Panasonic TX-L32S10 Review

32in LCD

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

Apart from average black level response a very good all round performer.

Rating:

90%

Reviewed: 20 November 2009

Picture sharpness, motion handling, noise free images

Black levels are a little disappointing

Design

Reflecting the fact that the majority of 'budget' LCD TV's require the consumer to part with at least £300 - £400, manufacturers have realised that they need to provide the consumer with a decent level of build quality. While it certainly doesn't look as immaculately finished as some high end TV's, Panasonic's L32S10, with a solid looking piano black finish, will at least give you a sense of money well spent.

With a curved, slightly protruding lower bezel, the TX-L32S10 is obviously from the Panasonic design stable. Although its looks are not going to set any pulses racing, the overall effect is pleasing to the eye.

Features

Panasonic are aiming the TX-L32S10 at the casual TV viewer, but also, quite interestingly (with the inclusion of a dedicated 'gaming' mode), at gaming enthusiasts.

Screen: 32in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Contrast Ratio: 50,000:1

Other Features: V-Real 3 picture processing, Eco mode, Gaming mode, noise reduction.

Sockets: 3 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input, CAM slot.

Unless you are a serious Audio Visual enthusiast, 3 HDMI inputs will probably serve your needs quite adequately. The L32S10 also comes with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution screen along with an SD card slot for displaying JPEG's.

Panasonic have come to the conclusion that buyers of their entry level flat panel TV's have very little interest in 'tweaking' the picture. To this end, there are few calibration options and most notably, no manual colour management option.

The L32S10B maintains Panasonic's tradition for general ease of use. The remote control and foolproof onscreen menus cannot be faulted.

A new 'Viera Tools' button on the remote has a useful option providing instant access to 'Viera Link', through which you can control an attached Blu-ray player. You can also access video, music or photos from media stored on an SD Card using the same function.

Although we have to rely on V-Real 3 rather than the latest incarnation of Panasonic's core picture processing engine, V-Real 4, this gives us no cause for concern. V-Real 3 has established a solid reputation for a high standard of picture processing performance on previous Panasonic LCD TV's.

Elsewhere, there is basic noise reduction system and a facility to input the distance between the TV speakers and your wall for improved sound quality.

Performance

To get the negative out of the way quickly, the TX-L32S10 was only able to demonstrate an average Black Level response. While Panasonic's current range of plasma TV's compete with the best when it come to their black level ability, the L32S10 fell a little short in this respect. Where the better flat panel TV's pick out detail even in the darkest picture areas, the L32S10 could only manage areas of patchy greyness.

For general day to day viewing, the average black levels won't be a problem; if you are a fan of the darker genre of film however, the subtle shadow detailing will be missed.

Although the TX-L32S10 had a less than perfect backdrop in an average black level response, Colour Accuracy and general vibrancy was good, remaining largely consistent across a variety of on screen material. Complex scenes with subtle variations of colour were impressively accurate and that benchmark of colour performance, accurate skin tones, were never less than wholly realistic.

While the L32S10 cannot match the likes of Sony or LG for sheer colour vibrancy, for the casual viewer the difference is hardly noticeable.

Panasonic have established some impressive benchmarks with the High Definition performance of some of their high end screens, the sheer depth and sharpness of on screen material being something of a revelation. While the L32S10 doesn't match the jaw dropping accomplishments of top end Panasonic models in this respect, it gives you just about as much as you would expect from a budget HD performer.

24p material translates very well onto the Full HD screen, and images are sharp and stable enough to make getting some HD material worthwhile.

The L32S10 does a reasonably good job of upscaling the 576 or so lines of a Freeview source onto the Full HD screen. There are better budget Freeview performers (notably Samsung's LE-32B450), but the difference is only marginal. With a higher quality feed, the Panasonic really comes into its own. There are few TV's able to match the sharpness of Standard Definition pictures at this price level. Although not perfect in this respect, the S10 is remarkably 'noise' free.

Once again, calling into question the effectiveness of 100Hz, the 50Hz TX-L32S10 demonstrated a more than competent Motion Handling ability. With very little discernable 'blurring' the S10 matches the performance of a number of screens we have come across with the higher frame per second refresh rate.

Along with the majority of flat panel TV's the L32S10's Acoustic Performance was no more than adequate. Making a concession to style with small hidden speakers is never going to produce the raw 'Bass' of larger or separate units.

Conclusion

With one slight hiccup in an average black level response, the TX-L32S10 is an above average all round budget performer which deserves serious consideration.

Panasonic TX-L32S10