Panasonic quality in 20" set
Written: Jan 29 '01 (Updated Jan 29 '01)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Picture Quality: |
|
|
| Durability: |
|
|
|
Pros: Square picture (no round corners); black tube; excellent picture quality
Cons: No front inputs or a/v out; no s-video for optimum DVD quality
The Bottom Line: Anyone looking for an affordable, quality 20" set should consider the 20G5.
|
|
|
| DCannon's Full Review: Panasonic CT-20G5 20 inch TV |
After trying a few different 27" sets for my relatively small bedroom, I decided 27" was a bit too large for comfortable viewing and too heavy to move around a lot if need be. So I went on a hunt for a good 19 or 20 inch set. I didn't want a set with round picture corners and I've always been a Panasonic user, so I was pleased to find this 20" set. At the store it was sitting beside a 20" JVC, which had a/v in jacks but the picture wasn't quite as good as the Panasonic. Neither had S-video, but that's understandable for a smaller set that most people won't use a DVD with anyway. I spent a lot of time switching channels, adjusting color, contrast, etc...comparing the 2 sets and the Panasonic seemed to have better overall picture quality, although exhibiting less than perfect picture geometry, typical of most TVs, particularly Sony. Sonys in general have horrible picture geometry. As a side note, I've found that - as with computer monitors - due to the earth's magnetic field, if you position the TV or monitor facing south, it will correct most of the bad geometry (text/horizontal lines running up or downhill, etc). As a graphic artist, this drives me nuts! Anyway, I bought the 20G5 and it's been great. It's not perfect but I've never found a TV that is. The picture is sharp and clear with excellent color and contrast due to the black tube technology. My TV faces northwest and exhibits slight picture geometry problems but not bad. Text at the bottom of the screen runs uphill (left to right) just slightly. I turned it facing south and the geometry was perfect but I'm not going to change my whole bedroom around to correct a 1 degree geometry problem with my TV.
Since the 20G5 is used in my bedroom normally in the evenings when I go to bed, I'm not concerned about hooking up a major sound system so don't need any a/v out jacks. My roommate has a Panasonic DVD hooked to her 27" Panasonic set in the living room so don't need s-video either.
The remote is simple, small and easy to use, although I'd rather the channel up/down buttons were closer together without the menu selector in between. In the dark, I find myself bringing up the on-screen menu a lot by accident. The other thing I've noticed is a lack of detectable volume change between the 6, 7 & 8 settings. From 1-4 there's no sound, then at 5 the sound level is all of a sudden too loud for the lowest level. Minor but somewhat annoying.
The 20G5 has channel recall (alternating between 2 channels), rapid channel advance and several other nice features.
I also looked at the Sony Wega 20" set but to me the picture is overdone and unrealistic, as well as too expensive for a 20" set. I actually like the Panasonic's picture quality better. It's always difficult to beat Panasonic's overall quality.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $199
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
DCannon
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: Madison, AL
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 5 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.