- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How it compares
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Panasonic VIERA VT30
- 55" 1080p Plasma
- 3D 60 Hz
- Internet enabled
#2 in Panasonic TVs
Released January, 2011
Rated 100% by by Enzo-M. (Oct, 2011)Great HD picture and even compressed streaming NETFLIX looks really good on it.
Conclusion Check out the Panasonic VIERA VT30
First reviewed December, 2011
Features Key features of the Panasonic VIERA VT30
55”
Plasma
Rated 100% by by TraderRes (Nov, 2011)I can watch movies from Amazon, Hulu, and YouTube along with my regular Verizon FIOS picture in high definition.
size
55"
42"
46"
VIERA VT30 by rick (Jun, 2012)it was well worth it to lose a little bit in screen size for a far superior picture!
VIERA VT30 by c|net (Jun, 2011)We performed a hands-on evaluation of the 55-inch Panasonic TC-P55VT30, but this review also applies to the other screen size in the series.
thickness
VIERA VT30 by J.-Oglesbee (Jan, 2012)It is very thin at 1.6" but is not so thin as to be delicate to handle.
VIERA VT30 by Nguyenguy (Jan, 2012)The color clarity and depth make you feel like you're watching HD for the first time again, it's that good.
Performance Real world tests of Panasonic VIERA VT30
power consumption
VIERA VT30 by c|net (Jun, 2011)Power consumption: We did not test the power consumption of the 65-inch TC-P65VT30, but we did test the 55-inch model.
VIERA VT30 by David-W.-Turner (May, 2012)I'm positive that the new models, 65VT50, performance is fantastic as well, but I could not see paying an extra $1,100 for the new model.
black levels
VIERA VT30 by PeterUbers (Sep, 2011)I can already tell the black levels are much better than the S2, the one sheet of glass is very cool, it's 1/2 or 1/3 the depth of my s2 - very thin for a 65" plasma.
VIERA VT30 by Y.-Liu (Feb, 2012)The black level is second to none, color reproduction is very accurate, video play back is very smooth and artifacts free.
contrast ratio
VIERA VT30 by SoBe-305--chatham635Panasonic plasma TVs always get highest ratings in reviews for the quality of the picture contrast ratio and so on.... Based on this I have decided to buy TCP55VT30 about 14 months ago.
VIERA VT30 by Brian-Crocker (Nov, 2011)My fiancee purchased the Wal-Mart Black Friday 65" for $998, and although the picture quality is quite amazing the Toshiba pales in comparison to the build quality of the Panasonic.
Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors
pros
-
Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Netflix, YouTube -
Picasa -
Napster, Pandora -
Facebook, Twitter -
AVCHD, MPEG2 -
MP3 -
JPEG -
video chat with friends from the comfort of your living room -
supports professional calibration to achieve the most accurate color reproduction -
enjoy realistic 3D videos at home -
3 -
access streaming content over the Internet -
easier to share and enjoy your digital photos, music and video -
0.3068/0.6 -
optional, 802.11n -
0.1555/0.06 -
0.6365/0.33 -
other devices can control the TV; better for home automation -
4 -
1 -
87.41% -
1080i content is smoothly rendered at the TV's native resolution -
1 -
1,200 lines -
1
cons
-
1.94 -
TY-EW3D2SU, 161 dollars -
516 Watts -
69 cd/sq. m. -
44,497 g -
60 Hz -
50.8 mm -
50.8 mm -
0 -
None
Reviews Word on the street
|
|
|---|---|
| Rated 100% by by Nguyenguy (Jan, 2012) Rated 100% by by Enzo-M. (Oct, 2011) |
Panel
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by NiKoLaI (Mar, 2012)The panasonic 3D glasses that come with the TV and the ones that come with the Avatar 3D bundle only work about 14-15 feet away from the TV.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by rolorm (Nov, 2011)The 3D is awesome!!! I have watched a few 3D movies thru my cable company and the effects were unbelievable.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by Mike (Dec, 2011)3D is cool although if this exact display came without 3D and cheaper of course I would have bought the display without 3D.
3d
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by David-W.-Turner (May, 2012)You can look at 65 inch TV's at all the local stores you care to, but until you have it set-up in your house, you cannot really anticipate just how big this TV is, all you can say is WOW!!!!!! I now have to wait for the BDT-500 to ship before I can enjoy the 3D portion of this wonderful TV (I will have to connect it to the BT-300 Blue Ray 7.1 channel Blue Ray for the audio).
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 87% by by c|net (Jun, 2011)Compared with the GT30, the flagship VT30's main step-up features are a dedicated 96Hz mode for 1080p/24 content and a single included pair of 3D glasses.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by Moe214 (Dec, 2011)The picture was great out of the box; however, I calibrated the picture and made sure the 3D configurations matched my Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D blu-ray player and the picture actually got better.
Content
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by Enzo-M. (Oct, 2011)I love movies so many of my Blu-ray discs are ones that we're said or written to be of "reference" quality or "demo quality" and the picture is superb.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by Chandler-Resident (Nov, 2011)It was very easy to setup and we have enjoyed watching movies, sports and all the other "junk" out there in TV land.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by D.-Christopher--burt (Aug, 2011)The colors are also very impressive even when watching the many streamed movies.
Picture quality
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by Bryan-Johnson--Deal-Assassin (May, 2012)Amazing TV, picture quality its top notch and setup is a breeze.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 80% by by Chris (Mar, 2012)It would have been nice if the picture quality was good to go out the box like my Pioneer but the various picture setting options allow the set to be calibrated very nicely.
Type
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 87% by by c|net (Jun, 2011)3D picture quality was excellent as well in the THX 3D mode, although Samsung's flagship plasma and LCD were better at reducing crosstalk.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by Enzo-M. (Oct, 2011)True, It isn't as bright as the LCD/LED TVs but I feel the overall picture is more accurate and truer to life which is what I wanted.
Panasonic VIERA VT30 55" | Rated 100% by by Nossy--Nossy (Sep, 2011)Local-dimming LEDLCD sets like the Sony HX929 set are very good, but also cost $500-800+ more than an equivalent size high-end plasma set.
Competition What else you should consider
| | 1 | Samsung 8000 Series (2012 LCD) Highest contrast ratio Samsung 8000 Series (2012 LCD) vs Panasonic VIERA VT30 |
| | 2 | Panasonic Viera ST50 Rated the best by consumers Viera ST50 vs VIERA VT30 |
| | 3 | Sony BRAVIA XBR HX929 Series Brightest screen Sony BRAVIA XBR HX929 Series vs Panasonic VIERA VT30 |
| | 4 | Panasonic VIERA ST30 Most even colors at default settings ST30 50" vs VT30 55" |
| | 5 | Panasonic VIERA UT50 Darkest blacks UT50 42" vs VT30 55" |
| | 6 | Panasonic Viera VT50 4-way tie: More HDMI ports Viera VT50 vs VIERA VT30 |
| | 7 | Panasonic Viera GT50 Biggest screen Viera GT50 vs VIERA VT30 |
| | 8 | Sony HX750 Cheap webcam Sony HX750 vs Panasonic VIERA VT30 |
New duel?
Let the battle continue or dare to compare.

