New Panasonic TH-50PZ80U - Blu-ray Forum

Tarl · 01-27-2009, 04:36 PM

I pick up my new Panasonic TH50PZ80 TV on friday. It will replace my 47 inch LG in the basement. I know it's not the highest end model but I think it's a couple of steps up for me. It is also my first plasma and my first Panasonic. A couple of questions.......
-other than the break in period is there anything special i should know or do?
-currently I have my LG hooked up to my (Canadian) HD satellite reciever via component cables. These recievers have an HDMI output but are known to have issues with it. Will the Panasonic require a HDMI connection to the reciever for HD material, or can I leave it with component?

brett_day · 01-27-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarl

I pick up my new Panasonic TH50PZ80 TV on friday. It will replace my 47 inch LG in the basement. I know it's not the highest end model but I think it's a couple of steps up for me. It is also my first plasma and my first Panasonic. A couple of questions.......
-other than the break in period is there anything special i should know or do?
-currently I have my LG hooked up to my (Canadian) HD satellite reciever via component cables. These recievers have an HDMI output but are known to have issues with it. Will the Panasonic require a HDMI connection to the reciever for HD material, or can I leave it with component?

congrats i have the same tv

break in is not required but highly receommended. i would do it for 100 - 150 hours. i done 150 hours go here and check out the thread on it

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post14472276

also component will be fine for HD content seeing as all cable and satellite shows are only broadcast in 1080i and not 1080p and of course no loss less audio, so if there are known issues with HDMI stick with component

dobyblue · 01-27-2009, 04:43 PM

If it's Bell ExpressVu you should know that they re-encode everything except CBC to 720p which sucks.

joegs300 · 01-27-2009, 04:49 PM

Congrats on your purchase!!! I get mine tomorrow!! (TH50pz85u)!

Tarl · 01-27-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobyblue

If it's Bell ExpressVu you should know that they re-encode everything except CBC to 720p which sucks.

I have Star Choice.....so i get the 1080. Thanks for the quick responses folks.....i'm looking foward to the Superbowl with a bit more excitement now.

Santeria · 01-27-2009, 05:06 PM

congrats i get my 46pz80u on wed

alain turgeon · 01-27-2009, 05:13 PM

I also have star choice and the hdmi works just fine. Keep in mind though that you have to use a dvi to hdmi cable since that's the only digital video output on your satellite receiver.
You should always use the best connection for your display,in this case hdmi because it does'nt have to convert analog signal to digital. Hope this helped.

dobyblue · 01-27-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarl

I have Star Choice.....so i get the 1080.

What I mean is, I can set my receiver to 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i, but I know that Bell re-encodes everything other than CBC to 720p.

CBC do not allow any station to alter their feed, which is great.

Is there any documentation of Star Choice actually broadcasting natively in 1080i? I may consider a switch.

alain turgeon · 01-27-2009, 05:27 PM

My Star Choice dvr is set to 1080i and my Sony tv sees it as 1080i so i guess it does.

dobyblue · 01-27-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alain turgeon

My Star Choice dvr is set to 1080i and my Sony tv sees it as 1080i so i guess it does.

Yeah, unfortunately that doesn't mean anything.
You can put on a DVD through an upconverting player and your TV will say 1080i or 1080p, but it's still 480i at the source.

It's what's going INTO the box I'm interested in, not what comes out of it.

Let me explain it a different way.
ABC, Fox and ESPN all broadcast in 720p.
You can set your box to output 1080i and it will send your TV 1080i, but the source was still 720p.

CBS, NBC, HDNet, CBC, they all broadcast at 1080i but Bell ExpressVu, for bandwidth reasons, re-encodes everything to 720p. I can set my box to 1080i but I still get BEV's re-encoded 720p coming into the box.

I want a provider that leaves the original signal alone so that NBC, etc., come in at 1080i and ABC, etc., come in at 720p. I'm happy to change my setting locally to accomodate the channels where I know what the native broadcast was.

Tarl · 01-27-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alain turgeon

I also have star choice and the hdmi works just fine. Keep in mind though that you have to use a dvi to hdmi cable since that's the only digital video output on your satellite receiver.
You should always use the best connection for your display,in this case hdmi because it does'nt have to convert analog signal to digital. Hope this helped.

Yep...I know about the DVI to HDMI cable but i've always heard that the Motorola recievers had troubles with that setup. If yours works fine I may just pick up a cable and try it out.
As far as SC vs Bell for HD material, I am not sure about the 1080i or 720p output from Starchoice. I had always believed that HDNet was 1080p, and I do see a very noticable difference in it over other HD channels. It would be very interesting to find out one way or another.

Bizdady · 01-27-2009, 09:02 PM

Love the 80u Great entry 1080p Set! I definately love mine!

Tarl · 01-30-2009, 06:26 PM

Picked up my new TV this morning. I am very impressed so far. Break in started at noon today. I'm going to leave it on straight through the 100 hours using the HFrame channel when i'm not at home. It has no logos only constant rotating hi def still pictures, they change every 30 seconds. I have everything turned down to 40 on cinema mode and it still looks very nice. Played 5 minutes of Baraka and I can tell that this unt will look amazing when calibrated. I'm now using a DVI to HDMI cable for my sat reciever. It took me awhile to figure out that Vierra Link was turning on and off my Sony BD player with the TV. After I turned the link feature off it was fine. I'm a very happy camper today!!!

Scoob · 02-19-2009, 07:38 PM

I am in the process of breaking it in. The Picture looks great. I'm sure after I calibrate it, it will look even better. Thanks to Brett Day for his review of this TV. I did have a 50" Sony LCD (1366 x 768) which I sold to a buddy. Blu-ray in 1080p rocks. I'm pretty stoked to have this display.

Tarl · 02-20-2009, 01:45 AM

I have about 180 hours on mine now. Looks great and no Image Retention at all. I play alot of COD 4 and World at War. The games and BDs look amazing on this unit. I'm very pleased with my choice....

ThriceBB · 02-20-2009, 02:47 AM

does anyone have any suggestions for break in channels or anything in the states? i have directv.

Tarl · 02-20-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThriceBB

does anyone have any suggestions for break in channels or anything in the states? i have directv.

Maybe this will give you some ideas......
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post14472276

01-27-2009, 04:36 PM	#1
Tarl Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Harrowsmith On Blu-ray collection:127	New Panasonic TH-50PZ80U I pick up my new Panasonic TH50PZ80 TV on friday. It will replace my 47 inch LG in the basement. I know it's not the highest end model but I think it's a couple of steps up for me. It is also my first plasma and my first Panasonic. A couple of questions....... -other than the break in period is there anything special i should know or do? -currently I have my LG hooked up to my (Canadian) HD satellite reciever via component cables. These recievers have an HDMI output but are known to have issues with it. Will the Panasonic require a HDMI connection to the reciever for HD material, or can I leave it with component?

01-30-2009, 06:26 PM	#13
Tarl Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Harrowsmith On Blu-ray collection:127	Picked up my new TV this morning. I am very impressed so far. Break in started at noon today. I'm going to leave it on straight through the 100 hours using the HFrame channel when i'm not at home. It has no logos only constant rotating hi def still pictures, they change every 30 seconds. I have everything turned down to 40 on cinema mode and it still looks very nice. Played 5 minutes of Baraka and I can tell that this unt will look amazing when calibrated. I'm now using a DVI to HDMI cable for my sat reciever. It took me awhile to figure out that Vierra Link was turning on and off my Sony BD player with the TV. After I turned the link feature off it was fine. I'm a very happy camper today!!! Last edited by Tarl; 01-30-2009 at 07:42 PM.

02-19-2009, 07:38 PM	#14
Scoob Active Member Member since:Apr 2008 Location:Near Boise Idaho	I got this TV as well (50PZ8OU) on saturday I am in the process of breaking it in. The Picture looks great. I'm sure after I calibrate it, it will look even better. Thanks to Brett Day for his review of this TV. I did have a 50" Sony LCD (1366 x 768) which I sold to a buddy. Blu-ray in 1080p rocks. I'm pretty stoked to have this display. Last edited by Scoob; 02-19-2009 at 07:43 PM.

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01-27-2009, 04:43 PM	#3
dobyblue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:71 4K collection:55 Blu-ray collection:655 Blu-ray reviews: 15	If it's Bell ExpressVu you should know that they re-encode everything except CBC to 720p which sucks.

01-27-2009, 04:49 PM	#4
joegs300 Special Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:West Los Angeles, CA Home Theater Gallery:19 Trading Score:45	Congrats on your purchase!!! I get mine tomorrow!! (TH50pz85u)!

01-27-2009, 05:06 PM	#6
Santeria Special Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:San Diego Home Theater Gallery:14 Blu-ray collection:20 Trading Score:4	congrats i get my 46pz80u on wed

01-27-2009, 05:13 PM	#7
alain turgeon Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Trois-Rivieres Quebec Canada Blu-ray collection:670 Blu-ray reviews:5	I also have star choice and the hdmi works just fine. Keep in mind though that you have to use a dvi to hdmi cable since that's the only digital video output on your satellite receiver. You should always use the best connection for your display,in this case hdmi because it does'nt have to convert analog signal to digital. Hope this helped.

01-27-2009, 05:27 PM	#9
alain turgeon Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Trois-Rivieres Quebec Canada Blu-ray collection:670 Blu-ray reviews:5	My Star Choice dvr is set to 1080i and my Sony tv sees it as 1080i so i guess it does.

01-27-2009, 09:02 PM	#12
Bizdady Blu-ray Duke Member since:Nov 2007 Location:8 1 8 Biatch!! L.A. Home Theater Gallery:21 Blu-ray collection:209 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:38	Love the 80u Great entry 1080p Set! I definately love mine!

02-20-2009, 01:45 AM	#15
Tarl Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Harrowsmith On Blu-ray collection:127	I have about 180 hours on mine now. Looks great and no Image Retention at all. I play alot of COD 4 and World at War. The games and BDs look amazing on this unit. I'm very pleased with my choice....

02-20-2009, 02:47 AM	#16
ThriceBB Senior Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:23 Blu-ray collection:261	does anyone have any suggestions for break in channels or anything in the states? i have directv.

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