Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK 42-Inch Plasma HDTV Monitor

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 40.2 x 3.5 x 24 inches ; 69.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 99 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B000B7VB3W
• Item model number: TH42PHD8UK
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,101 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

This 16:9 widescreen plasma set a bright display that will look good in any room, on any wall or on any surface. It comes standard with both basic video and PC inputs and is easily expandable to accommodate a variety of different sources.

Image
Panasonic's Multi-Facet Asymmetrical Configuration Hyper-Pixel (MACH) panel features new materials and technology that improves the light-emitting efficiency and intensity of their plasma screens. The result is a deeper contrast ratio (up to 3,000:1 in dark areas), 2,048 shades of gradation (4,096 shades via HDMI or DVI connection and optional accessory board),3.62 billion full-time displayable colors. It boasts a 1,024 x 768 resolution and is compatible with a whole host of HD signals, from 1080i to 480p.

The TH-42PHD8UK also uses a host of Panasonic image improving features. Adaptive Gain Control raises contrast while suppressing noise by detecting and boosting only the image edges. Motion Picture Noise Disturbance Reduction detects motion patterns that tend to generate noise and makes adjustments to maximize image quality without diminishing the quality of stationary background objects. The Active Interlace/Progressive Conversion System reduces interlace to progressive conversion noise that often occurs when reproducing tiny movements, resulting in better vertical resolution.

Connections
The TH-42PHD8UK features both flexible A/V and IT system configurations. Built-in video connections include S-video, BNC, and component. Accessory boards expand your possibilities to include SDI, HD-SDI, HDMI, DVI-D w/HDCP, Twisted-Pair cable, and IEEE 802.11b. Have the set do double duty as your PC monitor, too, since it supports VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, and UXGA PC signals and comes with a common PC monitor port. The Remotes System Monitoring Command feature allows users to control their TH-42PHD8UK via RS-232C interface. If you really want to get fancy, a built-in wall processor allows you to array TH-42PHD8UKs in 2x2, 3x3, or even 4x4 multi-screen video walls.

37-inch Wide Screen
A general rule of thumb for selecting the right size television screen is that the screen width--not its 37-inch diagonal measurement--should be between three and five times the optimum viewing distance, such as the distance from the TV screen to where your eyes are while sitting on the couch. Less than that and you may be distracted by the scan lines of the picture. More than that, and you may lose the detail of your TV. Based on this guide, the TH-42PHD8UK is ideal for viewing distances of nine to 15 feet.

Other Features
Panasonic's new Advanced Dual Picture Mode simultaneously displays images from two different video sources or a video and PC source. 4x Digital Zoom allows you to divide the screen into zones and enlarge images up to 400%. The set also features enhanced screen saver and energy-saving functions.

What's in the Box
TH-42PHD8UK plasma TV, remote control unit, battery, band, power cord, warranty, and operating instructions book

Product Description

Panasonic Pro (TH42PHD8UK) 42" Proline Plasma HD Display

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the plasma to get, January 31, 2006

By 

jay kenyon "jayhawkeye2" (LAS VEGAS, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK 42-Inch Plasma HDTV Monitor (Electronics)

I have been researching HDTV's for about five years. When I finaly decided to take the plunge, there was no doubt that this television was the one to get. The picture is amazing -- from ANY source -- HD or not. The blacks are BLACK", the colors are vibrant and the flesh is natural. Further, the justification of fullscreen programming looks great -- it is not distracting at all.

The controls are very simple, but infinintely tweak-able

The television is also expandable -- with card slots to allow for almost any type of input. It comes standard with component, s-video, composite, and computer input. (If you want hdmi or dvi, you have to purchase a separate card, and install it in the extra expansion bay).

since it is a commercial monitor, it does not have a built in turner or speakers (though you can add those). I saw this as a plus -- why pay for built in speakers, when I planned to run the TV through my home theater anyway? As for the tuner -- it is not that big of a deal to just use a cable box.

The television is very simple -- a black frame with NO buttons on front. Nothing to distract you from the picture.

In addition, since it is fanless, it is nearly silent.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top notch excellent value plasma display, March 30, 2006

By 

G. Zhu "Biopar" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK 42-Inch Plasma HDTV Monitor (Electronics)

I don't usually give 5 stars to an electronic device, but this one is exceptional, it very well deserves all the hype it has generated for the following reasons.

1. Crisp high quality HD picture. I have watched the Lord of the Ring, WTTW HD on this monitor, the picture quality is astonishing. I view it from all different angles in my living room, no change of quality of the picture can be seen at all.
2. Thin profile, light weight. I can carry it all by myself during the installation.
3. Eagle Globel shipping is fantastic. The unit was not only delivered 5 days before its estimated arrival date, but also the delivery guys helped me carry the double-packaged box inside of my house, and unpacked it right in front of me, to show the display in excellent condition.

I have owned the unit for about a week now, so far the only down side I have noticed is the unit does have a humming sound when it is extremely quiet, but un-noticeable during day time.

I give it three thumbs up if I have an extra one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sssshhhh!!!!!, July 12, 2006

By 

Scott Burton (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK 42-Inch Plasma HDTV Monitor (Electronics)

Stop spreading the word! I'm worried they'll stop making this killer display at this price.

I have 2 and know lots of other owners. We use them in professional and home settings. There isn't a better deal for picture quality, flexibility and price. Know what you're buying though: you'll need to supply your own tuner & sources, speakers and stand.

This is the ideal display for anyone who wants to work plasma into a serious home theater installation. Everything you need for a well-programmed custom install - direct-select inputs, multiple resolutions and aspect ratio options, full color and greyscale control, modular input boards - it's all there, I could go on. It's true that there are better choices for pure picture quality, but that's a very small and expensive list.

The 50-inch is probably ideal for most large family rooms but the 42 is a great all-around display.