Quote:
Originally Posted by
P3R3 
Panny = lexus
Hitachi = kia
Well, that's one crummy Lexus you're driving. While the model the original poster was asking about is new and a lower-end model for Hitachi, the latest Consumer Reports ranked the Hitachi 42HDX99 above both Panasonic 42" models from last year (600 and 60 series). While I am on record in this forum as skeptical as to the overall utility of those ratings because Consumer Reports is so concerned with value, the HD PQ ratings were exactly the same for both TVs, and the Hitachi scored better on SD material. I have yet to read a poor review of a Hitachi 42" set. I guess because Panasonic has previously only offered a very limited selection of models that their buyers think that every other manufacturer does the same thing. No question that Panasonic has excellent PQ, it's just frustrating to read all these "opinions" from Panasonic fans that everything else is junk - especially when it is not true.
I should also add, further to 42plasman's point, that Hitachi introduced 16-bit processing last year, and it is featured on all of their 42" and 55" TVs. I would imagine it is the same for the new 42" and 50" models this year, although admittedly, they are lower-end models.
However, if you want to talk about the aesthetics of those particular offerings from Hitachi and Panasonic, then I would suggest the following:
Hitachi = Maybach
Panasonic = Yugo
Granted, the new Panasonics look much better.
