Panasonic TH42PZ85U Plasma HDTV - 42", 16:9, 30000:1, 1920 x 1080, 1080p, 480Hz, ATSC, NTSC, HDMI In

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The size of the TV that's best for you and your family depends on how you like to spend your time and the size of your room.

• FAMILY ROOMS
  For family rooms and other spaces with high TV use, 37 inch and larger are the most popular choices.  In large rooms, the largest size possible is usually best.
• BEDROOMS
  For bedrooms, offices and other medium-sized spaces, look in the 26 to 37 inch size range.
• KITCHENS & SMALL ROOMS
  For kitchens and smaller rooms where you are closer to the TV, consider a 15 to 19 inch screen.

Limited Space?

Are you limited in the space you have available on the wall or in a piece of furniture?  We have the perfect tool to help you calculate the exact size that will fit!

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• TV TECHNOLOGY
  As you probably already know, there are several TV technologies available.  LCD televisions are thin and lightweight with a high-quality picture, even in brightly lit rooms.  Plasma screens are heavier than LCDs but may deliver a slightly picture in dark rooms with more intense colors.  DLP TVs offer brilliant screens, but are thicker than LCDs or Plasma.
• RESOLUTION
  Think about TV resolution as the number of pixels contained in one "frame" of a television show or movie.  More pixels in each frame will give you better picture detail.  720P and 1080P are the two most common resolution standards for HDTV now.  With about 1 million pixels in each frame, 720P provides a vivid, high definition picture. 1080P offers the highest level of HDTV quality with over 2 million pixels in each frame, creating even greater picture details.  While broadcast is mostly limited to 720P, 1080P is the standard for high definition disc players like Blu-Ray.
• CONTRAST RATIO
  Contrast ratio is a number that measures the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the darkest black on the screen.  In general the higher the contrast ratio number, the better the image quality.  Most times, you will find Dynamic Contrast Ratio specified, but be sure you are comparing the same type of contrast ratio.
• CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT
  Another way to improve contrast ratio is with contrast enhancement technology. Most of the time, this uses back lighting to improve apparent contrast.  This is especially helpful in dark rooms, as it helps your eyes adjust to the best light levels.  This dynamically improves contrast, resulting in deep blacks in darker scenes without losing fine details in shadows and other dark areas of the picture.
• BIT COLOR
  Another important contributor to picture quality is what is called "bit depth".  This is the size of the number that is used to assign colors on the screen.  The higher the number, the more displayable colors will appear (see the image below).  Of course this is only true if both the display processor and the panel support that number of bits!

More Bits = More Colors

What Is High Definition And How Is It Different From Standard Definition?
High Definition or "HD" is a technological leap forward from standard definition, with up to 6x the picture resolution, so that what you see is sharper and more realistic.  Regular TVs and the TV channels you watch at home are typically in standard definition (unless you watch HD channels).  DVD are also in standard definition.  Standard definition (480i & 480p) is lower quality than high definition.  Many older TV sets are standard def, and can only show standard def content (programming).  Many new TVs are called High Definition TVs (HDTV).  They are capable of showing high def content in: 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, all high definition formats, but 1080p provides the highest picture quality of them all.
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• MOST IMPORTANT: SURGE PROTECTION
  If you have a computer, you know all about surge suppressors and battery back-up UPS devices.  But do you have a UPS for your HDTV and Home Theater system?  HDTVs and Home Theater systems are just as susceptible to surge and power damage as computers, so it is critical you add a very good surge suppressor or UPS to your setup at once! Plus if you have a UPS, you'll be able to watch TV or listen to music if the power goes off! (for as long as the battery lasts of course!)
  
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• CONTROLLING IT ALL: ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROLS
  Almost every device you have came with a remote control, some even are called Universal Remote Controls.  But every device, HDTV, or Home Theater component has special features and functions, not supported by the generic Universal Remotes, especially if you want "One Button" control of several devices at once.  For these you need Advanced Remote Controls, that not only control everything, but reduce it all down to One Button tasks that even a Cave Man could operate! 
  
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• GOT HELP? GET AN INSTALLATION & SETUP SERVICE
  With some of today's HDTV and Home Theater systems, you may want to consider getting expert help from certified technicians that can quickly install your HDTV on your wall, hide the cables and wires, balance the display settings and the 7.1 surround sound, for the maximum in sound and picture quality.  You can still tell your friends and family that you did it, it will just be our secret! 
  
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• GET A GUARANTEED BUYBACK FOR YOUR HDTV
  Another way to protect your investment, given the changing pace of technology, is to add a Guaranteed Buyback to your HDTV purchase.  This will guaranty the trade-in value of your HDTV a year or two in the future, when you will be ready to upgrade to the latest technology. 
  
  Click Here to view Guaranteed Buyback options.

How can I identify which HDMI products support a specific feature, such as DVD Audio or Deep Color?
The key for consumers to remember is that HDMI has consistently enabled a variety of the most innovative new technologies (whether they are DVD Audio, SACD, 1080p/60, etc.). However, in many cases, it is up to each manufacturer to choose which features to implement in any given product. The manufacturer can choose the mix of features that makes sense for its customers and products. So, customers must choose devices that have the features that they want (instead of focusing on which version of HDMI is implemented by the device.). Consumers interested in confirming whether a particular consumer electronics product supports DVD-Audio or any other feature over HDMI are urged to review users’ manuals and product reviews, or check with manufacturers directly.

What Is Firmware Upgradeable?
Many of today's electronics product are designed for today's standards.  Yet like personal computers, they have advanced capabilities that will let them be upgraded for use with new technologies and standards.  The ability to upgrade the firmware of an electronics product allows you to extend the useful lifespan of the device you purchase, and be able to expect support for many (if not all) of the emerging new standards.

What is the difference between Active HDMI and Passive HDMI?
There is no active or passive HDMI in the HDMI specification. These terms apply to cables. Active cables have built-in electronics to enable long cable runs, and typically these cables require a power supply. These cables use active electronics to help push the signal farther than typical passive cables.

Viewing angles are not an issue with projectors because the light source is coming from in front of the screen, and not from behind. However, the surface on which you project (screen or wall surface) may have a slight impact on viewing angles, so it is important to choose the best screen possible.