[Mark Hodgkinson]

At the Panasonic Convention 2013 the company launched the ZT60 High-end Plasma TV stating it was a 'KURO KILLER' with beyond Reference Picture Quality. The Set will cost around £4K and is available in May.

Brave words and we can't wait to see it up close and personal!

Panasonic ZT60 High-end Plasma The KURO Killer has beyond Reference picture quality - YouTube

[Inferno]

This will have to one mother to justify that claim .

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by Inferno

This will have to one mother to justify that claim .

Quite!

[HD Elvis]

Any idea when review displays will be released for testing?

[Mark Hodgkinson]

Originally Posted by HD Elvis

Any idea when review displays will be released for testing?

I'm just packing up my tent and a few essentials to go and camp outside Panasonic HQ.

Serious answer - no, not yet. Soonish though

[Quaddy]

a cnet vid at CES on youtube shows two sized zt60's - 60" and 65" - you say in your vid only one size: 60" - anyone know which is correct?

[Mark Hodgkinson]

60 only for Europe

[Jackass]

Crikey, they really are milking plasma tech and charging a fortune for what is at the end of the day a 1080p plasma set.

I could justify £4k for a 4k plasma set but really for a 1080p set?!
Panasonic need to get their finger out with 4k and offer a set this year at least. (Even though content is short in supply)
They are living in the past still trying to beat Pioneer tech when they should be focusing on releasing a 4k set this year.

[deon444]

Originally Posted by Jackass

Crikey, they really are milking plasma tech and charging a fortune for what is at the end of the day a 1080p plasma set.

I could justify £4k for a 4k plasma set but really for a 1080p set?!
Panasonic need to get their finger out with 4k and offer a set this year at least. (Even though content is short in supply)
They are living in the past still trying to beat Pioneer tech when they should be focusing on releasing a 4k set this year.

4k for a 4k set? Your joking ain't ya
:-) considering a 1080p Oled from LG will cost around 10k a 4k Oled which is only at the prototype stage is a few years away and would cost considerably more. 4k for a high end 60" plasma ain't really that much imo

[HD Elvis]

When you look at how much the KRP's were on release and then what the ZT incorporates over that in terms of features (not referring to whether there is any difference in PQ yet) 4grand does seem par for the course IMO.

[Scooby2000]

Originally Posted by deon444

4k for a 4k set? Your joking ain't ya
:-) considering a 1080p Oled from LG will cost around 10k a 4k Oled which is only at the prototype stage is a few years away and would cost considerably more. 4k for a high end 60" plasma ain't really that much imo

Agree, especially when its likely to drop below 4k. 4K is still very new and will cost a fair bit for a few years yet.

[Nevaborn]

If we were talking ST,GT,VT or even 1080p oled i would say £4k is too high a price to sell in enough numbers to be profitable.

But the ZT is a niche product made in a small quantity and produced for high end enthusiasts and at that its a reasonable price.

[ISHANTY]

I can remember when phd8 was £2,500 for a 42 inch a few years back I would love to have zt60 but I haven't got the room for it but I'm sure going to wait and see what the vt60 looks like

[Gboardman1959]

Originally Posted by ISHANTY

I can remember when phd8 was £2,500 for a 42 inch a few years back I would love to have zt60 but I haven't got the room for it but I'm sure going to wait and see what the vt60 looks like

I can remember when Philips released there first 42 inch plasma it looked like a dogs dinner and that was £13000

[TranceFan]

Given that oleds in 55" size are going to be 8-10 grand, and likely to have all the associated risks of being the first iterations of a new technology in that size, the 60zt60 looks to be on the money for £4k - half the price of oled and 5" more screen size. I imagine the quality will be comparable. Its just a shame we don't get the 65" ZT60 in Europe - hopefully next year!

[ISHANTY]

It's taken panasonic this long to make a plasma as good as kuro it better live up to the hype. If only I could fit this screen in my home I sure would consider it but I will have to settle for vt50 50 inch but I am sure I will be happy.
oled is far too pricey. There is also samsung new plasma to consider

[fluxo]

I cannot condone killing.

[Scooby2000]

Originally Posted by fluxo

I cannot condone killing.

No horse burgers in your house then.

I think its great to have a possible alternative available, with the VT and F8500 this could be a great year for plasma. Can't afford the ZT sadly but look forward to the reviews.

[stranger]

Originally Posted by Scooby2000

No horse burgers in your house then.

I think its great to have a possible alternative available, with the VT and F8500 this could be a great year for plasma. Can't afford the ZT sadly but look forward to the reviews.

I can't afford a ZT either but I'm getting one anyway

[ChundanaUK]

I've ordered one!! Got it for a very good price. The retailer is a Panasonic dealer in Watford.

[Chelsea_Fan]

Apparently they have been doing demos opposite a KRP600A so this must mean they are confident it is an obvious step up in quality.

However, it is just another plasma and will be blighted by the limitations of plasma tech so I'm not getting too excited.

I'm hoping OLED will deliver the goods and also hoping my 5090 holds out against the dreaded red tint whilst I wait for OLED to hit the streets at realistic proces.

I've put up with 3200 hours of plasma dither and other artefacts (and dodgy black level compared to CRT) so I can wait a bit longer I guess...

[Scooby2000]

Originally Posted by Chelsea_Fan

Apparently they have been doing demos opposite a KRP600A so this must mean they are confident it is an obvious step up in quality.

However, it is just another plasma and will be blighted by the limitations of plasma tech so I'm not getting too excited.

I'm hoping OLED will deliver the goods and also hoping my 5090 holds out against the dreaded red tint whilst I wait for OLED to hit the streets at realistic proces.

I've put up with 3200 hours of plasma dither and other artefacts (and dodgy black level compared to CRT) so I can wait a bit longer I guess...

I doubt OLED will be problem free. the 50 series Panasonics are actually quite clean if you don't use normal.

[Chelsea_Fan]

I doubt OLED will be problem free.

Yes, I expect you will be right.

However, I'll certainly be looking to arrange a demo of OLED once they go mainstream as the high end choice for a TV.
It's pretty obvious the ZT60 is going to outperform the kuro but I think I've seen enough of plasma tech to know it isn't right for me long term.

Fingers crossed that OLED can deliver the goods

[Inferno]

Chelsea whats dodgy about a black level of 0.001 ftl, and yes it was measured by a 6k klein so its correct, there will only be an oled that can beat that.

There must be something awry with the 5090's if the black level is dodgy.

[Chelsea_Fan]

Chelsea whats dodgy about a black level of 0.001 ftl, and yes it was measured by a 6k klein so its correct,

Yes but low tech test gear can't match the human eye for low light perception. I judge my TV by eye (not by cheapo test gear) and there's plenty of people on here who can see the limitations of the black level of a 9G kuro.

But it isn't just black level anyway plasma tech is too flawed for me (by any manufacturer). So is LCD. Obviously CRT is flawed too and I guess OLED will have its flaws.

I just want a TV that is a step UP in quality from my old CRT in the 'critical' areas (for me) such as motion/animation and black level and I don't want to put up with too much dither noise or motion artefacts either.

Plasma fails in these areas. Bring on OLED to see if it can do better

[Autopilot]

Shame then that it looks like Panasonic are going to stop making plasma TV, according to some reports I read today anyway.

[Chelsea_Fan]

If you are both satisfied with plasma then that's fine by me but at least let others have their say without the usual petty personal comments

that piffle he posted above about the Klein

Stuff the Klein meter, it's just a bit of test gear and it can't change the fact that the performance of the human eye is way better than any consumer TV and this is why manufacturers strive every year to try and make a better display

I think all flat panel TVs have been poor up to now and I'm not alone in this view. Maybe the ZT60 will be a decent step up from the Kuro but I think the consumer is ready for something a LOT better than plasma.

Hopefully OLED will be the first step.

[bobfoc]

Originally Posted by Chelsea_Fan

If you are both satisfied with plasma then that's fine by me but at least let others have their say without the usual petty personal comments

Stuff the Klein meter, it's just a bit of test gear and it can't change the fact that the performance of the human eye is way better than any consumer TV and this is why manufacturers strive every year to try and make a better display

I think all flat panel TVs have been poor up to now and I'm not alone in this view. Maybe the ZT60 will be a decent step up from the Kuro but I think the consumer is ready for something a LOT better than plasma.

Hopefully OLED will be the first step.

What if oled doesn't live up to your expectations?

Will you keep using your crt until someone invents a holodeck?

Live in the now man!

Nothing is perfect, so find something that best meets your requirements and enjoy for now. Once the next best thing is out (oled will be 3+ years before it hits c. £3K) use AVF classifieds and move on like the rest of us AV nuts on here

TVs are like PC's. You just gotta bite the bullet otherwise you will wait forever to buy one!

[TONYELISE]

What will be interesting in 4 years time will we be posting on a thread called "OLED ZT60 Killer?" Or one called "OLED Finally a Kuro Killer?"

[Chelsea_Fan]

Hi Bob
I do have a plasma TV and I've had it for about 4 years.

What if oled doesn't live up to your expectations?

Then I'll give an honest criticism of it