Panasonic CT-27SX12 27 inch TV

I have had my Panasonic 27" flat screen (model CT-27SX12)for about 3 months now so I feel like I can make some reasonable assessments of both its picture and sound quality and the overall value of the TV. First off, let me just say that this is a great TV and I would definitely recommend it to both strangers and friends.

In terms of flat screen 27" TV's, there are about five brands on the market right now that are in this same category: Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, Sharp and Panasonic. Each have basically the same features and run about the same price of about $450-$550. I did some internet research and some in-store examinations and concluded that the Panasonic had the right features for me, provided excellent picture and sound, and was reasonably priced. I really can't say much about the other models, but I think I made the right decision based on my level of satisfaction.

SETUP:
Setup of the TV was easy as it could be. Just plugged everything in and was good to go. There were plenty of inputs. No problems whatsoever. I had it up and running in literally 5 minutes. Not much more I can say about that.

PICTURE:
The first test of the TV's picture and sound came with playing a DVD. I figured a DVD would give the TV a chance to optimize its resolution and sound capabilities. I examined the screen for flaws, dead pixels, color spots, any linear distortion, color inconsistencies, but everything was perfect. I have seen TV's where all the dark colors seem to run together into a mess of black, or where bright colors cause blurs or streaking. This set has no such problems. The colors have great depth and clarity and the resolution is very good. I have also noticed that many TV's distort shapes, which is a standard problem with round screen TV's, but this set had very true lines and dimensions. I gave the picture quality a 4 (of 5) rating (I only gave a 4 because 5 says "sharper and crisper than real life" which I think is a ridiculous statement, so I will stick with a 4.)

SOUND:
Then I checked the sound. This was important to me because I use my dvd/cd player as my home stereo with my TV as the speakers. I turned the volume way up and way down to check for any humming or buzzing. There was none. The problem I had had with other TV's in the past (and I checked very closely for with this one) is that often I would be watching a movie and would have to turn the volume up high to hear dialogue and then turn it back down again if there was a loud noise or music. This TV delivers a great fullness of sound and expertly balances all the elements of a soundtrack. Getting a great TV like this really helps me appreciate DVD's more (as opposed to VHS). There are so many smaller sounds in movies that I can pick up on now that I didn't (or couldn't) hear before. Just little things like hearing the wind blowing or gravel under footsteps really makes movie watching more enjoyable. Another note about the sound: this set has settings to adjust bass, treble and balance, most similar sets don't have this feature.

PRICE:
I paid 449.99 at Best Buy for this TV and it was worth every penny. It really is a good value for the set of features it has. Though of course you have to decide if this is really the combination of features that you want. Before you buy, ask if you really want to pay for the luxury of a flat screen (I think it is well worth it)? do you want to go get some other TV that has picture-in-picture(which I think is not worth the cost)? And despite what I say or anyone else says, you should always go to your local electronics store and look at the 5 or so models out there, if only to verify what others have said.

I recommend that you look around at all the models out there. But quite honestly I feel that my Panasonic is the BEST 27" flat screen TV out there right now and should at least be the TV to beat, so to speak, when you are looking around.


Updates/Responses:
I am ammending my opinion in response to some of the other opinions and responses that my review and the television have received. I am still totally satisfied with my purchase and have not run into a single problem. I am just giving a couple tips to some shoppers and viewers out there that might be useful for better TV buying and using:

First, "brighter, clearer" picture or crisper picture, or color tone are all issues that should first be adjusted within your TV setup before you chalk it up to product default or limitations. Sharpness of your TV should be adjusted from where you sit to insure it has the clearest picture. Color intensity should be adjusted to your liking: get skin tones exactly how you like them, etc. Brightness should be adjusted to suit your room's lighting. These features are on the set for a reason. Please use them. The same goes with sound. One should not complain about bass-heaviness if those sound components can be isolated and adjusted. If you look at TV's in the store, adjust the components. Don't just stare at the two pictures side by side and assume that that is the best picture quality they can produce or that that is the best comparison you can make. People mess with those things all the time and leave the sharpness, color, brightness of floor models all be out of whack. Adjust, adjust, adjust. If after all that adjusting the TV just won't get a crisp picture or natural colors, then move on.

Second, I read about some problems that people have had with color spots on their set. I had the very same problems on my last TV: different brand, model, and size. I think that those yellow or blue or red blobs are defects of individual units, the cause of which is beyond me, and NOT a default of the model or brand in general. Like I have stated, my current TV has no color spots or any similar problems.