NEC PX-42XR4A 42-inch Plasma HDTV

The NEC PX-42XR4A is an impressive 42-inch plasma television which is part of NEC’s second generation 42″ Home/Showcase display. It has advanced picture control with accurate and brilliant video reproduction. It delivers an impressive image that hasn’t been seen from any product of the same class. DVD and HDTV pictures are produced correctly, with accurate colors and specific focus on minute details. Given the quality and performance for this TV, the 42XR4 indeed cost more than other 42-inch plasma displays. But with the near perfect image reproduction, you can’t go wrong in indulging in this particular product.

The PX-42XR4A is framed in a thin black bezel and finished with a non-glossy surface. This is particularly helpful when you want to minimize the reflection from light sources so as to prevent any kind of distractions. The manual controls as well as the on-display button are located under the left side and slightly embedded into the frame. It keeps them out of sight so as to keep its simplicity and style, but still very accessible if there is a need to use it.

The PX-42XR4A is equipped with different connectivity options that allows it to display different media from various sources. The AV inputs are grouped together at the rear end of the display. The PX-42XR4A includes two HDMI inputs, a pair of component video inputs and a VGA input allowing it to be hooked with a computer. The NEC 42XR4 can be safely called a monitor as it does not have a TV tuner.

The PX-42XR4A has a resolution of 1024×768, which is standard for most 42″ plasma displays. It has a 12-bit video processing called Gamma 12, producing 4096 shades of gray steps for each “cell,” which results in 68.7 billion colors. Gamma 12 color processing was used in the previous NEC plasma generation, but many current plasma displays still use 10-bit processing and 2048 (or less) shades of gray, so NEC’s specs in this area should still be considered ‘industry-leading’.

As for its performance, the PX-42XR4A has a smoother transition from dark to light that makes it produce a more natural image. It gives out more detail with brighter highlights that makes images more realistic. HD sources gives the set excellent productions of contrast, shadow detail, and color.

NEC also gives us some great features like cutting-edge picture-in-picture, dedicated color adjustments, and independent memory locations for each input. Of course, HDMI inputs is a standard for HDTV’s on the market as

well as the ability to program audio inputs to various video inputs is a very good addition. But before I forget, the unit does not come with built-in speakers. That means, that you would need a separate audio system to truly enjoy this product.

Overall, the NEC PX-42XR4A is expensive and quite heavy on the budget. But it definitely outperforms most of its competition giving you something of value for your money. NEC gave us a solid offering when they released the PX-42XR4A and should be kept in mind in choosing a top tier 42-inch plasma display.

Sources:
http://www.plasmacity.com
http://www.inods.com
http://www.hdtvsolutions.com