Panasonic TC-P65ST50

We haven't had a chance to fully test this product yet, but we've assembled this helpful overview of relevant information on it.

Panasonic's TC-P65ST50 is part of the company's lineup of new plasma televisions for 2012.

The TC-P65ST50 is a 65-inch plasma television from Panasonic that is capable of displaying in full HD 1080p resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Filtering is provided by the Infinite Black Pro and a 48 Hz cinematic playback. It is capable of playing 3D images and active 3D along with the 2D. Audio is provided by two 4 watt speakers on the bottom of the set that are coupled with a 10 watt woofer. Panasonic says that the speakers are capable of 3D Real Sound. ST50s come with 3 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports plus RCA ports. There’s also a SD card slot that allows users to put photos and home videos on the TV. Internet is available via Wi-Fi and the built-in ethernet port. VIERA Link is available which lets users browse the web, Skype or use apps like Netflix and Flickr. 

Features List:

- 65-inch screen

- 1080p resolution

- 16:9 aspect ratio

- Infinite Black Pro

- 48 Hz cinematic playback

- 3D capable

- 2 x 4 watt speakers, 10 watt woofer

- 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, SD card slots

- Wi-Fi, Ethernet

- VIERA Link

Digital Trends’ Television Buying Tips:

What is a LED backlighting?

Traditionally, LCD TVs have used compact fluorescent (CFL) tubes placed behind an LCD panel to provide the backlighting that literally lights up the screen. More modern LED TVs replace these tubes with clusters of light emitting diodes – LEDs.

When LEDs are placed at the edges of the screen, as CFL tubes traditionally were, TVs can be made significantly thinner, and LEDs use less power than fluorescents. The most inexpensive LED-lit HDTVs take this approach.

However, the biggest advantage to using LEDs is realized when they light the screen in a grid from behind. Sophisticated electronics vary the intensity of every LED in accordance with action on the screen, making dark areas of the image darker, and bright areas brighter. This effectively increases the contrast ratio compared to uniform lighting. Although it also increases costs, many people believe this type of LCD is the first to truly rival plasma on black levels.

Read more about LED backlighting and the differences between both techniques in our guide to understanding LED backlighting.

Should I worry about viewing angle?

Absolutely. All LCDs will distort when viewed from extreme angles, but the degree of distortion and the angle it starts to occur at varies from TV to TV. If you plan to pack a dozen people in front of a single TV for entertaining, viewing angle will make a huge difference for the unlucky few who get scattered off to the sides. Most manufacturers will state viewing angle in degrees (for instance, 160) in the specifications for a TV, but be warned: methods for measuring this very subjective figure vary, and we can guarantee most companies opt for the most generous figures. When possible, try to evaluate it yourself in person, or read hands-on reviews that can offer anecdotal evidence, rather than relying on easily-manipulated numbers.

How large of a screen do I really need?

“Bigger is better” doesn’t make any more sense when choosing an HDTV for your living room than when choosing a couch for your living room. A lot of factors come into play. As a general rule, consider a TV 1.5 to 3.0 times the screen size. For instance, a 32-inch television might make sense for viewing distances as close as four feet away, and as far as eight feet away. Check out our guide to choosing the right size HDTV for more details, including a helpful chart.

LCD or Plasma?

Debating between LCD or plasma can almost get as subjective as debating between chocolate and vanilla. But unlike the never-ending ice cream debate, there actually is a superior TV choice, depending on how you plan to use it.

Check out some of our previous guides on the subject to get a better look, but in short, plasmas use more electricity, come in bigger sizes, have deeper blacks, don’t suffer from motion blur, and offer an unlimited viewing angle that’s best for off-axis viewing. LCDs are more energy-efficient, have fewer problems with glare due to their matte screens, can hold an image for hours or days without suffering “burn-in,” and generally look brighter.

After deciding which format to go with, our LCD and Plasma HDTV buying guides can help you with more questions specific to your type of TV.