picture quality is very good, that's for sure. I don't play any games as fast-twitch as Call of Duty, but I don't have any issues with games like Madden or Dishonored. There's some input lag, but it's not as mind-blowingly terrible as some people make it out to be.

 

[Tebor0]

Looking to use the ST60 as a replacement for my main monitor which means that viewing distance will be just a few feet.

What's this TV like in terms of text sharpness compared to other sets?
Like to stay with the 50" model since I assume going to 60" will make it worse but due to availability I may end up with the 55".

 

[olds]

Kept going back and forth between the VT60 and the ZT60. Just can't see the premium between the two so I ordered a VT60. We'll see if I get it. If not, I may look at the ZT60 again...
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2347498

 

[Meghan54]

Kept going back and forth between the VT60 and the ZT60. Just can't see the premium between the two so I ordered a VT60. We'll see if I get it. If not, I may look at the ZT60 again...
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2347498

Nice choice. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. I've only got a GT50, but it's proven to be great, so far.

 

[Squisher]

Olds, over at http://www.highdefjunkies.com/ D-Nice has some VERY detailed settings for the Panasonics along with a burn in setup that I liked a lot for my 65" ST60. You have to register to see the forum though.

 

[olds]

Olds, over at http://www.highdefjunkies.com/ D-Nice has some VERY detailed settings for the Panasonics along with a burn in setup that I liked a lot for my 65" ST60. You have to register to see the forum though.

Thanks, I'll check it out.
How do you like your TV?

 

[Squisher]

Thanks, I'll check it out.
How do you like your TV?

Like isn't the word. After watching SD until earlier this year down the mancave it is like night and day. I sit 8 feet from the TV and it is picture perfect. 6 months with this TV and I'm still amazed. It blows away the other 2 plasmas in the house.

 

[destrekor]

Like isn't the word. After watching SD until earlier this year down the mancave it is like night and day. I sit 8 feet from the TV and it is picture perfect. 6 months with this TV and I'm still amazed. It blows away the other 2 plasmas in the house.

Using the D-Nice slides and settings, I too am absolutely floored by my P50ST60.

I wish it was a 65".. hell I wish it was 80"+, but budget realities, well.. you know.


I had a 32" 720P LCD before this, and was plenty used to HD content on it, friends TVs, and my parents' 50" Panny plasma. Can't remember the model, but it was from 2009 iirc.

I had to house/dog sit while they were out of town recently, and used their TV for the week. I was actually disappointed in the black levels!

It's amazing what Panny has been able to do in 4 years with their PDP R&D, and especially saddening when they are pulling out of the market next year. It's the best picture we've got these days. OLED might beat it, but it's only begun the maturation phase for the TV market, and it's priced out of the ballpark. Plasma was similar in its infancy, though far lesser for quality control. Thankfully OLED has had plenty of practical applications over the years, it just hasn't been market-friendly (how good it is + how much it costs + how long it lasts + how well it handles all content) and cost-effective for large panel sizes. I'm still not sold they are ready for primetime - the pixel matrix structure can be so damn weird in OLEDs, saturation can be impossible to dial in correctly, etc. Phones have been, however, sort of a Proof of concept, I reckon.


With the way the living room in the apartment is, especially with a few of the vertical shades/blinds busted/removed from the patio door, it's not exactly something I'd consider ideal for sunny afternoon viewing if PQ matters. For sports, basic afternoon TV or whatever... works great. I probably won't ever watch movies, however. The blacks just don't look that great with a lot of light around.
But in a dark room? It's impressive on an Epic level.


Interesting note: I don't know if it was just the fact that most Blu-ray's I've watched since buying the set have been viewed in 3D (which looks great, btw!) (which means the perceived sharpness might have been down), but I recently watched Children of Men and, all I can say is, WOW. For such a dull world, the color was phenomenal and the detail and dimension... I mean, it seriously looked like there was a touch of 3D to the picture.
The wonderful cinematography HAD to have helped.
Hmm... I had a hunch, and I was correct: it was one of the rare, shot entirely on 35mm releases of this era. Film still has digital beat on Dynamic Range and Depth of Field - that may explain the added punch that movie had over others I've watched recently.

 

[Born2bwire]

It's too bad that D-Nice never uploaded settings for the VT60 that oldsmoboat and I ordered. Still, CNET posted theirs and really one needs to actually get the set calibrated if they want it done right.

 

[A5]

Yeah, I'd pay for a professional calibration (after a couple months or the burn-in slides) if I sprung for the VT. People say it's like $300 or so.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Nice choice. I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. I've only got a GT50, but it's proven to be great, so far.

You're talking a very minor difference from one year to the next. Are the 60 series better? Yes, but it's a small, incremental increase. The 50's are still great. These reviewer dudes really have to split hairs to choose one over another.

I read one review where at a show, the Samsung 8500 was voted the best one there, over the Panasonics. Small margin, again, but they're THAT close.

 

[Born2bwire]

You're talking a very minor difference from one year to the next. Are the 60 series better? Yes, but it's a small, incremental increase. The 50's are still great. These reviewer dudes really have to split hairs to choose one over another.

I read one review where at a show, the Samsung 8500 was voted the best one there, over the Panasonics. Small margin, again, but they're THAT close.

While I hear good things about the Samsung 8500, the problem is that it is in a whole other price bracket. The 60" is $2800 from Amazon. I got my 60" VT60 for $1800. Even the VT series has a few minor problems but I would not want to pay an extra grand to get them fixed.

 

[MadScientist]

Paul's TV has another round of coupon codes good until 11-6. Find them here: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/paulstv.com?c=5187142

I used the code PAULSTV15 to get $100. off the Panasonic TCP55ST60 for $1230. shipped. East Coast TV's advertised price, before the upsell, is $1215. I also got another 2.5% off through ebates. Discovercard also has a 5% Cashback Bonus for online purchases from 10/1/13 (or the date on which you signed up, whichever is later) through 12/31/13, subject to a cap of $1500 in purchases.

I'm replacing a 6 year old 50" LG 720P plasma.

 

[Midwayman]

Paul's TV has another round of coupon codes good until 11-6. Find them here: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/paulstv.com?c=5187142

I used the code PAULSTV15 to get $100. off the Panasonic TCP55ST60 for $1230. shipped. East Coast TV's advertised price, before the upsell, is $1215. I also got another 2.5% off through ebates. Discovercard also has a 5% Cashback Bonus for online purchases from 10/1/13 (or the date on which you signed up, whichever is later) through 12/31/13, subject to a cap of $1500 in purchases.

I'm replacing a 6 year old 50" LG 720P plasma.

The 60" is only like $130 more... FWIW amazon will price match Pauls with the coupon plus they give you 2% credit in a month and a really nice return policy.

 

[Anubis]

Best Buy will price match paulsTV as well

 

[Midwayman]

Best Buy will price match paulsTV as well

+tax though.... well depending on where you are.

 

[destrekor]

+tax though.... well depending on where you are.

Yeah, but that evens out with easy returns and no shipping. You can still also setup free delivery if you'd like to leave liability on someone else until it's in your home.

 

[Midwayman]

Yeah, but that evens out with easy returns and no shipping. You can still also setup free delivery if you'd like to leave liability on someone else until it's in your home.

Amazon has free shipping both directions on their sets.