Price,resolution,number of inputs

Ugly silver cabinet

I've been using this TV for a little over a week. I compared this to the similarly priced Wega on the floor. I fixed the picture on the 2 to be about equal and the Panasonic is the clear winner. The Wega had a horrible scan rate that made the picture, especially the whites vibrate. I've watched a couple of DVD's on the Tau and it performs flawlessly. I recomend setting the picture to cool, and turning the tint towards red a bit. This way you get realistic fleshtones without orange blood. I use a Hitachi DirecTV reciever with s-video and even that picture is near DVD quality. I do notice some distortion on the DirecTV menu, but I think it is made to be used primarily on curved tubes, hence the bow-tie like appearance. The detail in the blacks is also a little lacking, but still much better than the Wega. I purchased this as a floor model at Tweeter for $250. Apparently, Panasonic is redoing the Tau series so this generation models will be going on sale soon. Great TV over all. Use the component for PS2 and DVDs and you will be amazed.

Similar Products Used:

none

Beautiful picture, accurate colors, flat-screen, ok sound, fantastic picture with digital cable or DVD, component video in.

A little bit heavy for a 20" TV, but still lighter than the WEGA. Silver cabinet is loud, blackwould be better.

The picture onthis set is great. For under $300 you can't get a better package. I compared this set to many others and for the $/performance you can't beat it. I have a digital cable hookup and movies look great on this set.

There are many sets in the 20" size with flat screens but I think the Panasonic is the best in it's class. Forget about all of the hype around the Sony WEGA. Sony has great marketing, but the Panasonic is a better set. I would highly recommend the Panasonic.

Similar Products Used:

Sony WEGA, Samsung flat

Picture Tube, Number of Inputs, Speakers, Menu System

Dimensions

This is an excellent small television. It's perfect for the bedroom and the sound from the speakers is spectacularly; completely untinny. I've had this set hooked up to a DVD Player and video game systems and it's been superb with each application. All the inputs are great, although on such a small set, it would have been more useful to replace the Component Video input with another S-Video or standard RCA.

The headphone jack is a very nice touch, especially with a pair of good headphones, to get the full effect of many DVD movies. The set is well thought out, stylish, and intuitive. Very satisfied.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega, JVC I'Art

Great value, awesome inputs, flat screen, universal remote

Geometry problems

What a great tv; stylish looking, tons of inputs and the picture using a DVD player is super crisp. In fact, its so sharp it accentuates how poor the picture quality is through cable.

My only complaint is slight geometry problems on the outer edges of the screen and the on screen display (channel, clock etc. were crooked). Horizontal lines all bow upwards. I've had it in for service twice to have it corrected and the cross hatch is only off by about 1/8", which is apparently within Panasonic specs, however, its been very annoying. They made some adjustments to the "pincushion" and I turned down the contrast which has fixed most of the problems.

Overall, its a great value and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a tv in the sub $300 range.

-Roger

Similar Products Used:

Sony 32" Trinitron
Sony 27" Wega

almost everything imaginable from a non-hdtv set

no 3d filter, not 480p compatable

I wanted a tv for dvds, and basic cable. prefering quality over quantity, i looked at the 20 and 24 inch tau's and wegas. The 24 inch models were out of my price range, so i restricted my research to the 20 inchers. Physically, the two sets appear similar. however, the performance levels were remarkably different. scan lines are visible on the wega which simply dissappear on the tau. colors seemed more muted on the wega (which might be due to factory presettings im not sure). also, the wega lacks component video input, which was pretty much the nail in the coffin in terms of its purchasing value (especially considering the fact that it cost 150 more canadian than the tau). Overall, in the 6 months since i purchased it, i have not regretted buying for a single moment.

Similar Products Used:

20inch wega

nice picture very clear and sharp easy to set up

wavy and distorted on right side and on top letters become smaller and bend to left

the model I bought was Panasonic CT20G6. I found the left side good, but the right side is wavy and distorted. While watching ticker on CNBC the bottom goes from right to left and letters bend. On Webtv the entire right side is wavy. I am returning it and perhaps buy a Samsung. I have two Samsung a 25" and a 13" and never had any problems.

2 s-video(1 front) & 1 COMPONENT input. 3 composite inputs.
Awesome picture quality even from 1 foot away(unlike the Wega). Whites are sharp and the overall picture is superb and dark.(Simular to Sony T.V's, which is a good thing).
Great..almost perfect geometric balacnce of shapes/images using Digital Cable.
Only 20" flat screen T.V. to have Component and S-Video(2) inputs and 600 lines of resolution(Toshiba's 20" has only 500 lines).

Small Geometric problems(slight slanting towards middle on the right edge, from the middle on to bottom) using PS2 games on component input.

Let me make this perfectly clear:

This is _by far_ the best 20" Flat Screen T.V. on the market, as it's picture quality is the best of the three flat screen 20" tv's(Sony 20" Wega and 20" Toshiba are the others).
There is no edge geometric distortion when viewing on digital cbl, and the least distortion of any of the flat screen 20" t.v's. (in fact it's geometric displays are near perfect). It's not a bright t.v.(good thing) and has a black overall backview feel(like most Sony t.v's) and it has great white reproduction quality.(perfect blend of white lines on a darkened screen).
It's color reprodution on digital cbl. is as close to HDTV as i have ever saw(and i have seen the Wega's) with no visible scanning lines, such as the 20" Wega has.
(Note: The Sony Wega 20" has noticible scanning lines as well as very poor geometric distortion)
This 20" Panasonic Flat Screen TAU simply blew the doors off both the Wega and Toshiba 20" flat screen sets in so many ways, it's almost comical.

I'm still in awe of it's picture reproduction after 1 week of use, it's so stunning.

Also, it's the only 20" Flat Screen to have 600 lines of resolution(500->Toshiba, ?->Sony Wega) as well it has COMPONENT inputs in the rear(only the Toshiba has these, as well) as well a 1 front S-Video and composite and another 2 composite and 1 s-video in the rear.
The amount of inputs(front and rear) and it's resolution(600 lines) as well as such an amazing picture(amazingly lifelike colors), is unmatched by the Wega and Toshiba flat screen tv's.

This t.v has only one fault, in that using it's component input from a PS2, the edge of the screen from the center down(right side) is slightly slanted a few pixels, going inwards. I will try to calibrate it..or let a tech. fix this.
Score: 98%

If calibrated so it has a perfect PS2 geometric picture:
Score: 100%

Forget the Wega hype(it lacks component inputs as well as it's geometric distortion is poor..and it's scan lines are visiable) and take a look at this 20" TAU, it's one truly amazing flat screen, tv.

At Easter, all my relatives were blown away by it.

Philip J.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega 20"

Hard to find. Not HDTV compatible.

I had the unique opportunity to test out the Panasonic TAU series 27-inch TV side by side with a Sony Wega 27 inch TV (at Best Buy...believe it or not.) Both sets were listed at $599.00 and both were on display side by side, playing the exact same program. Both TVs have a flat-screen display, encased in a stylish silver cabinet. The Sony looked slightly bulkier, but the dimensions were practically identical. I have to say that under careful scrutiny and a great deal of time spent adjusting and readjusting both sets, the Panasonic Tau was the clear victor in terms picture quality. There was slightly MORE detail with the Panasonic and the colors were more life-like. One thing that was very obvious on the Sony Wega was that the horizontal lines were visable even from a distance of about 5 feet. I had to get much closer to the Tau set to see its horizontal lines (about 2 feet). Granted, no one would want to sit any closer than 6.5 - 7 ft. away from a 27" TV, so this might not be a factor in the living room, however, this assured me even more than the Tau set had a better picture than the Wega.

In any case, both sets are remarkable improvements on the more traditional models. And if you can't find a TAU anywhere, then the Sony is a fine choice. However, if you have the option of either the Sony or the Panasonic, I would have to recommend the Panasonic.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic, Sony, Sanyo, RCA, Toshiba

Price/Picture Quality/Outer Design/Remote Control/Generous Inputs

Depends on which DVD/Anime you watch, the "sub-titles" can be a little harsh.

I use this "Monitor" primarly for Playtstion 2 games and
DVD MovieAnime. I'm a HUGE anime fan and I'm 28 LOL! (never too old!)

When used with component video input, the picture quality is startling. I played Alien 2 on it and FOR THE FIRST TIME, I saw many FAKE special effects: lots of backgroud paintings and plastics models - now you can "see" them literally jumped out of screen. I've watched this movie at least 3 times, and this is the first time it's revealed so clearly. Not necessarly a good thing, but gives you an idea of the picture quality of this "monitor." I refuse to call it a tv.

Please DO NOT watch your DVD on anything other than through Component Video - the difference in Color is Elizabeth Hurley and the Frog.

1 component/2 s-video/3 AV inputs - simply gorgerous.

Almost all Panasonic remote control are smartly desgined, in contrast, the Sony remote with all little square bottons is simply too non-ergonmics for my taste.

Now here comes the bad part!

For some reasons, different DVD/PS2 games will have some geometric distortions in the subtitle/chacters area, this does not happen to all dvd/ps2 games, the pictures are not affected, and generally it's a non-bother, but for someone who's relentless pursue of pix perfection is a bit unsettling. Note: the Sound of Music was nearly flawless, Blade Runner flawless, Ghost in the Shell - subtitles a bit harsh but the picture quality and color are simply out of this world, once again, I REPEAT, you MUST watch your dvds ONLY THROUGH component video. While we're here, YOU MUST GET Cowboy Bebop!

Pure Flat!

Hats off to Panasonic. There's little double that my next TV sets will be a Panasonic. In fact, it WILL be another Panasonic.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega

Great picture, Flat screen, plenty of inputs, amazing clarity using s-video from DVD.

On-screen menus & lack of various preset picture setups (Movie, Standard, etc.)

One of the best TVs currently available on the market. I had a 27" Samsung that had a very bad picture using a DVD including a very noticeable curving of the black bars on letterboxed DVDs. The new TAU TVs, in my opinion they offer a better value for your dollar compared to the WEGAs. You get side firing speakers, 4 A/V inputs: 1 composite in front (nicely hidden); 1 compoiste REAR; 1 S-video REAR; and 1 Component REAR. The remote is average (I use the SONY RMAV2000). The TV is simple to setup and has many features. You can label your A/V inputs, name channels (38 of them), as well, you can setup to surf your 16 favorite channels instead of all cable channels. The audio can be ajusted including base, treble and balance. There is a SRS virtual surround setup and many more. When placed next to a standard 27" tv, the 20" TAU really stands out and you are immediately drawn to it. I'm very satisfied with my decision to down-size to this upper end 20" TV, rather than getting an average 27". In my opinion, this TV is great for bedrooms, some smaller dinning rooms and any space smaller than 15'x15'. In addition compared to the new Toshiba 20AF41, the TAU had no noticeable geometry problems in the corners; the Toshiba did, majorly. I wasn't able to compare the TAU to the WEGA side by side, but I am sure there is very little difference for the extra $150 the WEGA costs.

All in all, you will NOT be disappointed with your purchase of this TV; it will bring a whole new look to your DVD and VHS collection.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba 20AF41
Sony WEGA KV20FV12