Panasonic TC-P55VT30 Plasma 3D HDTV Review

Audio Quality

We're not going to beat around the bush here, the audio quality was outstanding for a TV. You're not going to mistake it for a surround sound system, but the audio quality is great on its own. There's even a sub-woofer inside the casing, which makes for great bass response in movies, and even the treble response is clear as a bell.

For those of you who are unafraid of the cable adapters in the back of the set, the TV even allows you the option of toggling which audio input you'd like to use, presumably for those who really want to see if Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon actually does sync to the Wizard of Oz.

In addition, you can alter the bass response as well as the treble, but there isn't any true equalizer. While it's a good bet that cinephiles will opt to use their own home stereo system while watching movies, the audio performance will be more than good enough for most viewers.

Menu Interface

The menu interface for the Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 is virtually identical to what we've seen on other 2011 year Panasonics. It isn't going to win a beauty pageant, but it's a functional menu that's not difficult to navigate. Everything is clearly marked, even if you sometimes have to dig a bit for the option you want if you're looking for an advanced feature.

Sometimes many submenus will be greyed out depending on which modes you have selected or your input source. For example, if you are using a DVD player hooked up to your TV via the analog ports, some of the advanced picture menu options will be greyed out.

Instruction Manual

The instruction manual is very informative, if a bit oddly-ordered. You won't have any difficulty finding information in it, and it will tell you everything you'd ever need to know about your TV set (except, of course, what we're telling you in this review). As of the publication date of this review, the manual is not available online.