Panasonic TH-42PHW6 Review

Overall Rating

High Definition (std def 852x480 is the TH-42PW6)
Interchangable input slots x3 (and 1 PC input)
Fantastic picture with a high quality input

"only" 1024x768
Would be better if there were more than 4 inputs
Terrible manual
Monitor only (though speakers can be added)
Gets hot and uses lots of power (Plasma does, get over it).

I was extremely lucky to have picked up this Panasonic TH-42PHW6 relatively cheap having already ordered a Panasonic 86cm Widescreen CRT High Def TV. I was in 2 minds and the dealer made me an offer on this Plasma Screen TV that I couldn't refuse.
Thank God he did...Man what a picture.
Let me first explain the bad points above. Yes the 1024x768 display is not true native High Def (1080x1920 I think) but the quality you do get is absolutely great and what display on the market is that resolution natively?
4 inputs...let's see.
Input 1 HD TV = High Quality inputs for this one so RGB, Component or Scart.
Input 2 DVD = High Quality required again Scart, RGB or Component.
Input 2 Cable/Satellite TV = High Quality if you can get high quality transmission so again Scart, RGB or Component. Composite or S-Video if you must.
Input 4 PC = PC or something that uses the 15 pin PC connector.
OK so a DVD recorder could be added but the quality of them compared to a dedicated DVD is questionable as a player. The X-Box would use S-Video since the HD pack doesn't work on PAL anyway (so Microsoft says). Ideally it would have one more S-Video (and composite) input to be switched via an external receiver for such devices. Personally with only low quality Sat and Cable TV available to me this won't matter.
I'd configure it as follows:
1 HDTV, Component/RGB
2 DVD, Component/RGB
3 S-Video, From receiver for Sat TV and X-Box
4 PC
All this gives me no room to move in the future without getting an amp that can switch component video or RGB (we don't really use scart in Oz) which is less than ideal hence a black mark is awarded.
Terrible manual....Yup, a AU$11000 retail price and a manual that could have come out of Panasonic's $250 15" CRT TV. More info, specs and explanation on how and why required please. Perhaps even some recommended settings for things such as the screen saver would be favourable.
Monitor only. In these days where Digital HD TV is becoming more prolific why is the only TV with a built in digital tuner a standard and not high definition unit?? This one doesn't have one at all (digital or analogue) which is less pretentious I guess. I would have preferred to have paid less and not had the provision of adding a stereo pair of speakers. The amplifier and sound inputs etc are already built in but a waste of money since this unit is wasted without a full high quality surround sound system.
Gets hot and uses power....As I said, this is an inherent drawback to plasma technology. The cooling fan is only barely noticable with all sound off so not at all intrusive to viewing. I run it in a relatively hot climate and it doesn't seem to get too hot. The screen emits a fair heat due to infra red emission, again, a product of the technology. Plasma screens use a lot of power, in my view they are the best quality so basically live with it, similar to the saying "you have to burn fuel to go fast" in relation to performance cars.
Forget LCD (for those that don't know) for flat screens, the contrast ratios and movement flow with a good source is absolutely stunning with any plasma, this one excels in my view. The Matrix Reloaded's scene with hundreds of Agents attacking one little Neo in the courtyard flows so smoothly and yet is so clear not once did anything get even remotely confusing or blurred (LCD owners, do not try this at home). Blacker blacks (it's emittive, not transmittive meaning black = off, not a very dark filter) brilliant colours and not one little bit of colour bleed anywhere to be seen. The colours are brighter than bright brilliant and your experience of watching a movie is immersive. It's almost like being part of the movie.
I gave this 8/10 for value (perhaps a little harsh) because I don't like paying for things I won't use such as the sound components which are lost on this unit and I think it should already come with all 3 slots filled having 2 component/RGB and 1 S-Video/composite (for OZ). I also believe it's still in the luxury electronics category and hence has a certain "self indulgant"(?!) value attached to the retail pricetag. I couldn't justify the full retail price hence I'd decided on the CRT (or at a stretch the TH-42PA20). This came along for a song so I extended my budget.
Overall rating is based on image quality since this is why I bought it!!
If you can afford it (or find it cheap) buy it! Beware, the TH-42PW6 (and the TH-42PA20) is lower res and hence exactly the native NTSC DVD output of 480P. While this is good for DVD watchers as it doesn't need to upscale from 480p to 768p (therefore spits out exactly what you give it) it will be much (AU$3000) cheaper and lower spec than the PHW6. I'm not sure if this would apply to PAL as PAL is 576i (or p if you have a progressive DVD player) but I have read reviews that for DVD the low def is slightly better than the high def panel.

Members' Comments onculfy's Review

• culfy on 1st Mar 2004

  In a follow up on this review. Do not use the 4:3 mode for any extended period of time. I used it with the side panels lit for a week on and off and had screen burn. It\'s all but washed out now but it has taken a week to do it. If you must view 4:3 TV I recommend the \"Just\" setting which uses the middle of the 4:3 picture and stretches the sides so at least people in the centre of the screen don\'t look short and fat! It looks a little odd particularly with panning but is better than screen burn looks!
  Other than that, recently bought some Monster MVC3 component cables...a great buy.
  Everything else I said about this display still stands.

• victor365 on 7th Aug 2004

  What about Hitachi 1024x1024 res screens ?

• culfy on 9th Aug 2004

  Pure resolution does not necessarily mean it's better. In my humble opinion the Panasonic did then and still does have the best quality picture. I compared it to the Sony 1024x1024 and the Panasonic had a better picture. Nothing beats having them side by side with the same signal and picking the one you want. It's best to use your own DVD or STB.