PANASONIC VIERA PLASMA TV

Posted on | August 26, 2008 |

The good: Relatively inexpensive; produces a deep shade of black; accurate initial color temperature; solid connectivity with three HDMI inputs; handsome, understated exterior.

The bad: Color decoding accentuates red; inaccurate primary color of green; ineffective noise reduction.

The bottom line: Panasonic’s TH-42PX80U 42-inch plasma sets the picture quality-to-value standard for entry-level flat-panel HDTVs.

Specs: Product type: Plasma TV; Diagonal size: 42 in; Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 1000000:1As high-definition TVs continue to evolve with evermore-enticing technologies and doodads, the majority of buyers are still looking for the best bang for the buck. Panasonic’s plasmas are usually at or near the top of the heap in that category, and the 42-inch TH-42PX80U is a great example. This set doesn’t sport 1080p resolution or scads of picture controls, and while we would have wanted a bit more in the way of adjustability, we definitely didn’t miss the extra pixels. This plasma gives the best black levels we’ve tested for the price, and while its color and noise reduction could use improvement, Panasonic’s least-expensive 2008 plasma is still an all-around superb value.

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