HDTV Reviews

This HDTVis part of the Panasonic TH-PHD8UK series.
The good: Relatively inexpensive; reproduces deep blacks; solid video processing with 2:3 pull-down; independent memory per input; numerous picture controls; customizable inputs.

The bad: Doesn’t include stand, speakers, or tuner; few included inputs; digital video input not standard; no aspect-ratio control with digital inputs; floating blacks.

The bottom line: The 42-inch Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK is a great deal for the money, but only if you’re comfortable adding inputs, you don’t need a tuner, and you remember to buy a stand.

Leading up to Christmas 2005, pedestal stands for Panasonic’s 42- and 50-inch professional plasmas, including the TH-42PHD8UK ($3,000 list) reviewed here, were back-ordered at almost all reputable retailers. That might be a testament to our positive reviews of the older 42-inch TH-42PHD7UY or the glowing review we gave the 50-inch TH-50PHD8UK around that time, but we’re more inclined to believe it shows how popular flat-panel plasmas are in general–and no-frills picture-first models in particular. After subjecting the Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK to our tests, it’s no wonder. This plasma’s excellent black-level performance, clean video processing, and customizable inputs make it a great choice for anyone who isn’t scared off by none-too-fancy menus and no-extras-included packaging. By no extras, we mean that this professional-series plasma doesn’t include speakers, a stand, or very many inputs. If you want to add an HDMI input and a stand, for example, it will cost around $300 extra. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of paying for and installing your own input boards or speakers, you may want to check out Panasonic’s more expensive and more consumer-friendly TH-42PX50U, which also scored well in our tests.

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The TH-PX500U series is the step up from the Panasonic TH-PX50U series. While we haven’t reviewed the PX500U series, we have reviewed the TH-42PX50U, which should deliver very similar performance to both of these models. In addition to slightly different cosmetics, the PX500U series offers some distinguishing refinements not found in the baseline models, including picture-in-picture, a VGA-style PC input, a front-panel A/V input, a built-in TV Guide On-Screen EPG, and an SD memory card slot. The 42-inch TH-42PX500U ($3,500) and the 50-inch TH-50PX500U ($4,500) are currently available.

Specifications:

General

* Product type
* - Color

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The good: Deep blacks; clean video processing with 2:3 pull-down; independent memory per input when using different picture modes.

The bad: Less than ideal color decoding; no PC input; lacks picture-in-picture; can’t change aspect ratio with HD sources.

The bottom line: The only bang-for-the-buck competition facing the Panasonic TH-42PX50U plasma comes from the same company’s industrial model.

Panasonic has proven itself to be the hardest-punching heavyweight among plasma-TV makers, and this year it fights its title bout against itself. In one corner there’s the industrial lineup, typified by the TH-PD7UY series and our favorite 42-inch model, the TH-42PHD7UY. In the other corner there’s the consumer lineup, represented in 2005 by the TH-PX50U series and the model under review here, the TH-42PX50U ($3,000 MSRP). In a nutshell, the industrial models are all picture, and the consumer models make you pay a few hundred extra bucks for features such as, say, speakers, a tuner, and all the inputs you need. After evaluating the TH-42PX50U, we still recommend the industrial models if you’re just looking for the best picture you can get for the least amount of money, but the bout does go down to the wire. The TH-42PX50U is a solid performer in just about every performance aspect, and while it lacks some of the features and the connections found on more expensive models such as the TH-42PX500U and Pioneer’s PDP-4350HD, it’s a great bargain if you want speakers to go with your picture.

Design
The look of the Panasonic TH-42PX50U is reasonably attractive and unobtrusive. With the speakers mounted below the screen rather than on the left and right sides, this panel’s footprint is smaller than most. A black bezel surrounds the screen–something we’re happy to see a lot more of, since black around the screen adds to the perceived contrast ratio of the picture and aids in improving real-world performance. The legs and the speaker grille below the screen are finished in silver.

Measuring roughly 42 by 28 by 4 inches without the included 12.5-inch-deep stand, the Panasonic TH-42PX50U is ideal for wall mounting if you want to install it on an optional bracket. It weighs 76 pounds, however, so we recommend you consult a professional installer for help.

Panasonic’s remote is a little different from last year’s models. It’s fully backlit in glowing red, which makes it much easier to use in a darkened home-theater environment. Unfortunately, it lacks direct-access keys for input selection. We found the internal menu system well implemented and fairly intuitive to navigate.

Features
The 42-inch-diagonal screen of the Panasonic TH-42PX50U offers a native resolution of 1,024×768, which qualifies it as a high-resolution model by comparison with EDTV models such as the TH-42PD50U. That means you’ll see more detail with high-def sources, although you still won’t see all the detail inherent in 1080i and 720p HDTV broadcasts (more info). The TH-42PX50U scales all incoming material, including 1080i and 720p HDTV, DVD, and standard-def, to fit the available pixels. Note that unlike 2004’s TH-42PX25U, this year’s model can accept 720p sources.

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