Panasonic PT-53WX52 53 in. TV
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- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 14:9
- Weight: 183 lb.
- Screen Size: 53 inch
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Great TV at a great price
Pros
Sharp picture, intuitive remote, attractive cabinet, casters roll easily on carpet
Cons
limited viewing angles compared to plasma or picture tube
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
There is not a better TV out there in this price-range. In hindsight, I would buy it again with no worries.
I've had my PT-53WX52 for a couple of days now and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Right off the truck, the TV looked great. Set up was a breeze and even my technologically averse wife has no problem operating the intuitive remote control. I went from power-up to watching a DVD without so much as glancing at the manual.
The Picture-in-picture functionality has very practical usability. Among other things, it allows you to scan three channels on the right side of the screen while the left side maintains the picture and sound of the program you're currently watching.
I bought this TV after my 32" RCA tube died a premature death (32" was only 5 years old and just cut off suddenly one day never to power on again...3rd RCA device I've owned that's failed inexplicably...). In looking for my new main television, I wanted future HDTV compatibility and a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. I did some internet research and then stopped by my local Ultimate Electronics store to see some models up close. I ended up making a deal on an open-box Panasonic PT-53WX52. The 53" screen is about as big as I could go with in my 17x15 living room. It's a perfect fit allowing me just enough room for a component rack housing my stereo equipment alongside the TV.
I'm a movie enthusiast who appreciates a great picture and big theater sound. This TV, being my first big screen, did not disappoint me. The picture is phenomenal. Right after I got the TV up and running, I managed to catch Star Wars II on HBO. Wow, it looked fantastic despite the non-digital cable signal I have. I had some fun playing with the aspect ratios and settled on the "JUST" setting which leaves the middle of the picture alone and stretches the edges to fit the 4:3 signal to the 16:9 screen. Then, for my sons, I put on our Toy Story II DVD. Using one of the standard video inputs (not S-video or component video), the picture was so clear and crisp.
The only drawback to the TV is the limited viewing angle, which is common to virtually every projection TV. I knew this going in so it's not a problem for me. The only way to get a huge picture like this and not have a viewing angle problem is to go with an LCD projector set-up or a plasma screen costing many thousands more.
Barring winning the lottery, this will be my main TV for many years to come.
The Picture-in-picture functionality has very practical usability. Among other things, it allows you to scan three channels on the right side of the screen while the left side maintains the picture and sound of the program you're currently watching.
I bought this TV after my 32" RCA tube died a premature death (32" was only 5 years old and just cut off suddenly one day never to power on again...3rd RCA device I've owned that's failed inexplicably...). In looking for my new main television, I wanted future HDTV compatibility and a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. I did some internet research and then stopped by my local Ultimate Electronics store to see some models up close. I ended up making a deal on an open-box Panasonic PT-53WX52. The 53" screen is about as big as I could go with in my 17x15 living room. It's a perfect fit allowing me just enough room for a component rack housing my stereo equipment alongside the TV.
I'm a movie enthusiast who appreciates a great picture and big theater sound. This TV, being my first big screen, did not disappoint me. The picture is phenomenal. Right after I got the TV up and running, I managed to catch Star Wars II on HBO. Wow, it looked fantastic despite the non-digital cable signal I have. I had some fun playing with the aspect ratios and settled on the "JUST" setting which leaves the middle of the picture alone and stretches the edges to fit the 4:3 signal to the 16:9 screen. Then, for my sons, I put on our Toy Story II DVD. Using one of the standard video inputs (not S-video or component video), the picture was so clear and crisp.
The only drawback to the TV is the limited viewing angle, which is common to virtually every projection TV. I knew this going in so it's not a problem for me. The only way to get a huge picture like this and not have a viewing angle problem is to go with an LCD projector set-up or a plasma screen costing many thousands more.
Barring winning the lottery, this will be my main TV for many years to come.
