I bought this TV about two months ago on Amazon and haven’t looked back since. The packaging was excellent and the speed of shipping could not have been faster. I was forced to buy a new TV to go with a Blu-Ray player my son bought me for Christmas. I usually don’t like being forced to buy something new because of a gift, but my old tube TV from the 1980s was already in need of a replacement.
This is my first HDTV that I have paired with my computer. In addition to hooking up a new Blu-Ray player, I bought this one because I needed to hook up my computer and a Nintendo Wii. If you’re looking for an affordable TV to double as a PC monitor, when needed, you can’t go wrong with this set. Text is sharp and colors are extremely vibrant. The quality of Wii tennis couldn’t have been better either.
It also came with an iPod docking station. I had read it in the description, but I didn’t take it seriously until now. Hooking it up is incredibly easy and it couldn’t be easier to use. The TV recognizes the connection immediately and activates the iPod’s on-screen controls. The only complaint I have about the iPod docking system is that it can’t be used in PC mode. I can use my computer, but it would have been nice to keep the iPod dock.
Initial setup was extremely easy. Once the TV is docked and plugged in, it immediately went through the system setup. It is extremely simple and fast. Once you make your way through the setup, you’re ready to start watching TV. I’m using DirectTV so the TV doesn’t have to go through any kind of channel scan. The Blu-Ray player connected with no problem, along with my PC and Nintendo Wii.
I watch a lot of NHL hockey and play Nintendo Wii with my young kids. Even though the image resolution is capped at 720p, for the size you get there’s not really a noticeable difference. The image is very sharp and extremely clear. The colors are bright and vibrant. But most of all the sound is amazing. I wasn’t expecting such good sound from this TV, but it was a pleasant surprise. I usually don’t consider sound quality to be a big factor, because I have a surround sound system, but these speakers cover a lot of ground. In fact, I took my time turning on my surround sound because the quality of the TV is so good.
Comparable to the more popular brands I’ve seen at Best Buy and Walmart, this device lives up to the quality I’ve seen at Sony and Samsung, without the high price tag. I guess I have Amazon to thank for that, but it’s still a good point I have to make. The set may only be 720p, but for the price you pay you might have better luck and quality, especially when the quality is compared to other leading brands within the same caliber. Panasonic has really hit the nail on the head and Amazon has really gone the extra mile for their loyal customers.
The Panasonic TCL26X1 is an amazing LCD television.