|
With their commitment to plasma perfection, Panasonic have launched another top-end plasma, this time it’s a 40-incher with a larger than life picture performance.
Design
|
| Like Jordan without her make-up, the Panasonic TH-42PX600 isn’t much to look at without its svelte stand, which unfortunately it doesn’t come with the TV so you’ll have to pay a bit extra for good looks. Standing alone the TV looks a bit cheap overall, and is definitely at the blander end of the design scale. The measurements are 1020 (w) x 705 (h) x 95 (d) mm, and it weighs 30kg. |
| Setup/Installation |
| With thanks to the PLL synthesizer 100-position auto-search tuner, you can turn the TV on and ask it to auto-tune 100 channels for you immediately, which it does quickly and without any hassle. The menu is easy-to-use and includes every option you could possibly need. Ensure you get some plasma callibration immediately and then about every 6 months after. This means the plasma is using power effectively and the monitor lasts longer. It also improves white balance and contrast to enhance your picture performance. |
| Features |
| Gloriously HD-ready, the Panasonic TH-42PX600 is digital in terms of its integrated tuner, alongside its analogue companion. Panasonic are claiming a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, and believe it to have a progressive scan of 480p, 576p, and 720p. Like every Panasonic plasma, this one has V-real processing, this involves a new digital processing chip set that processes video signals in their original condition, making SD sources look more like HD. Panasonic claim the TH-42PX600 can produce up to 29 billion colours, putting an end to the wishy washy performances of old. Supporting the digital tuner is the 7-day electronic programme guide, but this time it has an added genre filter to help you find your favourites. In the same category you’ll find digital teletext support too. Other picture enhancing features are noise reduction, colour management, ambience audio effect, Q-link, and postcode security. Picture-in-Picture is usually a hit, and that’s why Panasonic have featured it on the TH-42PX600. For watching video clips and photo slideshows, you can slide your CD card into the slot and use the menus to access them. Audio expectations are high, especially as the TH-42PX600 has got 31 watts of speaker power, and features Nicam stereo smart surround sound. |
| Performance |
| We were expecting big, big things from the Panasonic TH-42PX600, boasting all these smart features and we were not disappointed for a single second. Starting with standard definition, we were expecting something more like a HD picture, as promised by the v-real processing chip. And guess what, that is just what we got. The sharp and detailed performance resembled a HD picture more than an SD one. The realistic colours screamed vibrancy, and thanks to the almost perfect hues on skin colour, and brilliant black levels, we were blown away. On HD, the performance was so right, it was just wrong. It was the contrast that helped it out that little bit extra, with the whitest whites we’d ever seen. Watching a North Pole Planet Earth episode on Sky HD was the ultimate test and the Panasonic TH-PX600 passed it with flying colours. Motion handling was superb, and noise raised no issues. On the subject of noise, the TH-PX600 certainly has plenty to offer. The powerful volume levels and clear dialogue are supported by the perfect balance of bass and treble. |
| Overall Opinion |
| In our opinion, the Panasonic TH-PX600 is a fantastic 40-inch plasma TV. It does, has and gives everything you could expect from a top-end plasma, it's just a shame it’s not as good looking as some others cheaper models on the market. |
| |
| By Lisa Malyon |
