Panasonic Viera TH-65PV600A
This 65-inch, 1080p addition to the Viera range was designed to partner Panasonic's first Blu-ray player, the DMP-BD10.
Upside
All of the key devices in the 65-inch plasma panel are manufactured by Panasonic in-house, from panels to processors and drivers. According to Panasonic, these 'black box' technologies enhance the TV's ability to handle fast-paced movement and produce dynamic contrast, crisp images and natural colours.
The TH-65PV600A incorporates the full lineup of Viera technologies common across the range -- including a 9th generation plasma panel, Viera 3D Colour Management, a 1080p digital re-mastering processor, and Panasonic's Real Black Drive with Deep Black Filter and Contrast Management System.
It has a three-way speaker system with SRS TruSurround XT, but this TV cries out for an external surround system such as Panasonic's matching SB-TP1000.
The TH-65PV600A has three HDMI terminals, a PC input, an SDHC-capable (Secure Digital High Capacity) SD card slot and Panasonic's Viera Link device control functionality.
Downside
Another disappointment is that there is no built-in digital tuner. If you want to watch HD broadcasts, you're still going to need an external set top box.
Outlook