Hitachi 42PD7200 |
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The Good
Stunning design, features, and superb colour.
The Bad
Only one HDMI, picture noise, sound a little weak and black levels not up to the best.
Design
Hitachi's plasmas lack the distinct sophistication of Pioneer and Panasonic's recent efforts, but the 42PD7200 still manages to look modern. It's a classic example of understated design, with only a thin black frame to detract from the main attraction -- the massive screen itself. And despite having Picture Master processing, you won't see Hitachi boasting about it with huge logos on the front - only the Hitachi badge divides the clean lines of the TV.
On the AV side there's been a big shakeup. One set of component inputs has been removed (still leaving one set) and replaced with a shiny new HDMI input. The DVI input is also HDCP compatible, so you're effectively getting two high-definition-compatible inputs, and there aren't many TVs that can yet boast that. It's not all about catering for the future market though, as there's also been an increase in the number of Scarts, with two RGB and one video Scart taking the total up to three.
Features
Screen size & shape: 42in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound system: Nicam Resolution: 1024x1024 HD Ready: Yes Contrast Ratio: 1600:1 Brightness: 1200cd/m2 Weight: 42.5kg OTHER FEATURES: PICTURE MASTER Technology SOCKETS: HDMI input, component video input, PC input, S-video, 3 scarts (1RGB), composite video input, stereo audio input, digital audio output, PCMCIA slot
Hitachi's menu systems aren't flashy, but they're very easy to use. It helps that there are a number of presets that you can activate from the remote control, so you never have to dip in there if you don't want to. From the box, we found that the Natural picture setting offered the best results for television programmes and movies, whereas the Dynamic mode was useful for some videogames.
If you are more experienced, you can delve into the menu system, and you'll find that Hitachi offers a lot of options for the power user. You can go as deep as changing the colour temperature or adjusting the individual colour levels. On the audio side, things are just as in-depth, with separate adjustments for treble, bass and balance. The sound system also has built-in Dynamic Bass and Matrix Surround, but they're off by default and we suggest you leave them that way.
Performance
At a mid-range price, the 42PD7200 could potentially be forgiven for having a weaker picture quality than recent efforts from Pioneer and NEC. This hasn't been the case though, as this plasma offers a rock-solid picture performance across all sources. We got into the cricket while testing the screen, and Channel 4's Ashes coverage showed off a nice mix of colours and some fast camera pans. Usually, there is significant breakup from Freeview material when viewed on an LCD or plasma, but Hitachi's screen showed no weaknesses in this area. If you go close up to the screen, you can see some colour banding, but it's a great improvement over the 42PD5200, even though it's hardly more expensive than the older model.
The great thing about the speakers is that they can easily be removed. While we expect a good proportion of plasma buyers to have a dedicated surround setup, the quality of the included speakers is very good, and they add to the sophisticated look. The two 12W speakers aren't particularly powerful, but they perform well in the mid-range and always provide vocal clarity -- making them good for television programmes, as opposed to movies.