Panasonic PT-50DL54 50" HDTV-Ready DLP Projection TV

It's All Done With Mirrors

The Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology used in Panasonic's PT-50DL54 comes closer than any other display solution to reproducing the exact mirror image of its source material. DPL TV projection systems outshine others since, being mirror-based, they use light more efficiently. While other display technologies lose some amount of light in transit, the microscopic mirrors of a DLP TV projection system bring more light from the lamp to the screen. The secret to this engineering marvel is a compact digital projector powered by a single, postage stamp-sized Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) that generates high-definition video images. Manufactured by Texas Instruments and known as the world's most sophisticated light switch, the DMD chip contains a rectangular array of up to 1.3 million hinge-mounted microscopic mirrors; each less than one-fifth the width of a human hair and corresponding to one pixel in projected image. The micromirrors tilt either toward the light source (on position) or away from it (off position), creating a light or dark pixel on the screen. Bit-streamed image codes entering the DMD direct each mirror to switch on and off up to several thousand times per second. And with the PT-50DL54 you get a 50" widescreen with 1280H x 720V pixel (720p) native resolution capable of displaying 480p/720p/1080i high-definition signal formats. The difference DLP makes is plain to see. With this technology, home entertainment becomes the visually stunning experience you want it to be.

DLP Is Proven Technology

DLP is the only display solution that enables projection systems to create a purely digital connection between a digital video or graphic source and the screen in front of you. And with more than 1.5 million systems used by more than 50 manufacturers since 1996, this technology's track record is proven. As for reliability, the DMD panel is immune to the factors that can cause the performance of other display technologies, such as cathode ray tubes (CRT), plasma display panels (PDP), liquid crystal display systems (LCD, LCoS, HTPS), and film to deteriorate with ongoing use. The DLP panel is insusceptible to the damaging effects of heat, humidity, vibration, and aging. Projection systems using DLP technology enable you to see the content creator's original vision at full impact--again and again--no matter how many times a video or graphic has been projected.

Panasonic's Progressive Cinema Scan 3:2 Pulldown Technology

The PT-50DL54 achieves exceptionally faithful movie reproduction through a sophisticated analog-to-digital conversion. Movies on film are converted to NTSC interlaced video (480i) for television by a process known as telecine conversion, in which 24 frame-per-second (fps) film is converted to video at 60 fields per second. The fields are then paired to create 30 fps 480i video. Some of the frames will contain dissimilar pairs of fields derived from two different frames of the original film, causing artifacts. The Progressive Cinema Scan circuitry converts 480i video to 480p while restoring the original frames of the film for more authentic movie reproduction. An Enhanced Progressive Scan Doubler provides even more image enhancement than previous progressive scan technology by improving the quality of diagonal lines in a moving picture. It displays a full frame of video in 1/60th of a second by de-interlacing the incoming video signal and progressively scanning the image. With it, you just don't see the horizontal scan lines that can be visible in ordinary television images.

Great Sound To Go With A Great Picture

The new SonicPath surround sound audio system provides thrilling audio to accompany high-definition video. The four speakers in the SonicPath system deliver crystal clear BBE High Definition Sound. Speakers are specially positioned on either side of the screen for maximum stereo separation. This positioning also provides a direct sound path to the viewer to maximize the home theater experience. BBE High Definition Sound improves speech intelligibility and restores the dynamic range of musical passages to help provide a more natural sound.

New Single-Cable Digital Connection

HDMI is a new standard digital connection between a digital television and A/V devices like set-top boxes, DVD players, or A/V receivers. HDMI provides exceptional video and audio quality by way of a single quick-disconnect connector. This new standard supports multichannel digital audio transmissions and component video color spacing for true HD video rendering. HDMI also supports the HDCP copy protection standard, allowing copy-protected digital content transmission to your monitor. With a special cable adapter, the video portion of HDMI is backwards-compatible with DVI-HDCP devices. In addition to this exciting new interface, you also get Photo Viewer SD Memory Card/PCMCIA card slots on the PT-50DL54, allowing easy display of still photos that you've captured with your digital camera.

Double Your Pleasure

The PT-50DL54's 2-Tuner Picture-in-Picture with split-screen display lets you view two programs at once by dividing the screen in half. Each program is shown at full height, with one program on the left side and the other on the right. Audio is played from the program on the left. To listen to the audio from the program on the right, simply switch the pictures using the SWAP button. And every picture displayed on this monitor benefits from the wideband video amplifier that expands the video signal frequency response to more than 10MHz, providing incredible horizontal resolution.

Write A Review

Panasonic Projection Television PT-50DL54 (February 23, 2005)

Ease of Use		(5/5.0)
Value		(5/5.0)
Performance		(5/5.0)
Overall Rating		(5/5.0)

Reviewed By: David Neal McCracken - Lexington, NC

I had this TV operating within five minutes out of the box. It was easy to set up, and controls easy to understand. The picture is superb, with excellent colors and deep blacks. The audio is very good for a television. Notable features of this unit
-The viewing angles on the Panasonic DLP are the widest I've ever experienced on a DLP television.
-Plenty of connections for all of my AV equipment.
-Elegant and sophisticated styling of the cabinet, not to mention its only 15' deep.

Panasonic PT-50DL54 50 (December 10, 2004)

Ease of Use		(5/5.0)
Value		(5/5.0)
Performance		(4/5.0)
Overall Rating		(5/5.0)

Reviewed By: Asad K. - Springfield, VA

great tv, sharp picture, only thing is that the tv is loud, the rotating mirror wheel makes a humming sound when the tv is ON, cracking sounds are heard when the tv is turned off and on becasue of the heatingcooling effect.

Comparison Specifications

50" Widescreen 16:9 Aspect Ratio
Digital Light Processing Technology With 8-Segment Color Wheel
1280H x 720V Pixel (720p) Native Resolution
Horizontal/Vertical Edge Correction
Enhanced Progressive Scan Doubler
Wideband Video Amplifier (HD Enhancer)
Up To 2500:1 Contrast Ratio
500 cd/m2 Briteness Level
HDMI Input (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
3 Component Video Inputs (480i/480p/720p/1080i Compatible)

Additional Specifications

10-Bit 60MHz A/D Conversion DAC Processing
Progressive Cinema Scan 3:2 Pull Down
SD Card And PCMCIA JPEG Viewer
HDTV Performance With Add-On HDTV Tuner Or HD Receiver (Not Included)
No Screen Aging Or Burn-In Effects for Worry-Free Enjoyment
30-Watt, 4-Speaker BBE High Definition Sound
PC DB 15 Video Input (1 Front, 1 Rear), S-Video Inputs (1 Front,2 Rear), RF In (1 Rear), Audio/Video Inputs/Output (1 Front, 2 Rear/1 Rear), UHF/VHF Input
10,000 Hour Lamp Life
3D Y/C Motion-Adaptive Comb Filter
2-Tuner (181-Channel NTSC) Picture-In-Picture With Split Screen