Review PANASONIC-TH-58PZ700B

This beast really is a beauty.  It is sleek and stylish.  And would look at home in the most up-to-date penthouse flat or tastefully mounted on the wall of a Chateau. 

A subtle soft sheen, almost wooden look, black surround makes this TV in my opinion a very good looker.
The Panasonic TH-58PZ700B is a 58 inch plasma display panel.  Those of you who are new to this 58 inches is measured, bottom left corner to top right.  Making this electronic sweetheart a large cut above the average.  

I think it is best to get the dull yet essential features list and connectivity issues out of the way the first, so we can concentrate on the interesting stuff for the rest of the review.
The screen has a built-in Digital tuner with all the free view channels.  Digital video noise reduction is present, picture in picture is featured, and there are suitable inputs to use this TV as a PC screen.  There are three SCART sockets, a headphone socket and S. video socket, and no less than 3 HDMI connections for all your latest audio visual accessories.
Less significant, but just as useful is a built in HDCP chip before descrambling high-definition TV signals allowing their reception without an unsightly box.  There is of course an on off timer, a sleep timer and a Child Lock (like anybody spending £4000 on a TV is going to let their child within 400 yards).

The Panasonic TH-58PZ700B has the smarter sound sound system complemented by 31 W RMS output.  It is true that this is better than most built-in sound systems, but seriously if you're spending this amount of money.  You can't not by a good surround sound system, to fully complemented it.

This is the best bit I've been wanting to tell you about.  The plasma panel has a whopping 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution.  This makes it fully HD compatible.  Many TVs that call themselves HD compatible use a scaling chip to make a high-definition signal 'fit' the TV.  This is a cool thing for making high quality broadcasting available at an affordable price.  But the scaling or resizing of an image significantly affects its clarity and quality.  The resolution of this TV means no such losses are incurred.  And clearly as you can see by the price tag already mentioned.  There is no loss in the number of pounds you need to pay for that quality either.  The contrast ratio is a massive 10,000:1.  This will more than overcome the shortcoming, usually associated with plasma and other big-screen TVs when rendering, dark scenes.

Now I can't sit here and praise this machine without drawing to your attention what I feel is a flaw.  Especially when that flaw plays a large part in the even larger price tag.  The Panasonic TH-58PZ700B has v-real2 PRO image enhancement technology.  Now I am not going to go on about image enhancement technology or IET but suffice it to say.  I am not a fan.  I honestly believe that perhaps the most technologically advanced feature in this TV would have been better off left out.  Simply put, the v-real2 PRO system is the latest incarnation from Panasonic, which it is alleged, enhances your viewing pleasure with digital jiggery pokery.  Now it is possible to turn off, this feature.  And if you purchase this TV.  I suggest you do.  But it is still included in the price tag.  If you want to know more about this technology.  Please read my article on digital enhancement.  And I will get around sometime soon to writing specifically about Panasonic's system. 

I feel it would be appropriate to mention at this point that if you want a super big-screen great high-quality and 1080 HD, then the SAMSUNG PS63P76FDX/XEU, which I reviewed a few weeks ago actually leaves out any enhancement technology.  And this is reflected in the price.  However, it must be said, this TV does not have quite the same specifications or stylish appearance that the Panasonic TH-58PZ700B has.

So in a nutshell, this TV is an absolute stunner, but it is for the connoisseur not the home theatre bargain hunter. If you want to keep up with the Joneses and make sure that you stay ahead some time to come.  This TV is worth every penny, but as I have said.  There are aspects, where the Panasonic TH-58PZ700B lacks in value.