Panasonic TX-P42X20 (TXP42X20B) 42inch 100Hz HD Ready Plasma Television with Freeview

The specification on all three models is identical apart from one thing, which is the power consumption.  So we will go through that first of all.  The power consumption on the 37 inch model is 115 watts, the power consumption on the 42 is 143 watts, and the power consumption on the 50 inch is 201 watts.  The rest of the specification we go through now is identical.

So we will deal with the sockets first of all on the rear of the TV.  So, on the rear of this set we have two HDMI sockets, two scart sockets, one Component - which is the red/green/blue socket; one Analogue Audio Out, which is the red and white socket; and one Digital Optical Out. 

On the side of the TV there is an SD card reader.  So if you have got a digital still camera at home for taking photographs and it takes SD card, you can slide it into the side of this TV and you can have your photographs onscreen.  You have also got one HDMI on the side of the set, making three in total.  There is a headphone socket, Composite socket, which is the yellow, red and white socket which Wii games consoles can plug into.  There is also a physical On/Off switch as well - so rather than just switching the TV off into Standby, if you want to physically switch the set off you can do so - there is an On/Off switch on the side of the TV.

This range of TVs from Panasonic is HD-ready; they cope with two formats of high definition - 720p and 1080i resolution.  One of the main factors to look for on any TV is contrast level.  Now, the contrast ratio on this TV is 2 million : 1.  It has got one of the highest contrast ratios that you will get on any TV.  And that determines then how good the black level is on the TV.  And the inkier that black level, the more dynamic the picture is; the better the depth of field you get; you get more natural colour palette and you get more detail on darker scenes as well.  So it has got a very high contrast level on this TV.

The set itself is not 1080p-ready, so if you want a TV of 1080p resolution, this TV will not do that for you.  However, you only get 1080p from a games console or Blu-ray DVD.  So the main criteria, if you just want a TV for watching TV, Sky HD, normal Sky TV, then the main thing to look for is contrast level - and it has got a very high contrast ratio.   We don’t broadcast in 1080p format so if you just want it for TV viewing you don’t necessarily need 1080p on the TV.

The set itself has got its own Guide system built into it so it is obviously digital-ready.  With the Guide system, then, rather than looking in your local paper for the TV content or TV / Radio Times, you just press the Guide button on the remote control and it will put the full TV Guide up onscreen for you.

What we have then is the programme stations themselves running down the screen from BBC1, downwards from there.  You have got Up, Down, Right and Left on the remote keypad here.  We can jog down the screen there and along, if we press to the right, we can jog along to the different programmes - and the times are changing as we move along the screen on here as well.  Once you highlight the program in yellow, if you press the Information button on the remote control, it will give you a brief rundown on what that programme is about as well.  So as I say, you have got a full TV Guide on the screen. 

If we come out of there for a moment and press the Menu button on the remote control, it will give us three options: Picture, Sound and Setup.  The bottom one first of all, Setup:  we will deal with that first of all.  When you get this TV home and out of the box, put the aerial into the back of the TV, switch it on at the side.  That’s it - job done.  The set will tune itself in and set itself up.  That is all you have to do - aerial in, switch on.  That’s it.

Once your TV has tuned in and set itself up, you have then got picture adjustments.  You highlight Picture - Up, Down, Right and Left on the keypad, press OK in the centre.  It then gives us options up here for Normal, Cinema, True Cinema and Dynamic - and you can probably see the picture changing slightly as we alter those options.  They are just preset modes in by the manufacturer to alter the contrast, brightness, colour and sharpness to a predetermined level.  However, if that is not good enough for what you want, if you want to tweak that picture up, you can do so.  You can alter the contrast, the brightness, the colour, the sharpness independently, with just literally going up, down, right and left and adjusting accordingly onscreen.

You have also got a C.A.T.S adjustment on here, which is an automated contrast adjustment.  If we switch that on, there is a little photocell at the bottom of the TV here which will constantly measure the ambient light of the room and adjust the picture accordingly to always keep it at optimum picture quality for you as well.

If we come out of that, then, and come down to the Sound Menu, and just take you briefly through the sound settings on here, on previous Panasonic models you have only had two preset modes: you have had Music or Speech, which basically just gives you adjustments for base and treble.  However, on this new range of TV we have got User Mode, which then gives us an option of going into a graphic equaliser.  And we have then got adjustments for base at this end, but then we have also got adjustments up here for treble.  But then we have got all the adjustments in between for the mid tones, for vocals, so we can bring out voice better and things like that as well.  So you have got a much better sound system on this new model.

You have also got surround sound built into the TV.  At the moment we have got it switched off.  You can have it in V Audio Mode which will just throw the sound out at a wider angle at the front end; but then we have also got V Audio Surround which will attempt to throw the sound out and around you as well. 

So, an excellent TV.  What I would say is that if you want more details on this, please give me a call - my name is Chris.  You can get hold of me at the shop on 01204 861 861.  Or just go to our website which is www.soundandvision.co.uk - or just click the link at the side of the screen for more details.

Thank you.