Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Manufacturer: Panasonic
42" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) *
Amazon.com Product Description--March 10, 2008:
Panasonic's 720p plasma sets offer incredible value in an HDTV with the unbeatable contrast ratios and fluid motion of plasma technology. Advanced pixel resolution and image-processing technology with the plasma TV's natural ability to beautifully reproduce fast moving images, so every detail is rendered with amazing clarity, and all the action is delivered with a high degree of fluidity.
What's New This Year?
- Dynamic contrast ratios are up to 1,000,000:1
- new anti-reflective filter; lead-free "Tough Under Force" panel is resistant to impacts and scratches
- Built-in SD card slot with Photo Viewer/Gallery Player software
- x.v. Color and Deep Color (HDMI 1.3 features)
- 24p native reproduction
- Game Mode auto-adjusts image quality suitable to games and includes anti-image retention
- Viera Link is now compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems
- At least 3 HDMI inputs on all models (4 on PZ800 and PZ850 series)
- THX Certification on PZ800 and PZ850 series
Which Viera is Right For You?
Click here to see a comparison of step up features on each Viera series.| | Amazing color reproductionThe incredible black reproduction of a Panasonic High-Definition Plasma TV results in impressive contrast and beautiful, natural colors. So you'll get warm, accurate skin tones, gorgeous greens, breathtaking blues and vivid reds. For color that's as rich and bold as life itself, look to a Panasonic Plasma TV. |
| | Consistent brightness from any angleA Panasonic Plasma combines anti-glare and anti-reflection technology with the natural light-emitting properties of plasma, to give you a super-wide viewing range with a crisp, beautiful image from almost any angle. |
 | Smooth, graceful motionWhen you're watching sports or movies with fast-motion graphics, you want a TV that can keep up with the action. With over 900 lines of moving picture, self-illuminating plasma displays eliminate afterimages in fast-action scenes. So whether you're watching a sporting event or an action-packed movie, you'll always get the most impressive viewing experience possible. |
 | 1,000,000:1 ContrastThe Panasonic's Real Black system (a pre-discharge suppression system) and improved panel production processes combine to reproduce outstanding blacks with superb contrast. Each image is richly expressive, from bright scense, like scorching desert landscapes, to dark cave scenes. Compare the image produced by conventional HDTV on the left to the Real Black image produced on the right |
 | More ColorsViera HDTVs support the xvYCC color profile (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color" for short. Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation "xvYCC" color space actually offers an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize.
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 | Deep ColorWhere x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color.
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Connectivity
Viera flat panel HDTVs interact with an array of high-definition devices and services, making it easy for consumers to access and enjoy content as never before. As of 2008, Viera Link is compatible with Onkyo and Yamaha home theater systems. | Videos and stills recorded on SD cards can easily be viewed via the SD slots on Panasonic Blu-Ray Disc players and Viera HDTVs. |
 | Viera Link means easy connectivity via HDMI cables. Finally, consumers can easily operate their Blu-Ray Disc players, DVD recorders and home theater systems with a single remote control device. |
 | Long LifePanasonic plasma panels are rated to last 100,000 hours, which is about 30 years of regular or 11 years of non-stop usage before the brightness of the display is halved. |
 | Get Full HD with Blu-Ray Disc PlayersA Panasonic 1080p plasma television is able to render 1920x1080 pixels, but standard DVDs have a resolution of just 720x480. Blu-ray discs output true 1080p High-Definition resolution and have a storage capacity ten times greater than standard DVDs, so no pixel gos to waste. |
Which is the Right Viera for You?
| Screen Size Measured Diagonally | 1080p Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels | Native Contrast Ratio | PC Input | THX Certification | 24p Native Reproduction | Speakers | HDMI Inputs | One Sheet of Glass Design | Swivel Base | Shades of Gradation | H.624 Codec | Digital Cinema Color | Studio Reference Mode | Pro Setting Menu | Serial Port | Standard Features | |
| TH-42PX80U | 42 inches | 15,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 |
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| TH-50PX80U | 50 inches | 15,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||||
| TH-42PZ80U | 42 inches |  | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-46PZ80U | 46 inches | | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-50PZ80U | 50 inches | | 20,000:1 | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | |||||||||||
| TH-42PZ85U | 42 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-46PZ85U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-50PZ85U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | 2 | 3 | 4,096 | ||||||||||
| TH-42PZ800U | 42 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ800U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-50PZ800U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-58PZ800U | 58 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | ||||||
| TH-46PZ850U | 46 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-50PZ850U | 50 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-58PZ850U | 58 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | | |
| TH-65PZ850U | 65 inches | | 30,000:1 | | | | 4 | 4 | | | 5,120 | | | | | |
- 1024 x 768 Resolution
- 1000000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio for the Brightest whites and darkest blacks
- 4096 Shades of Gradation for spectacular Color Reproduction
- Viera LinK™ HDAVI Control lets you operate all of your home theater components by pressing a single button on your TV's remote control
- GalleryPlayer® allows you to enjoy the world's finest high definition art and photography on your Panasonic HD plasma TV
Color: Black
Model: TH-42PX80U
Review of Plasma TV
The Panasonic Viera Plasma HDTV has been an outstanding purchase for us. The picture quality is great. The set-up was easy. From Amazon, we received our TV in less than 5 business days.
Does not fail to deliver
Upgrading from a 4-year-old JVC 37" CRT SDTV, I was blown away by this Panasonic Plasma. Watching my local channels in 720p/1080i is like looking at a piece of heaven. And don't even get me started on Open Season 1080p Bluray :)
This isn't my first time buying an HDTV, but the other one was a 27" Olevia LCD (average), so I did a LOT of research. I went everywhere from AVSForum to Dishnetwork forums looking for good reviews and recommendations for a nice HDTV under 0. To make a long journey short, I found a deal for this TV and grabbed it.
Absolutely not disappointed, at all. No buyer's remorse here. I'm still in the process of breaking in my Plasma to avoid burn-in so I have the color and contrast down to low. But even that can't hide the beautiful and sharp picture. On the occasions that I do set it to Game/Vivid mode, the HD movies pop out so much that I'm afraid they'll break my new TV. Black levels are amazing. Black is black. I do see some noise, but seriously, doesn't make a difference.
Audio leaves a lot to be desired as expected. It's tolerable though and I am using it until I can find a nice speaker set up.
The only two (minor) gripes I have is: 1) No headphone jack. Seriously Panasonic. You give us an HDMI input in front panel, but no headphone? 2) I'd prefer 3 Component inputs instead of 2 S-Videos.
I think I'm in love.
Great TV for the price
I ordered this TV and it only took only 5 days to have it delivered right to my door. Setup was a no brainer and I was up and viewing HD channels from DISH in under 30 minutes. The picture is bright and clear and HD channels are superb. For the price, this is a awesome deal.
Panasonic TH-42PX80U
I've had this TV now for three weeks. So far, all the good accolades I read from other reviewers hold true. The only slight disappointment is the sound. It is beyond my understanding why todays TVs don't sound as good as the one's twenty years ago.
I purchased this TV from Costco for [...] from CostCo, after returning a Westinghouse 42" LCD HDTV The motion blur on the Westinghouse was terrible as was the sound. CostCo has a no-hassle return policy and nobody beats their price on this TV
And as others have noted; don't be ripped off paying $[...] for HDMI cables when you can purchase them from Amazon for $[...].
Mark-San Diego
Awesome TV for the money
You can find the specs anywhere, so I won't get into that. I will list the pro's of this TV as I see them.
1. Price - best priced 42" 720p that I found. (I paid 599.99 at Boscov's)
2. Plasma - this is the great debate - plasma vs. LCD. For my money, with all network transmissions being 720p and me liking sports so much - plasma was the way to go. In the middle of the day glare was not an issue at all.
3. Heat - this set only gets mildly warm. All other plasmas that I checked out either got very warm or straight up hot. Heat kills electronics. I bet this has a lot to do with Panasonic having the best repair record in the plasma game.
4. Picture - it looks good! I have read C-NET complain of noise - I watch at about 8-10 feet and it just looks great.
I had some concerns that so far have proved to be unfounded.
1. I thought the styling was ho-hum and that I would not like that it did not have a swivel stand. The TV looks much better in our home than it does in the pics on the net. The high gloss black stand 'disappears' and all I see is the great picture.
2. Becasue of the price the picture had to suffer in some way. Not that I can tell! I even have the brightness set to 30/100 becasue I read somewhere that you should do that for the first 100 hours. Honestly, I am not sure I will up it since it looks fine as is.
3. Becasue its a plasma there is that IR or screen burn issue. This one I can't speak to. Only had the TV 4 days now - time will tell.
Another aspect I can not speak to is sound. It seemed fine during testing, but I have a surround sound setup so I don't use the speakers on the TV. I find this TV does a better job at standard def than I thought it would. It certainly looks better than the LCD's I have seen.
You will not be sorry your bought this TV.
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