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Panasonic TH-42PH9UK 42" Plasma TV (Widescreen, 1024x768, 10,000:1, HDTV - MPN: TH42PH9UK)
Description: A stunning 42" high definition professional plasma display that delivers the elegance and superb image quality for any installation, while providing full integration in an automated environment.
With an up to 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 3,0.... Read More Description: A stunning 42" high definition professional plasma display that delivers the elegance and superb image quality for any installation, while providing full integration in an automated environment.
With an up to 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 3,072 shades of gradation and industry-leading 16-bit processing, the TH-42PH9UK delivers significant image quality improvements to produce an unforgettable visual experience. With Panasonic's multi-function input slot system, this 42" flat panel display offers seamless integration in virtually any AV, PC or interactive environment, so it can be used in the widest range of vertical or horizontal display applications. This 42" panel is more light weight (15% lighter than prior models) and more energy efficient, and its ultra-stylish design looks ultra sleek even when the panel's turned off. Panasonic combines the very best in image quality, customization and size selection in its new Professional Series plasma family.
The TH-42PH9UK comes standard with PC Input, Audio Input (for PC), Serial Control (RS-232C) Input, BNC Component Video/RGB Input and Audio Input, BNC Composite Video Input, S-Video Input, and Audio Input (for Video). There is an available slot for an optional terminal board. Or, you can remove the standard boards and mount up to three optional boards. Minimize |
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| Date Reviewed: 01/03/2007 |
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Strengths: Extraordinary picture quality, inky blacks with great shadow detail, vivid color saturation, sleek deisgn, EXTRAORDINARY PICTURE QUALITY
Weaknesses: No built-in tuner, HDMI input sold separately, stand sold separately
Summary: At its current price point, this is hands down the best value in the 42-inch plasma market. It would remain the best value even at a higher price!
This TV drops the jaw of everyone who sees it. Why? It is just as sexy turned off as when turned on. But when its on, it is ultra-realistic, brilliant, vivid, crisp, and vibrant. Its black-level performance is second-to-none: black scenes are deep and dark ("inky," as the reviewers like to say), but not muddy; there is a dramatic amount of shadowy detail in even deep dark scenes. This is a rare and special feat for a flat panel TV, usually not seen in this panel size or this price range.
This commercial Panasonic display is exactly the same as Panasonic's more widely available consumer models, with a few key differences. First, its much cooler looking. Second, it has different video-processing circuitry which performs better in many circumstances and which allows for a broader variety of tweaks and changes. Third, it doesn't come with some of the "built-in" features of the consumer TVs: it doesn't have a built-in TV tuner, nor an HDMI input, nor a stand. The latter 2 can each be purchased separately for around $100 each; the tuner you will have to provide. I use a Tivo and a cable set-top box, so I don't need a built-in tuner at all. If you DO need a tuner, then look to the consumer models.
If you don't, then you cannot do better than this set. The image quality is outstanding, the price is ultra-competitive, and the usability-factor is very high. Even with the added stand and HDMI board, this TV will still cost less than all but the cheapest and crummiest of plasma TVs. But its performance will eat those types alive!
If you don't need a built-in tuner and want the best value for your money, then I can't recommend this TV enough. It will exceed all of your expectations!
 83% of People (33/40) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 03/22/2007 |
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Strengths: Good as everyone says in terms of picture.
Weaknesses: Bare bones with poor documentation. You could think you're saving money by going "pro" but then do wrong things that negate your savings.
Summary: I did not know if I needed an HDMI board and I bought one based upon one of the above reviews (for an extra $150). The HDMI Monster cables were $100 more. Ouch. Then when i connect everything I find that if you use the HDMI connection you do not get the option to control color and tint--two of the things that are most important in tweaking your image to give you what you want. This freaked me out. I had to then go out and get $20 worth of RCA to BNC couplers to run the HD signal from my digital cable box to the plasma. Then I was able to control tint, color, etc (after unplugging the HDMI and figuring how to find the input stream) and get the picture just right. So, I threw $250 at what seemed like the smart thing only to have it sit now in case I buy some other HD peripheral. Another thing is this TV will not stand up without the pedestal. That is about $200. I had to wall mount it or wait for delivery of the stand I didn't realize I needed. So, unless you're totally up on these things, I suggest adding $400-500 more than the prices you see compared in this service. That may persuade you to think about another set (consumer). For me, I've only just got mine working and I have to get over the fact that I did stupid stuff that blew my pricing efforts completely.
80% of People (20/25) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 02/13/2007 |
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Strengths: Picture Quality, overall size, ease of use/setup, ability to customize which inputs you need, value
Weaknesses: None. Well, if you need a "loaded" plasma (I.E. speakers, lots of digital inputs) this isn't the unit for you
Summary: For the Home Theater application, there is no better plasma for the money- i mean do the math compared to the rest in its class. This unit does not have speakers built in, therefore keeps a low-profile and sleek rectangular look. In a theater, units including speakers are overkill. For the enthusiast, this plasma allows you to customize which inputs you have. Want 1 HDMI and 1 DVI? No problem. Keeping the base price low plus a FANTASTIC picture allows for a perfectly-equipped product for each implementation's needs. You wont be sorry with this one.
75% of People (6/8) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 02/12/2007 |
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Strengths: Lightweight, sleek, wall-mountable, phenomenal picture, deep blacks, good menus, great connection options via slots
Weaknesses: None so far
Summary: I am using this in the following Home Theater setup: Onkyo SR-504 Receiver 7 Acoustic Research Speakers BIC Acoustech H-100 Sub Phillips HDMI DVD Player DirecTV HR-20 HD DVR For the price, this is absolutely the finest display you can buy. I say "display" because this is not the consumer model; it does not have a tuner or speakers. Thus, it is perfect for a Home Theater Application. I ordered it from Visual Apex with the HDMI expansion slot. Had it within a week and had it operational within 40 minutes of receiving the display. The colors are fantastic and it just looks good mounted on the wall; just a small black bezel framing the display. End your research here. This is the one to get.
70% of People (7/10) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 02/26/2007 |
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Strengths: Aesthetics, upgrade ability, picture quality, adjustments
Weaknesses: Buzzing
Summary: This is a great set at a great price. Though this would be used as my primary tv at home, you don't need to be a professional or anywhere near the industry to utilize this tv. Right out of the box, you have components you can hook your external HD tuner box right up to. With the amount of adjust ability, you can get your picture to however warm, bright, dark, bland, sharp, etc. you want your picture to be.
The way this set is designed, the pure aesthetics is amazing. The simple black bezel is perfect for what I was looking for.
The down part to this set, even though this is my first plasma and maybe other do it too, maybe not, is the buzzing this set produces. It's not the fans, it's when the picture gets bright, which seems normal, the set buzzes. With audio, you won't be able to notice it.
The picture that this set produces is amazing. Watching the Academy awards in HD is nothing like I've experienced. It's just short of being there in person. I love my set and the way the set is designed. This thing is a thing of beauty.
67% of People (8/12) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 12/14/2006 |
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Strengths: Great picture, looks like artwork hanging from my wall
Weaknesses: None so far
Summary: If you want a bare bones, no bells and whistles TV, this is the one for you. I bought the HDMI board and the picture is amazing. Still can't believe I was able to puchase this for under $1500.
67% of People (4/6) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 02/06/2007 |
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Strengths: Certainly light enough for a lady to carry... Very good picture quality and design
Weaknesses: none yet
Summary: I would recommend this product to professionals in the video production and media realm. The quality is superb. Definitely worth it for its price, which is reasonable. It's easily mountable to any mounting system. Great too with a free 5-year warranty.
64% of People (7/11) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 10/03/2006 |
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Strengths: Incredible picture quality, smooth classic look. deep blacks
Weaknesses: Haven't found yet!
Summary: I was waiting a long time to buy the older model TH-42PHD8UK, but then Panasonic came out with this 9th generation plasma TV, which has all the features that its predecessor, it is lighter AND cheaper!! What more can you ask??
It is a tuner less and speaker less display, but if you have a home-theater speaker system and you're hooking it to you satellite/cable HD receiver, you're ready to roll, and watch HD picture and sound.
Come's w/o the HDMI plug, which can be purchased separately for about $150, but even without it (I connected through the BNC/Composite input) the picture quality is superb
63% of People (12/19) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 02/03/2007 |
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Strengths: Superb picture quality; rich color saturation; high contrast; deep, rich black level allowing for good shadow detail; allows for lots of tweaking; attractive slim-profile black case.
Weaknesses: Does not come with HDMI board (extra $150); reflective screen (true for all plasmas); no integrated tuner or speakers (could be considered a plus).
Summary: Okay, I ran out of room in the Strengths box. A couple more: Has good anti-burn-in features, and it handles Standard Definition (SD) television signals relatively well, certainly better than I've seen in other widescreens regardless of format (plasma, LCD, DLP).
The Panasonic TH-42PH9UK 42" Plasma display is simply the best in its class at this price level. As have been indicated in other reviews, the picture quality is first rate, and better than i've seen on many 1080p sets. No ghosting of images, handles fast action as well as low-light scenes. Nice, deep blacks give a richer experience. I did spring for the HDMI card, and boy am I glad I did! The HDMI signal from my High Definition (HD) cablebox on an HD channel and Kapow! A feast for the eyes. The detail and clarity is absolutely stunning. The display does not have its own tuner, so you have to have other equipment to process the signal. Fortunately, an HD cablebox does the job quite handily. Likewise the display does not have its own speakers, which is just fine with me, because my Dolby Surround home theater system is going to do a much better job with the audio signal anyway.
Notice that i've been referring to this set as a display and not a television. The reason is that this plasma is not a consumer-model television. It is a professional (business) display screen. This is the main reason that it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the consumer models do. And while this may take it out of consideration for some, it is also its greatest strength (other than the picture quality). It allows for flexibility and keeps it simple. It is a nice respite from the rather busy-looking and huge silver colored television cases that surround today's consumer models. The 9UK is the essence of sleek with barely and inch of clean black frame around the plasma screen. It is nice to look at even while turned off. Actually Panasonic does sell this model on its consumer website under a different model number, with the hook that you can also buy a custom art frame (for a mere $400) that fits on it to make it a true work of art. While haven't gone that far, I did mount it on the wall and run the cables through the wall. We have crown moldings at the ceiling, so I ran a cable from a molding hook down to the back of the display so that it looks like a piece of artwork hanging from the hook. I should mention that since it is a professional display, it is optimized to handle a computer monitor signal. Even with a standard VGA cable the picture run off the computer is great.
I've had this plasma for about three months now and having treated it well through its first 100 hours, I can't see any signs of burn-in. While I generally try to keep the whole screen filled and active, I have watched movies with letterboxing without any lasting effects. The toughest part has been teaching the other family members to make sure the plasma is turned off when it's not being used...
63% of People (5/8) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 04/09/2007 |
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Strengths: This TV has excellent color rendition, brightness, and 10,000:1 contrast.On digital inputs, it rivals my 37" LCD TV in sharpness & clarity.
Weaknesses: This is a TV monitor only, meaning the user must supply a plug-in module for a digital signal. (there is only an analog input-YPbPr, supplied with the TV)
Summary: 2007-05-11 19:15:50 The HDMI module is a requirement for a superior (digitally derived) picture. If over-the-air local channel HDTV reception is desired, a tuner is also required, since this is also not supplied with the TV. However, even with these add-ons, the final tally is still low. (In my case, it only raised the TV price by the cost of the HDMI module-about $130.00, since I already had a Samsung tuner) If a tuner is required, it can be obtained on the net for about for about $150.00.
If a DVD source is used, to maintain quality, an "up-converting" DVD player must be used, and there are players available for less than $100.00.
All in all, I feel I've really gotten a TV with a high quality/price ratio, and it's partially due to Pricegrabber.
57% of People (4/7) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 12/19/2006 |
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Strengths: Excellent picture quality among the class, support NTSC/PAL signal, Nice looking, works well with the panasonic stand TY-ST08-K.
Weaknesses: Nope so far on the plasma TV.
Summary: Good plasma TV and good for value $$$, this model is highly ranked on all other website too. I bought it 3 weeks ago and I am very satisfy with the performance, no problem so far and I really enjoy the picture quality. The only things that you might need to aware of are you need to get the accessories for the TV by yourself like tuner, stand, speakers, HDMI plug which might be going to cost you additional $$$, ~USD 500 for my case. However, it is your choice if you want to get the accessories and you can on the speaker if you already have home theater with you.
56% of People (5/9) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 08/06/2006 |
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Strengths: Great Picture ,vivid colors,cinema like feel
Weaknesses: No speakers or no tv tuner
Summary: The 9 series Pro Plasma HD display from Panasonic.Rich deep blacks,vivid colors ,Bright Picture.Perfect for watching HD and DVD movies.Most features for less than I rate this a 10 out of 10
54% of People (7/13) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 03/08/2007 |
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Strengths: This was rated #1 from http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/ and also recommended from a co-worker. Great picture, HD content is unbeatable and SD content is up to par with any crt tv i've seen.
Weaknesses: Inputs are a little lacking, but no problem if your using an a/v receiver. Other con would be how it's alittle hard/arkward to connect cables with a pedestal stand.
Summary: 2007-03-28 15:23:21 Overall I give this tv 5 stars and would recommend this tv for anyone looking for a relatively cheap plasma but still getting the greatest picture i've seen so far plus being light weight!!!
50% of People (6/12) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 03/06/2007 |
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Strengths: Beautiful, stylish, crystal clear picture.
Weaknesses: none so far.
Summary: I did a lot of research on many websites regarding Plasma Monitors, and found this one to receive the best reviews in the price range. The monitor came out of the box looking stunning. As per a certain forum for avs I changed some of the basics in the picture quality to prevent burn in (I don't care what people say about it not existing anymore- I don't want to take any chances). So far, the monitor has exceeded my expectations of what a plasma TV can do. HD Discovery in particular is breath taking. I leave it on to help with the burn in while I work, but often find myself glaring at the pictures, entranced by how real they seem. I'm telling you, last week the Redwood Forest was in my living room! I can't say anything negative about the monitor- not even the lack of speakers and stand. I have a Denon S-301 HTIB and I bought the Peerless swivel table stand to sit on my credenza. I've waited for years to put together my first home theatre, and I firmly believe I found the right instruments. I highly reccommend this monitor to anyone looking for a 42 inch TV. The price is right, and the product is EXTREMELY satisfying.
50% of People (4/8) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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| Date Reviewed: 11/29/2006 |
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Strengths: Great picture, sharp color definition, deep blacks
Weaknesses: no speakers, limited inputs
Summary: Although limited in features, ie speakers and/or HDMI input must be purchased separately, this set delivers at a very reasonable price. The picture quality is excellent. The blacks are sharp. I cant imagine a better bargain given Panasonic's offer of a 5 year warranty at no extra cost.
46% of People (6/13) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
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