Home > Reviews > Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

List price: $1,999.99
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Used price: $500.00

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Product Details

Binding: Electronics
Brand: Panasonic
Color: Black
EAN: 0037988241620
Label: Panasonic
Dimension: 0.21 x 43 x 0.3 inches
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Model: TH-42PZ700U
Publisher: Panasonic
Studio: Panasonic
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor

Features and Descriptions

1920 x 1080 Resolution
4096 Shades of gradation
2 HDMI Inputs
Built-in SD Card Memory Slot
GalleryPlayer Capable

The Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 1080p Plasma HDTV sports a 42-inch plasma screen with 1080p resolution for a crystal clear viewing experience. It will feel right at home as the centerpiece of a home theater setup.

An Understated Beauty
The TH-42PZ700U does not look like it's trying too hard. Instead, it lets the big screen speak for itself. The glass is surrounded by a thick glossy black bezel on all sides, with a door on the bottom to keep controls out of sight. Another hatch hides a slot for SD memory cards. Speakers--matching in color and barely noticeable--are set on both sides of the display. The understated look would be an elegant addition to any decor.

The understated elegant looks of this Panasonic HDTV will fit in with any decor. View larger.

The TH-42PZ700U has connections for all your home theater components. View larger.

Outstanding Performance
The TH-42PZ700U is 1080p, meaning it has a full 1920 x 1080 resolution, the highest HD resolution available for the clearest and sharpest picture. Because of its plasma display, the black levels are deep and the uniformity of brightness is superb. The unit has 4096 shades of gradation and has up to a 5000:1 contrast ratio. Video noise reduction circuitry and a digital comb filter make sure the picture on screen is always optimal. The TH-42PZ700U will upconvert any signal you feed it and display it at 1080p.

Connections
On the back, the TH-42PZ700U features two HDMI inputs, two component inputs, two composite inputs, and two S-Video inputs. Hidden beneath panels in front is another composite and S-Video input, a component video input, and a slot for SD cards. Insert an SD card filled with photos and you can watch a slide show with the built-in Photo Viewer software.

TV as an Art Gallery
The TH-42PZ700U includes GalleryPlayer software you can use to display high-definition art and photography on your TV. A free collection of images is included so your television can display art even when it's not on.

One-Touch Convenience
When you use the Panasonic EZ-Sync technology to connect to other compatible EZ-Sync devices via the HDMI connector, you get one-touch control over all your home theater components. For example, with one touch of a button, you can turn on the DVD player, turn on the receiver, and set the DVD player as the source while also adjusting the sound level, turn on the TV--which will accept the input signal--and play the DVD. Instead of fumbling to find all the right buttons, you can watch your movies without wondering how to set everything up.

The TH-42PZ700U is backed by a 1-year limited warranty for parts and labor.

What's in the Box
TH-42PZ700U plasma HDTV, remote control (with batteries), AC cord, pedestal, two cable clamper, and antenna adapter.

Ratings & Comments(Average: 4.0

)

- Unbeatable....
This TV has the best picture of any TV I have ever seen. I build homes for multi-millionaires and I have seen some incredible TV's, theater rooms, with $50K audio systems wired in; and I have never seen a TV with a better picture.
I bought this TV within a week of Consumer Reports rating it as the best picture they had ever tested, and I was still surprised at how breathtaking the picture was. You cannot overrate this TV and its capabilities to deliver a picture like none you've seen before. I do implore you, however, to invest in a blu-ray DVD player and a high quality HDMI cable for the full effect. The picture, when playing a blu-ray DVD on the new Panasonic blu-ray DVD player, along with a high quality HDMI cable (Panasonic makes maybe the best available for only $25) is unbelievable. The definition is so amazing that your opinions of beautiful big screen actresses may come back down to earth after seeing the the blemishes in their complexion that you never would have seen on a regular TV.
This TV is the pinnacle. There is no TV better.

- Great TV but watch out for defective power supplies
The TV picture and sound quality are all excellent as the other reviews describe. However, some of these TVs were manufactured with defective power supplies (see http://stafford.typepad.com/the_next_america/2004/02/panasonic_plasm.html) that cause a 'blinking red power light of death' and the TV won't power on anymore. I was lucky mine failed after just 3 months so it was still under warranty. Panasonic arranged for a local repair shop to repair it, but we were without a TV for 3 days before the warranty repair service appointment. The repair (replacing the power supply circuit pack) took 20 minutes and the TV is fine now. It's a fantastic TV, but beware the faulty power supply.

- Excellent TV
For myself, it came down to a few important items. First, LCD was not going to be adequate given the problems with watching highspeed programs like sports or action movies. Secondly, I needed a screen that was capable of producing an excellent picture both in HD and on non-HD. Finaly I wanted to buy from a corporation that had an outstanding reputation and produced excellent products. With that said, this plasma television has been all of this and more. I am extremely impressed by this product. The picture is outstanding on non-HD, and it is exceptional on HD. I have a PS3 and the 1080p picture is surreal. The clarity of the picture and the sound is excellent and I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for an new flat-pannel television. Being the only 42in 1080p plasma on the market singles this product out, but after owning the item and observing it's capabilities, it definetely lives up to it's hype.

- 42PZ700U is the bomb for 42 inch television
I wanted a 42 inch TV for our bedroom. Close viewing distance was an issue so I wanted a 1080P television. No other 42 inch panel, LCD or plasma can hold a candle to this one for close viewing. NO screen door effect discernable at all. Beautiful picture quality, excellent controls, , beautiful package. One other thing -- The SOUND on this TV is great !! Highly Recommended

- Fantastic Television. Glad I Did My Research!
This was my first high-definition, flat panel TV. I was very picky when doing my research. My requirements were: 1080p, Plasma, and at least 40inch. After doing research on several sites and reading countless reviews, I settled on this Panasonic.

I found out that this is pretty much the smallest screen size that you can get while still realizing the benefits of 1080p. This worked great for me because I didn't have a budget for the 50inch+ TVs.

This is a fantastic TV and looks phenomenal when playing HD-DVDs in my Xbox 360 HD drive (using component connections). I haven't had a chance to try the HDMI connections, but I'm sure those will look great as well.

Highly recommended!

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