UPDATE 14/01/2014: detailed image settings at the bottom
I have the TX-L50ETW60 now been a good week stand by me, he replaced a 5 year old Panasonic TH-42PX80E Plasma TV.
Of course, I've also made a lot of thought in advance if I should dare the transition from plasma to LED and had me read through pages and pages of threads in various forums and the reviews here to arrive at a decision. It is not easy for me, and often I was certain to have found the right thing, just to the next day to disagree again. That's the curse of the Internet with its abundance of information.
Over the past 2 months, I was also able to hire test a Sharp Aquos LC46LE830 of 2011, although the a nice picture with good black produced, but unfortunately suffers from all the diseases the LEDs was said to have: Clouding, Flashlights, uneven illumination, DSE (Dirty Screen Effect), poor viewing angles.
After this experience I naturally tended rather to plasma (Panasonic TX-P50GTW60), but after a long weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of the two technologies, the points have power and persistence / burn-in, as well as the generally positive reports here and in the AVS Forum, me this prompted the ETW give a chance.
In a pinch, I would have sent him back again and ordered me to plasma, but this should not occur.
As I said, I had because of my mixed experiences with the Sharp not have too high expectations of the ETW60, but I was (and am still propagated) very pleasantly surprised.
Delivery, installation and commissioning
(Anticipation should be said that I have the Quick Start Guide only pulled for mounting the stand to rate, all other operations I have done without the help of the instructions and had no problems.)
The delivery via Hermes ran smoothly, the TV was delivered on time at the agreed date.
The scope of supply also 2 passive 3D glasses in addition to TV, remote control and quick start guide (personalize it work even glasses from the cinema, so you need not even original glasses from Panasonic dazukaofen, should you need more).
The construction went very easy vonstatten, but you should be in pairs for mounting the stand, because you have to hook the TV precisely in the foot before it is then fixed with 4 screws. The TV is very safe (with me precisely on the center speaker of the 5.1 system) and I think that it's been a major trauma would require before he falls. It can be on the pedestal by a few degrees turn in both directions, which works very smoothly.
The appearance with narrow aluminum frame (or is it in plastic Alunachbildung? I can with the best will not say with certainty) is very pleasing and makes the television appear very slim despite the 50 inches. I am also pleased about the trend away from the black piano lacquer replica surface.
Connecting the cable (in my case, power, antenna, 1 x HDMI and optical) prepared no problems, so I could begin within a few minutes after unpacking the device.
I will not go into too much detail setup and tuning make itself self-explanatory and very user-friendly. The TV has found at once all available DVB-C channels, and I adapted myself briefly the home screen, only the TV picture.
The connection via cable (WLAN is also installed) worked into the network without the slightest problem and without that I would have anything to enter exemplary!
Incidentally, I have my Technisat HD cable box mothballed because the TV does its job with the TV reception in my opinion perfectly. The switching times are fine for duration Zapper but maybe a bit too slow. The station sorting was relatively simple, the EPG will also work very well. I do not need and have therefore not been tested.
Image
Coincidentally ran after the initial installation just a nature documentary on HD ARD.
What can I say, I was impressed by the sharp, and natural picture of the Panasonic offered and without any changes to the image settings!
The TV is set by default to Normal mode, and this is in my opinion very well. I merely reduces the backlight to 75 out of 100 points in the first step, and then the contrast nor the interframe calculation Intelligent Frame Creation deactivated to about 60 and I already had a natural, quiet and ultra-smooth TV picture. If I had not previously read so much in different threads setting, I might have let it go at that already. So I naturally have many different picture modes and settings tried in the last few days and I'm still not quite finished.
However, I can now confirm already that I have no problem with Clouding or Flashlights. My panel is very evenly lit and the black level properly. Although I must admit that in mind, of course, my old plasma in this respect also not play on reference levels compared to the current generation of plasma ETW is like most other LEDs in this price range is certainly at a disadvantage in terms of black level. For me, the image is more than satisfactory.
DSE or streaking I could not have seen, at least not so that it would bother me. But I will not look for it but rather enjoy the ETW60 produces great image in my opinion.
3D image
I do not have a 3D capable BluRay player and 3D look even more as a gimmick.
Nevertheless, I have tested the 2D to 3D conversion of some BluRays and MKV files with high image quality (eg WALL-E, Avatar) and find the effect pleasant and not overdone. Picture errors I have no serious determined, but geasgt honest with the matter also is not concerned me closely.
UPDATE 02:12:13
Having stayed a few films have now been tested in 3D (for lack of 3D BR player as .mkv files in the SBS process), I can say that I am very impressed by this feature.
Art of Flight, Avatar and the Hobbit were some of the test candidates, and I admit I'm impressed. A nice, but not too strong 3D effect with no obvious for me aberrations. I have, however, also had no experience with other devices, so I can not draw any comparisons. The only thing I have done previously, the 3D detection in the Picture menu to be set to "A (Advanced)", because the TV does not recognize all of the files. With this setting, all 3D films are recognized and after 1-2 seconds displayed as such.
By using passive 3D glasses (2 are already in) one has lighter glasses, and may if necessary, even the use that you get at the cinema (I've tested). This saves the need arises and again a few euros.
Gaming
I play GTA 5 on Xbox360 where I watch movies or even TV in the same mode. Input lag can I watch not, but maybe to test not the right to this the game? There is a game mode that can be activated in the image menu under the option settings. I find that a little nest, a direct button or a separate menu item would have been better here. For this reason I switch usually. also no longer in the game mode and also notice frankly no change.
Clay
About Here you do not need many words lose yourself for a flat screen, the sound rather weak. Look for news but it reaches all, and I am running for ever anyway the 5.1 system with. On this I have connected the TV to the optical cable and so receive the sound in Dolby Digital. This works and sounds fine.
Apps and additional functions
Herewith I am not too intensively, because I also look at this more as a gimmick. Only Media Player and Media Server I have used and am surprised also pleasant here. I have installed on my PC the Twonky Media server that the TV has recognized immediately and I can play all the pictures, music and videos. Even large MKVS high bitrate were previously not a problem. Only the backup copies of my DVDs and BluRays in .ISO format can not play the TV, otherwise I would have my TVIX Media Player the same can be disposed together with the HD receiver. If I can find a solution to this problem, my AV fleet decreased yet to a second device.
UPDATE 02:12:13
A quick update to the Media Server function
How to read some other review, finding files on the network due to lack of advanced sorting is difficult. If you have a small library, quite OK, but with larger archives it is definitely difficult.
I use the Media Server mainly to series episodes play I lie on the PC. I find my way around, but as comfortable as a dedicated media player, it is not natural. However, the picture is really in order, it can not be faulted.
My TVIX S1 will therefore remain definitively.
I looked at the Panasonic TV Remote App 2 downloaded for my iPhone and iPad, with which I can control all the functions of the TV and music and pictures from your phone or tablet can stream to your TV. Works very well so far and facilitate, for example for entering a password immensely. The app so I can only recommend.
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So here are my conclusion on the Panasonic TX-L50ETW60
I am very pleased and do not regret the transition from plasma to LED.
Just who comes from an older plasma, may change without hesitation in my opinion and is much pleasure from watching television.
Construction, delivery and commissioning of:
- Very high-quality workmanship
- 2 passive 3D glasses included
- Building with 2 people easily, all connections easily accessible
- First setup including tuning and network connectivity within minutes.
Picture:
- Very natural and quiet already in normal mode; Other modes with extensive setting possibilities are available
- Very good sharpness even at low sharpness setting (35 of 100)
- Impeccable black level compared to my 5 year old plasma (of course always depends on the source signal)
- No Clouding or recognizable Flashlights
- No recognizable DSE
- No noticeable input lag when gaming
- 3D conversion works subtly but effectively without annoying artifacts
Sound:
- Tinny and much treble, can be combined with the 5-band equalizer but slightly improved
- OK for normal TV, but I definitely recommend the use of a soundbar or surround sound system
Apps:
- Media Player and Media Server work perfectly in conjunction with Twonky Media Server on your PC
- Smart Remote app is a useful tool
If this review was helpful to you, I would appreciate a positive rating very much.
Any questions I will gladly answer in the comments. Should be prepared in the coming weeks, further insights, I'll update the review accordingly.
UPDATE 02:12:13
I have extended my review at points 3D and Media Server to a few experiences.
UPDATE 14/01/2014
I use this image settings that I have purchased from this site: [...]
This brings me vollaufzufrieden and am convinced achieved the best possible image from the ETW60 to have
Mode user setting
Backlight 47
Contrast 47
Brightness +8
Color 47
Focus 30
White balance Normal
Color Management Off
Adaptive Backlight High (here I play between high and, since the function creates an outstanding black, but can also swallow dubnkle image details)
Environment Sensor Off
Noise suppressor From
IFC Low
Advanced Settings
0
0
0
White Balance
-3
0
2
-4
0
-1
Detailed Settings
10 IRE: 8, 0, -50
20 IRE: 0, 0, -8
30 IRE: 0, 0, 0
40 IRE: 0, 0, 0
50 IRE: 0, 0, 0
60 IRE: -10, 0, 0
70 IRE: -7, 0, 15
80 IRE: 0, 0, 0
90 IRE: 21, 0, 0
100 ire: -50, 17, -37
Color balance everything to 0
Gamma 2.4
Detailed Settings
10 IRE: 6
20 IRE: 43
30 IRE: 49
40 IRE: 50
50 IRE: 50
60 IRE: 30
70 IRE: 34
80 IRE: -1
90 IRE: 5
100 ire: 0
