This 58-inch, 1080p plasma HDTV is part of Panasonic's top-shelf 2007 series. The company has since released several new 2008 lines, but the TH-58PZ750U remains available. Its MSRP is listed at $4,499.95, but you can now find this TV for a lot less. The connection panel includes three HDMI, two component video, and one PC input, plus an RF input to access the internal ATSC, NTSC, and Clear-QAM tuners. The HDMI inputs accept 1080p/60 but not 1080p/24 (the newer 2008 models do accept 1080p/24), and one HDMI input is located on the side panel for easy access. Split-screen viewing options are available. On the front panel, you'll find an SD card slot through which you can view digital photos and movies but not listen to MP3s. The SD card reader is compatible with the GalleryPlayer system that lets you download professional artwork and photographs to an SD card for display on the screen.

As part of the highest-end 2007 line, the TH-58PZ750U has more advanced picture controls than you generally find on a Panasonic plasma. The video menu sports four picture modes, including a Studio Reference mode that Panasonic claims is configured to offer color reproduction that's similar to the reference monitors in editing studios. In addition to three preset color-temperature options, the Pro sub-menu provides access to more precise white-balance adjustments. In the Pro menu, you can also adjust panel brightness, contour emphasis, and gamma. Panasonic includes video, block, and mosquito noise reduction, but there are no features to help prevent or counteract image retention, a common plasma concern. There are five aspect-ratio options, including a mode to display a 1080i/1080p image with no overscan.

On the audio side, the TV sports side-panel speakers. Basic bass, treble, and balance controls are available, as is BBE ViVA HD3D sound processing. The AI sound feature is designed to equalize the volume level across all channels and inputs, while the Audio leveler deal is specifically with reducing level variations for content displayed through the external inputs.

High Points
• HD images look very rich in both a dark and bright viewing environment, and the panel has solid light output for viewing content in a moderately lit room.
• HD images have great detail and rich colors.
• This model offers a Studio Reference picture mode and more advanced picture controls than you'll find in step-down Panasonic models, so you can fine-tune the image to look even better.
• Plasmas do not suffer from motion blur or viewing-angle issues.

Low Points
• The TH-58PZ750U does not accept 1080p/24 signals, which is disappointing for a top-shelf display.
• The upconverison of standard-def signals is solid but not exceptional.
• While the TV's anti-reflective screen does a solid job reducing light reflections, plasmas are generally not as bright as LCD and therefore not the best choice for a really bright viewing environment.

Conclusion
The TH-58PZ750U produces a very attractive HD image and has a solid amount of connections; and, because it is part of the older 2007 line, you can now get a great deal on this 58-inch panel. Since the TH-58PZ750U does not accept a 1080p/24 signal, you'll want to mate it with a Blu-ray player that has very good video processing of its own.