Customer Rating: 
Summary: Wow!!!
Comment: Having read countless reviews of HDTV's by new owners, I recognize that we all have similar stories of agonizing decision making. I have also noticed a tendency to gush about whatever TV has been purchased. Sometimes there are thoughtful critical and reflective reviews. I'm going to gush!
I didn't start out to buy a 720p Panasonic 42 inch plasma. My original target was a 1080p LCD in the 37 to 42 inch range. The price range was $750-$1000. I did my internet home work and created my short list of 7 TV's. Then I started visiting showrooms.
If you can afford a 1080p set, get it. But I'm convinced that the difference with a 720p set is only visible with larger screens, and when sitting very close to the screen.
It is hard to find a knowledgeable, helpful sales clerk. I got lucky at Sears. This clerk convinced me to add the Panasonic plasma to my short list. One of the attractions of the plasma was its ability to represent motion with a minimum of blurring or smearing. Also there have been significant improvements in plasma technology. But I still wasn't sold on the idea of a plasma set.
Then I went to another store which had an amazing display comparing sets with a 60hz refresh rate and a 120hz refresh rate. The sets were arranged vertically and displayed the same sweeping panoramic images. The difference in clarity was astonishing. Yet I could not justify paying the premium (several hundred dollars) for the 120hz refresh rate.
My understanding is that the plasma's 450hz refresh rate produces a motion image equivalent in quality (some say better) to that of a 120hz LCD. After doing some more internet research, I concluded that buying this set was a no brainer.
I bought mine at Sears the next day, picked it up, took it home, and had neighbor help me lift it and set it on my TV stand. I could have saved money buying it online, but I had to have it NOW! (The price on Amazon fluctuates, but I could have saved $100 to $150.)
Attaching my SONY upconverting DVD player ($80) was very simple, as was connecting my old SD satellite box. The whole process took about an hour, and I was quickly watching my first DVD, the avian documentary Winged Migration with its jaw dropping cinematography. Watching my cats react to the bird images was amazing in itself.
I had some frustrations with screen images after my new Dish Network HD satellite box was installed. There are several "format" settings on both the TV and the satellite box: zoom, full, just, 4:3, etc. At first the images for SD TV channels were larger than the screen and of poor quality. It took me a couple of hours to begin understanding the concept of formats, to discover the "format" button on the satellite remote, and to figure out the right combination of TV and satellite box settings to get images to display correctly.
The HD channel images are extra-ordinary. The SD channel images are better than I could ever have imagined. These, in combination with the novelty of an image twice as big as my old TV is still producing a "wow" effect for me.
As I said at the beginning, you will probably be ecstatic with whatever set you buy. But you should give serious consideration to the Panasonic line of plasma TV's.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great value for the Price
Comment: I bought last year's 50 inch version of this tv (Panasonic TH-50px75u) and loved it. Last year I did months of research to find the right tv, and decided plasma was right for me. I liked the darker blacks, and plasma handles sports better than HDTVs at the same price level. The 720p resolution was great from more than 10 feet, so the price was right. I really liked the Pioneers too, but the premium pricing was too much for me. Samsungs were similarly priced, but I didn't like the frames and that distracting blue light on the front.
So when I wanted to get a tv for my bedroom, I came back to Panasonic. I looked at several models (1080p versions, bigger versions) and ultimately decided for the price and since it was for my bedroom, that I would be happy with this version. I couldn't justify spending 200 or more extra to get a 1080p version when cable is broadcast in 720p or 1080i.
I am very happy with the choice. Yes, if you stand within 4 feet of the set, you will see a screen door effect from the 720p resolution, but back off further than that (I am about 10 feet away in bed) and the picture is crisp and clear. At 42 in (and even 50 at normal seating distance), it is very hard to discern any resolution difference). The blacks are rich and the colors are vibrant. I also like that Panasonic was more thoughtful about where they placed the connections on the back this year, which make it a bit easier to get to them. And I find that the speakers are better quality than last year (and again, for the bedroom, just fine). I have my larger set hooked up to a receiver and speakers to manage sound in the living room.
The drawbacks: this tv doesn't resolve some of the deep color gradients like a more expensive set would. For example, when there is a sun on the tv, you can see the rings of color subtly rather than the tv solving those into more of a smoothing effect. Not a big deal, but it is noticable. Also, I am not a fan of the stand this year as opposed to the previous year. It just seems a little cheaper, but still does it's job.
So, bottom line, a great tv in its class. If you want top of the line, you will have to spend significantly more. But this set is still very good.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best TV under $1000, with slight quirk
Comment: I bid my time and looked through just about every major retailers' Black Friday Sales circular before finding out that "certain" Panasonic Plasma TV was going to be on sale for $699 (since dropped down to $649). Sure enough, this model was it. After reading numerous reviews, mostly outstanding, I ordered one for my parents on Black Friday. Completion of shipping took total of 7 business days with telephone confirmation from the shipping company 1 hour prior to the actual delivery time.
This was the third large HDTV box I've unpacked. Compared to Samsung, this is easier to unpack, IF you read the instruction printed on the box by the handle. Pull the tab to remove the handles on all four of time, then simply lift the box to see the TV inside.
TV is inside the plastic cover, with the base and the instruction booklet on each side of the TV itself. Placing TV onto the base is best done by reading the instruction booklet (and not the little diagram on the screws), attach the metal rods onto the base, then gently guide down the TV into the rod, apply the screws supplied.
Once TV is turned on, you are greeted with few menus to set the Language, Clock, and scan the channels (took about 10 minutes to complete the analog cable and digital cable [Clear QAM]). This area had local channels and few cable channels, such as Discovery HD and ESPN HD unscrambled. You can choose to just use the channels it scanned, or edit the channel list, name each channel accordingly.
I dropped down the Brightness, Color and Contrast setting by few notches from its factory setting of 50 (middle), and started browse the channels.
Analog (non-HD) channels look pretty good. As expected, some fuzziness was noted, but it was nicely blended, and none of blockiness often found on many LCD TVs. All those ticker tapes were clearly visible with no streaking or stuttering.
HD channels are where this TV shines. I watched Discovery's "Time Warp", and the image was crystal clear, with no blurriness noted. This programming had frequent change between super-slow-motion shots and fast action shots, and it was simply outstanding.
Today being Monday, there were lots of new release commercials including "The Dark Knight". All those dark sceneries were appropriately represented, with dark area looking very dark (almost true black), and it was NOT simply smeared with indifferent shapes of gray.
I proceeded to try SD Card slot for pictures. Pictures were taken from Canon Powershot SD450 into SD Card (Not SDHC), and there were notable loading time in between the pictures. I am not sure if it's due to slow speed of the SD Card itself or the TV taking its time.
Plugged PS3 into the TV via HDMI. Fast pacing games were all nice and smooth, and color were nicely represented. Blu-Ray movie I tried was "Bladerunner" and it was as good as I can remember. Yet another dark scenes, the distinction between truly dark place and dark place was clear without being artificial.
Sound from the TV speaker is adequate. I feared it would be too low volume, but it was more than enough to fill the living room. It cannot be substituted for a dedicate surround sound system, but for casual viewing, it will do the job.
One oddity, is that if channel scanner detects multiple channels within the digital frequency (in my case, FOX HD and ABC HD under channel 1-5), it can only recognize one on the favorite channel list, and not both. Temporary solution I have found is to use favorite channel on one of them, then use Channel Up/Down button to pick the other one. It is strange experience to remind myself to do so.
LCD has progressed steadily over last few years, but I will put my money on Plasma when it comes down to picture quality even today. Also, 720p/1080p debate is moot point when the screen is 42". It will make difference in 50+", but not something in 42" or smaller.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great TV for a 720p Plasma
Comment: Camped out for this tv on Black Friday at a local store in Detroit, and I gotta say I'm glad I waited this long to get a tv!
First off, I've been scouting HDTVs for the past 2 years, on the verge of insanity as good deals had come and gone. I REFUSED to get a plasma screen, as I loved the LCD tv in our living room. I needed a tv for the man's room in the basement, and I knew Black Friday '08 was my time.
It was advertised locally at $544, only as a Panasonic 42'' HDTV. No further info was given, so I wasn't sure what to make of it. A Sharp 37'' was on sale for $397 that same day, so I was gonna pounce on one of the two. When I learned it was Plasma and 720p, I started having second thoughts. But I didn't freeze my arse off for four hours to get anything less than 42'' if it was available, so I pulled the proverbial trigger.
Wow, thank god I did.
Playing with the settings on the GAME preset has given me the best picture possible, IMO. HD channels on this tv come out superb, as I'm hooked up through HDMI. I have an Xbox 360, and I want to cry at how beautiful the screen is when playing Gears of War 2 or Saint's Row 2. Gaming on this machine is simply great.
I THINK I can tell it's a 720p reso from my naked eye, but I don't really care. For what I got at the price, this tv is fantastic.
As a plasma, the worries of reflections I had were diminished to a degree. I had to do some lighting adjustments in order to prevent that glare from taking over the screen. The black levels are awesome, but I find myself having to brighten up the screen at times, depending on the source. The colors jump out beautifully, especially watching sports and food network in HD.
Yes, there are 1080p LCDs out there falling in prices, but those are usually brands that make you second guess. I was more than willing to take the chance, but I admit that I love the security of a better brand name in Panasonic. If you can get a good deal on this tv, make it so.
UPDATE: January 6, 2009
Ok, so after a bit longer with this puppy as the centerpiece of my man-cave, I've found the best settings for Xbox/DVD/any HD Source:
Picture Mode: Vivid
Picture: 100
Brightness: 77
Color: 60
Tint: 0
Sharpness: 81
Color Temp: Cool
Color Mgmt: ON
Video Noise Reduction: ON
MPEG Noise Reduction: On
Black Level: Dark
I think the black level will be adjusted a lot, pending on what you watch. Some sources get a bit too dark at times. I've yet to find a good setting for SD sources, but the few I've toyed with aren't bad. I think SD is the one source you have to play around with till you get what you like.
I read somewhere that this was on the Energy Star brownie list for having awesome power usage for a plasma screen. You'll have to look that one up if you want to confirm that.
One splendid surprise were how some of my regular DVDs really perform on this tv through my Xbox HD DVD player. Someone told me that this player does not upconvert without VGA inputs, and I'm using component. All six Star Wars films look great from their DVD source. However, if you have a copy of 'The Fifth Element' or 'Starship Troopers', you will be amazed at how much detail jumps out at you. I can't wait to see 'The Fifth Element' in HD.
I also found the best way to test the picture of this tv is to watch some current animated features on standard DVD. Flat-out amazing some of the pictures I saw. 'The Incredibles' plays beautifully, as does 'Princess Mononoke'.
A newer review pointed out the issues using HDMI and how it won't output the sound to receivers using the stereo cables, or whatever they are. The digital audio out is supposedly a "down graded" filtered audio quality, but it will should get you stereo sound for those of us who have receivers from the past decade that don't have HDMI. So be sure to take note of that. I drove myself nuts trying to get sound on my receiver from MDMI when I first hooked it up.
I received a lot of compliments on this tv during the Holidays from family and friends. We watched 'Transformers' on HD DVD and everyone was blown away at the quality. I strongly advise you to again pick up this tv.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very satisfied, except for one feature
Comment: The unit was everything I expected it to be, with typical Panasonic quality. One disappointing feature though, is that when external speakers are used with a separate audio amplifier, the tv's remote control can no longer control the volume or mute - you must use the remote for the external amplifier. other than that, I love the set.
Summary: Wow!!!
Comment: Having read countless reviews of HDTV's by new owners, I recognize that we all have similar stories of agonizing decision making. I have also noticed a tendency to gush about whatever TV has been purchased. Sometimes there are thoughtful critical and reflective reviews. I'm going to gush!
I didn't start out to buy a 720p Panasonic 42 inch plasma. My original target was a 1080p LCD in the 37 to 42 inch range. The price range was $750-$1000. I did my internet home work and created my short list of 7 TV's. Then I started visiting showrooms.
If you can afford a 1080p set, get it. But I'm convinced that the difference with a 720p set is only visible with larger screens, and when sitting very close to the screen.
It is hard to find a knowledgeable, helpful sales clerk. I got lucky at Sears. This clerk convinced me to add the Panasonic plasma to my short list. One of the attractions of the plasma was its ability to represent motion with a minimum of blurring or smearing. Also there have been significant improvements in plasma technology. But I still wasn't sold on the idea of a plasma set.
Then I went to another store which had an amazing display comparing sets with a 60hz refresh rate and a 120hz refresh rate. The sets were arranged vertically and displayed the same sweeping panoramic images. The difference in clarity was astonishing. Yet I could not justify paying the premium (several hundred dollars) for the 120hz refresh rate.
My understanding is that the plasma's 450hz refresh rate produces a motion image equivalent in quality (some say better) to that of a 120hz LCD. After doing some more internet research, I concluded that buying this set was a no brainer.
I bought mine at Sears the next day, picked it up, took it home, and had neighbor help me lift it and set it on my TV stand. I could have saved money buying it online, but I had to have it NOW! (The price on Amazon fluctuates, but I could have saved $100 to $150.)
Attaching my SONY upconverting DVD player ($80) was very simple, as was connecting my old SD satellite box. The whole process took about an hour, and I was quickly watching my first DVD, the avian documentary Winged Migration with its jaw dropping cinematography. Watching my cats react to the bird images was amazing in itself.
I had some frustrations with screen images after my new Dish Network HD satellite box was installed. There are several "format" settings on both the TV and the satellite box: zoom, full, just, 4:3, etc. At first the images for SD TV channels were larger than the screen and of poor quality. It took me a couple of hours to begin understanding the concept of formats, to discover the "format" button on the satellite remote, and to figure out the right combination of TV and satellite box settings to get images to display correctly.
The HD channel images are extra-ordinary. The SD channel images are better than I could ever have imagined. These, in combination with the novelty of an image twice as big as my old TV is still producing a "wow" effect for me.
As I said at the beginning, you will probably be ecstatic with whatever set you buy. But you should give serious consideration to the Panasonic line of plasma TV's.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great value for the Price
Comment: I bought last year's 50 inch version of this tv (Panasonic TH-50px75u) and loved it. Last year I did months of research to find the right tv, and decided plasma was right for me. I liked the darker blacks, and plasma handles sports better than HDTVs at the same price level. The 720p resolution was great from more than 10 feet, so the price was right. I really liked the Pioneers too, but the premium pricing was too much for me. Samsungs were similarly priced, but I didn't like the frames and that distracting blue light on the front.
So when I wanted to get a tv for my bedroom, I came back to Panasonic. I looked at several models (1080p versions, bigger versions) and ultimately decided for the price and since it was for my bedroom, that I would be happy with this version. I couldn't justify spending 200 or more extra to get a 1080p version when cable is broadcast in 720p or 1080i.
I am very happy with the choice. Yes, if you stand within 4 feet of the set, you will see a screen door effect from the 720p resolution, but back off further than that (I am about 10 feet away in bed) and the picture is crisp and clear. At 42 in (and even 50 at normal seating distance), it is very hard to discern any resolution difference). The blacks are rich and the colors are vibrant. I also like that Panasonic was more thoughtful about where they placed the connections on the back this year, which make it a bit easier to get to them. And I find that the speakers are better quality than last year (and again, for the bedroom, just fine). I have my larger set hooked up to a receiver and speakers to manage sound in the living room.
The drawbacks: this tv doesn't resolve some of the deep color gradients like a more expensive set would. For example, when there is a sun on the tv, you can see the rings of color subtly rather than the tv solving those into more of a smoothing effect. Not a big deal, but it is noticable. Also, I am not a fan of the stand this year as opposed to the previous year. It just seems a little cheaper, but still does it's job.
So, bottom line, a great tv in its class. If you want top of the line, you will have to spend significantly more. But this set is still very good.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best TV under $1000, with slight quirk
Comment: I bid my time and looked through just about every major retailers' Black Friday Sales circular before finding out that "certain" Panasonic Plasma TV was going to be on sale for $699 (since dropped down to $649). Sure enough, this model was it. After reading numerous reviews, mostly outstanding, I ordered one for my parents on Black Friday. Completion of shipping took total of 7 business days with telephone confirmation from the shipping company 1 hour prior to the actual delivery time.
This was the third large HDTV box I've unpacked. Compared to Samsung, this is easier to unpack, IF you read the instruction printed on the box by the handle. Pull the tab to remove the handles on all four of time, then simply lift the box to see the TV inside.
TV is inside the plastic cover, with the base and the instruction booklet on each side of the TV itself. Placing TV onto the base is best done by reading the instruction booklet (and not the little diagram on the screws), attach the metal rods onto the base, then gently guide down the TV into the rod, apply the screws supplied.
Once TV is turned on, you are greeted with few menus to set the Language, Clock, and scan the channels (took about 10 minutes to complete the analog cable and digital cable [Clear QAM]). This area had local channels and few cable channels, such as Discovery HD and ESPN HD unscrambled. You can choose to just use the channels it scanned, or edit the channel list, name each channel accordingly.
I dropped down the Brightness, Color and Contrast setting by few notches from its factory setting of 50 (middle), and started browse the channels.
Analog (non-HD) channels look pretty good. As expected, some fuzziness was noted, but it was nicely blended, and none of blockiness often found on many LCD TVs. All those ticker tapes were clearly visible with no streaking or stuttering.
HD channels are where this TV shines. I watched Discovery's "Time Warp", and the image was crystal clear, with no blurriness noted. This programming had frequent change between super-slow-motion shots and fast action shots, and it was simply outstanding.
Today being Monday, there were lots of new release commercials including "The Dark Knight". All those dark sceneries were appropriately represented, with dark area looking very dark (almost true black), and it was NOT simply smeared with indifferent shapes of gray.
I proceeded to try SD Card slot for pictures. Pictures were taken from Canon Powershot SD450 into SD Card (Not SDHC), and there were notable loading time in between the pictures. I am not sure if it's due to slow speed of the SD Card itself or the TV taking its time.
Plugged PS3 into the TV via HDMI. Fast pacing games were all nice and smooth, and color were nicely represented. Blu-Ray movie I tried was "Bladerunner" and it was as good as I can remember. Yet another dark scenes, the distinction between truly dark place and dark place was clear without being artificial.
Sound from the TV speaker is adequate. I feared it would be too low volume, but it was more than enough to fill the living room. It cannot be substituted for a dedicate surround sound system, but for casual viewing, it will do the job.
One oddity, is that if channel scanner detects multiple channels within the digital frequency (in my case, FOX HD and ABC HD under channel 1-5), it can only recognize one on the favorite channel list, and not both. Temporary solution I have found is to use favorite channel on one of them, then use Channel Up/Down button to pick the other one. It is strange experience to remind myself to do so.
LCD has progressed steadily over last few years, but I will put my money on Plasma when it comes down to picture quality even today. Also, 720p/1080p debate is moot point when the screen is 42". It will make difference in 50+", but not something in 42" or smaller.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great TV for a 720p Plasma
Comment: Camped out for this tv on Black Friday at a local store in Detroit, and I gotta say I'm glad I waited this long to get a tv!
First off, I've been scouting HDTVs for the past 2 years, on the verge of insanity as good deals had come and gone. I REFUSED to get a plasma screen, as I loved the LCD tv in our living room. I needed a tv for the man's room in the basement, and I knew Black Friday '08 was my time.
It was advertised locally at $544, only as a Panasonic 42'' HDTV. No further info was given, so I wasn't sure what to make of it. A Sharp 37'' was on sale for $397 that same day, so I was gonna pounce on one of the two. When I learned it was Plasma and 720p, I started having second thoughts. But I didn't freeze my arse off for four hours to get anything less than 42'' if it was available, so I pulled the proverbial trigger.
Wow, thank god I did.
Playing with the settings on the GAME preset has given me the best picture possible, IMO. HD channels on this tv come out superb, as I'm hooked up through HDMI. I have an Xbox 360, and I want to cry at how beautiful the screen is when playing Gears of War 2 or Saint's Row 2. Gaming on this machine is simply great.
I THINK I can tell it's a 720p reso from my naked eye, but I don't really care. For what I got at the price, this tv is fantastic.
As a plasma, the worries of reflections I had were diminished to a degree. I had to do some lighting adjustments in order to prevent that glare from taking over the screen. The black levels are awesome, but I find myself having to brighten up the screen at times, depending on the source. The colors jump out beautifully, especially watching sports and food network in HD.
Yes, there are 1080p LCDs out there falling in prices, but those are usually brands that make you second guess. I was more than willing to take the chance, but I admit that I love the security of a better brand name in Panasonic. If you can get a good deal on this tv, make it so.
UPDATE: January 6, 2009
Ok, so after a bit longer with this puppy as the centerpiece of my man-cave, I've found the best settings for Xbox/DVD/any HD Source:
Picture Mode: Vivid
Picture: 100
Brightness: 77
Color: 60
Tint: 0
Sharpness: 81
Color Temp: Cool
Color Mgmt: ON
Video Noise Reduction: ON
MPEG Noise Reduction: On
Black Level: Dark
I think the black level will be adjusted a lot, pending on what you watch. Some sources get a bit too dark at times. I've yet to find a good setting for SD sources, but the few I've toyed with aren't bad. I think SD is the one source you have to play around with till you get what you like.
I read somewhere that this was on the Energy Star brownie list for having awesome power usage for a plasma screen. You'll have to look that one up if you want to confirm that.
One splendid surprise were how some of my regular DVDs really perform on this tv through my Xbox HD DVD player. Someone told me that this player does not upconvert without VGA inputs, and I'm using component. All six Star Wars films look great from their DVD source. However, if you have a copy of 'The Fifth Element' or 'Starship Troopers', you will be amazed at how much detail jumps out at you. I can't wait to see 'The Fifth Element' in HD.
I also found the best way to test the picture of this tv is to watch some current animated features on standard DVD. Flat-out amazing some of the pictures I saw. 'The Incredibles' plays beautifully, as does 'Princess Mononoke'.
A newer review pointed out the issues using HDMI and how it won't output the sound to receivers using the stereo cables, or whatever they are. The digital audio out is supposedly a "down graded" filtered audio quality, but it will should get you stereo sound for those of us who have receivers from the past decade that don't have HDMI. So be sure to take note of that. I drove myself nuts trying to get sound on my receiver from MDMI when I first hooked it up.
I received a lot of compliments on this tv during the Holidays from family and friends. We watched 'Transformers' on HD DVD and everyone was blown away at the quality. I strongly advise you to again pick up this tv.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very satisfied, except for one feature
Comment: The unit was everything I expected it to be, with typical Panasonic quality. One disappointing feature though, is that when external speakers are used with a separate audio amplifier, the tv's remote control can no longer control the volume or mute - you must use the remote for the external amplifier. other than that, I love the set.
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV Reviews: Page 6 of 21
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