Panasonic TH42PA20U/P 42" EDTV Plasma Monitor

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Product Details

Product Manual [2.43mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 139 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009YAHF
• Item model number: TH-42PA20U/P
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #143,358 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Security & Surveillance > Surveillance Video Equipment > Security Monitors & Displays > Plasma Displays

• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

At just a fraction of what they cost when first introduced, plasma monitors are now both cheaper and better than ever. Case in point: Panasonic's 42-inch, widescreen TH-42PA20U/P, which offers an unbelievable 4,000:1 contrast ratio (compared to many LCD displays at 400:1) and a depth of under 4 inches--perfect for wall mounting or table placement with the supplied pedestal. The display is also loaded with picture refinements such as a mach band effect enhancer and a gamma enhancement system.

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, 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-42PA20U/P is an EDTV monitor, which means it's a step closer to high-definition or HDTV than standard TVs. When used with a progressive-scan DVD player (or 480p-output DTV set-top box) you'll get seamless, razor-sharp images from your favorite movies and concert videos--especially when you're using the display's DVI direct digital input.

The more colors a display is capable of rendering, the more accurately it can reflect the program material, and the TH-42PA20U/P can display an amazing 1,070,000,000 colors. The monitor's antireflection screen coating helps minimize screen reflections so ambient room light in the room doesn't interfere with your viewing.

The set's abundant connections include everything from the DVI jack to dual component-video inputs to S-video, standard composite-video, and even a front-panel RGB input for your PC (the display accepts VGA, SVGA, and XGA). There's a total of six stereo analog (left/right) RCA input jacks and a minijack (.125-inch) headphone output from the front panel for private listening. For hookup with other home theater equipment, the display offers a composite-video-based AV output.

The way human eyes perceive objects is influenced by the colors of the objects surrounding it; this is known as the mach band effect. The TH-42PA20U/P's mach band effect enhancer uses this principle to improve image sharpness and vividness. And Panasonic's New Real Black drive system further enhances image clarity and realism to help the display reach its stunning 4,000:1 contrast ratio.

The set's gamma enhancement system, meanwhile, imparts greater nuance to dark scenes and heightens image depth by increasing the number of gradation shades at low brightness levels (the unit is capable of rendering a total of 1,536 shades). The gamma enhancement system employs nonlinear signal processing to reproduce images that help accommodate the high sensitivity of the human eye.

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

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

Product Description

Panasonic's Plasma represents a major leap forward in plasma display technology. The thin, flat, large-screen plasma display delivers the world's highest levels of brightness and contrast. Its sharp pictures and natural, true-to-life colors make for an extremely impressive viewing experience.PRODUCT FEATURES:Lightweight, Ultra-Thin Design;42" Diagonal Screen Size;Built-in NTSC Tuner and Speaker System;2-Tuner Picture-in-Picture with Split-Screen Display, Scalable P-I-P Image Size;Motion-Adaptive 3D Y/C Digital Comb Filter;BBE ViVA High-Definition 3D Sound;Artificial Intelligence Picture and Sound;DVI Interface;EDTV (480p) Display Capability;408, 960 (852 x 480) Pixel Display;16: 9 Widescreen Aspect Ratio;Anti-Reflective Screen Coating;Wide Viewing Angle (160?);Progressive Processing;1, 070 Million Display Colors;4000: 1 Contrast Ratio;16W (8W x 2) Audio Output;Component Video Inputs, S Video Input;Remote Control Included;Pedestal Stand Included.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, November 22, 2003

By	Robin J. Tanner - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This TV is absolutely outstanding. The contrast of this generation of Panasonics is class leading and it provides a truly awesome picture. Panasonic make their own panels and imo they make the best panels. For those of your worrying about the EDTV vs. HDTV issue then be assured that a HDTV signal looks fabulous on this screen - my Time Warner install guy who hooked up the HDTV box was drooling over the Discovery HD Theatre picture. It is true that HDTV signals will look slightly better still on a higher resolution set (though I cannot tell the difference) but on the flip side ordinary TV (and we will all be watching a lot of that for many years to come) looks a lot better (less grainy) at this resolution. DVD's also mate perfectly to 480p and look amazing. This screen really is the best of all worlds.

I cannot recommend this set highly enough - it has every conceivable input (even coaxial for those without a digital cable box), great sound and a very contemporary look. It is especially suitable for those who cannot be bothered with a home theatre set up with all the extra speakers that entails - the simulated suround sound it provides is really very good with only a few bass hicups. Amazingly, even the wife likes it (though she struggles to admit it!)You will not be dissapointed.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Once you go Plasma you will never go back, March 9, 2004

By	Marilyn Hood (NY, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this TV in August after returning a Sony 32 inch(not plasma) that had taken my small apartment over like a huge silver box. I live in a studio in Manhattan 12 feet wide and rather long. The body of the Sony stuck out like a sore thumb and the picture just didn't suit me. I saw this Panasonic Plasma and went for it. HD, I was told, was the way to go but if your cable company doesn't upgrade to it what good is it. Your TV is only as good as the cable service you have and this TV is to die for. The stand on this model is rounded so that it fits on smaller tables, I didn't opt for the wall mount as I like to turn the TV left and right depending on where I sit. Everyone said it would be too big but no way. I could have gone for the 50. This EDTV is the best purchase I have ever made. I haven't even touched the extras as yet. I still am in awe everytime I walk into my apartment and turn this baby on. Go for it. Worth every penny. How can anyone watch those "little" funny rounded TVs? Once you go Plasma there is no going back. I did have some audio problem in the beginning and had to turn the stero audio off because it was too "wavy". The sound would go in and out on the music portion of the show butI believe this was due to my cable. I have had no other problems and I can't even tell it's not on the stero the sound is so amazing. The only draw back is when you travel you can't take it with you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Screen, June 1, 2005

By	bay-area-brit (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

I have had this screen for about 3 months now and I could not be happier. I did a lot of research before I bought and, trusting all the reviews I saw, went with this one. The reviews were spot on!!

At first I was almost disappointed when I hooked it up to my cable box. The picture looked a little blurred and not what I was expecting at all. However, with a few screen adjustments the picture started to look just fine. It was only until I put a prog scan DVD on to the screen that I realized how good this screen really is.

I'm running it on a mid range Sony DVD player and the picture looks fantastic. The color representation is excellent and picture sharpness is of LCD quality (only bigger!). The blacks on the Panasonic are truly black (especially on DVD's). Very little "digitization" was seen on dark shots and any that you can see are probably from the DVD player.

The remote is average, but if you run cable TV, Tivo etc, you won't use it anyway. Panasonic have recently updated the look of this line of screens and they are as pretty to look at as any I've seen. Connectivity is more than enough for all but the most professional user. Screen settings are good with 4 different modes (depending on the quality of input, these are handy to find best balance). I recommend running a THX test on the screen for optimum set up for DVD's.

What I love -
Picture quality is outstanding if hooked up to the right equipment (don't be disappointed with the picture from cable TV, it's not the screen, it's how it is broadcast. HDTV will cure this).
The look of the unit, even when switched off.
The price - easily same picture quality as $5000 screen!!!
Movies are just awesome on this big 42" screen.

I don't love -
Availability. Hard to get hold of but worth the wait.

Great job all-round Panasonic! Try movies like `Finding Nemo' and `The Incredibles' - they look absolutely fantastic.