HDTV Reviews

The NEC 42XR4 is the most impressive 42-inch plasma display panel that PC Magazine has tested to date. It doesn’t include many extras, and its advanced picture controls demand professional setup, but with some tweaking, this TV’s accurate and faithful video reproduction is a pleasure for the eyes.

The 42XR4 is a 42-inch plasma display that, post-calibration, delivered the most impressive imagery that we have seen from any plasma TV in its class. Subjectively, both DVD movies and HDTV appear pleasingly correct, with accurate colors and detailed imagery. The 42XR4 strikes me as a great plasma display that was designed for professional installation. The à la carte accessories and the advanced menu options (which can be hidden when not in use) are ideal for customizing the display to its owner. Yes, the 42XR4 costs more than most other 42-inch plasma displays, but I have yet to see a 42-inch TV come this close to image perfection.

The 42XR4 has a native resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels. That means that it has 150,000 fewer pixels than a standard 720p broadcast signal. In general, 42-inch plasma TVs such as the 42XR4 are considered high-definition displays, since they offer at least 720 lines of vertical resolution. Horizontal resolution is not a factor in the established definition of what counts as “HD.”

The NEC 42XR4 offers the best picture quality of any 42-inch plasma TV we have seen to date. But its premium price doesn’t include many extras, the remote is near-useless in the dark, and to get the most out of it you’ll need to have it professionally calibrated.

Type: Plasma, HDTV
Screen Size: 42 inches
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Video Inputs: Component, Composite, HDMI, S-Video
PC Interfaces: Analog VGA
Supported EDTV and HDTV Resolutions (HD Ready): 480p, 720p, 1080i, 480i
Native Resolution: 1024 x 768
Rated Maximum Viewing Angle: Horizontal: 160 degrees
Rated Maximum Viewing Angle: Vertical : 160 degrees
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/