Hitachi PDP 42PMA400E Review

Overall Rating

Picture
Versatility

Hooking up inputs

I needed to replace my rear projector TV. Research directed me to the Hitachi PDP 42PMA400E 18 month's ago.

I purchased it on ebay for £2,100 and I have never stopped being thrilled since. Why?

Well, in the words of Jack Nicholson ' it's (nearly) as good as it gets'.

So what's this thing for??

For producing pictures, stupid!

What do you mean by that??

Look, you provide a signal and this thing will try to display it in the highest and most versatile, large, moving picture quality possible.

What signal? It's got no tuner, has it? It's got no fancy digital multi-surround sound modes has it?

Of course not stupid! This thing is a specialist, not an all rounder. Get another specialist to tune your dated analog or digital broadcasts - get a specialist to feed high quality DVD movie signals or a computer to supply multi-pixel resolutions, and a digital amp based system to crunch your sounds. This thing is for purists!

You sound a bit of a smart Alec if you don't mind me saying!

I'm sorry, but I was at Wembley Stadium (old) for the last concert - Tina Turner, and when I watch the DVD on this thing with my sound system racked up to ear piercing, chest thumping levels I relive the electric atmosphere of that day. Doing the same thing with Faithless at Alexandra Palace in London is overwhelmingly exciting - as is Madonna and Cher etc. etc.

So??

Look, I can listen to great music with sound only, or I can have a 14" TV in the bedroom blandly showing me a story, but I'm passionate and I want the best of both - can't settle for mediocrity. If I watch a block buster movie I want to be there - be part of the scene - be involved - not be some peeping Tom nerd watching from a distance. My god, even EastEnders can be really involving displayed on a large screen.

OK! So what's special about this thing?

Nothing but everything! I just admire it. It produces impressive bright, contrast rich, 3D pictures effortlessly. There may be better screens around, but at the moment I've NEVER seen one.

Damn it! I hate adverts, but sometimes I watch them just to ogle over the beautifully photographed movie displays on the thing. (More specialists).

I'm about to subscribe to Sky's High Definition broadcasts, and I know that this is what this thing excels at!

Unless all that you watch are cartoons, your money is well spent with this. I never cease to enjoy!

Until hologram images arrive in the centre of your living room, you can't do much better!

Members' Comments onLuvmedo's Review

• saint7 on 2nd Aug 2006

  how could this work with SKY HD?