But none of this stops the TX-P46G15's HD pictures from being absolutely stunning for the price, thanks to their superb sharpness, extreme clarity, surprisingly dynamic colours, and, best of all, tremendously deep black-level response.
While LED-backlit TVs are starting to challenge plasma sets' traditionally unequalled black levels, there's something so overwhelmingly natural and unforced about the TX-P46G15's presentation of dark scenes that even the very best LED-backlit screens would struggle to emulate it.
The TX-P46G15 isn't quite so competent with standard-definition pictures, though. They look slightly soft for our liking, and their colours look less consistently natural, especially where reds and greens are concerned. It's not a massive issue, and there are certainly many 46-inch TVs that deliver markedly worse standard-definition images than the TX-P46G15. But it's definitely an area for Panasonic to work on with its next generation of plasma TVs.
Our only other serious complaint about the TX-P46G15's images would be that horizontal motion in a picture can occasionally result in some dot noise when watching 24p Blu-ray material. Again, this is hardly significant enough to be a deal-breaker, but it provides another reason to consider stepping up to Panasonic's V10 range, with its Blu-ray-boosting 24p Smooth Film mode.
The TX-P46G15's audio performance is surprisingly decent. It delivers more punch, range and clarity than we'd expected given the TV's slender frame.
Conclusion
While the Panasonic Viera TX-P46G15's standard-definition pictures might not be all we'd hoped for, they're still quite good by the standards of most 46-inch, 1080p TVs. This slight shortcoming is also made pretty easy to tolerate by the set's generally outstanding HD performance.
Edited by Charles Kloet
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arsailman 8 July 2010
Good: Picture is great.
Bad: The audio is terrible. The unit has a recognized design flaw, in that the cabinet is too narrow to hold a decent speaker.
Comment: I called Panasonic Conscierge Service to have the blown out speaker replaced. They had me call a local service company to come out and check the problem. He told me it was a design flaw, as the speaker that fit in the cabinet had too small a magnet to produce much sound. At average volume, and average bass levels, it sounds like an old paper type speaker with tears in the paper.
He told me that Panasonic had been supplying surround sound systems to people who complained about this problem, on a case-by-case basis.
After about 3 weeks, I called to see what was doing, and was told that the Head of Conscierge Service, Robert Linberg, said I should call Customer Service and tell them he said it is a design flaw.
I did so, and after over 22 minutes on hold, I tried to explain what I was told, and told to say.
After a few more times on hold, the person on the phone, Dexter, recommended I buy a Home Theater system to resolve the problem. When I said it was their design flaw, not mine, I was told it was my problem, as the TV was performing normally.
And this from a worldwide leader in the field of Plasma TVs.
Needless to say, it will be the last Panasonic product I ever have in my home, and I will disseminate this rude and unheard of treatment to any and all who should know about this company.
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