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Panasonic TH-42PX20U/P 42" HDTV-Ready Plasma TV

Panasonic TH-42PX20U/P 42" HDTV-Ready Plasma TV

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Features:
  • 42-inch widescreen HD-ready gas-plasma TV with 1,024 x 768 resolution; 44.9 x 29.8 x 3.9 inches (W x H x D)
  • A mere 3.9 inches deep for wall or table mounting; includes stylish pedestal
  • Extraordinary 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 650 cd/m2 peak brightness; 2-tuner PIP (NTSC)
  • HDMI direct-digital input, as well as RGB PC, component-video, S-video, and composite-video inputs
  • BBE ViVA HD3D Sound simulates surround sound from two speakers while ensuring clear dialogue


Description:

Panasonic's 42-inch, widescreen TH-42PX20U/P offers a brilliant, high-contrast picture with an unbelievably high 3,000:1 contrast ratio (compared to many LCD displays at 400:1), a wealth of video-enhancement technologies, and tons of cool features--all with a depth of under 4 inches. Treat it like a painting and wall mount it, or position it on a table with the supplied pedestal. At just 90 pounds, this is one of the lightest 42-inch TVs ever made.

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, typically, than with equivalent LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim size. Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed in close proximity to lighting or sound systems.

The TH-42PX20U/P is capable of rendering full 1080i high-definition video from DTV receivers and set-top boxes, as well as 480p signals from progressive-scan DVD players. And, with a PC hookup through the set's convenient front-panel RGB input, you'll enjoy high-definition 720p images too. The set includes its own NTSC tuners, too, so even if you're not set up with an HDTV receiver or progressive-scan DVD player, you can still enjoy the set's incredible picture.

Plasma displays can suffer from an artifact called "false contouring," where transitions between different shades of the same color are too sharp. These transitions can appear as distinct lines between different shades. The TH-42PX20U/P's 1,536 shades of gradation help minimize false contouring artifacts so color transitions have a smooth, natural appearance. Additionally, the greater number of colors a display is capable of rendering, the more accurately it can reflect the program material. The TH-42PX20U/P can display an amazing 1,070,000,000 colors.

The set's abundant connections include everything from an HDCP-compliant (copy-protected) HDMI digital video input to dual component-video inputs, S-video, and standard composite-video. There's a total of five stereo analog (left/right) RCA input jacks. For hookup with other home theater equipment, the TV offers a composite-video-based AV output.

HDMI supports multichannel digital-audio transmissions and component-video color spacing for true rendering of HD video. The video portion of an HDMI signal is also backwards-compatible with DVI-HDCP devices using a special cable adapter.

The TH-42PX20U/P's mach band effect enhancer improves image sharpness and vividness, while gamma enhancement imparts greater nuance to dark scenes and heightens image depth by increasing the number of gradation shades at low brightness levels. The gamma-enhancement system employs nonlinear signal processing to reproduce images that help accommodate the high sensitivity of human eyes.

A handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format is 3:2 pulldown. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

Finally, onboard BBE ViVA HD3D Sound creates an authentic and exciting 3D enhancement effect from any stereo speakers while preserving the clarity and definition of the original signal. The set offers a five-speaker, bass-ported listening system for rich, full-bodied sound.

What's in the Box
TV, pedestal stand, remote control, remote batteries, and user's manual.

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