Mar 08, 2007 11:50 PM
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It's about a year back when we bought this TV. I wanted to write its Review after some time but haven't managed to do so.
I would like to tell that new 29 inch models are now available with Panasonic with added features like PIP and greater Sound Output(500W PMPO).
The TV Set is functioning brilliantly. Colours are bright and soothing, whatever you need. Sound Output can rock any average room/home. Easy to clean body, the body stays cools for many hours of running the set. Power Consumption was an important factor for me while buying this TV, since we have to run this TV on inverter also.(We live in India, you know.)
MAIN FEATURES
*Digital Comb Filter(PAL/NTSC)
Picture Noise Reduction
Virtual Hyper Bass
5 Band Equalizer Control
DVD(Component Video) Input Terminal
Surround Sound(only ON/OFF possible, no individual settings)
Picture Modes: Dynamic, Standard, Cinema(basically these are three different sets of settings and are adjustable)
Sound Modes: Music, News, Cinema Sports, Personal(again these are diff. Equalizer Settings and are adjustable)
Colour Temp: Cool, Standard, Warm
Picture Noise Reduction: Off, Weak, Auto, Strong
Auto Volume Leveller
*SOME SPECIFICATIONS
*Model: TC-29FJ20CB without Woofer
Dimensions(W x D x H): 786 x 512 x 605 mm
Weight(Net): 42.7 kg
100 channels/programs
Terminals:
RF In Terminal for Antenna/Cable Plug
AV1= Composite Terminal with Video, L & R Audio(at Back side of TV)
AV2= Composite Terminal with Video, L & R Audio & Headphone Terminal(at Front side of TV)
AV3= Component Terminal with Y/Pb/Pr, Composite Video, L & R Audio(at Back side of TV)
Monitor Out= Composite Terminal with Video, L & R Audio(at Back side of TV)
*THINGS WHICH I DON'T LIKE
*No S-Video Terminal
One second Lag between Channel Change. Also when we switch'ON' the TV, there is a lag of 5 seconds.(No SOUND & PICTURE)
"OK" Button on Remote: It's like an Accessory on Remote, you don't even need to use it for anything. Strange?
ON SCREEN MENU: On Screen Menu appears at lower part of Screen. The Menu & Sub-Menus are opaque type, so you are unable to see the action happening at TV screen. The Menu is designed using very bright colours, I mean even background colour is so bright. Ideally it should be transparent. You have to move your fingers from one key to another to change say "Colour Settings". I will explain. To change "colour Settings", press "Menu", then "up/down", then "+/-", then "up/down", then "+/-", then "Menu, all different keys. Comparing with my old TV, you press "Colour Menu", then "+/-" and leave it, and both these keys are aligned with each other, you don't have to look at these.
Even Volume Adjustment Menu is opaque. When you'un-mute' the TV, the Volume Adjustment Bar appears for no reason, as I said earlier it's opaque. So if you are watching say, score on lower part of screen, just don't touch the remote or it will blind that area.
Normally when we tune a TV manually, we Tune a channel and then assign a "channel no." to it. But in this TV we have to assign a "channel no." first and then tune it, which is totally wrong. For example, if you are watching "MTV" on say "channel 1" and start tuning from this channel, the new channel found will become "channel 1", which is very bothersome.
Ideally, the right way is to tune the channel first and then assign a "channel no." of your choice at any empty slot.
Full Channel Scan is not available. Only Favourite 9 Channels can be set for channel scan, and we can't access other channels with Up/Down key during this option.
I am very disappointed with "Menu System" of this TV. Even "Channel No." appears in Opaque for 1 sec. on upper left corner.
So, if you are using "Menu" for some reason, it will blind your screen in centre, lower, and upper left part, which is very uncommon. Some "Channel Logos" appear right behind the "Channel No." while tuning, you just have to guess the channel.
MANUAL: Manual is printed in Black and White. Strangely, it doesn't have any "Contents or Index" page.
AVL is not explained in Manual. It stands for Auto Volume Leveller, which adjusts the loudness of sound, so that we don't have to adjust the volume when we change a channel or during ads.
*THINGS WHICH I LIKED
Remote is small in size.
'Recall' button to display the current channel and on which Band it has been tuned. Also which Sound System e.g. 5 Hz.
Channel Recall: 10 CH45 5.5MHz
Sound System: 4.5/5/5.5/6/6.5MHz
Colour System: Auto/PAL/SECAM/NTSC 3.58/NTSC 4.43
'Rapid Tune' button to access last viewed channel.
'Off Timer' for 15/30/45/60/75/90 minutes.
'On Timer' for 10/20.minutes upto 12 hrs.
Picture Settings: Colour, Brightness, Contrast, Sharpness, NTSC-Tint, Colour Temp., Picture Noise Reduction
Sound Settings: Volume, Equalizer, Balance, Virtual Hyper Bass, Loudness, AVL, Surround
Power Consumption: 127W
It's obvious that I have compared it with our other TV set, which is BPL-FHR 21 inch. People using this TV would definitely know, what is research all about, since every single part of this TV is so Perfect. You just think and it's there.
It has got all the above settings and timers even 13 years back, barring some new inventions. Even then, it has a unified remote, which operates a VCR too, and still remote isn't big in size.
I will not recommend this TV, mainly due to its "Menu System" and Remote" which are used very frequently in each home. I think Panasonic needs to take lesson from someone to work out these factors.
