-
Introduction
-
01.Tour & Design
-
02.Calibration
-
03.Blacks & Whites
-
04.Color Accuracy
-
05.Motion
-
06.Viewing Effects
-
07.Remote Control
-
08.Audio
-
09.Connectivity
-
10.Menus & Interface
-
11.Formats & Media
-
12.Power Consumption
-
13.Conclusion & Comparisons
-
14.Series Comparison
-
15.Ratings & Specs
-
16.Comments
Panasonic Viera TC-P42X1
Previous: Page 3
Blacks & WhitesNext: Page 5
Motion
Color Accuracy Summary
• Great color temperature.
• Average color representation.
• Color gamut isnt' particularly accurate.
Color Temperature (9.8)
Color temperature refers to how the television emulates white. The ideal color temperature is 6500K. If it's higher than this, the TV will look bluish; lower than this and it'll look reddish. Color temperature isn't always consistent, so we measure it throughout the grayscale.
The TC-P42X1 had a pretty solid color temperature. On the graph below, the black line represents the ideal color temperature. Above that line is a red tint, below it is blue. It might look slightly erratic, quickly vacillating between slightly red and slightly blue, but those tiny spikes won't be perceptible. Overall, this was a great performance.
![]() |
This graph plots the same data differently. The dots in the red circle represent color temperatures we measured that are so close to ideal they'd be imperceptible. The overwhelming majority of dots do fall within the red circle.
![]() |
RGB Curves (6.63)
Every color on the TV is made up of red, green, and blue light. These three colors are therefore very important, so we measure how each one performs from low to high levels of intensity. The three following graphs should all appear to be smooth, concave hyperbolas.
First of all, you might notice that none of the colors have much of a presence in the low end. These hyperbolas are suppose to start picking up steam well before they do, and then increase gradually for a while. As it is, the TV loses a lot of detail in the low end. Similarly, the colors don't ramp up their intensity as much as they should. Further, notice the jagged edges along the curve of the graph, particularly towards the higher intensities? This means colors aren't being uniformly represented.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
In summation, the TC-P42X1 has below average color quality.
Color Gamut (3.78)
TVs are supposed to display a certain range (gamut) of colors. The size and shape of this gamut isn't vague by any means: they're specifically defined by the international standard, ITU Recommendation .709, or Rec.709 for short. Typically TVs follow this standard loosely.
In the TC-P42X1's case, they weren't particularly faithful to Rec.709. Note how the greens and reds extend further out than they should? This means these two colors are likely to appear oversaturated on the screen.
![]() |
| u' (rec.709/measured) | v' (rec.709/measured) | Error | |
| Red | 0.4775 | 0.5259 | 0.0270 |
| Green | 0.0972 | 0.5729 | 0.0297 |
| Blue | 0.1739 | 0.1536 | 0.0046 |
| D65 (white point) |
0.1884 | 0.4710 | 0.0098 |
Shop for the Panasonic TC-P42X1
Latest News
& Reviews
-
30-Jan-2012
Superbowl HDTV Buying Guide
The weeks leading up to Super Bowl Sunday are fraught with anticipation and last-minute big screen HDTV sales. But rushing a major purchase can often lead to buyer’s remorse come Monday morning. Let us coach you to a winning purchase with this helpful guide. Read More...
-
26-Jan-2012
Samsung UN32D5500 LED LCD HDTV Review
The D5500 has a rather high MSRP of $699, considering it’s only a 32-inch TV. There are some “premiums upgrades,” a term we use with some dubiousness, knowing that these features can be far less valuable than they appear. Nevertheless, at its core this is a good television. If you can find it a significantly reduced price it would make a great addition to a home theater. Read More...
Panasonic TC-P42X1 Manual
Top Rated HD Televisions
-
Also in this series

$1,749.001
Size: 59 in.Samsung PN59D7000
The Samsung PN59D7000 ($2,599 MSRP) is a stunning, high-end plasma TV fashioned by Samsung for 2011. It has 59 inches of great, 1080p picture quality, and as a second-generation plasma, it handles 3D reasonably well. Read full review
$1,749.00All TypesPlasmaOnline Features (with or without)YesWith Online FeaturesNoWithout Online FeaturesYes3D and non-3D TVsYes3D TVsNoNon-3D TVsYes -
Also in this series

$2,612.002
Size: 60 in.Samsung UN60D8000
The Samsung UN60D8000 retails for a whopping $4299 (MSRP). That's well over a $1000 more than the equivalently-sized plasma from Samsung that includes nearly all the same features. Read full review
$2,612.00All TypesLCDOnline Features (with or without)YesWith Online FeaturesNoWithout Online FeaturesYes3D and non-3D TVsYes3D TVsNoNon-3D TVsYes -

$712.493
Size: 46 in.Samsung UN46D6000
Everyone wants a Smart TV, but how smart is buying the Samsung UN46D6000 for its $1299 MSRP? With its reasonably good performance in many categories and more internet features than you can shake an e-stick at, that question might be hard to answer if it weren't for this review. Read full review
$712.49All TypesLCDOnline Features (with or without)YesWith Online FeaturesNoWithout Online FeaturesYes3D and non-3D TVsYes3D TVsNoNon-3D TVsYes -

4
Size: 50 in.LG 50PZ950
This 1080p plasma television with internet and 3D capabilities is purportedly the best LG has to offer in 2011. Read full review
All TypesPlasmaOnline Features (with or without)YesWith Online FeaturesNoWithout Online FeaturesYes3D and non-3D TVsYes3D TVsNoNon-3D TVsYes -

$714.935
Size: 42 in.LG 42LV5500
The LG 42LV5500 is packed with a lot of fun features that may sound good, but can distract from what a TV is supposed to do: deliver a good picture. Fortunately, the color performance cannot be beat. Read full review
$714.93All TypesLEDOnline Features (with or without)YesWith Online FeaturesNoWithout Online FeaturesYes3D and non-3D TVsYes3D TVsNoNon-3D TVsNo
Features
-
TelevisionInfo.com 2011 Select Awards
After testing dozens of televisions this year, the staff of TVI has made its official selections for the very best televisions of 2011. Read More...
-
3D TV, Not Ready for Prime Time
If you’ve been shopping for a new TV is the last two years, you’ve probably heard a lot of hype about 3D. As with most new technologies, customers are awash in baffling terminology and misinformation. Here’s a simple guide to walk you through the basics. Read More...
-
HDTV Streaming Content Compared
Televisions aren’t just getting their content through the coax cable anymore. Just as the internet has gradually moved towards a video-rich space—YouTube, Hulu, Vimeo, etc.—those same sorts of features are creeping into your TV sets. Like it or not, those 1000+ channels of direct cable are not enough anymore. Read More...
-
Technology Preview: Haier Completely Wireless Television
Imagine a TV with no wires. You’re talking about WiFi, right? No, we mean no wires, at all. Haier, the Chinese company better known as an appliance manufacturer, is showcasing a new technology here at CES that conducts electricity wireless to the TV, as well as streaming content. The TV is pretty far from production at this point, but it’s among the more amazing things we’ve seen at the show. Here’s an in-depth look at the technology and how it might be implemented in future products. Read More...






(add your own)