Panasonic VIERA TX-P42G10 Pro Reviews

Armed with their latest Neo PDP technology, the TX-P42G10 is Panasonic’s first attempt at claiming the vacant throne. Although its black performance has improved to the level of an entry-level 8G Pioneer Kuro PDP-4280XD, the TX-P42G10 still trails behind the nearly extinct Kuros in terms of colour accuracy and standard-def video processing. Nevertheless, if you can forgive Panasonic for omitting white balance and gamma controls from the UK variant, and the set’s subpar SD deinterlacing (which can be overcome by letting a competent external device do the job), the TX-P42G10 still represents excellent value-for-money due to its virtues of inky blacks, revealing shadow detail, natural colours, superb motion clarity, negligible input lag, integrated Freesat tuner, wide viewing angles, and reduced power consumption (cf. previous 1080p plasmas).

The TX-P42G10B is a superb choice. With excellent image quality, great sound and built-in Freesat and Freeview tuners, plus the promise of the BBC iPlayer, it wins a Best Buy award.

The 2009 Panasonics have taken up where the 2008 models left off: the TX-P42G10 is fine value for money

If all you’re looking for is a big 42in flat-screen TV for watching routine standard-definition fare such as Big Brother or Britain’s [Not] Got Talent, then there are cheaper – possibly even better – LCD sets available, as we’ve seen LCD models that scale SD content more effectively. However, sports fans will appreciate the reduction in motion-blur achieved by Panasonic’s 600Hz processing, while its impressive contrast ratio and crisp, clean blacks make it a good choice for movie buffs.

Well done to Panasonic for the TX-P42G10. Here we have a Plasma display with contrast performance previously reserved only for the high end, made available in smaller screen sizes, and for an amount of money that, recession or not, is a steal.

The P42G10's flaws are relatively minor, consisting of a little residual judder during fast camera pans, some rare and quite low-level processing artefacts when engaging the IFC system, a few rogue colour tones (especially when watching SD sources) and a slightly soft look to standard-definition pictures. With some decently robust audio the only barrier to total irresistibility is this screen's rather steep price.

The P42G10 continues to prove that Panasonic's NeoPDP panels have moved the brand's plasma technology up a gear, and so are well worth saving up for over Panasonic's latest non-NeoPDP models.