Panasonic TH42PX70 Review

[h0stile]

I have ordered the 42PV70P. Delivery will be Tuesday and I'll probably set it up during the weekend after I finish renovating and cleaning the apartment. The reason for the 42 model instead of the 37 was that it seems it supports 1:1 pixel mapping at 1024x768 (with the Media Player tweak to correct AR). Can you confirm if this is the case? I've read that it's a sharper image using this resolution over vga than using the same resolution on a 37 panel (with 1024x720 native). I will be watching a lot of HD movies via vga and I want the sharpest image possible. thanks

[Tony]

Good luck Tony...just be gentle when it arrives...no fast and furious gaming

Thanks Colin... But could you elaborate on what you mean exactly?

[Andy]

Hi,

First of all thanks for the great review of this set. Was a really good read and it convinced me to buy one. Overall I am really happy with this set there is just one thing thas bugging me and I hope you may be able to explain what could be causing it or if it is normal.

About 1-2feet away the picture on some images becomes really grainy, sparkley if you like, This seems to occur more on bright scenes with shading. A good example would be peoples faces and along contours. This is alot more apparant during movement. It is like this in SD and HD broadcast?

Any clue?

[Colin]

@hostile

Aliasing artifacts can happen with scaling and deinterlacing in a TV. To avoid that you need to make sure you input a progressive signal at native resolution. For gaming consoles, that will prevent the 2x2 anti aliasing from being reprocessed at the TV end.

Internal processing depends on the TV manufacturer, of which Pioneer is the best currently.

@Tony...Just watch out that the HUD doesn't get burned in.

@Andy...you could be talking about the dithering or temporal PWM noise. It is normal for plasma and I wouldnt sit at that distance.

[StanleyNTL]

Would it help to feed external SD sources through an upscaling (HDMI) DVD recorder, to combat picture softness/deinterlacing/scaling issues, on tuner & other analogue inputs?
Say the Pioneer DVR-545HX or Panny EX77? Which would do the best job on this?

[Colin]

If the external unit has better scaling and deinterlacing, then yes. For example Oppo 981HD has the world renowned Faroudja processor. So with DVD's, you're gonna get top notch picture.

Obviously if your tuner has similar capabilities, you should always upscale the picture before sending it over. Now with some TVs, I remember that the component video doesn't always resolve 1080 resolution completely, so try using HDMI as far as possible. If you use analogue inputs with this issue, your picture will look softer despite the upscaling.



 

[StanleyNTL]

"Now with some TVs, I remember that the component video doesn't always resolve 1080 resolution completely, so try using HDMI as far as possible. If you use analogue inputs with this issue, your picture will look softer despite the upscaling."

That last sentence refers to component inputs - yes? Most SD sources won't upscale via component anyway - so it's HDMI/DVI. 

How about HDTVTEST doing a feature on using said DVD recorders to upscale SD sources, to see if this is the best DIY approach to handling SD better on flat screens? Perhaps you can do a head to head of the two models mentioned, for video processing of SD.

[Colin]

  We are not THAT advanced. There are complex methods to objectively measure scaling quality, but, unfortunately we are not privy to these ways.

Yes I would avoid playing HD content via component if possible.

[berksman]

Hi all,
Just wanted to put in my experience of the PX70 so far after just a few days possession!, if that's the right word:)
I was on the brink of purchasing an upscaling DVD to go with the  screen, but boy am I glad I waited...
I run a 3 yr old Sony DVD player with Scart set at "RGB" instead of video (yes not true component or HDMI connection) and the
DVD picture using the onboard upscaling of the PX70 is just beautiful...far outstripping my expectations from a non HD Source,
in addition the Freeview output from my Humax hardisk recorder is outstanding also.
In a nutshell, quite happy to wait a wheil whilst HD get's itself sorted out price and format wise and revel in the natural upscaling abilities of this telly
Thanks all
Mark

[Colin]

Nice berksman. I'm glad you didn't take our word literally.

Enjoy.

[stuckinthemud]

Just found this site, excellent reviews and information and none of the hysterical postings that appear elsewhere!

I've just about decided on the PX70 (probably going for the 37" version rather than 42"), but have a query about connection.

The PX70 is listed as having HDMI & VGA (amongst many others!).

I use a media centre which has both outputs, so which would be better option?



Jim

[Knudder]

...TH42PX700 has these features that the PX70 dont ->
1. SRS TruSurround XT
2. SD memory card reader
3. PIP (Picture in Picture)
4. S-video IN
5. Composite video IN

colin : i cant confirm the new anti-glare coating, which may lower black levels.

Hi!

I've had my TH-42PX700 for around three weeks now and can confirm that the anti-reflection coating is there, and that you can easily see the effects from it. Reflections are much more blurry and hardly noticeable compared to the PX70. The frame around it reflects though.

I'm passed the 200hrs break in and have just started to use the more ideal settings. I don't have a source with hdmi yet, so I only have tried standard dvd via component. I am very pleased with both sharpness and black level on the PX700.

I saw a 42PX700 alongside a 42PV70 when I was abroad on vacation. My impression then was that the PX700 had a bit softer colors due to the anti-reflection filter. The PX70's picture had a bit more "sting" in it. The guy in the store however didn't know much English, so I wasn't able to get much info from him on which settings were used on the different sets (and the remotes were nowhere to be found). I still found the picture on the '700 appealing and ended up ordering one after I returned back home.

In retrospect, however, I think the '700 must have had the Cinema mode and the '70 either Dynamic or Normal, because when I compare the picture on my PX700 in my livingroom compared to a 42PX70 with identical settings in my local store, the difference in sharpness and color is hard to notice. Off course, you would only get a proper comparison by having the sets side by side, and the light setting in the rooms are different. The blacks are anyway black enough for me.

The sound from the larger speakers on the PX700 is also noticeably better than on the PX70, with fuller bass especially.
Whether it's enough to justify the money you must add is not up to me to decide, but I can only recommend the PX700! 

PS: This site has been really helpful during my search for a new tv! Keep it up!

[idiadmin]

I got my PX70 yesterday, but i cant seem to find the EPG (http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Panasonic-TH42PX70/Operation.php)
Oh, I live in Sweden if that has anything to do with it.

[Wayne]

Morning ladies gents. There seems to be a great deal of confusion over models and specs of 42 inch Pannie plasma. I have just purchased a PV700 in New Zealand and was happy to find that this model( and the PV70 series) has the 100hz option. turning off this option cetaining exhibits a noticable flicker to the images. It seems strange to me that Pannie have not made more of this advertising this option when it is installed. Given that the LCD manufacturers have only just bought in 100( or 120) hz models at a premium price then plasma technology is at least on par with LCD.

Would anyone know if the 100hz processing is delivered differently with each technology?

As for the kit itself, very happy with performance and the two tone styling. There seems to be a mainly LCD trend of having glossy black bezels which tend to look more and more plasticky and lightweight.