TVs

Panasonic Viera TC-P42G15

Price range:

$928.00 - $1,199.99

Summary: A 42-inch Plasma HDTV from Panasonic with 1920x1080 resolution, 2 component-video inputs, and 3 HDMI inputs.

3 people have reviewed this model.

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Type: 42- to 46-inch models

About - Panasonic Viera TC-P42G15
The Viera TC-P42G15 is part of the TV test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, plasma TV models like the Viera TC-P42G15 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below. HD picture quality: A trained viewing panel's evaluation of the TV's picture clarity and color accuracy, using known references, when displaying a 1080i HD signal. The picture's quality rating is determined by how well it displays all the attributes of an HD signal including the fine details you would expect from HD. All signals were sent through the HDMI input, which can be used to connect a HD DVD player, digital-cable box, satellite receiver, or off-air digital receiver/tuner to the TV. SD picture quality: Indicates how a TV displays "regular," non-HD TV programming. This picture quality score is based on a standard-definition (SD) TV signal, known as 480i, sent through the TV's HDMI inputs, except where indicated. The SD images are evaluated by trained panelists, using known references. Common sources of this standard-definition signal are digital cable boxes and satellite boxes. Sound quality: This is measured from the set's built-in speakers using computer-driven test equipment, with additional subjective testing by a listening panel. You can get better stereo sound if you bypass the built-in speakers and route the TV's sound to a receiver and external speakers. With a multichannel sound system, you can get the enveloping experience of surround sound from digital broadcasts and also DVD movies.

About - Panasonic Viera TC-P42G15

The Viera TC-P42G15 is part of the TV test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, plasma TV models like the Viera TC-P42G15 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

HD picture quality:: A trained viewing panel's evaluation of the TV's picture clarity and color accuracy, using known references, when displaying a 1080i HD signal. The picture's quality rating is determined by how well it displays all the attributes of an HD signal including the fine details you would expect from HD. All signals were sent through the HDMI input, which can be used to connect a HD DVD player, digital-cable box, satellite receiver, or off-air digital receiver/tuner to the TV.
SD picture quality:: Indicates how a TV displays "regular," non-HD TV programming. This picture quality score is based on a standard-definition (SD) TV signal, known as 480i, sent through the TV's HDMI inputs, except where indicated. The SD images are evaluated by trained panelists, using known references. Common sources of this standard-definition signal are digital cable boxes and satellite boxes.
Sound quality:: This is measured from the set's built-in speakers using computer-driven test equipment, with additional subjective testing by a listening panel. You can get better stereo sound if you bypass the built-in speakers and route the TV's sound to a receiver and external speakers. With a multichannel sound system, you can get the enveloping experience of surround sound from digital broadcasts and also DVD movies.

About This Brand
Panasonic is the market leader in plasma TVs, with an extensive line of sets ranging from 42 inches to 58 inches. Plasma sets are usually competitively priced and are widely available, including at Costco. The company also offers an assortment of LCD TVs. Its apparent strategy is to offer LCDs in smaller (37 inches or less) screen sizes that won't compete with its plasma TV lines. Panasonic also sells 3LCD front projectors.
Read our Brand Reliability

About This Brand

Panasonic is the market leader in plasma TVs, with an extensive line of sets ranging from 42 inches to 58 inches. Plasma sets are usually competitively priced and are widely available, including at Costco. The company also offers an assortment of LCD TVs. Its apparent strategy is to offer LCDs in smaller (37 inches or less) screen sizes that won't compete with its plasma TV lines. Panasonic also sells 3LCD front projectors.

Read our Brand Reliability

Features & Specs - Panasonic Viera TC-P42G15
Screen size (in.) The size of the television's screen, measured diagonally in inches. In general, the larger the screen size, the farther away you need to sit for optimal picture quality. With HD sets, sit at least 4 feet from a 37-inch or smaller set, 5 to 9 feet from larger screens. With standard-definition models, you need a little more distance because the detail isn't as fine. Screen size (in.)	42
Native resolution Applies to "fixed-pixel" display types such as LCD, DLP, plasma, and LCoS. It's expressed in horizontal by vertical pixels (for the picture elements making up a displayed image). Incoming signals of higher or lower resolution must be down- or up-converted as necessary to match the set's native resolution. Generally, the more pixels a display has, the more visible finer details become -- but many other things affect the results. Native resolution	1920x1080
HDMI inputs (total) The total number of this input on the TV. Front and side inputs are more easily accessed than those in the rear, and thus might be convenient for temporary use, but they are also visible. HDMI is a relatively new form of digital audio/video input in some high-definition TVs, it matches a corresponding output in some DVD players and digital TV tuners. Unlike other A/V connections, HDMI carries audio and video signals on the same cable. HDMI has become the preferred connection method. HDMI inputs (total)	3
Component-video inputs (total) The total number of this input on the TV. Front and side inputs are more easily accessed than those in the rear, and thus might be convenient for temporary use, but they are also visible. Component-video inputs use three separate jacks that separate the video signal into three parts: two for color and one for luminance. This provides slightly better quality than an S-video connection, most evident in color fidelity. They can be used only with a Blu-ray player, DVD player/recorder, digital-cable box, or other equipment that has component-video output. Component-video inputs (total)	2
ATSC digital tuner An ATSC tuner can receive over-the-air broadcast digital signals, which may include high-definition widescreen images and multichannel sound. A TV with a built-in ATSC tuner, called an integrated HDTV, requires no additional equipment other than a roof antenna to receive the broadcast networks' HD offerings. (You must be close enough to a station transmitting digitally, with no trees or other obstructions blocking the signal.) However, you won't get premium stations offered only on cable or satellite. For that, cable subscribers still need a box or CableCard provided by the cable company; satellite subscribers need an HD receiver/dish setup. ATSC stands for Advanced Television Systems Committee, a nonprofit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. They defined the signal formats that are used, which include 480p, 720p and 1080i. ATSC digital tuner	Yes
QAM digital tuner This tuner can receive some digital cable broadcasts, which may include high-definition widescreen images and multichannel sound. A QAM channel can be either unencrypted (in the clear) or encrypted (scrambled). Encryption allows the service provider to define and control the subscription levels (conditional access). With unencrypted channels, you need no other equipment to view the broadcast. With encrypted channels (typically premium channels such as HBO), you need either an external cable box or, with a CableCard-ready TV, a CableCard from your service provider. QAM refers to Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, a way of encoding a digital signal that differs from that used for digital off-air (ATSC) broadcasts. QAM digital tuner	Yes
CableCard-ready Also known as "DCR" (digital-cable-ready). When used with a CableCard, these TVs can receive the encrypted cable channels (to the level permitted by your subscription package). You would get a CableCard from the provider. Note that the first-generation CableCard-ready TVs are one-way. They can receive signals but can't communicate back to the provider, so they can't be used for interactive services like subscribe-on-demand. Second-generation CableCard TVs were planned but have been stalled due to unresolved agreements and changing marketplace. CableCard-ready	No
Overall height (in.) The measurements of a TV expressed as height, width and depth, in inches, rounded up to the nearest 0.25-inch. For flat-panel LCD and plasma sets, dimensions include the base and detachable speakers, important if you plan to place the TV on a stand or in an entertainment center. See "Panel size without base" if you plan to wall-mount only the display. For rear-projection TVs, dimensions include the stand only when it is part of the set. Overall height (in.)	27.75
Overall width (in.) The measurements of a TV expressed as height, width and depth, in inches, rounded up to the nearest 0.25-inch. For flat-panel LCD and plasma sets, dimensions include the base and detachable speakers, important if you plan to place the TV on a stand or in an entertainment center. See "Panel size without base" if you plan to wall-mount only the display. For rear-projection TVs, dimensions include the stand only when it is part of the set. Overall width (in.)	40.5
Overall depth (in.) The measurements of a TV expressed as height, width and depth, in inches, rounded up to the nearest 0.25-inch. For flat-panel LCD and plasma sets, dimensions include the base and detachable speakers, important if you plan to place the TV on a stand or in an entertainment center. See "Panel size without base" if you plan to wall-mount only the display. For rear-projection TVs, dimensions include the stand only when it is part of the set. Overall depth (in.)	12
More features and specs

User Reviews - Panasonic Viera TC-P42G15

Average User Rating

(based on 3 reviews)

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Displaying Reviews 1-3 of 3

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

easy installation

By Kilian's Grandma from Anaheim, CA on 11/5/2009

Pros:

Bright image, Easy to use controls/menus, Good connection options, Lifelike color, Overall picture quality, Sharp detail

Cons:

Sound is okay not great

TV Connected To:

Satellite

Describe Yourself:

Movie buff, Sports fan

How long have you owned it:

One-to-three months

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Brought it home, hooked it all up and it worked perfectly. Didn't have to adjust anything. Pretty easy to use controllers. Better if you hook up to a sound system.

[7 of 7 customers found this review helpful]

Nothing yet beats plasma screen

By Very picky guy from Toronto, Canada on 10/15/2009

Pros:

Bright image, Easy to use controls/menus, Good connection options, Internet ready, Overall picture quality, Sharp detail, Very wide viewing angle

Cons:

Frame reflects light, Not enough connections, Picture looks dim, Poor sound

TV Connected To:

Antenna, DVD player, External sound system, Satellite

Describe Yourself:

Critical, technically savvy viewer, Movie buff, Sports fan

How long have you owned it:

A month or less, A month or less

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I had several LCD's at home and returned them all. This Panasonic plasma is good overall. Frame is shiny and reflects light, last year's models were matt and better. It does not create too much heat, even less than some LCD's. Hooked up Internet directly to it and watched YouTube right away - no set up required.
Price in Canada is 40-60% more than in US now that dollar is at parity, but negotiate for 20% off at least - only one chain in Canada carries it. Do not even look at LCD's - to get this same picture quality you need to get one trice the price of this plasma. And it is the thinnest plasma on the market - only 2". Perfect on wall.

[14 of 16 customers found this review helpful]

Great picture in dark rooms only.

By Scott from Atlanta, GA on 10/11/2009

Pros:

Easy to use controls/menus, Good connection options

Cons:

Glare/reflections on screen, Picture looks dim

TV Connected To:

Antenna, Blu-ray player, Cable, DVD player, DVR, Satellite

Describe Yourself:

Critical, technically savvy viewer

How long have you owned it:

A month or less, A month or less

Bottom Line:

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I bought the 50" version of this set, and put it in my living room -- with a southern window. During the day, the glare was so bad that I had to constantly adjust the picture to be able to see it (increase brightness to overcome the glare led to washed out colors, which then had to be corrected). THX mode was un-viewable during daylight hours, as it was too dark. Then, at night, the picture was too bright, and had to be re-adjusted again for the dimmer surroundings. At night, the picture is stellar. In the day light...fair at best. Be prepared to do constant adjustments if in any room but a dark one.

Sound quality is decent -- better than Samsung, but worse than Sony.

Internet connectivity was very good. The Vera Connect is very easy to use, and when connected to a 802.11g bridge, was easily able to stream content without stutter...so feel at ease if you're thinking you need 802.11n for smooth HD.

Overall, I would only recommend this TV to someone whose putting it into a basement or a room with VERY good blinds/curtains. Any light causes glare and reflections, which are not only distracting...but wash out the picture. In pure darkness...it's stellar.

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