Panasonic Viera TX 32LXD60 Review |
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The Good
Impressive build quality, features, and superb colour.
The Bad
Picture noise, and black levels not up to the best.
Design
Without trying too hard, models from Panasonic's Viera range always look the business. By shying away from overwhelming aesthetics the clean design, featuring a matte-black frame supported by an invisible speaker system, is attractively understated.
Features
Screen size & shape: 32in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound system: Nicam Resolution: 1366x768 HD Ready: Yes Contrast Ratio: 1200:1 Brightness: 500cd/m2 Weight: 19.5kg OTHER FEATURES: Freeview SOCKETS: 2 HDMI input, component video input, S-video, 2 Scart, composite video input
As you would expect, the TX-32LXD60 is high-definition compatible, with a 1,366x768-pixel resolution that will support both commonly used 720p and 1080i high-definition formats. However, although this WXGA resolution will display 1080i signals used by Sky's HD broadcasts, images will be slightly downscaled to fit. Theoretically, this means a loss of detail, but in reality the effect is so minimal that it can be ignored.
If you want to watch 1080i images in their entirety or display the new 1080p format used by next-generation Blu-ray and HD DVD players or the forthcoming PlayStation 3, you'll need a screen with a higher 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution. But this specification is only just arriving in the mainstream and TVs that offer it are considerably more expensive.
The TX-32LXD60's main menu system appears surprisingly primitive, featuring outdated, blocky graphics with a limited range of options. There are only basic picture and sound settings accompanied by a few preset modes, which is miserly compared to some screens. Digital TV menus are more attractively displayed and the seven-day electronic programme guide can be used to display listings for a specified channel or several channels at a time as well as searches by category or programme type.
Performance
Digital broadcasts are enviably stable and excellently detailed while video performance is even more engaging. High-definition images in particular are densely defined, with contrast so superb that it adds another dimension to the experience. Images are untainted by artefacts or smearing movement.
However, images do occasionally appear too bright -- reducing contrast in dark scenes and leaving colours looking superficial. This can invigorate blockbusters laden with special effects, but isn't adaptable enough to enhance realism using more natural content.
As for audio quality, while the speakers used in the 26-inch model are substantial enough for a small room, using the same ones here struggles to fill the larger living rooms where a screen of this size will be used.