Comments on: CNET Tests Point To Extent of Loss in Panasonic Plasma Black Level Performance + A THX Response

By: Shellyboy9

Shellyboy9 — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:30:43 +0000

Who’s to say this example of rising black levels is exclusive to Panasonic. Will anyone be truly surprised to find this problem is endemic to plasmas unilaterally. As much as I love plasmas, their strengths are being slowly equaled and outstripped by LCD’s and their offspring (Oled’s etc). Unlike plasma makers however, LCD manufacturers have been upfront about their products weaknesses. Why did plasma makers have to be outted by CNET in order to give us some transparency?

By: AllanG

AllanG — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:17:19 +0000

PIONEER COME BACK PLEASEEEEEE.

I am a loyal Panasonic use for the last30 years. And was going to buy one of the new sets this year. Because I believe in Plasma.

Think I will hunt down a Pioneer instead.

By: xtrepador

xtrepador — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:57:31 +0000

i use mi g10 at least 21 hours a day and the problem it,s getting worst and brigther i don,t think panasonic really cares about it,s loyal costumers. i was going to buy the vt25 NO MORE cause the issue will be still there my tv looks old compare to my 27 inch samsung in my bedroom wich has better blacks than my g10 wich i hate because is SUCKSSSSSSSSS.

By: Shaan

Shaan — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:41:52 +0000

any reports of people hacking their panny’s to adjust the voltage? Would be risky obviously, but I’m curious if anyone’s attempted it.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:32:57 +0000

Nothing new added here. Waste of bandwidth.

And we do know that other plasma’s do not do this…D-Nice’s 4280HD measures 0.0063fL with 1800+ hours on it. That means a 720p Kuro from 2007 will best a 2010 VT25 after 1,500 hours. Sad.

His 101FD, 500M and 141FD are still measuring in the 0.000xfL range

Hopefully Panasonic gets the 2011 panels right…the waiting game continues. This pre-programmed rise in MLL is specific to Panasonic…and it’s clearly a bad decision.

By: Bervick

Bervick — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:02:12 +0000

To get an excellent explanation of the black level issue

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=18295060&postcount=6776

And here
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=18247971&postcount=6192

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=18074202&postcount=3002

Adjusting the brightness of course will do nothing. Why would there be owners complaining otherwise.

By: James R Barton

James R Barton — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:10:56 +0000

I own a 50PZ800U and my black levels have risen noticeably–anyone out there have information on the progress of the lawsuit? Thank You!

By: Shaan

Shaan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:25:44 +0000

Would appreciate if someone could explain how raising the black levels does anything to extend the life of the set? Is it preventing burn-in somehow? Does it also raise the brightness levels all around? If so, why do the black levels have to be raised? Can’t the voltage only be increased when the pixel is turned on?

By: kissmeraas

kissmeraas — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:26:36 +0000

@Tzedekh I hope Panasonic do something about the rising black issue. I don’t even see why it’s necessary – these TVs will only last five or six years if you’re lucky, so why the hell does the panel need to last 100,000 hours? Even if you leave it on 24 hours a day 365 days a year, that’s ELEVEN AND A HALF YEARS. I’d rather they stopped the insides from blowing up after 12 months ;-)

BTW, UK G10 & G15 models didn’t have 96Hz refresh – they had the flickering 48Hz. Only the V series got the 96Hz, same as these new 2010 models. Also we didn’t get THX mode and the controls were basically Colour, Contrast & Brightness! Also we didn’t get any bigger than 50″ in the G series. Plus they are WAY more expensive than the US models. Our 58″ V10 is $2000 more than your 65″ !! WE’RE the ones getting shafted…

By: Tzedekh

Tzedekh — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:46:01 +0000

Unfortunately, because of a class-action lawsuit over the issue of rising black levels, Panasonic cannot comment, let alone admit it made a mistake. If its pre-2008 plasmas had a 60,000-hour lifespan (until half brightness) without resorting to increasing black levels, then, at the very least, the 2009s and 2010s should also. Having to increase black levels to mediocre levels bespeaks cost cutting, and doing so without warning buyers in advance appears fraudulent. This is only the latest evidence Panasonic’s disregard for its consumers, particularly its U.S. customers, who have been getting fewer and feature-reduced models for years. For example, the midlevel (i.e., G10 and G15 series) European models have better image controls and 96-Hz refresh. Sure, they cost more than their U.S. counterparts, but just about everything costs more in the UK and Europe than in the U.S. I think Panasonic should apologize for this bias and fix it by implementing the features–and shut off the black levels brightening–in the 2009 and 2010 U.S. models via firmware. Nothing helps public relations like a mea culpa and penance, something Toyota learned too late.