[Phil Hinton]

Panasonic have announced two new Professional home cinema plasma panels boasting the blackest blacks and highest industry contrast ratios. The 65" VX100 will be available in January 2009 with the 50" model due in February 2009. We will have an exclusive review of the 65" panel in December, keep an eye on AVForums home cinema equipment reviews for more.

Here is the full press release.

Originally Posted by Panasonic Press Release

Panasonic Professional Displays Europe, announces the introduction of two 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) full high-definition plasma displays for high-end home cinema enthusiasts and AV professionals. With the increasing availability of full high definition content, there is a growing consumer appetite to enjoy high-quality images at home, and with Panasonic aiming to distribute these models through a selected network of high level Custom Home Cinema specialists, the exceptional TH-65VX100 and TH-50VX100 panels look like packing a visual punch.

Panasonic has been long committed to expanding its product line-ups for luxury home cinema applications, including the launch of the World's Largest 103-inch plasma display back in 2006. Employing these two exquisite new models with a stunning 60,000:1 contrast ratio*3 - the world's highest, the new advanced plasma displays feature enhanced high-quality image technologies accumulated in the development of the Professional Display PF series supplied for many commercial applications including at broadcasting stations and post production houses.

For these latest models, Panasonic uses the new-generation plasma display panels (PDP) equipped with a new structure in which a recently-developed 'Dynamic Black Layer' is positioned at the front end of the panel. Reducing the amount of predischarge to one-sixth that of the conventional models boosting the contrast ratio to the world's highest at 60,000:1, leading to exceptionally deeper, richer blacks. By incorporating the newly-developed phosphor material process technology and optical filter, the advanced plasma displays have extended the HDTV-standard colour gamut and cover almost the entire colour range currently used in digital cinema industries.

Panasonic's world's leading maximum 18-bit digital signal processing and 'Digital Colour Reality' technologies achieve a detailed gradation from light to dark and faithfully express subtle colour differences. The moving picture resolution of over 900 lines reproduces clear, crisp, and smooth moving images. The oustanding picture quality of both the 65 and 50inch beauties, deliver breathtaking images which give a realistic movie experience and evoke emotions and feelings in any viewer.

The new models are equipped with a variety of customisable functions for high-end home cinema connoisseurs. The 16 adjustment menus cover items such as six gamma curve options and white balance adjustment. The advanced memory function makes it possible to name and save the used or calibrator adjusted data. With a black aluminum hairline finish on the front bezel, the highly-refined design in every detail creates a sophisticated and desirable air.

Main features:
1. Reproduces the blackest black with the world's highest contrast ratio of 60,000:1 by employing the new plasma panel.
2. Expresses true-to-life colours in a wide range.
3. Achieves the industry-leading gradation level of 7,160 steps. The cinema picture qualities delivers breathtaking, beautiful images which give a realistic movie experience.

The TH-65VX100 will be available in January 2009 and the TH-50VX100 in February 2009.

[panovision]

These have come just at right time. I will be changing my TV next year and it was going to be a LX5090 perhaps now I should wait.

[brad]

Any idea of price on these new screens?

[David Mackenzie]

Uh oh... tumbleweed... that's not good!

We will get you pricing info ASAP.

Tumbleweed?