Plasma TV Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Plasma Displays’

Cheetah Mounts Tilt and Swivel Articulating Arm for Plasma LCD TV 32 55

The APSAM universal articulating arm mount supports virtually any display up to 55″ with hole patterns up to 27.7″ horizontally and 19″ vertically. The APSAM also features a full 27″ of extension and up to 150 degrees of rotation for larger displays, it also folds to a low 3.5″ profile as has +/-15 degrees of tilt. The APSAM mount is designed with a lift and lock design for ease of installation and is constructed with a 17″ wall plate which is specifically designed for
installation to standard 16″ studs. The APSAM is well constructed with 27 LBS of 100% High Grade Steel providing a sturdy and reliable mount.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Close to perfect
Super heavy and sturdy. Have had it outside for four months now and no complaints. For $105 delivered a great deal. Not a five star due to slight lean to the right, but not really noticeable. Probably a common problem with a lot of mounts. Great deal.

5 Stars easy to install!
This was much easier to install than I had feared, having read lots of reviews of wall mount products being difficult to install. Two of us installed in less than 1/2 hour. It even has a level built into the product so you can see immediately if the mount is level or not as you screw it into the wall.

It holds my TV perfectly level and is easy to move about.

5 Stars Great customer service
I originally bought this mount and had to return it due to issues with my wall studs… I contacted them via their cusomter service line and was helped immediately by someone who gave me clear instructions for returning the unit and choosing the correct one. They even shipped out the new unit early (when I sent them the tracking number) and refunded the difference in orders promptly. I wouldn’t hesitate to order from them again.

PS – New mount is awesome!Cheetah Mounts APTMMB Tilt Wall Mount for 32″-55″ Plasma and LCD Displays

5 Stars Good quality mount
With the exception of the fact that you need to purchase 20′ cables vs. 10′ cables so that it can actually extend, its great. The extra cost of the cables is not a big deal if you get online. The complaint I heard was that it stuck off the wall more than the flush mount one. But to me it was worth being able to move the TV around the room. Have plenty of zip ties to make the cable snake along the arm. Install tip, choose how you will view tv, on the wall flush or extended. It is not possible to have both positions 100% level (if you even care, it is still between the lines on the bubble level)

Would purchase again.

4 Stars Easy to install
Very good quality mount(especially for the price) Have not experienced any “sag” and have a 46″ LCD setting on it. Only problem was one mounting screw was the wrong size.

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OmniMount U3 FB Fixed Wall Mount for 37 to 60 Displays Black

The U3 is a universal fixed mount for Large Plasma Displays from 37″-60″. The mount supports up to 200lbs. and features easy Lift n’ Lock installation for safety and security.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Works great!
We had our 52″ Bravia professionally installed, but we had to buy the mount ourselves. This mount works great!

3 Stars Good mount
I used this mount to hang a 42″ LG plasma. The instructions were not as clear as my peerless mount. They didn’t explain which bolts to use and when I went to the OmniMount website and downloaded the instructions they were different but explained the installation better.

4 Stars Bracket a sanp
The install was eazy enough. I tryed to over think it but made it through. The instruction were a little confusing for the small amount that had to be done. The lag bolts that are used to connect to the wall seemed to be a little over kill but I guess for a heavier set it may be needed. Hanging the the set was eazy and I did it about four times with help. The ability to lock the set to the wall is nice. I would use it again it looks good and is sturdy.

1 Star Be Careful: Avoid the Top Slots
There is a real problem with these mounts unless you buy the right one. I have seen 2 types of Omnimount vertical mounting bars. One has holes for the top screw that goes into the TV and a slot for the lower screw. The other type, like this one pictured, has 2 slots. With the 2 slot model, the screws have to be really torqued down to stop the TV from sliding down because of the weight of the TV. The potential to strip out the threads on the TV’s back panel is very high on a heavier TV (>32″). Look for the mount that has holes for the top screw. On a light TV it may not matter, but why Omnimount uses this for a 32+ inch TV is beyond me.

5 Stars OmniMount
This is a great product. It was easy to install, and holds our 52 inch Sony TV up great!

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Cheetah Mounts APTMMB Tilt Wall Mount for 32 55 Plasma and LCD Displays

PRODUCT FEATURES:Fully adjustable 0-15 degree tilt angleUniversal design fits virtually all 32″-55″ modelsSturdy construction holds up to 150LBS

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Was Very Disappointed but now I am satisfied
I received my package in horrible shape. Upon examining the box I noticed that it was double taped, meaning it must have been opened previously and then returned (who knows why) and repackaged very poorly, and from my bad luck I am the one to get this defective box. I feel very bad, because the reason I bought this item is because it is rated highly by other users.

I feel cheated and deceived. Will never buy from this merchant ever again.

Shame on them for not doing the proper thing and shipping me a new unopened box, or at least a box in good condition.

Updated Sept. 3, 2009

This company’s customer service called me this morning, and after their fair and quick help, I am now satisfied with this order. I like how this company stands behind their products and help their customers.

5 Stars Best bang for the buck!!
Absolutely the best TV mount for the buck!! It was easy to install and fit my 52″ Sony Bravia perfectly!! Sony wanted $299. for their mount. I’m so glad I looked here before buying their’s, this mount works just as well as the Sony mount. Don’t be fooled into buying a high priced mount from your TV manufacturer, this mount is just as good, for a fraction of the cost!!!

4 Stars Worth the money
I bought my second Panasonic Plasma after about 8 months of using my first (and after my 15yr old Sony 25″ started acting up). For my first Plasma I had purchased a $70 wall mount. Since I was mounting to brick fire place, I wanted a good quality mount. I was pleased with it. For my new purchase it was going up on wallboard/wood studs. I came across the Cheetah, read the reviews and decided to take a chance.

The mount came with all hardware. Instructions are sparse. Luckily I’m a mechanical engineer so I really didn’t need them anyway. The thing is flimsy and not nearly as sturdy as my first mount. It is made out of stamped sheet metal. If you like high quality construction I wouldn’t recommend it. Since as far as I’m concerned as long as it stays up, and holds my 60lb TV, then I really didn’t care. I hung the bracket and tested it with my body weight. It held, so it has at least a 3x design margin on overload. With that test complete, I felt confident my TV would not come off in anything less than a 7.0 earthquake.

I recommend this for anyone looking for a low cost mount that is easy to install.

One word of caution. My bracket came with a level embedded in it. It was obvious that the machined hole where the level was placed was NOT square with the edge of the frame. They also packed a separate level with the unit (shown in picture). USE THE SEPARATE LEVEL!!! I suspect they had A LOT of complaints about the embedded level. DO NOT USE IT or you will be drilling 2 sets of holes in your wall (the second AFTER you figure out the the level is a piece of garbage).

5 Stars Small Price Big Value
Bought this mount based on the other reviews out there and the fact that I don’t like paying ridiculous prices for things that you can get much cheaper with the same quality. This mount was very easy to install (4 screws in the wall, 4 screws in the tv and you are hanging). The screws for my tv were included Samsung LN40B630 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color. It is very sturdy (I think the wall screws are a bit overkill but get the job done) and the tv hangs nicely. Plenty of room for cables out the back. One recomendation is to tighten the tilt bracket most of the way to where you want it before hanging the tv. It gets pretty tight once the tv is up there and is a little difficult to tighten this piece at that point. Like the other reviewers, I ditched the included “level” and used a real one. One other note is that if you hang the tv and it is slightly crooked, the brackets on the back of the tv have some wiggle room so you can move one or the other slighltly up or down within the precut holes for minute adjustments. Overall, very satisfied. Great product.

5 Stars Great value, slight adjustment needed
It’s probably nitpicking but I had to make some repeated adjustments to get this perfectly level with the TV. Most likely it’s slight variations in the TV and the mount and how the bolts were laying but it did take me 6 tries to get the TV perfectly level. The TV in question is a Panasonic plasma, 54″ Viera G10.

That said … the product is great. Very strong, well made, tilts nicely, very narrow to the wall – as narrow as possible I think and still allow for tilting and connecting.

The product has a built in level, which is accurate, the TV was only 1/16″ off when I was done … but enought to fiddle with.

The product came with a generous amount of hardware to fit all typical TV mountings and I was able to quickly pick the hardware I needed. The TV is infinitely adjustable left and right, so with a little masking tape as a marker, it was easy to perfectly center the TV each time I took it off to adjust it slightly. In addition the putting on and taking off was very easy with all structural elements aligning as they should.

Fit and finish are nice, powder coating has no issues, tilt adjust hardware is nicely chromed and works well. Overall a great product.

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Panasonic Viera TH 46PZ80U 46 Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

With its 2008 Panasonic Viera Plasmas, Panasonic brings anastonishing 1,000,000:1 contrast ration to the table. advanced pixel resolution and image-processing technology with the plasma TV’s natural ability to beautifully reproduce fast moving images, so every detail is rendered with amazing clarity, and all the action is delivered with a high degree of fluidity.

What’s New This Year?

• Super Contrast–native contrast ratios on the PZ85, PZ800 and PX 850 series are 30,000:1, double last year’s 15,000:1.
• Dynamic contrast ratios are up to 1,000,000:1.
• new anti-reflective filter; lead-free “Tough Under Force” panel is resistant to impacts and scratches
• x.v. Color and Deep Color (HDMI 1.3 features)
• Game Mode auto-adjusts image quality suitable to games and includes anti-image retention
• Viera Link is now compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems
• At least 3 HDMI inputs on all models (4 on PZ800 and PZ850 series)
• THX Certification on PZ800 and PZ850 series

Which Viera is Right For You?

Click here to see a comparison of step up features on each Viera series.

Amazing color reproduction

The incredible black reproduction of a Panasonic High-Definition Plasma TV results in impressive contrast and beautiful, natural colors. So you’ll get warm, accurate skin tones, gorgeous greens, breathtaking blues and vivid reds. For color that’s as rich and bold as life itself, look to a Panasonic Plasma TV.

Consistent brightness from any angle

A Panasonic Plasma combines anti-glare and anti-reflection technology with the natural light-emitting properties of plasma, to give you a super-wide viewing range with a crisp, beautiful image from almost any angle.

Smooth, graceful motion

When you’re watching sports or movies with fast-motion graphics, you want a TV that can keep up with the action. With over 900 lines of moving picture, self-illuminating plasma displays eliminate afterimages in fast-action scenes. So whether you’re watching a sporting event or an action-packed movie, you’ll always get the most impressive viewing experience possible.

1,000,000:1 Contrast

The Panasonic’s Real Black system (a pre-discharge suppression system) and improved panel production processes combine to reproduce outstanding blacks with superb contrast. Each image is richly expressive, from bright scense, like scorching desert landscapes, to dark cave scenes. Compare the image produced by conventional HDTV on the left to the Real Black image produced on the right

More Colors

Viera HDTVs support the xvYCC color profile (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or “x.v. color” for short. Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation “xvYCC” color space actually offers an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize. Next-generation “xvYCC” color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors

Deep Color

Where x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color. Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors Enables increased contrast ratio Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white.

Connectivity

Viera flat panel HDTVs interact with an array of high-definition devices and services, making it easy for consumers to access and enjoy content as never before. As of 2008, Viera Link is compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems.

Videos and stills recorded on SD cards can easily be viewed via the SD slots on Panasonic Blu-Ray Disc players and Viera HDTVs.	Viera Link means easy connectivity via HDMI cables. Finally, consumers can easily operate their Blu-Ray Disc players, DVD recorders and home theater systems with a single remote control device.
4 HDMI inputs to connect all of your devices directly to your television.

Long Life

Panasonic plasma panels are rated to last 100,000 hours, which is about 30 years of regular or 11 years of non-stop usage before the brightness of the display is halved.

Get Full HD with Blu-Ray Disc Players

A Panasonic 1080p plasma television is able to render 1920×1080 pixels, but standard DVDs have a resolution of just 720×480. Blu-ray discs output true 1080p High-Definition resolution and have a storage capacity ten times greater than standard DVDs, so no pixel gos to waste.

Which is the Right Viera for You?

	Screen Size Measured Diagonally	1080p Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels	Native Contrast Ratio	PC Input	THX Cert	24p	Speakers	HDMI Inputs	One Sheet of Glass Design	Swivel Base	Shades of Gradation	H.264 Codec	Digital Cinema Color	Studio Reference Mode	Pro Setting Menu	Serial Port	Standard Features
TH-42PX80U	42 inches		15,000:1				2	3			4,096						480 Hz Sub-field Drive Technology Anti-Reflective Filter Viera Link HDAVI Control Built-in SD Card Slot w/Photo Viewer Deep Color Technology x.v. Color 3D Color Mangement Sub-Pixel Controller Motion Pattern Noise Reduction Anti-Image Retention Mode Game Mode Scratch and Impact Rsistant Panel 100,000 Hours to Panel Half-Brightness (>30 years @ 8 hours/day) Lead-free Panel
TH-50PX80U	50 inches		15,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-42PZ80U	42 inches		20,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-46PZ80U	46 inches		20,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-50PZ80U	50 inches		20,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-42PZ85U	42 inches		30,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-46PZ85U	46 inches		30,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-50PZ85U	50 inches		30,000:1				2	3			4,096
TH-42PZ800U	42 inches		30,000:1				4	4			4,096
TH-46PZ800U	46 inches		30,000:1				4	4			4,096
TH-50PZ800U	50 inches		30,000:1				4	4			4,096
TH-58PZ800U	58 inches		30,000:1				4	4			4,096
TH-46PZ850U	46 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-50PZ850U	50 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-58PZ850U	58 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120
TH-65PZ850U	65 inches		30,000:1				4	4			5,120

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars AWESOME AWESOME!!
Wow,i recently purchased this panasonic plasma and all i can say is perfect.I actually have 3 other HD TVs i have a PHILLIPS 47″ LCD A 52″ samsung 720p(my daughter has that one good deal black friday) and a SONY 50″SXRD DLP 4 yrs now.This is my first plasma and by far is my favorite,i did alot of research on alot of tvs..aand although price was and is always a factor this panasonic is pound for pound awesome.The picture is clean and crisp,i am a huge sports fan(football!!) and the motion is beautiful.Also not alot a glare(if any),i have to say i actually got this plasma for $900.00 !! what value huh.It was the last one (display).All in all great tv it has been perfect for me you will not be dissapointed.

5 Stars Simply Fantastic. Way better than LCD.
In my personal opinion, plasma beats best LCD models like Sony and Samsung. So, if you are still shopping, simply go to the store, and devote some time to comparing TVs and chose the one YOU like.

Like many other consumers, I was hesitating choosing between plasma and LCD TVs. Initially, I was inclined to LCD (Sony 120HZ), but after spending quite a time in one of the electronic giant stores comparing different brands, I chose Panasonic plasma (I liked Pioneer KURO even better – but it costs 3 grand more:)

If you prefer unnaturally bright, “computer” like images, go with LCD TV (but get 120HZ model or wait for 240HZ to come to the market soon).But again, even 120HZ is twice less of what plasma offers.

If you like “movie” like picture and absolutely fantastic, sharp quality of this plasma TV (420HZ, 1 million contrast ratio to 1), I’d recommend this Panasonic. Just don’t forget to buy decent HDMI cable and Blue Ray player – and you’ll be blown away. Even SD (regular TV channels look great). It’s amazing.Period.

5 Stars This is as good as it gets
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I originally bought the TH-50PZ80U 50-Inch model but 3 days after I got it mounted on my wall I heard a loud pop sound, the picture went black and the red light started flashing a code on the front. Plasma TVs consume a huge amount of power – I think the 50 inch was running around 750 Watts. I did some research and discovered that the power supplies and internal power switching are extremely sensitive to power fluxuations. I had a surge protector in place, but that was not enough to save it. Ya need something like a Monster A/V Power Center / Filter (MP PRO 3500) or I just bought an industrial APC power filter rated for 800 Watts and only plugged my TV into it. I recommend this model: “APC BR1500LCD 1500VA 865 Watts 8 Outlets BACK-UPS” and make sure you plug your TV into the plug that says “surge & battery backup” and not “surge only” – ya gotta have a filter to give a clean 60hz 110VAC out to your TV because your power from the power company is “dirty” and that can damage your TV.

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5 Stars Linda K.
Love the TV. Just the right size for my room and the picture and colors are very clear and sharp.

5 Stars absolutely wonderful
It got here on time, works great, and I love it. The only thing that really surprises me is how well the sound works. I have a system, but I almost never use it because the built in speakers are sooooo much better than the other panasonic I have.

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Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B Tilt Wall Mount for 32 55 Plasma and LCD TVs and Displays

The Cheetah Mounts APTMMB Tilt Wall Mount offers a 0-15 degrees of tilt while maintaining a slim 1.9″ profile in the flat position. Weight capacity 160lbs supports hole patterns up to 28″ (711mm) wide by 19″ (483mm) tall. The universal design fits virtually any 32-55″ plasma or LCD TV.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Solid frame – good price – missing parts – really bad instructions
PROS

- It has a solid, well built, frame. Sturdy powder coated metal that looks and feels of a better quality than the price makes you expect.

- Mounted right: There will be no fear that your TV will tumble.

- The price

CONS

- The bolts/screws appear to be provided somewhat at random. Mine was missing washers and the parts bag was actually ripped open before I opened the box. I had suitable replacements in the garage, or they could probably be purchased for $1 at a local hardware store…not a big deal, but it could be a nuisance.

- Instructions are comically bad. Not a big issue, because you really shouldn’t need them.

CONCLUSION

At a discounted price – this is a good deal.

5 Stars I was skeptical…
I took a chance, against my better judgment. I asked myself how can a $25 mount compare to a $300 mount? I have 2 girls and I would totally shoot myself if my 52″ Sony Bravia (W series) ever fell on one of them. Well, I got this mount and I was already impressed. It is made of this extremely dense, slightly bumpy, but smooth to the touch metal. I mounted the first part to the wall and had my dad, who has owned his own construction company, to test it out. He approved by hanging his 180 lb body from it.

I did have to take a trip to Lowes because the screws to the TV were too long (20 thread). I bought 16 thread and added 2 lock washers, per screw, that already came with the mount. I also spent $30 on a good stud center finder because I wasn’t going to mess around.

I feel very confident with this mount and I am very happy to have saved a bunch of money. If you buy this mount, just take your time, watch a few you tube videos about hanging a TV, and use common sense.

5 Stars Holds a 46″ LCD display with no problems – Great value
I was surprised at how easily this went together and how solid it is given the price. The frame is four pieces and once you put them together they are together. Once they are on the wall nothing is moving anyway.

To put it together and mount your TV you will want to use your own level if you have one, although this (Black & Decker BDL310S Projected Crossfire Auto Level Laser) is *much* better, and also a tape measure, socket set, pencil, and refreshing beverage for when you’re done. That should be between 30 minutes and an hour from when you start. I was able to do everything myself and it’s even easier if you have someone to help you hook the display to the frame.

If all you want to do is bolt your TV to your wall (and maybe tilt it down a bit) I can’t see any reason to get something else.

5 Stars Best bang for your buck!!
I’ve never written a review on here but I had to for this product. It’s the best $20 bucks I ever spent. It was easy to assemble and came with all the screws and even a level, although I trusted mine more after I tested them against each other. I hung a 54″ panasonic from it with no problem. I was only able to use one stud but then used the two toggle bolts supplied and I hung from it for a few seconds to test it and it wasn’t going anywhere. I weigh 155. The only thing I really had to adjust were the two screws with the little slip bar . When fully tightened they stuck straight out. Just loosen them and push them out turn them just a little and then retighten them and they work perfectly and lay flat. The mount is also much lower profile than I expected. You really have to sideline it to see the brackets. I was able to run the wires easily in the wall and my tv looks awesome up on the wall now. Seriously, why spend so much on these mounts. Paying over a hundred bucks is just a scam.

5 Stars A fine mount at a reasonable price!
Mine was shipped quickly, arrived undamaged with all the parts required and the free level. From unpack to turning on the TV took a couple hours, but much of that was gathering tools and measuring numerous times to ensure correct TV position.

Assembly instructions: It would have been better if they had provided detail about bolting the vertical struts to the cross members. The bolt holes in the struts are not identically positioned – is there a top and bottom? Does the inside angle of the ‘L’ face the inside or the outside? Does it matter? Maybe it doesn’t matter, but a detailed picture of one of the corners would put the assembler at ease.

The package includes some nice lag bolts, a wall stud finder helps with placement, get those bolts into some studs and the frame will be going nowhere. The steel is plenty sturdy for the rated weight range. The package also included screws that fit my Samsung TV.

I suggest that people wanting the TV to be vertical adjust the tilt before hanging the TV, once it’s on the wall there isn’t much room to tighten the tilt clamps when you get near vertical.

Summary: Plenty sturdy, easy to to assemble, easy to install, and a fraction of the price of comparable units at the local electronics store. This one is a bargain!

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