Hewlett-Packard PL4245N 42" HD-Ready Flat-Panel Plasma TV

Hewlett-Packard PL4245N 42

Hewlett-Packard PL4245N 42" HD-Ready Flat-Panel Plasma TV
Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com Product Description
Ready to get serious about high-definition? HP's gas-plasma PL4245N is a seriously cool television. The 42-inch widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) set offers stunning 1,024 x 768 resolution and compatibility with the latest high-definition formats, including 720p and 1080i sources via both high-definition component-video jacks and a cutting-edge DVI (Digital Visual Interface), which maintains digital signal integrity from your compatible DTV set-top box right up to the PL4245N's internal digital-to-analog converters.

An integrated NTSC tuner give you picture-in-picture or side-by-side viewing of 1 program and 1 input source simultaneously, while a rear-panel PC input lets the set double as a computer monitor. The screen boasts a contrast ratio of 3,000:1 for deep, lifelike blacks, and a brightness rating of 1,000 cd/m2 for vivid imagery even in bright rooms.

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the PL4245N is a mere 4.7 inches deep, perfect for desk or wall mounting. Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems. You do, however, need to be wary of image burn-in (wherein long-held stationary images leave a permanent impression in the screen), though the PL4245N has a special feature called screen orbiting designed to combat this.

The PL4245N's image enhancements include a Cross Color Suppressor (which removes cross-color artifacts from composite-video sources for consistently true colors), low-angle interpolation (which detects low-angle lines and smoothes out staircases and jagged edges to bring greater realism to sporting events and movies), and motion-adaptive noise reduction (which enhances the quality of standard-definition and off-air programming). A 3D digital comb filter enhances the color purity of composite-video and S-video input sources, reducing cross-color artifacts like dot crawl.

FilmMode processing with 3:2 and 2:3 pulldown accurately reproduces film-originated content from video sources. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2/2:3 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

Inputs include a DVI-D terminal with HDCP (High-Definition Content Protection), which permits pure digital connections to DTV set-top boxes and DVI-enabled DVD players and PCs. The set also offers 2 HD component-video inputs, a VGA computer input, an RF antenna/coaxial input, 2 composite-video, and 1 S-video connections for additional component hookups. A composite-video-based audio/video output lets you feed a TV signal to a DVR, VCR, or other device. A dedicated subwoofer output lets you use an outboard powered subwoofer to augment the TV's speakers with full low-frequency response.

A pair of selectable features enhance the set's 20-watt (10 watts per channel x 2) sound system. BBE High Definition Audio improves speech intelligibility and musical realism, while SRS WOW processing creates a perceptually larger sound field, enhancing vocals and instilling a sense of deep, rich bass even without the use of a subwoofer.

What's in the Box
TV, detachable stand, a remote control, remote batteries, a quick-start guide, a user's manual, a 75-ohm RF coaxial cable, 2 speakers, 2 speaker cables, an AC power cord, and warranty information.