EmailBest Reviewed
Plasma TV
- Best 58-inch plasma TV Samsung PN58B650 *Est. $2140
- Best 50-inch plasma TV Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10 *Est. $2100
- Best 42-inch plasma HDTV Panasonic Viera TC-P42G10 *Est. $950
- Budget 50-inch plasma HDTV Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 *Est. $750
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- Deep black tones
- Decent value for the price
- Less prone to glare
- Good color saturation
- Primary colors not the most accurate
- Poor simulated surround sound
- Limited picture controls
Reviews say the 42-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 produces good pictures, but it lacks some features found in more expensive plasma TVs. What you do get, however, is excellent blacks and well-saturated colors that while not the most accurate of any set, really pop. Sound quality is also praised, but some reviewers say not to bother with the simulated surround-sound feature. If you have more to spend, the 42-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P42G10 (*Est. $950) provides some nice extras, including THX certification, which delivers movie-theater-accurate colors and Viera Cast, which provides access to Internet content from a small stable of providers including Amazon Video on Demand.
CNET and ConsumerReports.org are the most thorough because they cover lots of plasma TVs. CNET's review is free, but the one at ConsumerReports.org is only available to subscribers. DigitalTrends.com also weighs in with a detailed, unbiased report. User reviews are limited to date, but a handful can be read at Amazon.com.
Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P42G10 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
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Our Sources
1. CNET
Reviewer David Katzmaier gives the Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 a Very Good rating and says it's a good value for the price. However, he dings it for being less than accurate on primary colors, having "skimpy" controls and being "less efficient than comparable LCDs."
Review: Panasonic TC-P42S1, David Katzmaier, March 11, 2009
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 is among the six 42- to 46-inch plasma TVs ranked in a chart, with links to short but credible reviews based on thorough testing. The information here is only available to subscribers, however.
Review: Plasma TVs Ratings and Reliability, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
DigitalTrends.com conducts good hands-on testing, but there's no sign of the rigorous bench testing conducted by reviewers such as CNET and ConsumerReports.org. The 42-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 is praised for its black levels and resistance to reflections from room lighting, but it is criticized for poor simulated surround sound and not being as efficient as an LCD TV.
Review: Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 Review, David Elrich, April 29, 2009
4. Amazon.com
More than 20 owners have weighed in on the Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1 at last look. The vast majority give it a perfect score. The only completely negative review is from an owner who received a defective set.
Review: Panasonic Viera S1 Series TC-P42S1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Contributors to Amazon.com
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Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
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Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P42S1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
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