Read our user comments about the Panasonic Viera TX-P42V20

Comments

Please wait while we process your request

Please wait while we retrieve the user's information

Bio

Your bio is currently empty. Now is a great time to fill in your profile.

This profile is private.

This profile is only shared with friends.

This profile is under review.

We were unable to request friendship with this user.

We were unable to request friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

Your friendship request has been sent to this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

You are no longer friends with this user.

We were unable to ignore this user.

We were unable to ignore this user. Are you logged in?

This user is now ignored.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user. Are you logged in?

This user is no longer ignored.

pluck_user_mp-abuse_too_long_err

Name withheld

Michael McG

8:14 AM on 15 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Michael McG. Show Details Hide Details

looks like i will be placing an order for one of these tomorrow.. for delivery next week.. i want a plasma and can only fit 42" in my setup.. so it ticks all the boxes.. it doesnt have 3d but i think its about the only drawback.. i dont think 3d will have enough content to justify a tv for a couple of years, at which point i'll probably want to buy a new tv again anyway.. just like to say - the review is good, but a little light on detail compared to some other reviews i have seen of the tv.. most suggest to leave off the intelligent frame creation as it leaves everything look like video.. and introduces unwanted artifects on hd material

Score:

Name withheld

Michael McG

1:14 PM on 15 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Michael McG. Show Details Hide Details

Hi John - i know its a while ago but you also reviews my current tv

Sony Bravia KDL-40W4000 Full HD 40in LCD TV

http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/05/23/Sony-Bravia-KDL-40W4000-Full-HD-40in-LCD-TV/p1

My question to you is - is the pansonic a major upgrade in terms of picture quality over the Sony? I had the Sony ISF calibrated so its pretty good, but i feel the black level could be a lot better.

Cheers,

Mick

Score:

Name withheld

Geoff Richards

1:47 PM on 15 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Geoff Richards. Show Details Hide Details

@Michael McG: while I haven't seen either TV in person, a move to a V20 brings with it two main benefits on paper. 1) It's plasma, so blacks will be much richer than your current LCD TV, and 2) it's plasma, so it should handle motion better.

Beyond that, I can't really comment myself with any degree of authority.

Score:

Name withheld

Chris

1:53 PM on 15 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Chris. Show Details Hide Details

@Michael: "...i feel the black level could be a lot better"

I know how you feel, that's generally my response to most LCD sets, including my Samsung Series 6 which is a similar vintage. I think it's safe to assume that any high-end plasma will be far superior to your current set in this regard.

Score:

Name withheld

AJ

2:28 PM on 15 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore AJ. Show Details Hide Details

My problem is that I have yet another TV to choose from.

I want a TV to go upstairs in the Snug. It will probably be used a couple of times a week and run a mixture of Freeview HD (I live 3 miles from Crystal Palace), video from the PC, iPlayer and DVD's.

I'm just not sure whether I should put something cheap up there, or go for the G20 or now this. I prefer plasma to LCD though and have a habit of err'ing towards the high end stuff :)

Too much choice is not always a good thing - lol...

Score:

Name withheld

Simon J

8:29 AM on 16 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Simon J. Show Details Hide Details

Nice review although I have to say I am slightly disappointed that this screen did not fair better (design and sound.....come on Panasonic). I guess 9 out of 10 is still a good score....but should we have expected better? This has left me with a couple of questions:

1) Do you know if you will be reviewing the bigger brother of this set....namely the TX-P50V20B? Or should I just refer to the 3D version TX-P50VT20B as the differences with standard 2D version will be insignificant?

2) Concentrating on purely image quality, is this set on par or dare I say it better than the final 9th generation Pioneer displays? If not....can Panasonic ever achieve such a goal?

3) Do you think plasma technology has reached its pinnacle or can Panasonic, etc do any more with this technology to keep it ahead of the upcoming LCD / OMLED technology screen advancements?

Score:

Name withheld

Al 2

10:23 AM on 16 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Al 2. Show Details Hide Details

So can I just plug my satellite dish in the back and get HD (the free stuff?)

Score:

Name withheld

Geoff Richards

10:26 AM on 16 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Geoff Richards. Show Details Hide Details

@Al: this model (indeed, most Panasonic's these days) has built-in Freeview HD and Freesat HD. Since you have a dish, please refer to the Freesat HD site for details: http://www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=hd.Main

Score:

Name withheld

staraffinity

3:02 PM on 16 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore staraffinity. Show Details Hide Details

Again no word on the flickering that many of us (I'm one of them) see in brighter areas of a plasma TV image.

On a Swedish site selling televisions I found this for the Panasonic G20 plasmas:

”600 HZ is misleading – I know they say it has that on paper, but that is NOT the update frequency that is 600 Hz but the Sub Field frequency. Two totally different things (12 layers of Sub Fields that are show behind each pixel in standard frequency (50 Hz)). They've just multiplied the two and say it's 600 HZ!!! But again, it is NOT the update frequency that is 600 Hz, it's still 50 Hz.”

(translated from Swedish)

http://www.dustinhome.se/pd_5010445526.aspx

50 Hz is the same update frequency many of the old CRT TVs had!

Some of the later CRT TVs had 100 Hz update frequency – why can't the plasmas of today also have that? Is it a technology limitation for plasmas or what's the reason behind just using 50 Hz?

Score:

Name withheld

PoisonJam

5:21 PM on 16 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore PoisonJam. Show Details Hide Details

I love the look of this. I think the grey looks understated and classy. I'd happily have this hanging on my living room wall!

@ star-affinity - I'm quite surprised to hear what you're saying. I always thought I was very sensitive to image flicker, but apparently I'm obviously not that bad! Back in Uni all the CRT monitors were left at the 60Hz Windows XP default and locked down by IT. I seemed to be the only one constantly bothered by this and would get headaches. At home I had my Mitsubishi DiamondPro screen set to 85Hz. I could still see flicker at 75Hz.

With my 20" Dell IPS TFT monitor I see flicker/strobing on a completely grey screen (not white, just grey). I rarely spend time looking at grey screens though so it doesn't bother me too much, just on very few website backgrounds.

My Panasonic Panasonic TH42PX80 plasma though I've never had a problems witht. Maybe slightly on a completely white static image but I only see them when channels end their programming. My old Sony Trinitorn (50Hz) I hated for its unstable image because of flicker. Do you connect your PC to your TV by any chance?

Score:

Name withheld

PoisonJam

5:26 PM on 16 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore PoisonJam. Show Details Hide Details

@Simon J - Design is quite subjective, of course. As for sound, I'd expect that most spending this much on a 42" TV clearly appreciates quality and would likely be investing similarly in a sound system. I'd prefer TVs like this had no speakers at all adding to bulk and cost. Having cheap, discrete speakers is a decent compromise in my opinion. I'd hate to be paying more and adding to the size to accommodate speakers I'd never use personally.

Score:

Name withheld

Metalex

11:04 AM on 17 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Metalex. Show Details Hide Details

Agree with star-affinity. No TV in 2010 should flicker, yet the Panasonic plasmas do. This, along with the colour banding, would eliminate them from my short list. I've lost count of the number of forum posts I've read where people have returned these sets because of flicker and banding. Great TVs otherwise!

Score:

Name withheld

TechRyder

12:08 PM on 17 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore TechRyder. Show Details Hide Details

My question would be, i am in a position to order this TV but i am now concerned that the VT20 will be a better set for 2D Picture Quality. If so, is it worth the 500-600 pounds excess? Or are both these sets the same in 2D performance. I am not at all concerned with 3D, i just wan't the best 2D PQ i can buy.

Score:

Name withheld

Stuart

12:17 AM on 19 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Stuart. Show Details Hide Details

>>And finally, so far the only brand of USB HDD confirmed to work by Panasonic is Buffalo’s JustStore Desktop HD-EU2-UK series. >>

As I keep pointing out in the latest Panasonic TV reviews, any USB external hard drive should work, providing you scroll down from the Timer Recording screen's first column through Ext Rec>Reminder>USB external hard drive....:-)

Score:

Name withheld

Stuart

12:22 AM on 19 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Stuart. Show Details Hide Details

PS

I've had the TX-P42G20B since it came out a few weeks ago (the first 2010 Panny to be released and the model I'd already decided on) and apparently the difference between this and the reviewed V20 model is difficult to tell in real life.

Score:

Name withheld

patrabus

8:59 AM on 21 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore patrabus. Show Details Hide Details

Please review TX-L42V20

Score:

Name withheld

Michael McG

1:12 PM on 21 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Michael McG. Show Details Hide Details

well i'm ordering mine tomorrow.. should have it wednesday/thursday... going to have to be my tv for next 5 years.. then hopefully 3d will have settled down.. i was tempted to wait until a 42" vt20 comes out.. but there isnt enough 3d content to justify it at the moment..

Score:

Name withheld

Michael McG

2:45 PM on 24 June, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Michael McG. Show Details Hide Details

got my v20 yesterday, early days but loving it so far.. most obviously difference from previous LCD ? black level.. its streets ahead on the plasma..

Score:

Name withheld

JohnLogieBaird

5:59 PM on 2 July, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore JohnLogieBaird. Show Details Hide Details

I have ordered one of these. Living where we do, it's taking over a month to get here.

Living in the UK, you get all the advantages, Freeview, Freesat and good shops who get the product quickly.

Here in Europe we don't. Be grateful, it's organised.

My profession is camera control, and telecine line-up. I hope that this TV lives up to its expectations. Having seen many revolting 'flat displays', I have waited until the right product was available.

I don't want smearing, I want good pictures, good flesh-tones and I don't want motion-judder.

Score:

Name withheld

JohnLogieBaird

12:48 PM on 7 July, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore JohnLogieBaird. Show Details Hide Details

May I ask a question of those lucky enough to already posses one of these prestigious bits of kit?

You will gather that my future TX-P42V20 still hasn't arrived........

Are the inputs all different? By this I mean is HDMI 1 different to SCART 1?

This might be basic, but I have heard that (on certain manufacturer's products) if (for example) SCART 1 was being used for (say) a DVD Player, HDMI 1 couldn't be used for (say) a DSAT HD RX.

I presume that all inputs are individual.

Many thanks for your time.

Score:

Name withheld

JohnLogieBaird

6:22 PM on 9 July, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore JohnLogieBaird. Show Details Hide Details

I have just been told that my TX P-42V20 is due to be delivered on the 13th.... that's four days!

Score:

Name withheld

JohnLogieBaird

10:34 PM on 14 July, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore JohnLogieBaird. Show Details Hide Details

It arrived on time.

Initially? I'm very impressed.

SD (from a Humax DSAT box) looks better than I was expecting.

DSAT from Astra 1 and Hotbird is OK. Editing (and deleting all the dross) is a bit of a chore.

Initial set-up went well, with an internet-delivered update which was performed very well via the USB WiFi.

Now I am getting used to it, and letting it settle down.

Score:

Name withheld

JohnLogieBaird

9:05 AM on 22 July, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore JohnLogieBaird. Show Details Hide Details

After nearly a week, I am still learning. It is excellent.

I am having to instal a LAN cable as the WiFi isn't strong enough to connect quickly. Sometimes I need to re-plug the WiFi unit into the TV to persuade it to connect. Sometimes it is OK and connects immediately. When I do get reception it is only two bars out of five(?).

I am about to instal a Home Plug connection. When Viera Cast connects, the picture quality depends on the source material (of course!). But on good material, it is very good considering the signal path and route. Entirely satisfactory for a long film.

Score:

Name withheld

JohnLogieBaird

5:20 PM on 31 July, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore JohnLogieBaird. Show Details Hide Details

By the way, those in the UK should be aware that this model excludes the UK software (Freesat, Freeview) and is several hundred pounds Sterling more expensive in Europe.

The competition in the UK ensures good deals.

This Panasonic is still a good 'telly'.

And that, when all is said and done, is what really matters.

Bells, whistles, plugs, sockets, all pale into insignificance when what you want to do is 'watch a programme', not examine every pixel of every frame.

Don't get me wrong, but remember what you are trying to do.

I have now installed a HomePlug and that's much faster to connect, and more reliable (there is a lot of concrete and metal-work between the router and the TV). I think there's an IP conflict somewhere, but I'm working on it!

All I would like now is more Viera Cast material....

Score:

Name withheld

staraffinity

6:24 PM on 8 August, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore staraffinity. Show Details Hide Details

@PoisonJam

A little late reply, but here goes.

The flicker isn't super obvious, especially not if it's a scene with a lot of action and camera movement. Also in darker scenes I'm not bothered, but as soon as there's brighter areas being displayed the flicker is quite noticeable. I looked at this TV in a store and asked the personnel to put on a Blu-ray movie. I think it was Iron Man and there was a scene when the camera panned out from a news paper and the white areas clearly flickered to me.

It seems not all are bothered/seeing this though, but I think it a bit sad. I'd really like the ”stillness” of a LED, then this TV (the 50-inch version) would be something I'd consider buying. Now I'm not sure...

Score:

Name withheld

JohnLogieBaird

11:21 PM on 11 August, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore JohnLogieBaird. Show Details Hide Details

Perhaps the TV in the shop was still on "Store" setting which may well distort the image by driving it too hard?

I am not aware of any flicker.

I have no LCD experience with which to compare this particular model.

Score:

Please wait while we file your abuse report.

We're sorry. We were unable to report abuse at this time.

We limit the number of reactions an individual user can submit over a given period for quality reasons. You have currently reached that limit. Please try resubmitting your abuse report again later.

Comment is too long. Enter 500 characters or less.

Type Comment
(optional)

Please wait while we send the email.

You may send this to 5 e-mail addresses. Please separate each address with a space.

We're sorry, but the item you are sending has been removed from the site.

We're sorry. We were unable to send the email at this time.

Please specify a recipient.

You can only send messages to 5 addresses at a time.

The address "" is not valid.

Subject

Please specify a subject.

Comment
(optional) Send Cancel

Score
vote upvotes up
vote downvotes down

More Photos

If you want the vast majority of the picture quality of Panasonic’s latest 3D models but don’t need 3D, then the P42V20 is the answer to your prayers. It’s an outstanding 42in TV in almost every way, and as such manages to make its £1,160 price look better value than we’d expected. Read full review

Overall

9/10

Write your own review

By John Archer
Reviewed 15 June 2010
Updated 19 May 2011

Price as reviewed

£849.99

Comments on Panasonic Viera TX-P42V20

Overall

Price as reviewed

Comments

Comments

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Name withheld

Awards

Panasonic Viera TX-P42V20 details

Price as reviewed

Manufacturer

TV round-ups

TrustedReviews newsletter

Three of the best High end TVs