Panasonic TX-P42V20B review

If you want top plasma pictures but aren't fussed about 3D, the P42V20 is the telly for you

Panasonic TX-P42V20
The G20 series uses a slightly watered down version of Panasonic's contrast-boosting Infinite Black technology

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Panasonic tx-p42v20 4

The three speakers built into the P42V20's frame don't quite muster the audio majesty we'd hoped they might. Strangely, bass still feels a touch compressed when pushed hard, despite the presence of a dedicated subwoofer.

On the upside, the set handles trebles confidently, without undue emphasis or harshness and the triple-speaker arrangement does at least enable the set to go pretty loud without succumbing to distortion or excessive mid-range compression and the soundstage spreads nice and wide.

Value

We can't ignore the fact, of course, that you can buy 40-42in TVs these days for barely half the price Panasonic is asking for the P42V20. But the set's combination of multimedia features and, especially, stellar picture quality, make the price leap worth making if you can afford it.

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John Archer
AV Technology Contributor

John has been writing about home entertainment technology for more than two decades - an especially impressive feat considering he still claims to only be 35 years old (yeah, right). In that time he’s reviewed hundreds if not thousands of TVs, projectors and speakers, and spent frankly far too long sitting by himself in a dark room.