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Photograph: Chris Manners
Maxent MX-50X3 50" Plasma TV (16:9, 1366x768, 3000:1, HDTV)
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Monitors »
Pros
HD and standard-def content look good
Low price, honest documentation
Cons
No NTSC or ATSC tuner
Confusing remote
Bottom Line
Good image quality and low price make this plasma HD monitor a good buy for those who already have a good HD tuner.
Maxent MX-50X3
MX-50X3 50" Plasma TV (16:9, 1366x768, 3000:1, HDTV) Review, by Laura Blackwell May 19, 2006
Maxent's MX-50X3 50-inch plasma HD monitor delivers good image quality on both high-def and standard TV content, but it's not exactly a TV. Like any plasma monitor, it offers neither an analog NTSC tuner (for standard content) nor a digital ATSC tuner (which makes high-definition content possible). It's not an HDTV; it's just HDTV-ready. Maxent is admirably forthcoming about the distinction between a plasma TV and a plasma monitor, calling out the differences on a package insert and in prominent text on the box. The biggest surprise is the combination of pleasing image quality and low price.
The MX-50X3's price of $2500 (on 4/17/2006) is competitive for a plasma HD monitor of its size--Vizio's P50HDM matches it--but substantially lower than that of a 50-inch plasma HDTV, such as the $4000 Samsung HP-S5053. If you already own the necessary tuner or tuners (or get them from your TV content provider), you could save some money.
On our tests for high-definition and standard-definition TV viewing, the MX-50X3 performed well. Its scores for brightness, contrast, color, and detail followed close on the heels of the high-end Samsung's scores. Our jury especially liked the Maxent's strong greens and reds. It maintained satisfying color and contrast on our bright-lights test as well. In our DVD movies test, color looked less impressive, and the skin tones of Seabiscuit looked somewhat unnatural. The MX-50X3 didn't display details in a shadowy scene on our The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King DVD, either; these two problems contributed to a low score for DVD image quality.
The matte silver cabinet sports matching speakers on each side. I thought the surround sound from these speakers sounded good, but not great. The MX-50X3's audio-out ports--located on the back of the unit, with all other ports--are analog-only, with no digital option. At least there's a subwoofer port, though.
The remote control, which keeps to the matte silver theme, feels comfortably rounded in the hand. At first glance, the remote appears uncomplicated; this is because many of the advanced-function buttons, such as those for V-Chip protection and closed captioning, lie under a sliding panel on the bottom third of the remote. Before playing with this device, you'll want to check out the manual to see which of the buttons (mostly for TV functions) do nothing. Though the documentation clearly spells out this information --and the external tuner(s) you'll need will probably come with their own remotes--the presence of buttons that activate no functions can bewilder users. The MX-50X3 does not provide a CableCard slot.
The Maxent MX-50X3 50-inch plasma HDTV monitor does precisely what it claims to do. In fact, with standard-def and high-def content, it performs better than you might expect from a budget model. An HDTV monitor--especially one with a confusing remote--does take a little more know-how and setup time than an HDTV. That said, the Maxent MX-50X3 provides image quality approaching that of an expensive TV, and does it at a substantially lower price.
Laura Blackwell
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User Reviews
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User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: ronaldgibbs
Strengths: Picture quality, price, functionality.
Weaknesses: Speakers, no tuner.
Overall: I've been very happy with my Maxent TV. I never would have thought I could get such a large brand-new plasma for $950 (including shipping). The picture is great, the sound from the speakers is a little tinny but you don't buy a tv for the speakers anyway. I've had zero problems with it so far and consider myself very satisfied. Keep in mind buyers will need a tuner (Satellite tv, cable, etc.). Most people aren't using a tv antennae with a plasma anyway. Once you go HDTV on a quality set, you wonder how you ever got by without. Can't wait for even more HDTV programming to be available.
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Reviewed by: soonshin19
Strengths: Price.
Weaknesses: Get's really hot, no tuner, standard def looks awful.
Overall: For the price you get what you pay for. First the no tuner part really shouldn't be a weakness because this is a HD monitor, and NOT a TV. You can use it as a TV as long as you don't mind hooking up an old VCR or a cable box to it. Standard def looks awful, but none of the HD TVs do very well in this area so a monitor in this price range on standard def wasn't a big surprise. HD channels look ok at best, the contrast ratio of this unit is fairly low compared to the newer plasmas that are available. I'm not entirely sure whether it's the TV or the signal but I'm getting some weird audio sync problems sometimes and pixel shifts on the screen especially on standard def signals. Also there seems to be some blurryness on the screen when there are sharp patterns on the screen when using HDMI, not as noticeable with component video. The biggest concern so far is that this unit gets really, really hot. Just walking by the thing after an hour or so of viewing you can feel it radiating a lot of heat. CNET also has a review of this monitor if you feel like reading a professional review from their editors.
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Reviewed by: jsrule7
Strengths: Very crisp HD picture, Looks simple yet elegant, Doesn't cost an fortune, 1 year warranty
Weaknesses: Should have 2 HDMI, SD picture is so-so, Menu lags, Must watch out for Plasma Image burn in
Overall: I LOVE IT. I purchased this a month ago and all I can say is WOW. HD picture looks stunning. Very crisp, bright, accurate and no lag. HD-DVDs look amazing...especially with 50" inches worth of real estate. The menu is a little slow, doesn't pop up immediately, kind of like a computer in that it loads every time but once it loads it's very easy to navigate. Don't let the brand fool you. You could purchase 3 of these for the price of a Pioneer Plasma. One for the bedroom, one for the living room and obviously you MUST have one in the bathroom! I had my doubts before I purchased it but looking back now I was acting a fool. There is nothing wrong with these off-brands. The only difference I don't have to pay for their marketing so I get basically the same item 50% off.
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Reviewed by: teamcemo
Strengths: Picture Quaility was good and the price was right.
Weaknesses: Customer Service, and warranty.
Overall: I had the TV for Two months, then one day it would not turn on. I called Maxent, they told me they would send a repairman out. Two weeks later a rapair-man comes out. He can not fix it. Maxent said since the TV was past the first 30 days of purchase they would send me a new one, but I will have to pay for shipping on the TV $200. Needless to say we have gone around and around. Still 4 weeks into the mess and Christmas 4 Days away with family coming over do I have my now $200 dollar more expensive TV NO. Will I have it by News Years, No. I should have spent my $200 on a name brand. Never again MAXENT.
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Reviewed by: syednaveed
Strengths: Excellant Picture When Watching DVD's HD BROADCAST ARE AWSOME. Sharp picture with very realistic colors
Weaknesses: Speakers quality fair
Overall: Just bought this Maxent MX-5020HPM from Costco Wholesale in Maryland, on sale for $300 less paid 1999.99 not including tax. Some of the bright sides so far is the DVD picture looks amazing. Excellant buy for the size and priceScreen Size: 50" Diagonal Aspect Ratio: 16:9Number of Pixels: 1366 (H) x 768 (V)Pixel Pitch: 0.81 mm (H) x 0.81 mm (V)Contrast Ratio: 10000:1Brightness: 1200 cd/m2Displayable Colors: 16.77 Million ColorsSynchronization (Auto Detect)Video System: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080iPower Consumption 480W / 4.8APicture-in-Picture (PIP) via HDMIMotionDSC? Video ProcessorPreset Picture Settings (Vivid, Cinema, Standard, User)Image Shift Burn-in Prevention3-D Y/C Digital Comb FilterIIS Intelligent Image Scaling EngineDigital Noise ReductionAuto Flesh-Tone CorrectionAdaptive Motion De-interlacingDimensions (W x H x D):W/O Stand 49 1/2" x 33 5/8" x 4 3/8?With Stand 49 1/2" x 35" x 10 1/4"Weight:W/O Stand 110 lbsWith Stand 115 lbs
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