Zenith Z50PX2D 50" Plasma TV

Zenith's "Hidden Gem" - the Z50PX2D

Posted Feb 9, 2006 - After researching and searching for the best value in a 42" plasma television, I came across the Zenith Z50PX2D at the local electronic superstore. I was immediately drawn in by it's bright, crisp image and of course, it's size. After comparing the Zenith to the Panasonic, Pioneer and LG plasmas which were all surrounding each other, I quickly realized that there was NO noticeable difference (excluding the black levels) in image quality with ANY of the plasmas on display. I even took the time to set all the televisions to matching set-ups (ie: brightness, contrast, color and sharpness). I asked a few fellow shoppers if they could see any significant differences and all replied, "NO"...then (to add even more value to this unit)the Z50PX2D was priced the same as a quality 42" plasma and a whopping $1,000.00 LESS than the closest competitor (the LG 50PX1D, which by the way, is the same unit as the Zenith, minus the CableCard slot and a few minor interior components...yes, LG manufactures Zenith products now)and $2,000.00 less than the Pioneer...after purchasing this unit and working out all the fine set-up details, I am beyond amazed that anyone (besides the most eccentric videophiles) would feel the need to spend more hard earned cash than necessary. The Z50PX2D is a well designed, straight to the point, high quality plasma that will not disappoint and will certainly make you the "envy" of your friends with it's outstanding image and style.

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Flawed product discoverec after inital promise

Posted 1 year ago - After just over 2 years with this TV, it made a loud POP and lost video. Apparently this is fairly common with this model, and you can read about it on the AVS Forums. The culprit seems to be either Y or Z boards. Many including me have been able to get some warranty coverage from LG, but it may still cost you a few hundred for labor. The downside is that even if you get the boards replaced there is another known issue of damage to the panel from the POP that results in red sparkling pixes throughout the screen after the boards are replaced. You may or may not be able to get the panel replaced under your warranty. ---- I bought this TV after reading many positive reviews on the net. The picture quality in the store was comparable to the much more expensive LG, Panasonic etc. models at a much lower price. While the Zenith name may not wow many, they are now owned by LG who is the manufacturer of this and more expensive models. I had been casually in the market for a 42" screen but went with this 50" for a little more money but about double the viewable image size. Weighing in at 115 lbs, the TV isn't light but much more manageable than even much smaller CRT or projection models. It is only 4 inches thick and offers an array of inputs on the back and side. After getting the TV home I hooked it up to my existing roof antenna and was amazed that I was able to pull more HD channels with the built in tuner than I could get regular broadcast. The picture is amazingly clear and crisp. I do recommend that you look into some calibration either through one of the many DVD's available or something else, as the default settings max out the contrast and could affect the longevity of the display if left alone for the life of the TV. I have hooked up my SD Tivo through the composite cables, and admittedly the basic recordings look rough, but live TV is not that bad, even in 16:9 Stretch mode. Video games through the RGB connector at 1024x768 looked very good with easily readable text, and little to no pixelation in fast motion video games (Need for Speed Most Wanted showed a little pixelation in the smoke) DVD's played through the S-Video port were good, might be better through component (progressive scan), but I have been told look best through an upconverting DVD player through HDMI or Component connections. The audio is one of the other surprising features. I have a Dolby digital/DTS receiver but watched the Superbowl just using the built in speakers and could swear my surrounds were on. The downsides aren't really an issue for me, as I rarely use the PIP on my existing TV, and don't mind the speakers being mounted on the sides. The limitation on resolution through RGB doesn't bother me at this point as it still looked great to me. The biggest issue, and it's only an annoyance is that I have to scroll through all the inputs to get to the one that I want. So far I am very happy with my purchase, and everyone who has seen it so far has been very impressed. I would definitely recommend this model if you are in the market for a flat panel this size and are looking to stay in a budget.

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An absolute bargain!

Posted Jan 31, 2006 - Prior to this, I bought and returned 2 other HD sets, a Hitachi and a Panasonic. Both were RPTV LCD. Thye both cost almost as much and were much larger and both (as all RPTVs to some degree) exhibited screen effects that were not acceptable to me. DLPs can have rainbows and many (particularly the Samsungs) have some pretty serious lip-sync issues. The Sony XBR is truly the gold standard to me, but it's priced accordingly. My last TV was a Sony WEGA that delivered a fantastic picture, but was not widescreen or HD. Zenith (or LG, for that matter) were not even on my brand radar, but I must say, I've had the set a little over a month and love it more every day. It is true you can get a better TV and a better picture, but I think it would be difficult to get the image quality, great plasma form factor and 50" screen size for anywahere near what you can find this set for. I think it's an exceptional bargain.

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Zenith Z50PX2D

Posted Jan 11, 2006 - I believe this is the best picture quality on the market for the price. A new 50" plasma TV for under $3000. Hard to believe. It looks better at home then it did when I went to the stores to check it

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PIECE OF JUNK - DO NOT BUY

Posted Oct 7, 2007 - These units are not worth the money. You will wait 4-6 weeks for parts to fix them. DO NOT BUY!!!!! The unit will make a loud POP noise and the screen will go completely black. You may / may not have audio present - but you will never get video again until the unit is serviced. GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IF YOU BuY THIS TV!!!!!!!

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Excellent Bargain Plasma at 50

Posted Jul 22, 2006 - After my old Mitsubishi 50" analog projection TV in my bedroom went out on me this past weekend, I decided to buy my first plasma to replace it. I did quite a bit of research online for TVs and asked my friends about their experiences. A couple of my friends recommended the Zenith Z50PX2D since they were happy with that model in their own homes. I found a coupon for 10% off at Circuit City and ended up buying it there. I also found a link on lg.com that indicated that Zenith was providing a $200 rebate on the Z50PX2D if you buy before July 29, 2006. Thus, after rebates, I will have paid about $2100 for a 50" plasma with HD tuner. That's about as good a deal as I could find anywhere for a plasma that large. I have a feeling that the Zenith models aren't good sellers just because of the name. However, I found out that Zenith is actually made by LG nowadays. The price on comparable LG sets were $300-400 more. I've been using the TV for about 3 days now. The picture quality is very good. It's not the best, but certainly acceptable for bedroom use. The sound quality of the speakers is very good for a plasma. There are a number of options for adjusting the sound quality and obtaining that "imitation" surround sound, and it really sounds good. The speakers are not detatchable. I did have some trouble at first trying to figure out how to program my DishNetwork remote to operate the TV. DishNetwork had 3 different codes for Zenith brand TVs but none of them worked. I looked for LG on the DishNetwork manual and didn't find ANY LG codes listed. Then I remembered that LG used to be called Goldstar and looked up codes for Goldstar. Those codes worked, so now my DishNetwork remote is programmed for the TV. This really is a great TV for the price. If you can buy it before July 29 and take advantage of the $200 rebate, you can't beat that deal.

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Pop! Dead after one year

Posted Nov 25, 2007 - Read ALL the reviews if you\'re considering buying this piece of crap. Users who like it generally have not had it longer than a year, so, like pre-symptomatic cancer sufferers who see nothing but beauty in the nuclear power towers behind they\'re house -- THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY SAY!I have not yet begun the process of attempting to get some justices from Zenith, as I\'m told this will be an uphill battle because despite ubiquitous reports of the problem, they have not acknowledged any fault. Gee, maybe Zenith should run for office...

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Get Extended Warranty!

Posted Oct 26, 2007 - Absolutely loved this T.V. for 16 months. Called Zenith and they wanted NOTHING to do with it,(call the store that you spent $500 for extended warranty). Then the HASSLE really starts.

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BEWARE !

Posted Oct 19, 2007 - Before 1 year warranty was up (thankfully) it made that famous "POP" sound and the picture went out. Repair was made (had to wait 3 weeks for part). Now less that a year after that samething happened. This time had to wait 6 weeks for part (on back order) and no warranty. Cost me $540.00. If you are going to buy this you had better buy a long warranty (which also cost a bundle)!

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Best Bang for the Buck

Posted Oct 16, 2006 - Best bang for the buck. Shop around and you can find this babe for right at $2000. Got mine from CompUSA for $1979, including delivery! I also found a rebate on the interet for $200. Are you kidding me??? A 50" plasma for $1779?? All of the other sets I looked at for a WHOLE lot more money didn't look any better than this one. Another thing this set has is an HD Meter that shows you how strong your HD reception is. i liked this a lot. Oh, and when I plugged it in and conneced a standard roof antennae that's been on my roof for 20 years, I got every single channel in without the extra HD antennae they try to sell you. This tv is by far the best bang for your buck. I wish it had PIP so I can surf the net while watching programming, other than that, it's awesome. You can find the optimum "settings" online. I did this and it truly can't be beat. Lata!

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Quality plasma HDTV for under 3K? What a bargain!

Posted Jan 26, 2006 - I have been searching for an HDTV for about a year now and it seemed whenever I came close to finalizing my decision something new, better, and/or cheaper came along. The prices of all sets are coming down and I was looking for a set (50-60 inches) to be viewed in a room about 15 feet wide. My previous TV was a 27 inch CRT bought about 8 years ago. Initially, I was looking at the DLP sets. CRT are going to be phased out and are large and bulky. LCD displays were more expensive and lagging behind DLP. Plasmas were too expensive. I came across this TV in a local ad and discussion boards. I went to the store and thought it had a great picture. This set is made by LG (as Zenith was bought by LG), but a similar LG 50' set next to it was $1000 more. I only noticed that it had extra inputs, but everything else looked exactly the same. The panasonic above it was $1500 more and although it looked crisper, it was not worth the extra money. The 160 degree viewing angle allows you to view the picture from the sides (great for large groups). The image does not darken as you move to the side. After plugging in the TV and fiddling with the univeral remote, I received digital signals off my bunny-ear antenna. Wow. The next day, I watched basketball and football in HD. The picture is incredible. Even the digital over-the-air signals are dramatic compared to analog. Also there is a signal bar that measures how strong the local signal is. You do have to adjust the images because the contrast was on 100 when first turned on. The speakers are on the side and work very well. There is an optical cable output so that you can run the sound through your sound system. Silver color and weighs about 100 lbs. Also the box is about 55 in long and 35 in tall so get delivery or a flatbed truck/large SUV. No bulb to replace. Get the best of the best. Think plasma. If you want an affordable HDTV plasma, this is your set. Check it out at your local store. Thanks for reading.

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GREAT TV! GREAT PRICE!! 100% LG MADE PLASMA TV UNDER THE ZENITH LOGO!!!

Posted Oct 13, 2005 - Zenith Z50PX2D (LG 50PX1D) Review SUMMARY: Got my Zenith Z50PX2D delivered for $2900 this week, brand new from Circuit City. This Plasma TV is made by LG USA (Very clearly printed on the back of the TV about 3 times. LG acquired Zenith in the late 90s) and uses the same exact components as LG 50PX1D which sells for $1000 more. Please save your money and buy the Zenith. It uses the same plasma screen as the LG and obviously has the same great picture quality as the LG. It comes with 1 HDMI, 2 Component and Inbuilt HDTV tuner for just $2900 and it is 100% LG...What more can you ask for. Go buy it.. you wont't be sorry. This is an absolute GREAT BUY !!! WATCHING SD (Regular) TV: It has 21 modes to adjust on how you view regular TV. Horizon mode is the best. It expands the middle and stretches the edges. Do note that you MUST turn the brightness down to about 15 and contrast down to about 50 to make regular TV look great. I'm extremely impressed with the quality of the regular or standard definition TV. WATCHING HD TV: The HD pictures look absolutely stunning. The black levels are as good as the best in class Panasonic plasmas. The color calibration was great right out of box. Again, remember to turn the contrast down to about 50 for two reasons: (1) To reduce the propensity of plasma burn-in during its first 200 hours of usage, which is when the phosphor inside is very active (2) Too much contrast (Factory setting is full 100) will only make the picture look too bright and somewhat grainy. LIST OF GREAT FEATURES: * Input based picture setting memorization: Every input's picture setting is seperately memorized by the TV. As mentioned earlier in the review, this is very important when you switch back and forth between HDTV, DVD and SDTV shows. This way you won't have to constantly fiddle with the picture settings * Burn In Protection: Has pixel orbiting, white wash and picture reverse functionality for burn in protection. This is a very important feature that has been overlooked by couple of great Panasonic plasmas (Panasonic TH50PX500U & Panasonic TH50PX50U) I was considering * Optical Audio Output: Has inbuilt optical audio output, that can be directly connected to your receiver. Very helpful when you are watching live shows through the TVs inbuilt HDTV tuner * No PIP: Does not have Picture-In-Picture, which is not a big deal for me i.e. not big enough to spend additional $1000 for the LG set * PC RGB and Audio Input: Inputs for PC RGB and mini audio jack are provided, in case you'd want to connect your PC to the plasma. I wouldn't recommend using your plasma as a PC screen because of burn in potential. But you can use it to watch videos from your computer and for gaming * Very Quiet Fan: I get easily irritated by the humming noise of fans in any of my audio/video components. This TV has two absolutely quiet fans Overall, I'd highly recommend this LG (i.e. Zenith Z50PX2D) plasma TV. Please go to your local Circuity City store and take a look at the Zenith Z50PX2D and LG 50PX1D and they are the exact same TV except for the logo. The Zenith (LG) has stunning black levels like the Panasonic plasmas and the exact design of the great looking LG plasmas. To me it is a no brainer and a great product at a great price!!!

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Zenith Z50PX2D

Posted Dec 16, 2005 - This is the sweet spot for full High Definition TV today. It has all the adjustments necessary to check calibration and the right number and kind of inputs for today's sources. Picture quality was great right out of the box. The display is unbelievable bright. A menu item is available to "reduce power" and actually reduces the brightness as well as power consumption and it is still bright as you need it. This will translate into extended life of the plasma display. Find your best price by searching the net or your local dealer and buy it now. You won't be sorry. This is the best place to hook into this technology for a long run.

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50 inches plasma TV by Zenith, Z50PX2D

Posted Dec 31, 2005 - Overall I am very satisfied with the performance: Stunningly beautiful color. It is ready to receive all HD DTV channels in my area. I never knew that TV watching could be so good until now. I found the PC input particularly useful. While I don't intent to use it to replace my PC, it is great for sharing of email or pictures with the whole family. With regular video or S video output from PC to a regular TV, I was never able to see the text from the PC. Now I can see them very clearly and stably. The only drawback is that it cannot accomodate graphic setting of 16/9 ratio, such as 1024 by 600. It recommnds 1024/768 which indeed give best result but it is 4/3 ratio. Using 4/3 raion to watch computer move with 16/9 ratio means you will never get the full benefit of the whole screen. Another improvement that I think Zenith can make is to provide a 3rd stabalizing leg in the middle so that the screen will not oscillate back and forth (try push the top of the TV slightly and you will know what I mean). Overall I am very satisfied and happy to have purchase this unit and believe it will go a long way

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Be careful when you purchase

Posted Sep 21, 2007 - They agreed to extend the warranty but it will take at least for a authorized dealer to look at it to find out the problem becasue they areso booke up with appointments. Then God know how long to make the necesssary repairs especially at the beginning of football and new shows I don't have a TV to watch

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