Panasonic TX-L24E3 review

The Panasonic TX-L24E3 gives a big-screen performance from a small-room TV Tested at £350

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Best sub-32in TV, Awards 2011. Small but perfectly formed, the Panasonic is a tremendous tiny telly

Pros

  • +

    Extensive spec

  • +

    deeply impressive images from all sources

  • +

    inoffensive sound

Cons

  • -

    Not cheap

  • -

    wi-fi would make it sweeter still

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

There are some firsts here. This is the first Full HD, 1920 x 1080 screen we’ve tested that’s smaller than 32in; it’s the first 24in screen we’ve ever tested (though it’s unlikely to be the last); and when you calculate the price-to-size ratio, this is one of the priciest TVs of any kind we’ve seen.

But like Sony’s £380 KDL-26EX320, the L24E3’s spec goes some way towards justifying what looks, at first glance, an optimistic price-tag. There’s that Full HD resolution, obviously, but LED backlighting, Freeview HD, an SD-card reader and Ethernet all add to its appeal.

Noticeably detailed – even at this size
The diminutive screen size doesn’t dictate anything less than the full Panasonic treatment, though, so between the logical on-screen menus and remote, the L24E3
is ready to go in next to no time.

And with a Blu-ray of True Grit to display, it looks splendid.

We’d always suspected that the difference between 1920 x 1080 and, say, 1366 x 768 resolution would be negligible at this size, but that’s not the case – the deep, detailed blacks, strong contrasts, prodigious detail levels and deft way with skin-tones and textures all contribute to a brilliantly watchable picture.

And that’s before excellent motion tracking and a wide-ranging colour palette are factored in.

Pleasing HD pictures, reasonable sound
Freeview HD images are pleasing, and the L24E3 does good work downscaling DVDs too. Sound is reasonable, all things considered, and fights sibilance well.

Even better, the ‘game’ mode means its reactions are fast enough to satisfy the bedroom gamer.

All in all, then, this is a little belter for those than can afford it.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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