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In the land-grab that is the nascent 3DTV market, it's Panasonic above all other brands that appear to have the best credentials to stake a claim. Its groundbreaking behind-the-scenes development work on the multi-view codec that enables Full HD 3D is indisputable, and its vision for bringing a new generation of 3D to the home the most mature. This is the company that began talking 3D up first, and nailed its supportive colors to the Avatar mast long before James Cameron's tree-hugging Na'vi took over the world.

So the arrival of the first 3DTV and Blu-ray combination from the brand is, even the most vocal 3D cynics must agree, a significant event in the history of home cinema. So much so that, I almost rolled out a red carpet to welcome the courier man delivering the TX-P50VT20 TV and DMP-BDT300 player.

The latter is the most features packed Blu-ray player from Panasonic yet, and compatibility with frame-sequential BD has resulted in some changes to the standard BD player configuration. Obviously the twin HDMI output on the back is a key giveaway. The 3D eyewear has a decidedly futuristic look offering one-cable compatibility with non-HDMI vl.4 AVRs when it comes to lossless audio. But there are also changes beneath the hood, with a beefed-up UniPhier chipset, and some high quality audio components.

The P50VT20 TV incorporates Panasonic's latest NeoPDP panel. This means it can run brighter than previous Panasonic plasmas, but has been reined in for better power efficiency. The curious upshot is that out of the box, the picture actually looks a little dim. Printed specifications indicate a contrast ratio that's off the scale, but in reality it looks much like other PDPs in the current Panasonic range, which is to say jolly good. As with previous Panasonic TVs, the GUI options are inconsistent, and navigating around menus is a bit like exploring an old dark house. Options come and go, depending what you happen to be doing/ watching/ thinking/eating at the time. The main menus are utilitarian with no visual flourishes, but select the Viera Tool bar and you're into a more graphical environment. This bar gives you the option of selecting files from USB devices, changing the 3D mode or exploring networked content.

Both the TV and Blu-ray player are DLNA compliant, but their performance is variable. Via the TV, I could playback a wide range of video files including DivX, AVI and MKV There's also JPEG and MP3 support. The sibling deck's networking talents are less comprehensive. The player could see most devices on my network. However, while I could drill down to files, I couldn’t play much and got a terse 'Cannot Play' message. This is because there is no audio support, and video playback is present principally to work with AVCHD recordings. JPEG pictures, though, can be viewed.


By: Francis David
Francis helps people understand DISH Network Satellite TV Service. DISH Network is available in your area, and Francis can help you choose DISH Network Packages and Channels the fit your budget.