Samsung PN42A450 42 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Posted by LCD HDTV Reviews | Posted in Samsung | Posted on 21-05-2009
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Samsung PN42A450 42 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Samsung presents the next level of plasma HDTV technology and design. A 42-inch screen offers crisp, bold images and colors, thanks to 720p resolution, 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and FilterBright glare-reduction technology. Groundbreaking 3D capabilities let you enjoy 3D movies and games to their fullest. Select Game mode with the touch of a button for advanced videogame action; the ACE silhouette editor eliminates visual “noise” from the deepest dark tones. SRS TruSurround XT offers natural, lifelike HD sound. Connect all your peripherals with ease, courtesy of 3 HDMI inputs. And more efficient components result in significant power reduction.
Features Overview
- Natural True Color with 18-bit processing (Learn more)
- 175-degree viewing angle (Learn more)
- 100,000-hour panel life
- FilterBrite Anti-Glare technology (Learn more)
- Hidden speakers with SRS TruSurround XT audio (Learn more)
- Anti-Burn-in Technology
- 3 Simplay-compliant HDMI 1.3 ports (Learn more)
- 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
- Sports, Game and Movie modes boost on-screen performance and interaction (via hot-key)
- Compatible with Samsung’s Home Digital Media Adapter (DMA, sold separately) for playback and navigation of Internet and stored PC multimedia
- 3D HD ready capable of displaying 3D games, movies and other programming via 3D compatible glasses and hardware. 3D viewing requires PC (not included).
- Standby power consumption under 1W
- V-Chip system1 allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.
- Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
- Variable sleep timer to turn the TV off in varying time intervals.
- Auto wall mount compatible: 3-dimensional operation via TV’s remote control; no external IR receiver required.
- Swivel stand included
- 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support.
What size TV should I get?
Learn More
18-Bit Color
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Samsung’s FilterBright anti-glare filter. Enhances contrast ratio in bright rooms even in the daytime and improves overall brightness for clearer image details. |
FilterBright Anti-Glare Filter
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In bright environments the display quality of conventional plasma TVs can be compromised by external light. Samsung’s premium plasma TVs boast a combination of FilterBright, Super Black Panel and Optimal Light Filter to bring you sharp contrast, unbelievable detail and pure clarity in any lighting conditions. |
Digital Natural Image Engine
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DNIe The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine. This exclusive Samsung technology dramatically improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, white balance and reduces. |  |
Anti-Burn-In Technology
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Samsung’s Plasma HDTVs are built to last. Anti-burn-in technology uses auto pixel shift, signal pattern processing function and all white screens to ensure that no images are burned into your plasma panel. |
Connectivity
 Samsung has incorporated advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities that expand the HDTV’s functionality. A wide variety of multimedia devices can be connected to the set through any one of the four Simplay compliant HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the side). Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops.
HDMI 1.3 is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV. When playing 3D games, like on PS3, you experience faster flow and action and overall play the game at a higher speed. Also, HDMI 1.3 enables Deep Color function that provides an exponentially greater number of color gradations for a subtle screen. The handy HDMI-CEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote. Once connected, users can easily access device menus and manage and display content through the newly redesigned Wheel Key Remote control and the HDTV’s sophisticated content management interface. 
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Audio Features
TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two-speaker playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. It is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels. High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the two hidden, downward-firing side-mounted 2.2-channel dome speakers built into the TV.
SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass.
TruSurround XT audio also adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.
- Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
- TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
- The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.
Stereo broadcast reception is offered for MTS and SAP with 181-channel capacity. A sound leveler keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing.
Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?
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With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience.
If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get.
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User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Good lookin’ TV for little money!
After shopping around, Best Buy, going-out-of-business Circuit City, H.H. Gregg, this was by far the best price for a 42″ plasma TV I found. With free shipping and no sales tax, it was the best deal. It arrived within a week, carted in and set up by a private firm. (I actually set it up myself because I wanted to save the packing box for when I move). The picture is very good, and setup was easy. We have been enjoying it for about a month now, and I would do the same thing again. The picture is really just as good as the cable will allow, but overall, it is a great set.
5 Stars Can’t beat it!
Colors are outstanding, audio very good and set up was super easy. For the price this TV is an excellent value. You won’t be disapointed.
5 Stars Awesome Plasma Display! Amazing for the money!
This review is for the Samsung HPT4264 which is this models predecessor. I can only imagine this TV is as good or better, and I could not be happier with mine! I use it to watch TV (HD & regular), play video games (PS2) and watch DVD’s on an upconvert DVD player. The picture is stunning. Better than my Sharp LCD, way better than my Olevia LCD, better than the Sony plasma’s I have seen, and also slightly better than the Panasonic that my friend has. For the money, I don’t think you can do better. I was a Panasonic fan until I saw a friend’s Samsung and was blown away by the colors, so sharp and vivid (and more so than the Panny). My next TV purchase will be a Samsung LCD which a friend has recently aquired and in 1080P and no plasma burn to worry about, it seems like the way to go, especially for video games. Incidently, I broke in my TV in as recommended, and I do play PS2 on it, and it has not displayed any permanent burn-in. But that topic is for an entirely different debate of plasma vs. LCD. I think the only way you can do better than this TV price/performance is to consider a Samsung LCD 1080p, which have come down a lot in price, but will still set you back a few hundo more than this one. If you buy this I don’t think you will be disappointed!
5 Stars Still great, 6 months later
I saved up all of last summer to buy an LCD or Plasma TV. I finally decided on this model, and after half a year, I am sure I made the right call. I have it connected to an HDTV cable box, a PS3, and a wii, and everything looks incredible. When I was browsing through Best Buy, I couldn’t even tell a difference between 1080p and 720p in a set of this size, so sticking with the 720p is a great way to save.
My one complaint would be that sometimes it seems like there is a small flash of white, or at least a lighter color, when a scene shifts to something really dark. Maybe that’s because I don’t have everything set up perfectly, but it’s really a minor inconvenience.
Long story short – this is a great looking TV set that is affordable and reliable, even 6 months later. I highly recommend it.
4 Stars It’s capable of displaying “1080p” resalotion.
I have a PS3 and i thought i would not be able to display 1080p. but i was curious so i set my PS3 to 1080p in the display options menu thinking the screen would just go black or blank or would say “mode not supported” but the screen when to black for a second and then came back at 1920×1080 i pressed the info button on the remote and it said 1920×1080 @60Hrts, BUT when i set my PS3 to 720p the info says 1280×720p @60Hrts, or when i set my PS3 to 1080i it says 1920×1080i @60Hert the difference the “p” or the “i” when PS3 is set to 1080p it does not say 1920×1080″p” but at 720p it does. so make of that what you will, at 1080p it looks amazingly better then 720p, plus with a 20,000:1 on screen contrast ratio and a 3D sync out this is one hell of amazing display for the money.
