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| DTV City : Product Reviews : Panasonic TH-42PA20U |
This article was written by: What Video Magazine.
For this and other articles visit the What Video Online Website
This document may be subject to copyright.Big Hitter
Not only is the 42in TH-42PA20 Panasonic’s first plasma with built-in TV tuner, it is also the company’s most attractive model to date, measuring just 99mm in depth. Along with a smaller 37in version, it also shares the distinction of being the first plasma from Panasonic to feature built-in speakers. The rear panel isn’t exactly overcrowded with sockets but the good news is that two of the three Scarts are RGB enabled. There’s also a set of component video RCA’s for piping interlaced and progressive scan images from a DVD player.
The majority of connections are found under a flap on the front. Given Panasonic’s enormous range of SD card products, it is surprising that there isn’t a card slot. The only other notable absentee is DVI input for receiving digital images from a PC or compatible DVD player. Otherwise all requirements are covered with a 15-pin D-sub for connecting a PC along with AV and S-video inputs. The onscreen menu is host to a fairly sparse selection of features and picture modifications. An advanced selection of picture tweaks altering gamma and white balance levels is available with the PC input but strangely not any of the video options.
The intuitive remote is a real gem and provides one-touch access to almost every feature at your disposal. Features are topped by the Real Black Drive System which reduces pre-discharge emissions to deliver deeper blacks. This combines with the Deep Black Filter to help the panel achieve unrivalled contrast of up to 4,000:1.
The TH-42PA20 is also the first to feature quasi 100Hz. This detects when a PAL video signal is input and through processing doubles the number of fields on display to produce flicker-free pictures. There is also the nifty Digital Cinema Reality which reduces motion blur by converting an interlaced signal to progressive. It’s a shame the tuner isn't digital though, as this would future proof the product further.
Performance
The TH-42PA20 is a superb plasma TV. Its most impressive attributes are the sublime colours and sensational contrast, with the latter underpinned by the deepest blacks we’ve ever seen on a plasma display. Progressive scan pictures are extremely clean and bereft of noise and grain. As a result detail levels are immense and images are layered with texture and definition. There is good depth to shaded areas too. Impressively, there is very little judder or motion blur caused by slow movement or camera pans.
RGB pictures are also very clean although colours lack the verve of those supplied by component video and there's a slight increase in background noise. This is further heightened when the panel is fed a grubby RF feed with slight dot crawl and shimmer also creeping in. But the awesome colours and contrasts are retained and compared to other plasmas, RF pictures are very good. Unfortunately, high-definition signals from our resident JVC D-VHS deck were slightly disappointing, with occasional shimmer and solarisation visible. In fact, colour banding, albeit minimal, is present across all inputs.
Sonics are decent. The built-in stereo system is fine for TV broadcasts with clean sound separation and sufficient bass levels. But it lacks the oomph required for DVD soundtracks. It's a case of evolution not revolution for Panasonic with the TH-42PA20. It's long overdue as the company's first plasma TV but is an improvement on the previous generation of displays. Minor foibles aside, this is without doubt one of the best plasma TVs to date.
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