Panasonic CT-27SL13 Standard Televisions Reviews

Price Paid:  $299.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
I've been a Trinitron owner since 1991 when I bought a 27" model, after selling a 20" stereo Sylvania set that back in the late 80's/early 90's beat even Sony's picture. I currently also own a Sony KV20FV100. The 27" Panasonic Tau series has IMO a clearer, cleaner picture with better blacks, compared to other sets I looked at in the same price range, including the Sony KV27FS100, JVC l'Art, and Toshiba 27A43. I narrowed my choice down to the Tau & Trinitron sets. The Sony had a bit better focus or sharpness than the Panasonic - the Panasonic seemed to "bloom" more with on-screen graphics. But the Sony seemed like looking through a window that was a little dirty, sort of a slight haze over the picture. The Panasonic looked as if you had just cleaned both sides of the window on a bright spring day. It was hard to choose between the Sony's sharper focus and the Panasonic's great clarity. But after watching both sets side-by-side for some time, I began to notice how the Tau model seemed to better expose the backgrounds and shadowed areas but without looking washed-out, for example in a scene where there is a rowboat in a canal gliding under a footbridge, and the shadowy area under the bridge was lit up better than on the Sony. Splashing waterfalls seemed to sparkle more on the Tau set, and colors were more saturated. However, the Sony had better control over "color bleed" and edge definition. Nothing radically better than the Panasonic, but noticeable if you looked for it. Another factor is the BBE sound enhancement on the Panasonic sounds better IMO than Sony's SRS/WoW scheme. The BBE sounds more real and accurate, with good dynamics, and gives a clearer, easier to understand vocal range. The SRS system sounds somewhat muddy and artificial by comparison. The Panasonic was $50. less than the Sony, ($299. vs. $349.) although both were at a sale price, so I picked the Tau.

Strengths:
~ Best see-through clarity I've seen on a CRT. ~ Color saturation. ~ BBE sound enhancement works well.

Weaknesses:
~ Should have Sleep button on remote for instant access. ~ Lacks anything like Sony's "Favorite Channel" feature. I prefer Sony's and Toshiba's greater adjustment options. ~ Not as well focused as Trinitron CRT. ~ Lacks 16:9 compression.

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Sylvania

Price Paid:  $274.00 from circuit city

Summary:
This tv does so much for so little. When comparing to the sony vega tvs at circuit city, I actually thought the panasonic looked beter. It seems like the filter eliminates more background interferance than the sony. The sony vega may have looked a little better with dvd, but not much, and after bringing the panasonic home I found that the reason for this may have been due to something called velocity scan, which helps black-to-white transitions from less than perfect sources. Panasonic recomends you turn this feature off when watching dvds. All this for over 200 dollars less than the sony!

Strengths:
Component inputs, filter improves cable and vhs signals

Weaknesses:
only one rear s video input takes a second to tune stations which can be anoying when channel surfing

Similar Products Used:
samsung 25 inch