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Hitachi P42H401 - Thoughts and Impressions

31493 Views 161 Replies 61 Participants Last post by smethwc, Jan 16, 2008

Ozz1113

Discussion Starter · May 11, 2007

Whats up all. I picked up the new Hitachi 42" 1080i plasma about 5 days ago and wanted to share some of my impressions.

I have pictures to post but since I don't have 5 posts, I can't do it. I'll get there real soon ;]

I primarily picked this panel over the Panny 75 and Samsung 54 b\\c of the higher res. I am using it in a relatively smaller room and wanted the smoother picture.

It's very impressive. Standard Def on the expanded 16:9 format impresses me the most. The picture is very colorful, smooth with almost no graining.

Hi-Def is...well Hi-Def. It is what I expected. I have a 42" Sony LCD projection tv to compare it to. The Hitachi has a really great picture. Again, It's very smooth with little to no graining. The pixels aren't visible no matter what colors shine.

Red seems to be more vibrant than any other color and it's hard to compensate for it without losing the blues. That's the only thing that disappoints me. Contrast is great, the blacks are deep and true.

Xbox on component cables wasn't all I thought it would be. It doesn't seem to match up to 720p tv. I only have one game though, Friday Night Fights.

I'm very picky about my picture and I'm very glad I got the Hitachi. IMO, the tv is worth 50% more than it sells.

Thanks for everyones help on the forums.

John

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1 - 20 of 162 Posts

shasta

· #2 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozz1113 /forum/post/0

Whats up all. I picked up the new Hitachi 42" 1080i plasma about 5 days ago and wanted to share some of my impressions.

I have pictures to post but since I don't have 5 posts, I can't do it. I'll get there real soon ;]

I primarily picked this panel over the Panny 75 and Samsung 54 b\\c of the higher res. I am using it in a relatively smaller room and wanted the smoother picture.

It's very impressive. Standard Def on the expanded 16:9 format impresses me the most. The picture is very colorful, smooth with almost no graining.

Hi-Def is...well Hi-Def. It is what I expected. I have a 42" Sony LCD projection tv to compare it to. The Hitachi has a really great picture. Again, It's very smooth with little to no graining. The pixels aren't visible no matter what colors shine.

Red seems to be more vibrant than any other color and it's hard to compensate for it without losing the blues. That's the only thing that disappoints me. Contrast is great, the blacks are deep and true.

Xbox on component cables wasn't all I thought it would be. It doesn't seem to match up to 720p tv. I only have one game though, Friday Night Fights.

I'm very picky about my picture and I'm very glad I got the Hitachi. IMO, the tv is worth 50% more than it sells.

Thanks for everyones help on the forums.

John

You do realize that your Hitachi can not display a 720p picture right?

Ozz1113

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta /forum/post/0

You do realize that your Hitachi can not display a 720p picture right?

Well my eyes don't lie.

shasta

· #4 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozz1113 /forum/post/0

Well my eyes don't lie.

Well the reason I'm asking is because the vast majority of HD broadcasts are not 1080i, and your P.Q. will suffer as a result.

BOSTON-HD

· #5 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta /forum/post/0

Well the reason I'm asking is because the vast majority of HD broadcasts are not 1080i, and your P.Q. will suffer as a result.

Shasta: Please! I have last years Hitachi 42HDS69 (1080i) & watching EPSN (720P) is looks wonderful. The PQ will suffer? I beg to differ. My picture looks outstanding since the last firmware update & some small tweaks. Too many people in here go way "over the top" in regards to which set is best & why. On the other hand, I think people wouldn't have much to say if they didn't.

Ozzz1113....Good luck with your new purchase. That's a very nice plasma you own. Hitachi build quality is top-notch!

Alex

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Xyler

· #6 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta /forum/post/0

You do realize that your Hitachi can not display a 720p picture right?

I have the P50H401 and I'm confused by this statement. I've never viewed anything at 720p because all of our HD channels are 1080i.

The PQ on this set is fantastic. I did some work on the kids' computer last night, which is on a desk next to the plasma. I happened to glance at what they were watching, which was Ugly Betty, and I was shocked by the PQ even at two feet.

chaz01

· #7 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta /forum/post/0

Well the reason I'm asking is because the vast majority of HD broadcasts are not 1080i, and your P.Q. will suffer as a result.

Look again. the vast majority of hd programming IS 1080i.

Ozz1113

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xyler /forum/post/0

I have the P50H401 and I'm confused by this statement. I've never viewed anything at 720p because all of our HD channels are 1080i.

The PQ on this set is fantastic. I did some work on the kids' computer last night, which is on a desk next to the plasma. I happened to glance at what they were watching, which was Ugly Betty, and I was shocked by the PQ even at two feet.

The PQ is great, no doubt. The glare is a drawback, I am going to have to get new blinds...

Whats with the Optical output too, it only outputs two channels?

Ozz1113

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 11, 2007

CNBC is SD and ESPN is HD. Shutter speed was 1\\8 so it may look fuzzy from camera movements.

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2

pcCinema

· #10 · May 12, 2007

I hope you get better results with yours than I do with my 55" hitachi plasma. The stupid thing can't display anything properly. It's a 1366x768 panel but it can't (or more accurately wont) display a damn thing without scaling it. Hook up a pc to yours and just try to get it to display a sharp 1:1 pixel perfect image. It won't. Text, desktop, anything with well defined edges looks like crap at any resolution it takes. I'm running DVI to HDMI and have tried a couple different video cards and all resolutions to no avail.

If you or anyone can find a way to turn off the damn scaling and make these hitachi's display anything pixel perfect I'd be forever in your debt.

I'm wondering if it looks this bad with a pc at 720p and 1366x768 how much better hd video could look if it wasn't always scaling everything and messing it up.

I also wonder if I got a transcoder and ran component if that might fix some of the problem compared to what hdmi does.

Damn thing, I would never reccomend another Hitachi to anyone for anything the way things are now. I just went to the shop where I bought it to find a replacement, but unfortunately they don't have anything better in the same price range. It's like $1400 more to go to a sony 1080p that's a few inches smaller just to get 1:1 pixel mapping.

I called and complained to Hitachi and their answer is it's a TV and not meant to be used with a computer. IDIOTS!!!

Troy

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shasta

· #11 · May 14, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by BOSTON-HD /forum/post/0

Shasta: Please! I have last years Hitachi 42HDS69 (1080i) & watching EPSN (720P) is looks wonderful. The PQ will suffer? I beg to differ. My picture looks outstanding since the last firmware update & some small tweaks. Too many people in here go way "over the top" in regards to which set is best & why. On the other hand, I think people wouldn't have much to say if they didn't.

Ozzz1113....Good luck with your new purchase. That's a very nice plasma you own. Hitachi build quality is top-notch!

Alex

What I'm saying is that the Hitatchi is not capable of displaying a "progressive scan " picture. 480p and 720p get converted to the displays native 1080i, ant "interlaced resolution. As far as my comment on the picture "suffering", most will agree that the progressive image of 720p or 768p, as the case may be is superior to the interlaced 1080i resolution. Especially when viewing fast moving content like sports. It's the biggest criticisms of the Hitatchi and just seem strange that you never heard it before.

.

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Xyler

· #12 · May 14, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta /forum/post/0

Especially when viewing fast moving content like sports. It's the biggest criticisms of the Hitatchi.

Sorry, I'm just not having that problem. I watched the Rockets in HD lose to the Jazz, the Astros in HD lose to the Cardinals (anyone see a trend here?), and some HD hockey, and the fast movement has been sharp, even when Boozer raced around Yao for another easy layup.

Xyler

· #13 · May 14, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozz1113 /forum/post/0

Whats with the Optical output too, it only outputs two channels?

The optical output jack provides six soundtrack channels, but your amplifier/receiver must have a Dolby Digital decoder. If it has a PCM only decoder, it will provide only two channels.

SteveK123

· #14 · May 14, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by pcCinema /forum/post/0

I hope you get better results with yours than I do with my 55" hitachi plasma. The stupid thing can't display anything properly. It's a 1366x768 panel but it can't (or more accurately wont) display a damn thing without scaling it. Hook up a pc to yours and just try to get it to display a sharp 1:1 pixel perfect image. It won't. Text, desktop, anything with well defined edges looks like crap at any resolution it takes. I'm running DVI to HDMI and have tried a couple different video cards and all resolutions to no avail.

If you or anyone can find a way to turn off the damn scaling and make these hitachi's display anything pixel perfect I'd be forever in your debt.

I'm wondering if it looks this bad with a pc at 720p and 1366x768 how much better hd video could look if it wasn't always scaling everything and messing it up.

I also wonder if I got a transcoder and ran component if that might fix some of the problem compared to what hdmi does.

Damn thing, I would never reccomend another Hitachi to anyone for anything the way things are now. I just went to the shop where I bought it to find a replacement, but unfortunately they don't have anything better in the same price range. It's like $1400 more to go to a sony 1080p that's a few inches smaller just to get 1:1 pixel mapping.

I called and complained to Hitachi and their answer is it's a TV and not meant to be used with a computer. IDIOTS!!!

Troy

its a tv not a computer monitor. unless your computers video card can output at the native resolution of the tv you will have a problem like you describe, and because its a tv not a computer monitor the tv overscans a little. Although I do believe the hitachis have a 0 overscan mode, which would probably fix your problem

shasta

· #15 · May 14, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xyler /forum/post/0

Sorry, I'm just not having that problem. I watched the Rockets in HD lose to the Jazz, the Astros in HD lose to the Cardinals (anyone see a trend here?), and some HD hockey, and the fast movement has been sharp, even when Boozer raced around Yao for another easy layup.

Fair enough, there are a few people out there that prefer a "interlaced display" over a "progressive."

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SledDog43

· #16 · May 14, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by shasta /forum/post/0

What I'm saying is that the Hitatchi is not capable of displaying a "progressive scan " picture. 480p and 720p get converted to the displays native 1080i, ant "interlaced resolution. As far as my comment on the picture "suffering", most will agree that the progressive image of 720p or 768p, as the case may be is superior to the interlaced 1080i resolution. Especially when viewing fast moving content like sports. It's the biggest criticisms of the Hitatchi and just seem strange that you never heard it before.

.

Gee, that's interesting.... I'm watching a local HD right now and the when I press the TV remote "info" button, the set tells me the channel is being displayed @720P. Same thing happens when my DVD player outputs a 480P signal. If I change the DVD player to 480i, the set show the signal as 480i.

It would appear you have incorrect info about the PXXH401 displays. Have you even read the manual on these displays? It's obvious you don't own one.

ChrisCollins

· #17 · May 14, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by SledDog43 /forum/post/0

Gee, that's interesting.... I'm watching a local HD right now and the when I press the TV remote "info" button, the set tells me the channel is being displayed @720P. Same thing happens when my DVD player outputs a 480P signal. If I change the DVD player to 480i, the set show the signal as 480i.

It would appear you have incorrect info about the PXXH401 displays. Have you even read the manual on these displays? It's obvious you don't own one.

No he is not wrong. The sets are 1080i, so whatever is input is being converted to 1080i. The set can not show progressive scans, but it will show progressive scans converted to interlaced scans.

Ozz1113

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xyler /forum/post/0

The optical output jack provides six soundtrack channels, but your amplifier/receiver must have a Dolby Digital decoder. If it has a PCM only decoder, it will provide only two channels.

I have a 6 channel Yamaha, Dolby Digital, DTS PLII, HIV etc etc.

SteveK123

· #19 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by SledDog43 /forum/post/0

Gee, that's interesting.... I'm watching a local HD right now and the when I press the TV remote "info" button, the set tells me the channel is being displayed @720P. Same thing happens when my DVD player outputs a 480P signal. If I change the DVD player to 480i, the set show the signal as 480i.

It would appear you have incorrect info about the PXXH401 displays. Have you even read the manual on these displays? It's obvious you don't own one.

its showing you the input signal. All signals are convertedt to the native resolution of the display which I believe is now 1280x1080i. Its interlaced because it uses a ALiS panel which lights up every other row one scan then the other rows the next.

mextarzan

· #20 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveK123 /forum/post/0

its showing you the input signal. All signals are convertedt to the native resolution of the display which I believe is now 1280x1080i. Its interlaced because it uses a ALiS panel which lights up every other row one scan then the other rows the next.

That is ridiculous, of course Hitachi plasmas can display progressive scan signals. Its picture master HD video processor upconverts non-HD content to virtual 1080p

why the hell would it upconvert to 1080p if it can't display a progressive scan image?

Alis technology uses a shared electrode techonlogy to minimize the non-picture gap that every other manufacturer has, resulting in more pixels. Therefore less energy consumption, brighter panel, more visible active picture and more pixels!!

So if you are saying that if Hitachi plasmas can't display progressive scan, does that mean that every other plasma with a 768P resolution can't display a 1080i signal? also 90% of HD content is on 1080i doesn't it make sense to buy a TV that can display the dominant HD resolution natively?

all other plasmas when you give it a HD signal 1920x1080 they have to scale the picture horizontally and vertically.

Hitachi plasmas only scale the picture Horizontally because their vertical resolution matches dominant 1080i resolution pixel per pixel. resulting in less scaling and no cropping of the picture. if you put an HD signal on Hitachi plasmas and you set it to 16:9 standard 2 aspect mode it displays the full 1080i signal without cropping part of the picture, you will notice that you see the full picture as oppose to other competitors' plasmas that have to crop the image by overscanning.

Hitachi plasmas, by far the best!!

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