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Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY (12/01/2004)

Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY

Entered CNET Catalog: 12/01/2004

SKU: 0037988240609

Manufacturer: Panasonic

Content [Hide]
  1. Manufacturer's description
  2. Product summary
  3. Editors' review
  4. Users' opinions

Manufacturer description

TH-42PHD7UY is a 42" Widescreen Professional Series HD Plasma Display Panel. New Real Black Drive System provides deeper, richer blacks and enhances image clarity and realism. New Super Real Gamma System provides superior performance at brightness levels where the human eye sees best. New Multi-Facet Asymmetrical Configuration Hyper-Pixel (MACH) Panel features bounded cell structure to improved light-emitting efficiency and intensity. New MACH Panel boasts a long service life of 60, 000 hours. Adaptive Gain Control raises contrast while suppressing noise by detecting and boosting only the image edges, resulting in high contrast and high signal/noise ratio 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. 3D Color Management System reproduces vibrant colors and natural skin tones.

Product summary

The goodThe good: Accurate color decoder with no red push; solid video processing with 2:3 pull-down; excellent black-level performance; independent memory per input.

The badThe bad: Limited connectivity options included; basic and industrial in its design; not big on consumer features; no aspect-ratio control for HD sources.

The bottom lineThe bottom line: This industrial model is far superior to Panasonic's consumer panels and an excellent value, and it offers best-in-class performance for the 42-inch category.

Average user rating: from 21 users
4.0 stars

Editors' review

  • Editors' Choice: No
  • Reviewed on: 02/11/2005
We've been fans of Panasonic's "industrial" plasmas since they were first introduced, and we're not the only ones. These bare-bones, all-picture plasmas consistently top the most-popular lists of online plasma retailers because they don't make you pay for stuff you (as an enthusiast) won't use: namely speakers, a tuner, a gaggle of inputs, and a fancy remote. The TH-42PHD7UY, Panasonic's latest 42-inch high-resolution industrial plasma panel, has a picture that's head and shoulders above its "consumer" 42-inch cousins, such as the TH-42PX25U/P, and demonstrably better than virtually all of its competition in the 42-inch size category. We say "high-resolution" because despite having more pixels than the otherwise-identical EDTV TH-42PWD7UY, this plasma doesn't have enough resolution to display every pixel of true HDTV (then again, no other 42-incher does). If you can get over the lack of inputs and add-ons, the TH-42PHD7UY is hands down the best value in high-resolution 42-inch flat-panel TVs.

Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.

The design of the TH-42PHD7UY won't win it any awards, but it is an industrial model, so we don't expect too much in the looks department. It is remarkably clean looking: mostly glass surrounded by a dark-gray frame. Since this panel is strictly a monitor, there are no speakers, although you can purchase optional matching speakers.

Panasonic does include a stand for tabletop installations, and, of course, an optional bracket is available for wall-mounting purposes. Measuring only 40 by 22 by 3.5 inches (WHD) and weighing 64 pounds, the TH-42PHD7UY will fit just about anywhere.

The remote is small, simply laid out, and easy to use. The GUI, or internal menu system, is also quite basic and straightforward. Other than picture controls and some advanced picture controls in the advanced menu, there really isn't much to it.

As we mentioned at the outset, this Panasonic's 1,024x768 resolution is what sets it apart from EDTV-resolution plasmas of the same size. Those extra pixels mean more detail with computer and high-def sources (more info). Of course, the TH-42PHD7UY can display just about everything you throw at it, including standard TV, VHS, DVD, and high-def.

Surprisingly the TH-42PHD7UY does offer PIP and POP for keeping tabs on more than one program at a time. Other than that, it has a 4X Zoom mode that splits the screen into zones and allows you to magnify the images up to 400 percent. As far as picture-enhancing features, it has the all-important 2:3 pull-down for the elimination of motion artifacts with film-based video sources (DVD movies). The panel offers three aspect-ratio selections with computer sources and four (plus one autodetect mode) with standard video and progressive-scan DVD, but unfortunately, it can't change aspects with high-def sources.

Otherwise, the TH-42PHD7UY is essentially featureless. In addition to shipping sans speakers, it lacks a built-in tuner of any kind, so you can't connect a cable from the wall (you need a box) or an antenna and immediately watch TV. While it does include picture presets such as Dynamic and Cinema, it's missing many of the dubious picture features (autocolor, and so on) found on consumer models. Happily, it does boast independent input memories as well as a variety of screensavers to help prevent burn-in--an overrated danger in our book.

As far as connections are concerned, the panel's back panel is a little sparse out of the box. It comes standard with one component-video input that doubles as an RGB input, one 15-pin RGB input that can also be configured for component video, one S-Video input, and one composite-video input. The component-video and composite-video jacks use BNC-type connectors, necessitating the purchase of inexpensive RCA-to-BNC adapters to allow connection of standard video cables.

The good news is that you can customize the TH-42PHD7UY's connectivity with optional inputs, such as DVI and HDMI, that plug right into card slots on the rear of the panel. As the panel ships from the factory, two of the slots are occupied by the A/V inputs listed above, and one is open. Check out the list of available input upgrades, along with pricing, available here.

Panasonic's 2005 industrial models are available in 37-inch EDTV (TH-37PWD7UY), 42-inch EDTV (TH-42PWD7UY), 50-inch (TH-50PHD7UY), and 65-inch (TH-65PHD7UY) versions.

We found three key things that account for the Panasonic's impressive picture quality. They are, in descending order of importance: contrast ratio, color saturation, and accurate color reproduction. The superior black-level performance of the Panasonic industrial models helps increase their actual contrast ratio (range from black to white), which gives them more detail near black in dark scenes and increases the color saturation as well.

The TH-42PHD7UY's color decoding is exceptional, which also accounts for its incredible color saturation without any red push. This means you get a lot of color, but at the same time, skin tones look natural, and the grass or dirt on football or baseball fields looks as it should, rather than neonlike or overly red or green. Of course, all of these benefits were even more apparent after the set had been properly calibrated.

The TH-42PHD7UY actually comes from the factory less overdriven than most, with relatively tame contrast, but still benefits greatly from calibration. After calibration, our reference DVDs, such as Seabiscuit and the recent release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back looked fabulous. Chapter 12 of Seabiscuit had great color saturation and excellent detail. The deep space shots in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back showed off the TH-42PHD7UY's superior black-level performance with good detail and deep blacks rather than the muddy blacks with dancing pixels or false-contouring artifacts commonly found in other plasma panels.

HDTV on this panel also looked superb. Even though the resolution is only 1,024x768, the color saturation, detail in dark scenes, and the overall crispness of the picture from our DirecTV HD satellite feed were impressive. In fact, the reality is that resolution isn't as important as the other elements of the picture we mentioned earlier.

Geek box
TEST RESULT SCORE
Before color temp (20/80) 7,425/8,700K Poor
After color temp (20/80) 6,550/6,600K Good
Before grayscale variation +/-1811K Poor
After grayscale variation +/-175K Average
Overscan 3% Good
Color decoder error: red 0% Good
Color decoder error: green 0% Good
DC restoration All patterns stable Good
2:3 pull-down, 24fps Y Good
Defeatable edge enhancement Y Good

User opinions

Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
User Rating:
3.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Awesome color, great priceby boridge - February 9, 2006

Pros: affordable, flat, looks great on my wall

Cons: Doesn't come with speakers

Review: This tv is awesome. I bought it about 6 months ago and don't have a single complaint. It hangs over my fireplace and works perfectly. My buddies are envious as hell!
Updated
I did my research for 3 months and this Panasonic turned out to be the winner for me. Just be sure that you leave budget for speakers bcs this version does not include them.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Incredible picture, reasonable priceby Grinder7 - January 24, 2006

Pros: Picture quality, ease of use

Cons: none worth mentioning

Review: I've owned this TV for 10 months now and am completly satisfied with it. It has an incredible picture right our of the box. I used Digital Video Essentials to get the picture just right, but that only required small adjustments, the auto picture setting is actually quite good without changing anything. I wall mounted it and epuiped it with the optional Panasonic speakers. At first I was hesitant to buy the speakers because they were expensive ($300). I'm glad I got them though, they look and sound great. In fact they sound so good that I sometimes think I waisted my money buying a surround sound system. One minor problem I had with the set was that it comes with screw on type RGB connections, and my cable box has RCA type cables. I had to purchase RCA to RGB adapters to get it to work. Not a big problem, but I could'nt find them in town so had to mail order. This TV doesn't have a lot of advanced features, it's very simple to figure out(which I like). I'v seen a lot of other peoples HDTV's and most don't compare to the picture on mine. If you're in the market for a 42 inch plasma, this is it.
User Rating:
2.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Optional Inputs neededby burkgs - November 17, 2005

Pros: picture quality

Cons: owner's manual is useless / not user friendly, 1 input, did i say user unfriendly? blacks are distorted and inconsistent, very complicated user manual (did I say that already, i think you get the pt)

Review: This is a good deal if you consider what it is without the cons. The picture is okay (have seen better). However, the inputs are limited, the owner's manual makes no sense to those of us who didn't engineer the television, and I would not repurchase this item.

If anyone reading this has insight about purchasing additional inputs for this TV, please advise. All in all, if I could return this television, I would!
User Rating:
1.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Caveat Emptor! Not 720p comliant!by shrippyshram - November 8, 2005

Pros: Excellent picture...

Cons: ...but its not High Def!

Review: The resolution on this TV is NOT fully 720p compliant! Shame on the CNET reviewer for giving Panasonic a pass! Once again, the manufacturer preys on our naivete, aided by those who aim to "educate" us.

This monitor has a max resolution of 1024x768. That is not HD. 720p content is broadcast in 1280x720; 720p comliant TVs have a max resolution of 1366x768.

This TV will only display 75 percent of the horizontal picture that is being broadcast into your TV! THAT IS NOT HD, and CNET's staff members should know the difference.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

There is no better.by vaqueroz - October 27, 2005

Pros: Great picture quality

Cons: Requires another slot card to connect to an HD satelite receiver

Review: If you accompany this monitor with a satelite receiver (HD enabled) and a surround sound sound system you will also need a good diet program. This system is so good that you will spend an extraordinary amount of time watching it. That means munchies. I've gained 12 pounds since I installed my system a month ago. You will also need a good exercise system because if you buy this monitor you won't be spending much time in the gym. The 6 months I spent researching this unit was well worth it. It is absolutely unbelievable. You can get a wireless mouse and keyboard and hook up your laptop to the monitor. Walah, you can work from a location anywhere in the room where the monitor is. A fabulous unit that needs to be accompanied with a Lazyboy.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Great value, good pictureby Wowatracy - October 17, 2005

Pros: Low Price, very simple

Cons: No audio output

Review: This is probably the best buy for the money. It's a very simple plasma with a great picture and doesn't come with a ton of features you don't need. It also has expansion slots to add extra video outputs. Be warned though, this plasma is for people with home theatre systems, it doesn't come with speakers or any kind of audio output so you need to have a receiver/amplifier if you want sound. Also, if you want to hook up a computer using HMI you will need to buy a card for a little under $200. Be carefull you don't have a static image for very long as it will burn in easily. Overall a great buy for the price.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Excellent monitorby bugman - September 16, 2005

Pros: Fantastic picture

Cons: none that I have found so far

Review: I researched monitors for 2 months before buying this one. The picture quality is amazing. I have had this monitor for 4 months and have had zero problems. I bought the DVI module ($145) for it so that I could hook my hdmi DVD player to it
(hdmi->dvi cable). I don't agree with the Cnet review that states in the "con" portion that limited hookups are available. this is not true, it comes standard with: pc, component, svideo. The great thing is that it has an open slot that you can add any hookup you want (dvi or hdmi are 2 good options). If this isn't flexibility, I don't know what is. Cnet editiors need to do a little bit more homework before they review an item.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Seeing is truly believing!by dowood - August 24, 2005

Pros: Awesome Picture in HD

Cons: None at this time

Review: Like many other consumers, I researched flat panels for about 6 months becoming familiar with the technology and pricing trends.

This plasma by far is the best on the market in the 42" range. I haven't seen any of the issues that recent users posted. The color and clarity is amazing! Currently have component connections with a TWC HD DVR which I'll upgrade to HDMI once the technology is a little more stable. Tilt mounted over the the fireplace which makes the whole room stand out.

Friends commented on some of the Discovery HD programming saying that it looks like they are looking out of a window because the pic is so life-like.

I found this unit on-line at Hype Audio for $2,500 including shipping and insurance.

Stop sitting on the sidelines looking at the game, get this TV and be in the game!
User Rating:
4.0 stars

out of 21 user reviews

excellent picture; have had no problemsby kathstan - July 22, 2005

Pros: clean look, great picture

Cons: manual assumes professional user

Review: great unit if you only want a industrial grade monitor. for the enthusiast, not a component for someone who wants a complex audio/video system AND a simple configuration of others to use also.
User Rating:
2.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Problem with Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY ???by armorant - July 18, 2005

Pros: Not sure yet... I don't own the TV

Cons: Not sure yet... I don't own the TV

Review: I do not own this TV but I was just about to buy one when I read about a reported issue that many people are seeing. Check it out if you plan to buy this TV. I think I am going to look elsewhere.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/search.php?searchid=622354
Updated
Sorry about the broken link in my first post.

Here is an update:

Goto http://www.avsforums.com

Do a search for "panasonic problem" without the quotes.

Scroll 8 threads down and you will see the article "Pan TH-42PHD7UY Black level changing "

Read this.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Simply the bestby markfoto - June 29, 2005

Pros: great picture, easy set up, no frills.

Cons: panasonic supplies, accessories slow to ship, no frills.

Review: Great montor out of the box, even better after calibration with Digital Video Essentials. Contrary to other reviewers, this montitor does offer aspect change with component inputs, but only on 480i/p input signals. Have it hooked up to Directv HD and using native input. Works great, as promised, the 1080i and 720p is perfect. Beautiful picture on 480p DVD input. Paid $2299. Any price lower than this is probably the ED version. Do your homework on the input cards, and order them promptly. And read the operating instructions fully and follow them. Above 5000 ft in elevation? Get an LCD instead of any plasma. I am at 4000 ft, and if you get right up to the screen, you can see some artifacts on the sides, unnoticeable at 8ft viewing distance. If you don't need a tuner or speakers, this is it!
User Rating:
4.0 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Great High Tech Gadget for a Great Price!by lui951 - June 23, 2005

Pros: good picture quality; easy set up; looks beautiful on a swing arm mount in the corner of our family room

Cons: some visable pixleation when up close; lacks some basic connectivity options (i.e. Co-ax)

Review: As many have indicated, this is a great bare bones 42" from the leader in plasma TVs. I could spend time talking about the great picture quality, but rather than focus on the TV, I thought I'd share a great deal for this item. A friend directed me to http://www.visualapex.com/ for this TV. Most internet searches will still bring up the lowest price on this TV in the $2300 range. My wife and I bought it for $1575!!! There's a $200 shipping charge and we paid about $380 for our swing arm mount (you can defintely get cheaper mounts and stands but we were placing this in the corner of the room and needed the swing arm), but even with the added costs of shipping and the mount that still only comes to $2155 - still much cheaper than anything out there.
User Rating:
4.0 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Beautiful picture right out of the box!by ReverendJim - June 7, 2005

Pros: Great picture, easy set-up,

Cons: No stand included

Review: After months of research, I decided on the Panasonic Plasma and so far, I'm very impressed with it's picture quality. I've matched it up with the Pioneer 50" HD plasma my friend has, and the Panasonic wins, even in my friend's opinion. When playing HD cable, the colors are crisp without being unnatural, and as mentioned by others, the black level is very true. I'm by no means an expert in anything electronic, but I was able to hook up the set in no time. If you're interested in a great picture and don't care about the gadgety extras, this is the set to get.

The one drawback in the two weeks I've had the set is that, contrary to what I've read, it does not come with a stand. I didn't realize this until I took the plasma out of the box. Checking Panasonic's web site, they do not list a stand as standard equipment. So, when you're figuring the true cost of the set (and you're not planning on a wall mount), add at least $175 to the true cost. Also, chances are, you won't find the stand in any local store (I searched everywhere in San Diego County to no avail), so plan on ordering it online. Even adding this cost, I still got the plasma I wanted at a very nice price, and am very happy.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Excellent Image Qualityby SNSNS - April 13, 2005

Pros: Colors, sharpness, blacks

Cons: Few Inputs, Does not do 1080i, not as good as reference CRT HD

Review: For a plasma, this is the way to go. Beautiful crisp image, great black levels, silent operation, and rich colors. Connectivity is limited, but you probably knew that, so an HDMI card is required -- still cheaper than most inferior 42-43" screens. Buy it!
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Great valueby jbatluck - April 6, 2005

Pros: Quality for the price, EDTV picture

Cons: Modular cards can only go in certain slots

Review: After researching for 60+ days, I splurged on this TV about two months ago. The picture is incredible from a HD receiver or DVD. The clarity on HD or DVD is a big jump from my old 25". Overall, it's great

Only con I've had so far -- the modular card feature is nice, but cards are relegated to certain slots. This only impacted me because my component cables barely reach and only work in the furthest slot available. Minor niusence...
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Perfect Plasma, even better priceby sugs46 - March 25, 2005

Pros: Great picture, awesome true colors, especially in HD & DVD

Cons: RCA hook up needs BNC adapters. You can only adjust the screen aspect ratio when using S-video during HDTV, otherwise it's only normal display with the RCA's

Review: This is my first high performance TV, I did a good amount of research and am very pleased with the results. A very simple design with a powerful picture display, so don't let the low $tag fool. It's better or very comparable to those high $ ones and blows away the all other 42HD's in this $ range. The colors are exactly what you read about true blacks and vibrant colors. There was very little tweaking I needed to do to adjust any colors, if anything I just did it for fun(new toy). It has interchangeable boards that would provide you with different connections, which I will be purchasing. For one thing I like watching HDTV using the s-video because of the aspect ratio and a bit of clarity. Right now I'm just plugging and unplugging the s-video for my DVD or HDTV. Hopefully you'll already have an entertainment system in place or at least an amp w/speakers. If you don't you can't just connect any speaker to it, must be the required ones. It is oustanding with a full system. Finally don't spent more than 3g's many places sell for under.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Simply the best available!by - February 19, 2005

Pros: Incredible picture quality. Surpasses all 2005 models including Panasonic consumer version, Sony, Pioneer. All seen at CES.

Cons: None

Review:
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

When I move you move, Just like 'dat!by - February 18, 2005

Pros: I don't know who's writing the reviews for this TV, but they are spot on. Go out and buy this TV. Seriously, you will pull mad broads at your place.

Cons:

Review:
User Rating:
4.0 stars

out of 21 user reviews

The HD picture is stunning, out of the box.by - February 13, 2005

Pros: Picture quality and the flexibliy to customize the input interfaces. You can mix and match 3 card slots with different interface cards. Considering that in the near future all HD components will have either DVI or HDMI output connectors, you are pre

Cons: The DVI input does not allow you to use all of the aspect ratio choices. Seems it must be something to do with the pure digital signal. I use S video for SD to get around this.

Review:
User Rating:
3.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

girlies be at my place now that i have this tv!by - January 23, 2005

Pros: holla atcha boy! this tv is pimp, and I be gettin' mad girlies at my place now that i gots this phat screen up in ma' crib, ya heard! pic quality is slammin' an' colors be wowin' all the girlies.

Cons: This product can be a pain without its dvi video cards, which i am still waiting on unfortunately.

Review:
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 21 user reviews

Very best alternative to HDTV plasmaby - January 12, 2005

Pros: Wow, I've read these reviews for 2 years waiting and saving. I finally got the one I wanted and it exceeds all of my expecations thus far. This is the one you should buy, period.I'm pumping Dish Network HD content in and it looks great, but there isn't en

Cons: If I had a wish list it would of included RF technology within the remote controls instead of IR.

Review:

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Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY specifications

  • General
  • Product type Plasma panel
  • Diagonal size 42.0 in
  • Viewing angle 160 degrees
  • Viewing angle (vertical) 160 degrees
  • Video
  • Technology Plasma (PDP)
  • Resolution 1024 x 768
  • Display format 720p
  • Image aspect ratio 16:9
  • Progressive Scan Progressive scanning (line doubling)
  • Widescreen Widescreen
  • Image contrast ratio 3000:1
  • TV Tuner
  • TV tuner presence No
  • Tuner qty No tuner
  • Convenience Features
  • Additional features Real Gamma Correction System , Real MACH system , Anti-reflection coating , Auto power off , 3:2 pull down compensation , Screen saver , Video noise reduction
  • Connectivity
  • Video interface S-Video , Component , Composite
  • PC interface VGA (HD-15)
  • Remote Control
  • Type Remote control - Infrared
  • Power
  • Power device Power supply - Internal
  • Power device nominal voltage AC 120 V
  • Power consumption operational 290.0 Watt
  • Power consumption stand by / sleep 0.5 Watt
  • Dimensions & Weight
  • Dimensions (WxDxH) 40.2 in x 3.5 in x 24.0 in
  • Weight 63.9 lbs