Sections
- Page 1 Panasonic TX-50CX700B Review
- Page 2 Picture Quality Review
- Page 3 3D, Sound and Conclusions Review
Panasonic TX-50CX700B – 3D Picture Quality
The TX-50CX700B is, in the main, a lot of fun in 3D mode. Crosstalk ghosting noise and flicker, two very common issues associated with the active 3D technology this TV employs, are both handled well for such an affordable set.
Crosstalk ghosting appears only rarely – usually over extremely foregrounded objects, such as subtitles – while flicker isn’t really an issue at all unless you’re trying to watch 3D in a very bright room.
Again, motion can look a little odd – kind of billowy and jumpy – unless opting for motion processing on its medium or even high setting (the 3D mode defaults to High). It’s also noticeable that the TX-50CX700B’s 3D pictures don’t look nearly as sharp and detailed as we’ve seen them look on some rival 4K UHD TVs. In fact, they look sub HD overall.
Still, with the set’s strong contrast performance helping it to delineate a decent sense of depth and space in the 3D frame, it’s just about worth investing in some 3D glasses when finances allow.
Panasonic TX-50CX700B – Sound Quality
This is the weakest part of the TX-50CX700B’s performance. Whenever you drive its speakers hard with a raucous action scene, they struggle to keep up. They sound a little harsh, crowding the middle range and failing to find any extra power or headroom when a dense soundstage shifts up a gear or two. There’s no great amount of bass to underpin the action either.
Other Things to Consider
Gamers looking for an affordable, big-screen UHD solution will be pleased to learn that when switched to its Game preset, the 50CX700B suffers with only around 39ms of input lag. This is a relatively low figure for a 4K UHD TV, and shouldn’t have a negative impact on your gaming capabilities.
Should I buy a Panasonic TX-50CX700B?
If you’re in the market for a 4K UHD TV but your budget won’t stretch past £900, then the TX-50CX700B is worth considering. We haven’t seen any other UHD TV yet that can deliver the same sort of all-round quality for the same money. However, if you’re not in a rush to buy then it might be worth waiting to see how Sony’s new and similarly priced X8309 series shapes up in our tests in the next couple of weeks.
SEE ALSO: Best TVs 2015
Verdict
The TX-50CX700B isn’t perfect, but its combination of rich contrast, excellent colour and strong smart features make it extremely good value to anyone after a 4K-capable TV on a budget.
How we test televisions
We test every TV we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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3D Quality 7
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Value 9
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Smart TV 9
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Design 8
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2D Quality 9
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Sound Quality 7
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
