Brief Comparison Of Popular 42 Inches Plasma Televisions
October 4, 2008
Walking past a TV store, one’s attention will certainly be captured by the Plasma TVs on display in the window. What a great treat to the eye that would be, to see the TVs, standing elegantly, basking in the admiration of the on-lookers. With the big giants of the plasma market, like LG, Samsung, Pioneer, Philips, Panasonic and Toshiba, constantly striving to bring out the best plasma models, laden with the latest technologies, consumers will always find themselves in great dilemma while making a choice.
A brief comparison of 6 most popular plasma TVs is made below, hoping to help consumers in their decision making process. Our contenders are - Pioneer PDP-428XD plasma TV, Samsung PS42A457 plasma TV, Panasonic TH-42PX80B plasma TV, Philips 42HF7444T plasma TV, LG 42PG3000 plasma TV and Toshiba 42WP46P plasma TV.
| Physical Features Attribute/Name | Pioneer PDP-428XD | Samsung PS42A457 | Panasonic TH-42PX80B | Philips 42HF7444T | LG 42PG3000 | Toshiba 42WP46P |
| Screen diagonal measure (inches) | 42 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 42 |
| Dimensions W x H x D (mm) | 1040×679x115 | 1055×667x 96.2 | 1020×727x327 | 1240×680x104 | 1040×674x84 | 1273×710x137 |
| Image Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Not provided | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Weight (kg) | 30 | 26.8 | 28 | 42 | 25.5 | 25 |
| Display
Attribute/Name |
Pioneer PDP-428XD | Samsung PS42A457 | Panasonic TH-42PX80B | Philips 42HF7444T | LG 42PG3000 | Toshiba 42WP46P |
| Resolution (pixels) | 1024 x 768 | 1024 x 768 | 1024 x 768 | 1024 x 768 | 1024 x 768 | 852 x 480 |
| Screen brightness (cd/?) | Not provided | 1500 | Not provided | 1200 | 1500 | 1000 |
| Image contrast ratio | 16,000:1 | 30,000:1 | 15,000:1 | 10,000:1 | 20,000:1 | 3000:1 |
| Display Formats | 720p | 720p | 720p | 720p | 720p | 480p |
| Connections
Attribute/Name |
Pioneer PDP-428XD | Samsung PS42A457 | Panasonic TH-42PX80B | Philips 42HF7444T | LG 42PG3000 | Toshiba 42WP46P |
| HDMI | 3 (ver 1.3) | 3 (ver 1.2) | 3 | 2 | 3 (ver 1.3) inputs. 1 Port PC Mode - SIMPLINK 1/2 Port | Nil |
| SCART | 3 RGB | 2 | 2 RGB | Nil | 2 (1-Full and 1–Half) | 3 (2-RGB and 1–S-Video) |
| VGA/PC | 1 | 1 D-Sub PC input | 1 | 1 | 1 RGB input and 1 audio | 1 |
| Headphone | Nil | 1 | Nil | 1 | Nil | 1 |
| Composite | 1 | 1 audio + video | 1 | 2 (1–audio + video, 1– video) | Nil | 1 |
| S-Video | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Component | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RF | Nil | 1 | Nil | Nil | 1 | 1 |
| Audio output | Nil | 1 optical | Nil | Nil | 1 optical | 1 audio line-out |
| Others | 1 USB port, 1 CI slot, RCS audio output | 1 RJ-45 input, 1 RJ-12 input, 1 SmartCard Xpress | 1 RS-232C, CI Slot, USB 2.0 port | 1 Subwoofer output, 2 audio line-in |
Audio
| Pioneer PDP-428XD | Samsung PS42A457 | Panasonic TH-42PX80B | Philips 42HF7444T | LG 42PG3000 | Toshiba 42WP46P |
| 2 stereo SRS; SRS Focus; TruBass with sub woofer | 2 Down-firing SRS TruSurround XT speakers | 2 stereo speakers | 2 Virtual Dolby Surround stereo speakers | 2 SRS TruSurround XT/Clear Voice Speakers, with Dolby Digital Decoder Invisible speakers | 2 integrated NICAM stereo speakers with BBE High Fidelity Sound and Bass Boost |
Colour (Appearance)
| Pioneer PDP-428XD | Samsung PS42A457 | Panasonic TH-42PX80B | Philips 42HF7444T | LG 42PG3000 | Toshiba 42WP46P |
| Black, simple yet stylish | Black with a silver tinge at the bottom | Piano black | Silver frost, Black deco | Black glossy | Black and silver titan |
What’s special about these plasma TVs?
Pioneer PDP-428XD Kuro plasma TV - “Kuro” means “black” in Japanese, and this TV, true to its name, gives rich black levels. Pioneer has implemented the “true matrix imaging with deep waffle rib structure” technology, which plays an important role in producing bright and crisp images, while reducing any blur. The i-CLEAR drive, employed in the plasma TV, enables reproduction of the most subtle colour differences. The in-built Intelligent Brightness Control, automatically adjusts the screen brightness in accordance with room lighting and on-screen lighting. The TV features a Movie Mode as well, that does a good job in displaying lifelike movie images. Also noteworthy, is the menu system of the TV, which is well designed and easy to use. The Kuro Link HDMI CEC feature enables controlling the AV devices connected to the TV with a single remote control. The HD plasma TV also includes Colour Temperature Control, Picture-in-Picture, TeleText, integrated Freeview and Analogue Tuners, a user-friendly Electronic Program Guide and noise and flicker reduction routines.
Samsung PS42A457 plasma TV – This plasma TV incorporates the DNIe+ technology, which enables portray clear pictures with fine details. The Colour and Motion optimizers employed in the TV, produce images that look true to life. Also doing a great job are the Contrast and Detail Enhancers, which create great colour depths. The Filterbright technology implemented in the plasma TV, removes unwanted reflections by absorbing external light that approaches the screen and transmitting its internal light, thus achieving rich contrast levels. There are 3 modes offered, for cinema, sport and games respectively, to make picture quality suitable to the viewing content. Clear, fluid motion pictures are achieved with the 100Hz picture processing technique, that has been employed in the plasma TV. The HDMI CEC functionality called Anynet+ by Samsung, allows easy control of the AV devices connected to the TV, with a single remote control. A wide viewing angle of 175° is presented by the screen. The HD plasma TV also includes a 3D comb filter, digital noise reduction techniques, a clock, sleep timer and anti burn-in technology, all performing their jobs with great fidelity.
Panasonic TH-42PX80B plasma TV – This plasma TV employs techniques like Real Black Drive system, 24p Playback and x.v. Colour standard to achieve great picture quality with brilliant colours. The Real Black Drive system enhances contrast, 24p Playback allows film-like reproduction of pictures and the x.v Colour provides a large palette of colours. A rare feature that this TV provides, is the power on/off button, which could turn out to be a good power saving option. Another rare feature is the SD card slot, for displaying pictures from your digital camera. Like the plasma TVs discussed above, this one too supports HDMI CEC functionality, thus avoiding confusion while handling multiple AV gadgets. The HD plasma TV promises great black levels and very low noise levels. If you are a games freak, then this TV would surely impress you with its judder-free graphics quality. This plasma TV comes with integrated Freeview Tuner and Colour Temperature Control as well.
Philips 42HF7444T plasma TV – Philips too, is no way behind in the race. Philips 42HF7444T plasma TV also incorporates a basket full of features for delivering great picture quality and performance. The Pixel Plus feature focuses on enhancing analogue broadcast signals. Cinema like images are produced by the Digital Crystal Clear technology. Other features like Smart Picture Control, Luminance Transient Improvement, Colour Transient Improvement, Contrast Enhancer and Video Noise reduction techniques contribute to displaying clear images, with good black levels and natural looking colours. This HD plasma TV supports both PAL (2:2 pulldown compensation) as well as NTSC (3:2 pulldown compensation) encoding systems. A 3D comb filter is employed for filtering out the brightness and colour details in the incoming video signals.
LG 42PG3000 plasma TV – Here is a tough contender in the plasma arena. Throwing a glance at the lengthy features list of this plasma TV, we have the 100Hz processing technique, Dual XD Engine, Vivid filter, Colour Temperature Control, TeleText, Clock, Sleep Timer, built-in digital Freeview tuner, 3:2 as well as 2:2 pull down compensations, 3D Noise Reduction techniques and modes like Picture mode, AV mode and Expert mode. Phew!!! The 16 bit panel of the TV enables displaying pictures with large gradation of colours. The HDMI CEC functionality - Simplink, makes way for ease of control of AV devices connected to the TV. An eight day Electronic Program Guide, which is user friendly and well laid out, is also available. The HD plasma TV is also equipped with an integrated Freeview tuner and a 3D comb filter.
Toshiba 42WP46P plasma TV – Toshiba has kept things simple, yet efficient here. This EDTV comes equipped with a digital comb filter, Colour Temperature Control, Video noise reduction methods, Colour Detail Enhancer and built-in digital and analogue tuners. There is a simple to use on-screen menu with options to control various picture quality attributes. Picture-in-Picture, Auto Power off and Teletext are some of the other features that come along with this HD plasma TV. The black levels of the TV are accurate and deep and the picture performance is also good. While Toshiba 42WP46P would prove to be light on your pockets, it definitely does not compromise on performance and quality.
The plasma world will always have tough competitions, with the big brands always striving to reach the top. Pioneer PDP-428XD plasma TV, Samsung PS42A457 plasma TV, Panasonic TH-42PX80B plasma TV, Philips 42HF7444T plasma TV, LG 42PG3000 plasma TV and Toshiba 42WP46P plasma TV are some of the strong players, which are here to stay, perhaps for a long time.
Panasonic TH50PZ80B HD Ready Plasma TV with Freeview
September 30, 2008
Panasonic TH50PZ80B Plasma TV is a HD Ready TV with built-in Freeview. Freeview is a digital service through which you can enjoy Freeview channels, radio channels and many other interactive services using the DVB-T standard. The HDMI interface is useful when you need to transmit high definition images or pictures. The enclosure comes in black colour.
Screen
The screen size of Panasonic TH50PZ80B HDMI Plasma TV is 50 inches. The aspect ratio of this model is 16:9. The contrast ratio of 30000:1 produces sharp pictures. Higher the contrast ratio better will be the picture quality. The response time of this model is 0.001ms and this particular feature allows the user to work continuously without delay as the TV responds to the given input at the fastest rate. The resolution comes to 1920 x 1080 pixels making the pictures look brighter and clearer.
Audio
Speakers produce Nicam stereo sound effect. The total output power of both the speakers is 20W.
Connectivity
Various connectors for this model plasma TV are SCART, component, PC, HDMI. It comes with digital tuners and standard Pal tuner. Digital tuners facilitate you to tune in to Freeview digital channels.
Features
Panasonic TH-50PZ80B High Definition Plasma Television features parental lock, which can be used to prevent children from misusing the TV. This model TV is wall mountable. Other features included are sleep timer, auto install and fastext. Accessories that are included with this model plasma TV are remote control and power supply cord.
Some important features are Video Noise Reduction, Anti Reflective Filter, Game Mode and Deep Colour Technology. It comes with one year warranty.
Dimensions
Panasonic TH50PZ80B Plasma TV measures 790mm (H) x 1244mm (W) x 100mm (D) and weighs about 43Kg. These factors are ideal enough for the user to mount the TV comfortably on the wall.
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80B HD Ready Plasma TV
September 4, 2008
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80B Plasma Television is a HD Ready television that comes with a contrast ratio of 15000:1. It comes with integrated tuner and DVB digital tuner. The broadcast stereo reception for FM is Nicam. Watching your favourite movies on the 42” screen size will no doubt give you utmost satisfaction. The resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels produces bright colourful pictures with 29000 million colours. The screen aspect ratio of 16:9 makes you feel as though you are watching your programme on a wide screen in a theatre like atmosphere. The response time of this model plasma TV is 0.001ms. This is the least time taken by the plasma TV to respond to the given input.
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80B Flatscreen Plasma TV is designed with free viewing angle. The progressive scan feature in this model plasma TV is advantageous as it scans each line and produces higher vertical resolution. The contrast ratio of 15000:1 produces attractive pictures. The speakers produce output power of 10W each with stereo surround sound effect. The sound mode is in both music and speech mode. Built-in tuners in this model plasma TV are NTSC, DVB and PAL. It features motion pattern noise reduction, picture over scan, off timer, parental control, sleep timer and child lock. It consumes power of 215W in use and 0.7W in standby mode. It requires power of AC 220 - 240 V and a frequency of 50/60Hz to function. The dimension and weight of Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80B Widescreen Plasma TV without stand is 1020mm (W) x 679.0mm (H) x 95mm (D) and 26Kg respectively. The colour of the enclosure comes in black.
Samsung PS-63P76FD Plasma TV
August 18, 2008
Samsung PS-63P76FD HD Ready Plasma TV is a not only a plama television that comes with a full High Definition display resolution of 1920 x 1080p pixels, but also is an HD Ready machine due its HD related supporting features such as a number of HDMI inputs and a digital tuner. The small letter ‘p’ that seems to punctuate the last set of digits in the resolution detail, stands for progressive scan, which in its turn scans the pictures to perfection in straight lines. DVB -T is the digital tuner type provided here, that avails the user a number of free television programmes.
The display screen of this plasma television that is 63” in diagonal length, is fortified by a mammoth contrast ratio of 10000:1 and a brightness level of 1000 cd/m2. This screen promptly complies with widescreen standards with an aspect ratio of 16:9. It can serve a wide viewing audience at a time, with its vertical and horizontal viewing angles of 175 degrees apiece. Interlaced formats of 1080i, SDTV (480i) and 576i are also supported in this television. The user of this television is also provided with the teletext updations, digital text, PIP of one tuner and an EPG (electronic programme guide).
Connectivity features of this full HD plasma television refers to a couple of video interfaces such as composite and component, a number of various input types such as PC, S-Video and a Scart apart from the three HDMI inputs. The sound aspect of this television is explained by a couple of 15w speakers that come built-in the machine. NICAM stereo is the sound out put mode provided here and the power of the audio out put is 30W.
Samsung PS-63P76FD Flatscreen Plasma TV that weighs about sixty-three kilograms and comes with the dimensions of 100.1 cm height, 152.8 and 8.8 cm depth, consumes 720 Watts in play mode and 0.9 Watts in standby mode. This television further features a hard disk with a storage capacity of 2GB. The total package includes a remote control too.
Panasonic Viera TH-37PX70 Plasma TV
August 7, 2008
Panasonic is a world famous company manufacturing products such as camcorders, digital still camera, home cinema system, full HD plasma TV, audio systems, telephone systems and much more. Panasonic Viera TH-37PX70 Full HD Plasma TV is one of their products that are launched in to the competitive market.
Panasonic Viera TH-37PX70 Plasma TV is designed with 37 inches screen size. It comes with built-in digital TV tuner and Freeview feature. This plasma TV is HDTV-compatible as it can receive HD (High Definition) signals and display the same. Also this plasma TV is supported with HD-Ready feature, which means that the TV is capable of displaying high resolution images. It comes with a standard picture format of 4:3, which the ratio of the width and height of the TV. Panasonic Viera TH-37PX70 37in Plasma TV features progressive scan, which is the technique of generating picture in a single pass. The supported picture format in this model is 1080p.
Digital noise reduction feature is included in this model, which is the technique of eliminating noises that are produced between two consecutive images. By eliminating the noise, clear and noise-free image is achieved. Two speakers of this model plasma TV comes with stereo sound system and with output power of 10W. The resolution of this plasma TV is 1024×720 pixels. The display resolution is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension. The contrast ratio of this model plasma TV is 10000:1. Contrast ratio is the ratio of the luminance of the brightest colour to that of the darkest colour. Panasonic Viera TH-37PX70 Flat Panel Plasma TV comes with HDMI input, which is a mode of connection for digital audio and video. It comes with one VGA input. It supports sound formats such as Nicam. It consumes power of about 249.8W in viewing mode and 0.58W in standby mode. The dimension of this model plasma TV is 667cm (H) x 917cm (W) x 97cm (D) and weighs about 34.7Kg.
