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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 13
Vs Sony KDL 40S5100Next: Page 15
Conclusion
Panasonic TC-P42X1 Summary
• Both TVs had the same black level, but the TC-P42S1 had a higher brightness, leading to a better overall contrast ratio.
• Both TVs had similar color performance.
• Both had great viewing angles.
• TC-P42X1 has a 720p display; TC-P42S1 has a 1080p display.
Value Comparison Summary
The main difference between these two TVs is their format. The TC-P42S1 runs 1080p, while the TC-P42X1 runs 720p. The X1 also has a photo viewer, but the lower price is more likely to seduce a purchase. If you have a Blu-ray player or want to 'future-proof' yourself, the S1 is the better option.
| Comparison Specifications | ||
 |
 |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 | Panasonic TC-P42X1 | |
| Size | 42 inches | 42 inches |
| Price | $999.95 | $750 |
| Type | Plasma | Plasma |
| Format | 1080p | 720p |
| Other | N/A | SD card slot |
Blacks & Whites
Both TVs had deep black levels, but the S1 had a much higher peak white. Because of its high white, the S1 ended up with a significantly higher contrast ratio.
| Blacks & Whites Comparison Chart | |
 |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 Score: Black Level: 9.51 Peak Brightness: 6.35 Contrast: 8.28 |
Panasonic TC-P42X1 Score: Black Level: 9.51 Peak Brightness: 2.02 Contrast: 5.99 |
Color Accuracy
Both TVs had roughly the same results on our color accuracy tests. They both had solid color temperatures, roughly equivalent RGB curves, and similarly flawed color gamuts.
| Color Temperature Comparison | |
 |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 Score: 10.00 | |
 |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42X1 Score: 9.80 | |
| RGB Comparison | |
   |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 Score: 7.61 | |
   |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42X1 Score: 6.63 | |
| Color Gamut Comparison | |
 |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 Score: 3.98 | |
 |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42X1 Score: 3.78 | |
Motion
Both TVs had roughly the same level of blurriness and artifacting.
| Motion Scores | ||
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 | Panasonic TC-P42X1 | |
| Motion Smoothness | 7.75 | 7.38 |
| Motion Artifacting | 4.75 | 5.50 |
Viewing Effects
The S1 had a shockingly shallow viewing angle for a plasma TV. The X1 had a much wider angle, which is typical of plastmas.
| Viewing Angle Comparison | |
 |
|
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 Score: 12.73 | Panasonic TC-P42X1 Score: 9.03 |
Connectivity
The big difference in connectivity is the presence of an SD card slot on the X1. Toss an SD card into this slot and you can view pictures.
| Connectivity Comparison | ||
| Panasonic TC-P42S1 | Panasonic TC-P42X1 | |
| HDMI | 3 | 3 |
| Component | 2 | 1 |
| Composite | 1 | 2 |
| S-Video | 0 | 1 |
| VGA | 0 | 0 |
| Analog Audio In | 4 | 4 |
| Digital Audio Out | 1 | 1 |
| Analog Audio Out | 0 | 0 |
| LAN | 0 | 0 |
| USB | 0 | 0 |
| Memory Card | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
Other Comparisons
The SD card slot is the main difference between the two TVs. The X1 utilizes this slot to offer additional media playback options.
Shop for the Panasonic TC-P42S1
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