Panasonic TC-P42G25

HDTVs are evolving yet again this year as manufacturers implement 3D technologies to impress their customers. With limited 3D support and requirement for 3D glasses, not everyone is ready to make the leap just yet, but some might be tired of their old flat-panel displays. A fresh new design is always welcome especially if it offers an attractive set of new features. This is what the Panasonic TC-P42G25 is all about and surprisingly, it is a plasma display that is quite affordable because it is the smallest model of the high-end G25 plasma series.

Panasonic TC-P42G25

Panasonic TC-P42G25

Technical Features

The Panasonic TC-P42G25 is designed for large rooms and blends in well with other home theater components. One of the biggest changes compared to the older models is its higher energy efficiency. It meets the Energy Star 4.0 expectations and promises longer life than most other plasma displays.

It is also very capable of presenting the best that the 1080p resolution has to offer. Thanks to all the technologies incorporated into this model, the display is THX certified showing just how great the black levels are. It features 3 HDMI inputs which is sufficient for plugging in a gaming console and a media player for a home cinema experience. If a gaming console is used with the TV, activate the Game Mode to see the dark images better.

Actual user review:
“Although I have been working in the AV industry for many years I have been holding back – seen a lot of feature hype and hoopla go by but this is the first flat screen plasma I liked with a price that was reasonable.
For a couple of years now I have been looking for an HDTV with wide viewing angels – worked well in dark or well lit room without too much reflection – rich accurate color reproduction – Works well with games or sports motion – works well with over the air/cable SD signals or SD DVD play back – ease of use – easy break in – Minimal chance of image retention – Multiple input/outputs – reasonable price. I do recommend this TV to all it’s a good value, sharp accurate picture and a great product.” – Steve(Seattle,WA)

Technologies

Most of the powerful features lie on the technologies backing up the Panasonic TC-P42G25. The most basic form is the NeoPDP technology which isn’t very new as previous models were featuring it. Even some of the more affordable Panasonic models have this technology and is great for increasing power and luminous efficiency.

The Infinite Black panel makes a return which has proven that crisp blacks are a reality and the demonstrations really highlight their differences.  This bumps up the dynamic contrast ration to 5,000,000:1 comparing very well to the pricier LED displays. A 600 Hz Sub-field drive also powers the device using a special algorithm that analyzes image data and turn it into quicker producing frames.

Extra Features

The Panasonic TC-P42G25 really shines on the extra features with VIERA Cast on the top of the list. This feature single-handedly turns the P42G25 into a full Internet device offering connectivity to a number of services including Twitter, Pandora, Picasa, and Weather. With support for Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand, titles can also be streamed on to the TV in real time as long as a connection to the Internet via Ethernet is established.

It also features an enhanced version of the VIERA Image Viewer which not only plays black JPEG photos stored in SD cards, but AVCHD videos as well. To make the presentation more interesting, there are five background music types to choose from. Although it is completely independent from desktops and laptops, travelogues can be created from the PC and sent directly to the TV adding creativity in making original slideshows.

There are two USB ports which is enough to plug in a keyboard and a Wi-Fi LAN adapter so it can wirelessly connect to wireless router. A USB keyboard can even be hooked up to the TV to get the most out of the TV’s browsing abilities. Another powerful Internet feature is its support for Skype where video calls can be initiated once the TY-CC10 communication camera is connected to the TV.

Like most other VIERA TVs, the Panasonic TC-P54S2 comes with the VIERA Link feature which works similarly to other competing technologies that use the HDMI port. As long as the connected HDMI device is a Panasonic one and supports VIERA Link too, the device can be controlled remotely using the same TV remote.

Bottom Line

There are not many THX certified displays in the market and the Panasonic TC-P54S2 is one of the newest TVs available that have this feature. It has enough technologies to overcome the several weaknesses that most plasma displays possess and comes with some solid extras to make it more than worth the cost. Any fan of HD movies and high-speed gaming should enjoy the experience that this TV brings. It is even better now that this TV supports the Energy Star 4.0 standards which promises long life running device.

Average User Rating:

Actual User Reviews:
• “I searched around for a great TV.Researched this one for awhile.I was interested in G10, and then the G15 came out.Almost bought the G15 but the G25 was an updated model of G15.I could of saved some bucks getting the G15 but I got a great price from Amazon,$949.Setting it up was pretty easy except for the sound.It took me a few days to finally figure it out.You have to get wires correct and then go into TV with remote to select correct settings.I had HDMI with Component 1.If you don’t have the correct settings you won’t get any sound.What really makes this TV is the picture.All I can say is WOW.The speakers are also OK.The only complaint I have is if you hit any number on the remote by mistake you will get no picture.You have to go in and again reset the settings.I had HDMI with cable.I use Panasonic’s remote to put TV on and then use my cable box remote to change stations.The bottom line is if you want a TV with a fantastic picture,you will not go wrong with this make and model.I highly recommend this TV.I hope this review helps you decide on your TV.” – Alan K. Milton(MA,USA)

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• “I wanted TV that would fit in a small room. Anything over 42 would have been too big. I also wanted a TV with all the connections (USB, Flashcard, Computer, HDMI,etc). I wanted a high refresh rate. I wanted a TV that made my Blu-ray movies look amazing and my old VHS tapes tolerable (and I wanted standard broadcasts to look good). I wanted a TV with a good viewing angle. I wanted to be able to connect to the internet. This TV does all those things very well. I’m so glad I bought it. But I had my doubts. Frankly I was worried. I’d never bought a TV online. Another issue: I bought plasma. I’ve never owned plasma. I’ve never owned LCD, but whenever I went to Best Buy or other stores, the Samsung LCD LED seemed to have the best picture than anything else and the plasma’s always looked worse the LCD’s. But I did a little research and learned that companies push LCD in the stores because they make more money off the LCD’s. I also learned that LCD’s have a brighter picture which shows better in store lighting. I really liked the advantages that the plasma seemed to offer (the best refresh rate, true blacks, no picture loss from viewing the screen off center, accurate color reproduction, amazing picture at near half the price of comparable LCD’s). I love this TV. I’ve had no problems. Delivery went smoothly. The picture quality is amazing. I have no regrets. Only one thing to be aware of–this TV needs a wireless USB adapter to connect to the internet. It costs an extra 85$. Didn’t know that until after I set it up and realized it wasn’t really internet ready out of the box. Luckily I bought the Panasonic Blu Ray player that includes the required USB wireless adapter. Also, sound is acceptable, but I’ve got this TV hooked up to a surround sound system, so I wasn’t worried about sound quality all that much.” – Joe (Panguitch, Utah)

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