Panasonic PT-60LC13 60 in. HDTV LCD TV

Pros: Excellent picture quality
Cons: Questionable reliability, high repair cost

I've owned a PT-60LC13 for almost three years now and the picture quality is really exceptional. However, I've had to replace the lamp twice so far, which is much too often for my liking. The manual says the maximum expected life of the lamp is 10,000 hours, but I've not gotten even close to that figure with my lamps. On the reliability issue, my TV just had the lamp ballast fail. This is the device that provides the high voltage/high frequency to spark the lamp. It's a $750 repair item and it's something I would expect to last more than three years. I will be wary of Panasonic TVs the next time I'm in the market for a new TV.

Pros: Good picture Sleek Design
Cons: Projector lamp is generally unreliable and is a major expense to replace.

I purchased the Panasonic PT-60L13 60-inch projector TV about 18 months ago because I was looking for a big screen TV with LCD format. While I have been pleased with the picture, I have had to replace the Projector Lamp (TY-LA1000) twice now. The part alone costs about $300. The first replacement was covered by the manufacturer's one-year warranty, but the second one isn't even covered by the five year extended warranty from BrandsMart. According to them, the $240, 5-year extended warranty covers everything but the lamp. How convenient.

Pros: Best picture quality ever found in a TV.
Cons: All LCD projection TV's require expensive bulb replacments occasionally.

I first noticed the 50 inch version of this TV when I was in BestBuy just looking around. In a room of 50 TV's the picture on this one really stood out. And it was sitting side by side with a DLP projection TV (also very nice, but the Panasonic clearly beat it...). The picture quality of this TV is way beyond LCD flat screens.

I bought the 60 inch version a week later and I can't say enough about the picture quality. The color is fantastic. The clarity is fantastic. An incredible picture in bright light, up close and at extreme angles. I'm skipping some movies in the theater now because I'd rather see them on this TV first.

I've owned a tube projection unit for a few years and one of the things that really stands out about this TV is that there is no eye strain. You can get very close to this screen. By moving close, you get a surreal movie theater effect because some of the screen drifts into your peripheral vision, it's so big.

There is an engineer at Panasonic who deserves a medal.