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Introduction
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01.Tour & Design
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02.Blacks & Whites
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03.Color Accuracy
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04.Motion
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05.Viewing Effects
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06.Calibration
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07.Remote Control
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08.Connectivity
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09.Audio & Menus
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10.Formats & Media
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11.Power Consumption
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12.Vs LG 37LH55
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13.Vs Sony KDL 40S5100
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14.Vs Panasonic TC P42X1
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15.Conclusion
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16.Series Comparison
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17.Ratings & Specs
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18.Comments
Panasonic Viera TC-P42S1
Previous: Page 5
Viewing EffectsNext: Page 7
Remote Control
Calibration Summary
Editorial Note: This is a review of the Panasonic TC-P42S1. The other sizes of TVs in this series include: TC-P46S1 (46"), TC-P50S1(50"), TC-P54S1(54"), TC-P58S1(58"), and the TC-P65S1(65"). Test results are for this model, but should indicate the general performance of other models in the S1 series. Read here for more details on series differences.
• Cinema Mode used.
• Calibration done using DisplayMate Software
Calibration
Televisions rarely come out of the box with optimal picture quality. To make sure that we are getting the best possible performance from the TC-P42S1 we first calibrated it. To do this, we use the calibration procedure in DisplayMate, as well as taking measurements with a CS-200 ChromaMeter.
Below is a chart that outlines the changes we've made. If a setting isn't listed below, we left it at the default settings. Feel free to use these settings as the basis for your own calibration, but remember that these settings aren't optimized for your own personal viewing environment, so your best settings may vary. In particular, we test LCD TVs with the backlight at maximum, which is not an ideal setting if you watch in a dark environment. If you really want the best quality, we recommend you either use DisplayMate or pay a professional to calibrate the TV for you.
| Setting | Default | Calibrated |
| Picture Mode | Cinema | |
| Contrast | 100 | 83 |
| Brightness | 58 | 56 |
| Color | 41 | 33 |
| Sharpness | 50 | 0 |
These calibration tweaks were minor; we reduced both the contrast and brightness to avoid peaking, and we also reduced the color setting to reduce an issue with some greys turning green.
Video Modes
The TC-P42S1 has 5 preset picture modes:
| Mode | What it Does |
| Vivid | Increases color saturation and screen brightness |
| Standard | For general use. Brightness and saturation are at mid-levels |
| Cinema | Colors are less saturated than standard, but also more accurate. Good for evening or night viewing |
| Game | Disables all video processing features to avoid any lag |
| Custom | Uses custom, user defined settings |
That's a decent selection that covers most situations. The display also remembers the changes that the user makes, so each of the modes can be customized. If you manage to wrect the settings, they can also be easily reset to the factory settings.
| Other Models in the TC-PxxS1 Series | |||
| This is a review of the Panasonic TC-P42S1. The other sizes of HDTVs in this series should be similar in terms of performance and usability. For details about any differences, click on the image to jump to the Series Comparison page. | |||
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| TC-P46S1 46 inches |
TC-P50S1 50 inches |
TC-P61S1 61 inches |
TC-P65S1 65 inches |
Shop for the Panasonic TC-P42S1
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