With its excellent picture quality, built-in over-the-air HDTV tuner, and flexible Digital Cable Ready design, Panasonic's 42" TH-42PD25U is an up-to-the-minute plasma TV. Its 42" screen is big enough to suit most living rooms, yet its space-efficient design could also make it the ultimate bedroom TV. This high-value plasma is an all-in-one design - it can tune in over-the-air and cable HD channels without a separate tuner box!
The TH-42PD25U has EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV) picture resolution - it displays all signals at 480p. Video sources ranging from low quality (VHS tapes) to the highest quality (HDTV) are automatically converted to 480p by Panasonic's acclaimed "scaling" circuitry. Although this set doesn't have true HD resolution, most people would be fooled by its extraordinarily sharp, clean picture. It's a honey.
Panasonic is one of only a handful of companies that actually manufactures the plasma "glass." Their superior plasma technology delivers some of the deepest blacks, highest contrast ratio, and smoothest grayscaling you'll see anywhere. The TH-42PD25U is among the latest-generation designs, capable of reproducing over a billion colors.
This is also one well-connected plasma. Panasonic provides six A/V inputs, including dual component video inputs, plus an HDMI connection for your highest-quality video signals. For regular video sources, you'll find two sets of rear A/V inputs and a set of front inputs (all with S-video) so you can easily connect a camcorder, VCR, video game console, etc. You can view standard 4:3 material with vertical bars on the sides, or choose one of the viewing modes that stretches and/or zooms a 4:3 image to fill up the panel's wide screen.
Features:
EDTV design (all signals displayed at 480p)
built-in over-the-air HDTV (ATSC) tuner (see our HD antennas)
Built-In ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuners
Digital Cable Ready design with CableCARD slot Photo Viewer with SD Card Slot
Contrast Ratio up to 4000:1
160 degrees x 160 degrees Viewing Angles
HDMI Input
1,536 Shades of Gradation
852 x 480 Pixels
Progressive Scan Doubler (upconverts analog signals to 480p)
Progressive Cinema Scan de-interlacer with 3-2 pulldown processing
Two-Tuner Picture-in-Picture with Split Screen Display
New Real Black Drive System
Gamma Enhancement System
Mach Band Effect Enhancer
Built-in stereo speakers (8 watts x 2)
BBE/Viva 3D sound enhancement
Optical digital audio output for Dolby Digital
Surround Sound
Artificial Intelligence Sound Control
Detachable tabletop swivel stand
Specifications:
Screen Size: 42" Diagonal
Resolution: 852 x 480 Pixels
Contrast Ratio: up to 4000:1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Built-in Tuners: ATSC/QAM/NTSC
Viewing Angles: 160-Degree
Display Type: EDTV 480p
HDMI-HDCP Interface
RF inputs for antenna/cable: x 2
Audio Input (for Video): x 2 rear, x 1 front
Audio Input (for PC): x 1 front (shared input)
S-Video Input: x 2 rear, x 1 front
Composite Video input: x 2 rear, x 1 front
Component Video Inputs: x 2 rear inputs
Composite Video Output: x 1 rear output
PC Input (RGB-VGA): Mini D-sub 15-pin (front)
Audio Input (for Component Video): 2
Photo Viewer: SD Slot
Remote Control: included
Dimensions (H x W x D):
25.9'' x 46.1" x x 3.9''
Weight: 79.4 lbs
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
Notes:
* For models with built-in ATSC/QAM/CableCARD: Optional external over-the-air antenna may be required for ATSC reception. Contact your local cable company for information regarding the availability and costs of CableCARD-related services.
** For models without built-in HDTV tuners: Optional HDTV set-top receiver required to view DTV programming. Optional external over-the-air antenna may be required for ATSC reception. If your cable company passes through a network DTV signal unchanged, an optional HDTV set-top receiver can decode and tune the program. However, FCC must-carry regulations for cable DTV pass-through have not been finalized.
** Contact your local cable company for information regarding the availability and costs of CableCARD-related services.
