still the best, 3 years later | Panasonic TH 42PX600U - 42" VIERA plasma TV - widescreen - 720p

Great picture, deep blacks w/ minor flaws | Panasonic TH 42PX600U - 42" VIERA plasma TV - widescreen - 720p - HDTV

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	• Panasonic TH 42PX600U - 42" VIERA plasma TV - widescreen - 720p - HDTV Panasonic Panasonic average customer review:based on 22 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

+2 year living with the Panasonic Plasma

I purchased this set over 2 years ago (for $1280 total in Feb 07) to replace my old Panasonic 32in CRT TV. This was my 1st step into the HDTV world and I researched my plasma/LCD choices for many months before deciding on this particular model. It was hard to compare models at the department stores because none of the sets are calibrated correctly and the store lighting was too bright. It was the reviews from Amazon and CNET that convinced me to go with this Panasonic model.

Pros:
- Excellent range of colors (need to calibrate settings after break-in)
- Deep blacks
- Very good sound quality with or without home theater system, balance sound from TV speakers.
- Exceptionally wide viewing angle
- Excellent DVD and Blue-ray image with up-converted PS3 and Denon S-301 home theater.
- +2 years of flawless operation with no hint of warranty issues
- Quick start ups, fast channel changes, ease of use
- Zero burn-in issues and zero temporary image retention
- Attractive design
- Exact same picture/sound quality with HDMI or component/audio cables (channel changes a little quicker with component cables)

Cons:
- Depending on signal, SD can be a little grainy and sometimes the occasional digital "pixilation" on HD broadcasts (Comcast fault, not Panasonic)
- Glare/reflection because of smooth screen
- No lazy Susan base like newer models
- Still need the Panasonic remote to change inputs or aspect ratio
- Heavy compared to same sized LCD

I recently purchased in Feb/09 a Samsung LN-46A650 1080p 46inch LCD HDTV ($1580 with shipping) to replace the old 42" Panasonic plasma downstairs. I've heard and read how much the LCDs have caught up the plasma in picture quality and I decided to give the top rated Samsung a chance. I belong to several Audio/Visual forums and I downloaded the calibration settings from other Samsung owners that had their set professionally calibrated. The only advantages the Samsung had was 4 HDMI inputs, swivel base, and a larger screen by 4 inches, after that is was all Panasonic. The +2 year old Panasonic had a sharper HD/SD picture quality, superior sound quality, faster start up, quicker HDMI channel changes, easier to calibrate and it required less tweaking depending on SD/HD signal. After one week, I had to return the Samsung because it just wasn't worth spending that much money for decreased image/sound quality. I replaced the Samsung with the Panasonic 58 inch 1080p TH-58PZ800U ($2,089 + $200 5 day ground shipping) and I am extremely happy with both of my Panasonic HDTVs.

Side note: Comcast in New Mexico never told me I needed to configure my Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR to output 480p/720p/1080i signal for my HDTV. The default settings on the 8300HD look more like upconverted 480i/480p on the TV. Once I figure this out on my own, HD really came alive on both Panasonic HDTVs.

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still the best, 3 years later

We bought this Panasonic TH-42PX600U from Electronic Expo more than three years ago and it's still one of the best TVs we have seen and heard. The only trouble with it is we want to hang out watching TV rather than doing housework - LOL! We have been thinking about upgrading to a newer, larger model but this one still looks and sounds so good we can't justify it.

Great picture, deep blacks w/ minor flaws

I love my TH-42PX600U. It has an amazing picture and deep blacks, which is great for movies. The picture is fantastic when watching sports in HD. AND, amazing sound! Only a couple of small down-sides to this:

1. Only one tuner, so to watch split-screen or picture-in-picture, you need to have an external tuner (like a VCR)

2. Takes about 5 seconds to turn on. I think this maybe some power-saver mode.

3. Remote is a bit clunky. Not the nicest remote in the world. It gets the job done, but I find the round nav a bit difficult to use.

Overall though, I dig it. If faced with the option to buy again, I would.

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Provide flexibility

I've had the television for a few months now, and it performs fine. Picture quality is good and having the extra speakers provides an excellent option when you don't feel like powering up you home stereo amp. Flexibility is actually the keyword here, especially regarding all the input/output options. My experience in the past has been this type of flexibility will pay off years into the future when you're trying to piece together a configuration for a secondary setup (e.g., in a guestroom) using odd bits of equipment lying about the house.

The cablecard is also a valuable and flexible option. I'm using one and it works fine. It allows the superior Panosonic tuner to do the tuning without the STB clutter (or you can use the STB somewhere else).

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Completely satisfied.

The product was delivered on-time by a professional delivery service. He even helped me carry it into the house. Hook up was fairly easy - you'll need a buddy to help lift and fit into position on the stand - it's feakin' heavy. The picture quality and sound quality are very nice. Not one complaint.

The realism of a TV's image is strongly linked to its contrast ratio, and this plasma features a high contrast ratio of up to 10,000:12. Such a wide range from black to white means great depth and dimensionality with vibrant colors-and this plasma can display an incredible 29 billion colors for a superior picture. Deep blacks provide excellent shadow detail during dark scenes, while brilliant whites allow our plasmas to render bright scenes with vivid realism. Panasonic plasma HDTVs with CableCARD slots can accept a small card that allows you to receive standard definition and high definition digital broadcasts. No bulky set-top cable box-perfect for a wall-mounted plasma TV. Contact your cable company to find out if they offer this service in your area. Sports, movies, and original network programming are all available in high definition from many local broadcasters. Receive and view local over-the-air broadcasts on this plasma in stunning HDTV clarity using the built-in HDTV tuner. If your cable company passes through HDTV broadcasts from local broadcasters, you can decode and tune those as well. If you have even a moderately complicated home theater setup, you probably have a pile of tangled cables on the floor behind it. Imagine replacing all those cables with a single cable that carries both digital video and audio at the same time. With the new HDMI standard, that's exactly what you get. The HDMI connector on this TV accepts high-quality digital video and audio via the same thin cable, allowing you to run one cable from the source to the TV.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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