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Entered CNET Catalog: 04/16/2003
SKU: PME42X6
Manufacturer: Sampo Corp.
Manufacturer description
Sampo is one of the leading manufacturers of household electronics, multimedia and electronic components worldwide. Sampo has been guided by a seemingly simple motto, which has sustained it in the face of adversity and has been a source of inspiration and pride over the past 25 years - namely, sincerity, innovation and competitiveness. PRODUCT FEATURES: 42" diagonal ultra bright plasma display; 16:9 aspect ratio; High contrast ratio (400:1); Pixel resolution 1280 x 1024; 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i digital signal compatibility; Multi-video system supported: NTSC/PAL, HDTV; Multiple inputs with 2 sets progressive component video connections; Digital visual interface (DVI); USB, RS232 control port; Attachable NTSC or PAL tuner.Product summary
The good: High-resolution, HDTV-compatible panel; solid video processing with 3:2 pull-down; excellent color decoding; built-in speakers.
The bad: So-so black-level performance; significant false-contouring artifacts.
The bottom line: This set is a decent performer, as far as plasma goes, with a very competitive price.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 05/20/2003
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 PME-42X6 looks like your basic plasma TV: the panel is a silver-framed, 42-inch piece of glass that's 3.7 inches deep. It comes with an oval stand for tabletop installation, but it can be wall-mounted as well.The tiny built-in speakers are along the panel's upper edge, so they're invisible when you look at the television head-on. Buttons for power, input, menu, volume, and some of the other more commonly used functions are on the panel's right side.
The remote is a big, clunky affair with a pull-down door. Unfortunately, the door conceals the buttons of some of the most useful features, such as direct access to each input, so we ended up keeping the door open the majority of the time. The remote has neither backlighting nor illuminated keys. Even with its relatively high 1,024x1,024-pixel resolution, this plasma still doesn't display every pixel of 720p or 1080i high-definition signals. Instead, it converts those signals and all others to fit its native resolution.
Compared with many other plasmas on the market, the PME-42X6 is loaded with extras. It's among the few panels we've seen that offer picture-in-picture as well as split-screen viewing. Each of the numerous inputs remembers its individual settings for contrast, brightness, and so on. On the audio side are a built-in 10-watt amplifier and stereo speakers. SRS sound processing simulates surround effects, and an output for an external subwoofer is provided.
You'll also find the standard selection of performance features, including four color-temperature settings: 6500D, Low, Mid, and High. Among the aspect-ratio choices are the obligatory 16:9 for anamorphic, 4:3, and several 16:9 zoom modes. An onboard 3D comb filter is for composite-video sources such as VHS.
This panel's connectivity is more than adequate for most home-theater setups. Two broadband component-video inputs, one DVI input, and one 15-pin RGB input combine to ensure plenty of options for HDTV sources, progressive-scan DVD, and computer hookup. Note, however, that the DVI input doesn't include HDCP copy protection, so it's not compatible with recent DVI-equipped HDTV receivers. For standard video sources, there's one S-Video and one composite-video input, each with its own stereo audio jacks. An RGB output, an RS-232 port for use with touch-panel control systems such as Crestron and AMX, and the subwoofer output complete the jack pack.
Sampo's optional PCE-XTN6 TV tuner (listed at $299) enables you to plug a standard NTSC cable or an antenna directly into the rear of the panel. Out-of-the-box performance was, as we expected, pretty dismal. Contrast and brightness were set way too high; if you leave them that way with a static picture, you could burn in the plasma element very quickly. However, the 6500D color-temperature setting came in fairly close to the standard 6,500K, measuring 6,000K at the bottom of the grayscale and 5,650K at the top. After calibration, those measurements changed to 6,600K and 6,400K, respectively, and the panel tracked the grayscale very well in between.
The PME-42X6's color decoder is excellent, with no overaccentuation of red tones (known as red push) whatsoever. As a result, it can achieve excellent color saturation, especially with component-video sources such as DVD and HDTV. Chapter 31 of Charlotte Gray looked really good, with deep purples and greens in the fields of violets.
Switching our progressive-scan DVD player to interlaced mode, we spun up the opening sequence of Star Trek: Insurrection and were pleased to find evidence of 3:2 pull-down in the PME-42X6's video processing. The unit solidified the lines and nearly eliminated jagged-edge artifacts.
The PME-42X6's reproduction of deep blacks isn't the worst we've seen on a plasma, but it's no match for what you'd get from a properly configured CRT-based display, and it's visibly worse than on our reference 42-inch panel, the Panasonic PT-42PD3-P. False-contouring artifacts were also readily apparent whenever the picture approached black, showing up as pixelated pools of color.
Bright HDTV material from our JVC HM-DH3000U D-Theater DVHS deck looked quite good, but dark passages again proved problematic. For example, the X-Men scene in which Magneto wrecks the concentration camp gates revealed the PME-42X6's black-level performance issues and some false-contouring artifacts.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 User Rating: 
9/10
Excellent TV and Value
Pros: Great Color, size, and inputs
Cons: Poor Darks/Blacks
User Rating: 
8/10
Can't be neat for the money
Pros: For the price of and EDTV you get and HDTV. What's to know. Great Color representation and decent black level. Easy to adjust.
Cons: No compatability with universal remotes, and speakers are a bit weak.
User Rating: 8/10
Great unit, great price, great picture!
Pros: Number of inputs, quality, price, POP, using to setup and get the barf bag, seemd too real on the rollercoaster
Cons: Remote is bulky but managable. Can buy one unit for all (RCA & others) to program from. Manual isnt too easy to find things, but the tech service is incredibly supportive.
User Rating: 
4/10
I wil not buy one again
Pros: To turn on the optional tv tuner is troublesome you have to go thru a couple of steps. I wasted my money.No way to use other brand of remote controls on the Sampo Plasmas.It forgets the last set up, goes back to default.I would like to find a way to progr
Cons: Good pictures. Good sound.
User Rating: 
10/10
Low-price wonder
Pros: Very good picture quality, lots of features, high resolution, HDTV-ready
Cons: Not sure about tech support
User Rating: 4/10
Nice picture bad features
Pros: Nice quality pic on a PC or HD only
Cons: The PIP,POP doesn't work they said you need two receivers oh come on ! Remote Controler It's not Universal and Doesn't work with most Receivers,so you need to use two controlers and the monitor Doesn't work with 95%remote controlers. changing or ajusting
User Rating: 
7/10
Great color and resolution!
Pros: Good home video performance, great color and resolution. Monitor comes with a solid suite of features, including good built in speakers with a sub out.
Cons: Still a lot of money just to get a four inch thick set.
