Panasonic TC-P50X1 Review: 50” Plasma HDTV

Up for review: Panasonic TC-P50X1 50-inch Plasma TV.  The X1 series from Panasonic deviates from the higher-end Panasonic models released this year. It has some downgraded features like a resolution of 720p and limited contrast ration. But if you want a large flat-screen HDTV then the Panasonic TC-P50X1 should definitely be considered at its price. The black levels are great and the overall picture is steady.

A review of the exterior shows that the Panasonic TC-P50X1 is a shiny black bezel with a silver lining at the bottom. There is a big power button, together with the Panasonic logo and an indicator light. The speakers are hidden beneath the panel to provide a smooth and uniform front design. Both the sides of the HDTV hold the controls and the inputs. The stand doesn’t swivel but can be wall mounted as an option.

One feature included on the 2009 Panasonic HDTV’s is the VIERA Link feature which allows you to control the devices connected through the HDMI inputs with the single remote.

Panasonic TC-P50X1 Features and Specifications Review:

• 50” screen
• 720p resolution
• Over 900 lines of Moving Resolution
• VIERA Link™
• VIERA Image Viewer™
• 600 Hz sub-field drive
• AR filter
• Game mode
• 3 HDMI inputs
• 30,000:1 native contrast ratio
• Infinite black panel

Connectivity options on the Panasonic TC-P50X1 are comparable to most HDTV’s on the market today. There are 3 HDMI inputs besides all the other basic inputs. Missing are the VGA-style PC input and the regular analog audio output. There is an SD card slot in the side panel.

The Infinite Black panel is the highlight of the Panasonic TC-P50X1. A deeper review of the Panasonic TC-P50X1 picture shows that the picture quality is highly enhanced because of the deepest black levels. However, there is lack of uniformity as far as color is concerned.

There are very few user controls on the Panasonic TC-P50X1. This is okay for most viewers but some like to really customize their picture.  The Cinema preset shows better colors than the Custom preset, but has much less brightness. It is not possible to play with the grayscale in the HDTV.

Overall, the TC-P50X1 is a solid HDTV that is missing out on some needed features but the price makes up for it.  If you’re looking for a large plasma and don’t have a lot to spend, you should definitely check it out.

YouReviewElectronics.com gives Panasonic TC-P50X1 7/10 stars!