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Home Theatre/TV: Panasonic TH-P42G10 42-inch Plasma Panel – Review – 78
Panels have reached a plateau in picture quality so improvements tend to be in other areas, such as ultra-thin models. That’s not to say that there won’t be more to come in the picture department post full HD, or that improvements in other areas are little more than panel-dressing.
Panasonic’s new mid-sizer, the P42G10 plasma, underlines this direction. There have been tweaks to the excellent picture, including to brightness, motion steadiness and contrast, but the big changes are elsewhere and in some cases have migrated from top-end models to the affordable zone.
Tone has noted in the past that Panasonic’s Viera (for Visual Era, if you’ve ever wondered) Link is one of the best of the systems that network and control such HDMI-connected components as home theatre, a DVD recorder/player and various video and still cameras. It’s now improved via a new Viera Tools button on the man-sized remote. This green button brings up seven navigation icons that get straight in to such things as slide shows and movies. So easy.
Meanwhile, another button gives direct access to the content of an SD card that’s been pushed into a slot on the left side of the panel. (Panasonic has moved all its inputs and outputs to the left, viewed from the front.)
And if the idea of turning a panel into a giant photo frame appeals, Panasonic is one step ahead with its Viera Image Viewer that blends video or stills with different types of built-in background music and offers four display effects. I’m not normally a fan of electronic frames, but this was rather cool.
Speaking of frames, the narrower bezel frame is in Panasonic’s now almost standard gloss black finish, with a bright accent strip across the bottom.
The panel also has the near obligatory built-in Freeview terrestrial HD tuner.
Determined to dispel criticisms that plasmas use more electricity, the NeoPDP panel harbours some clever power management technology including an eco mode that adjusts screen brightness to suit ambient light levels, saving more power. It works well and seamlessly.
As an aside, although power consumption is given at 445W, it usually uses less. Connected to a measuring device from the lab, a bright scene typically used about 230W and darker scenes generally about 135 to 150W.
This new panel is now less a TV and more an image viewing centre, whose capabilities will soon be extended by the arrival of the Panasonic DMR-BW850 Blu-ray recorder that can take you direct to YouTube and Picasa!
PHIL HANSON
Tech Specs
TH-P42G10 42-inch Plasma Panel $3299
Screen size: 41.6 inches
Contrast ratio: 40,000:1
Progressive scan: 2,073,600 pixels at 1920 x 1080
Speakers: 2 x 10W, 10% THD
HDMI: 3
Dimensions: 1029 x 661 x 106mm (W/H/D incl stand)
Weight: 28kg (incl stand)
PROS
Superb black levels and shadow detail
Viera Tools feature
Power saving
CONS
Shiny black surround won’t please all
VERDICT
Fab picture, useful new features… our tongues hangeth out.
CONTACT
This article is from Tone issue 78.
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