Panasonic VIERA TC-P65VT60 Pro Reviews

Panasonic offers a compelling choice in top-quality plasmas. So will it be the ST60, VT60, or ZT60? I didn’t have the ST on hand here, but the measurements suggest that its black level, while not quite extending to the depths of the VT60 and ZT60, is equal or superior to even Panasonic’s 2012 flagship, the VT50. As for the VT60 versus the ZT60, the choice will depend largely on your budget. I marginally prefer the ZT60—it’s crisper looking, with a bit more pop in mixed light and dark scenes. But these differences are not pronounced. Apart from the green shift noted earlier, which can be calibrated out, the TC-P65VT60 is a superb HDTV.

The VT60 is a marvel in engineering and Panasonic deserves a huge pat on the back for producing such a quality product. Although it lacks the bright-room performance abilities of its more expensive cousin, you’d never know the difference in a dark room. That it comes in a little less expensive than the ZT60 is also pretty compelling, though there’s no getting around the fact that we’re talking about an expensive TV here. Yes, the VT60 is expensive. At the time this article was written, the 60-inch model is listed at $3,000 (vs $3,500 for the ZT60), but is selling for about $2,650 online. The 55-inch model we tested goes for even less at about $2,300. Add that to the fact that you can only get the ZT60 at Magnolia outlets in Best Buy stores through the end of July, and there are enough reasons that folks will opt for the less expensive version.

The Panasonic VT60 has one of the best pictures of any TV we've ever reviewed, but it's soon to face some tough competition.