We can't deny the buzz of excitement when a Panasonic plasma TV winds up on our test benches. The company's standards have long been so high it seems unimaginable that it might make a bad one.
This situation is reinforced by the superb new 42-inch TH-42PX700 but as we'll see, it's not necessarily a TV we can wholeheartedly recommend. Confused? All will become clear…
But let's start at the beginning, with the 42PX700's pretty combination of a gloss black screen surround and silver undersection. This silver part sets the 42PX700 apart aesthetically from Panasonic's entry-level all-black PX70 models.
The same undersection also contains another PX700 advantage over the PX70 range with a slot capable of taking either SD or SDHC (high capacity) cards, for showing digital photos.
Other key 'step-up' benefits of the 42PX700 are its handsome provision of three HDMIs versus the two for the PX70 range; four-pin S-video and RCA composite video inputs; plus an 'Advanced Smart Sound Speaker System', with improved speakers claiming to deliver greater clarity, bass and mid-range sound localisation.
When it comes to pictures, the 42PX700's main claim to fame is Panasonic's new Viera Vreal2 image engine, along with various processing tricks. Not least among these is the 1080p digital processing chipset enabling the TV to both handle native 1080p sources and 're-master' non-1080p sources into the format.
Then there's a digital optimiser for spotting and removing the sort of noise common to digital video signals; Motion Pattern Noise reduction for reducing the false contour noise that can effect motion on plasma panels; Panasonic's near-legendary Real Black Drive system and Deep Black Filter for enhancing black level response; 12-bit processing to reproduce a claimed 3,072 steps of image gradation for cleaner, more expressive dark areas and rich colours; and Advanced 3D Colour Management for full control of multiple colours without affecting neighbouring hues. Got all that? Good.
What a contrast!
The 42PX700 has a 1024 x 768 resolution panel (made widescreen by stretching the pixels horizontally) and a high claimed contrast of 10000:1.
The only other notable feature here is a 'Viera Link' element built into the HDMIs to control other Viera Link Panasonic equipment via the TV's remote. It's a pity, perhaps, that Panasonic hasn't gone for the less brand-specific CEC HDMI communication system being used by a few rival brands now, but there you go.
Set to work on the Blu-ray transfer of Casino Royale – which finally proves that Blu-ray really can deliver the HD goods – the 42PX700 immediately impresses in quite spectacular fashion.
Panasonic plasmas are known for the outstanding depth of the picture's black levels. The night-time backdrop to the office scenes in the opening black and white sequence is flawless. In other words, it looks black rather than washed out grey and yet there's also clear evidence of shadow detailing in even the darkest corners, lending the scene a cinematic sense of scale.
Great black level performances like this are nearly always accompanied by rich, natural colours, and that's emphatically the case with the 42PX700. The vibrant tones of the opening credits sequence are perfectly saturated, bright and free of noise, while subtler fare such as the skin tones during Casino Royale's torture session (ouch) looks effortlessly believable.
The TV also does a good job of reproducing the superb levels of HD detailing in the Casino Royale Blu-ray disc. And as ever with a plasma TV it's a real treat to see fast-moving sequences like the opening Parkour chase delivered with little of the motion blur that afflicts LCD TVs. Crucially, the 42PX700 also avoids that common plasma motion problem of dotty noise over moving skin tones.
With little sign of plasma's traditional problems with showing smooth colour blends either, the 42PX700 delivers a terrific home cinema experience. But that's not to say its pictures are perfect. We've seen sharper HD images and brighter, more dazzling colours from one or two of its best LCD rivals. And horizontal motion sometimes judders a touch, and some sharply contrasting edges can look slightly jagged.
But it's a testament to how good everything else is that even combined the negative points don't get close to preventing the 42PX700 from being a truly stellar picture performer.
That enhanced speaker system meanwhile, lives up to its billing, with bass depth and mid-range openness that make most flat TV rivals sound flimsy.
Buy a 42PX700 then, and you know you're getting a TV that's state of the art by flat TV standards right now. Hence the full marks. And yet we suggest that you pause before getting your credit card out…
That's because you can now get the 42-inch entry-level TV in Panasonic's new range, the 42PX70 (which we'll be reviewing soon), for a cool £300 less even though it carries the same image technology as its costlier brother.
So does the 42PX700's extra sound quality and inputs warrant its extra cost? In our opinion, they probably don't, especially if you've got a separate home cinema sound system. But in the end the choice is, of course, yours. In either case you'll be getting one heck of a TV.
Power Source AC 220 – 240 V 50/60Hz
Connectivity 15 Pin D-Sub
No of Analogue Audio Outputs 1
No of Component Inputs 1
No of Digital Optical Audio Outputs 1
No of HDMI Connectors 3
No of S-video Inputs 1
No of Scart Connectors 3
PC Connectivity XGA, MPN, TH42PX700PED
Price at Launch 1300 GBP
Contrast Ratio 10000:1
Display Resolution 1024 x 768
Max No of Colours (billion) 29 billion colours
Panel Type G10 Progressive HD Plasma Display Panel
Screen Size 42 inches
Total No of Pixels 786432
Memory Card Compatibility SD
Tuner Details PLL synthesizer 100-position auto-search DVB-T tuner
Speakers Smart Sound Speaker System / 31 W (13W and 2.5 W) x 2 / 10 percent THD
Aspect Controls 16:9, 14:9, Zoom Auto, 4:3
Multi-Window Options Picture and Text, Picture and Picture, Picture in Picture
Colour Black/Silver
Dimensions 1077 x 689 x 138 mm (w x h x d)
Features Vreal2 processing / 1080p Capable
Freeview Yes
Warranty Length 1 Year
For
* Fantastic picture quality
* Great black levels
* No sign of plasma's traditional flaws
Against
* Occasional horizonatal motion shuddering
Verdict
Another day, another scintillating Panasonic plasma TV. The entry-level 42PX70 may be even better value for money
