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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 66 reviews
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Product summary
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.
Specifications: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 42 in; Image contrast ratio: 3000:1; See full specs
See all products in the Panasonic TH-PX50U series (2005 plasma) series
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 08/17/2005
- Released on: 05/01/2005
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.
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.
The 42-inch-diagonal screen of the Panasonic TH-42PX50U offers a native resolution of 1,024x768, 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.
The TH-42PX50U lacks a few features found on the 2004 TH-42PX25U and the 2005 step-up 42-inch TH-42PX500U. It doesn't have picture-in-picture, so you can't watch two programs at once. It's also missing a PC-style VGA input, which makes connecting a computer more difficult. We were also disappointed to find that although it offers four aspect-ratio choices with standard-def, this panel can't change aspect at all with high-definition sources.
Otherwise, the TH-42PX50U answers just about every complaint we had with the features of the TH-42PX25U. This model includes 2:3 pull-down in the video processing to help combat motion artifacts in standard-def sources (more in Performance) and offers a working approximation of independent input memories. The three picture presets, Vivid, Standard, and Cinema, can each be customized for contrast, brightness, and the like. They remain associated with the last-used input, so you can customize three inputs independently. The set also has selectable color temperature settings: Warm, Normal, and Cool. We used the Warm color temperature, as it was closer than the rest to the broadcast-standard color temperature of 6,500K.
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"INCREDIBLE picture. Unbeatable price. Hands down best value around."
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