The Panasonic TH-42PX60U, A Very Solid Entry Level Performer!
Written: Dec 31 '06
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Pros: excellent color, solid overall at an affordable price
Cons: sound leaves a little to be desired
The Bottom Line: This unit is great for both performance or cost minded individuals because of its excellent color, ease of use and affordability
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| elmoebeesn's Full Review: Panasonic VIERA TH-42PX60U 42 in. HDTV TV |
Ahhh yes, the plasma TV, my favorite topic and one that I am happy to revisit here today as I recently have had the good fortune to purchase this 42 inch model from Panasonic for my bedroom. I have been quite the television buyer lately as I recently bought a similar model for my workplace and an even larger model for my entertainment area at home. I watch a great deal of sports and have been enthralled with HDTV and flat-panel monitors for the last few years as the picture and overall quality is unmatched by anything I had seen previously. If you have never been exposed to HDTV programming I have just three simple words for you, “Believe the hype!!”! Even though Flavor Flav and Public Enemy might disagree, HDTV programming is truly unparalleled and makes watching sporting events, movies and the like a completely new and improved experience than what I had been used to. Watching regular TV and older non-HD models is almost a chore for me anymore because I have been so spoiled with HDTV and the life-like picture quality that it provides. Generally speaking I feel the bigger the screen the better the experience, but since my bedroom is only 15x15 I decided that anything over 42 inches would look out of place and dominate the room. Further, since I didn’t plan to hang this model from the wall (which is possible via an optional kit) I would need to buy an entertainment center as well which would take up additional space so I trudged out one recent muddy morning to my local Best Buy to see what type of deals I could find on a 42 incher.
My first worry was which brand to choose for this important buy. I currently have experience with similar, albeit larger, models from Sony and Samsung and am very satisfied with both so my first thought was to go with one of these. After looking through some prices, I realized I could save nearly 200 dollars from the cheapest Samsung or Sony at my location and get this model from Panasonic instead. After questioning the employees, I found that the consensus was that unless I were to buy a Magnavox or a Westinghouse (the 2 lowest employee rated brands) that I was generally OK as far as reliability and that the TH-42PX60U from Panasonic offered a great picture quality for the price. Being that I would save a few hundred bucks and this model came highly recommended, I decided to go against the Samsung’s and Sony’s of the world for once and buy this model from Panasonic. Thus far I am very pleased that I did!
I chose to have the television delivered, although this wasn’t a must as it only weighs 65 pounds and is not a terribly awkward carry for the majority of adults (especially if you have a helper), as I had free delivery on the item due to some rewards I have acquired. Anyway, upon first glance, I was happy to note that my TV was black as I had requested, and fairly attractive and sleek, with a silver tabletop stand. No real assembly was required and I was able to easily lift the unit onto the spot I had allotted on my entertainment center. The stand seems sturdy enough, but can be tightened if there is a problem and further, as stated, the TV can be mounted if the user so desires. While initial setup is a breeze it is important for the buyer to read the owners manual for further details on how to access HDTV programming and how to best use the enclosed remote which can also be used to control DVD players and cable boxes. This was fairly elementary reading for me as I have gone through a similar process for 2 other sets, but I do feel that Panasonic did a good job of explaining all basic functions and that most users would be able to get through all necessary info in a half hour or less. Once the TV is up and running and the remote is set to go with necessary batteries, the user will then want to examine the generous inputs so as to be able to plug in the other necessary gadgetry to the television. This model boasts 2 HDMI inputs, three composite, an SD card slot (which allows for the owner to have a photo slideshow of JPEG images amongst other applications), and an RF input as well as 3 S-video inputs. The bottom line here is that the user should have ample access to plug in whatever he/she desires to this set unless they have some unforeseen level of electronic gadgetry that needs to be utilized all at once.
As for color and picture quality this model, I have been very impressed. This set provides a contrast ratio of up to 10,000:1. This provides the range from black to white and allows for excellent depth and vibrancy of color. As Panasonic claims, deep black shades indeed do provide excellent shadow detail during darker scenes, while brilliant whites allow the rendering of bright scenes with vivid realism. Further, 29 billion total colors are possible with this model and once initial setup was complete I must say that I have been truly astounded at the range and vibrancy of color provided. Some HD sets have a tendency to overexpose and extend reds and blues, but I have not noticed this problem in the model I own. I will say that the user will want to play with the settings a bit initially to set the brightness, tint, etc.., all to their individual tastes. The native resolution is 1024 x 768 which I believe to be more than ample for a set of this price range and size.
Aside from the multiple inputs, this set also offers several standard features that some viewers have come to expect. First of all a V-chip is inserted which effectively allows users to block programming that may be inappropriate for certain viewers such as young children. Using program ratings embedded in TV broadcasts, the V-Chip lets parents decide the programming to which their children have access. Blocked program material is accessible only by entering a 4-digit code that parents create which is easy to set up and operate. While I personally do not have any youngsters, I can certainly see the use for this technology with the increasingly raunchy programming that can often be found on network stations even before late-night. Closed captioning is available in 3 languages (French, Spanish, English), photo viewing is enabled, progressive scan is included as well as several noise reduction features. As for warranty, I was offered a one year warranty for parts and labor and would’ve had to pay 100 extra for the 3 year warranty so just decided that 1 year was enough as I was assured that under normal wear and tear my screen would last over 20000 viewable hours and I was more than satisfied with that response.
As for sound, again I have been impressing considering I purchased the set for less than $1500. The speaker specifications are as follows: 2 (20W, 8 ohms, 90Hz - 17kHz, 10% THD) if that is something that interests you and you understand (which I honestly do not). In laymen’s terms, I have noticed that the bass leaves a little something to be desired when using the given components, but overall the sound does seem adequate. While not as crisp as some more expensive models, I do find that it is fine and serves the average users purpose well enough. Further, the user can connect to a home theatre system through use of the AV outputs if the given sound is not what you had hoped for.
Overall, I am very happy with this purchase thus far. For $1449 I received a 42 inch HDTV Plasma screen with excellent color, average to slightly above average sound and all the inputs and features I need. With the prices of these models falling rapidly with technology increasing by the day, I am happy that the prices are finally somewhat affordable and expect this trend to continue well into the New Year and beyond. If cost is an issue I recommend a 6 month wait for a further 250 dollar price decline as that is my expectation.
Technical specifications are as follows:
Diagonal Screen Size (inches) 42
Aspect Ratio 16:9 (Widescreen)
HDTV Compatibility 1 480p/720p/1080i
Displayable Colors Maximum of 29 Billion
Shades of Gradation 3,072
Pixel Pitch (H x V) 0.90 x 0.675 mm
Panel Type 9th Generation Plasma Panel
Aspect Control for TV/AV Modes 4:3, Zoom, Full, Just, H-Fill
Native Resolution (Number of Pixels) 1024 x 768
Contrast Ratio Up to 10,000:1
Progressive Scan Yes
Video Noise Reduction Yes
Digital Comb Filter Motion Adaptive 3D-Y/C
Color Purity Optimizer (3D Color Management) Yes
Sub-Pixel Controller Yes
Motion Pattern Noise Reduction Yes
AUDIO: Yes
Speakers 2 (20W, 8 ohms, 90Hz - 17kHz, 10% THD)
Surround Sound Yes
BBE® ViVA HD3D Sound No view
INPUT/OUTPUT: Yes
Tuners NTSC (Standard analog broadcasts)
ATSC/QAM (SDTV and HDTV broadcasts)
Photo Viewer Yes (SD Slot)
SD Card Slot Yes (JPEG Photo Viewer 2)
CableCARD Ready 3 No view
HDMI-HDCP Interface 2 rear
Analog Audio Input (for HDMI) 2 rear
Composite Video Input 3 (2 rear, 1 front)
S-Video Input 3 (2 rear, 1 front)
Audio Input (for Video) 3 (2 rear, 1 front)
PC Input (RGB-VGA) No view
Audio Input (for PC) No view
Component Video Input [Y, PB(CB), PR(CR)] 2 rear Audio Input (for Component Video) 2 rear
Composite Video Output 1 rear
Audio Output 1 rear
Digital Audio Out 1 (optical)
EZ Sync™ HDAVI Control Yes, via HDMI interface
TV Guide® On-Screen Program Guide 4 No view
Video Picture Memory Yes
On-Screen Display Languages English/Spanish/French
Picture-In-Picture No view
V-Chip Program Lockout Yes
Built-In Closed Caption Decoder Yes
Timers - Sleep/On/Off Sleep (Off only)
Video Input Labeling Yes
GENERAL: Yes
Power Supply AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Power Consumption 390 W
Operating Temperature 32°F - 104°F
Operating Humidity 20% - 80% (Non condensation)
Pedestal Stand Included
Remote Control Included
Dimensions (H x W x D) with pedestal stand 30.3" x 40.2" x 12.6"
Weight with pedestal stand 70.5 lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D) 27.8'' x 40.2'' x 3.7''
Weight 65 lbs
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1449
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Epinions.com ID:
elmoebeesn
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Member: Magic M
Location: near Pittsburgh
Reviews written: 146
Trusted by: 187 members
About Me:
JD, MBA grad. The real world has cometh....
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