AVForums test af VT20

Conclusion

In a market of ever reducing pricing and quality, it is refreshing to get a product through for review that pushes strongly in the image quality stakes. And that’s what we have here with the VT20, and why I am happy to write reams of text about my experience with this TV. Whilst it falls just short of being a replacement for the Kuro, it is the only TV you can buy now that offers the strengths of our old reference TV, with its own improvements. There are some issues that do raise their head and which have been covered in great detail in this review. But even with a few minor complaints here and there, and I suppose a tiny hint of the unknown black issue, the VT20 is a fantastic achievement for Panasonic and in this reviewers opinion, is the best offering in the current TV market for 2D images, with reference 3D images as a bonus.

If you own a Kuro, then unless you want 3D capabilities and to give up a little on the black levels, you will probably be wise to wait a while to see where this new line of Panasonic screens go. However, if you don’t yet have a quality screen and are looking for (what we think) is the best out there today, my advice is to go and see one for yourself as it comes highly recommended, with the minor caveat that the long term black level performance remains unknown at this stage.

Pros

• Best black levels of any new TV on the market
• Good out of the box performance
• Reference greyscale and colour reproduction when calibrated
• Lack of PWM noise and clean looking images
• Freeview HD and Freesat HD built-in
• Reference level 3D performance
• No nonsense design and excellent build quality
• Excellent lag times for gamers
• Full ISFccc Calibration controls
• THX Certified
• Two Pairs of 3D Glasses in the box
• Excellent performance with Sky 3D
• Excellent scaling
• Good quality Remote control

Cons

• Uncertainty over long term black level performance
• Some visible banding with certain material
• Calibration menu design gets in the way
• Some light image retention visible
• Some users may see flicker from the image
• 3D glasses not that comfortable
• Still lacks film cadence detection
• Lack of content on Viera Cast
• Even for an Eco TV it still uses quite a bit more power than LCD rivals
• Extra 3D glasses are expensive