Panasonic's TX-P42V10B

This plasma screen TV which has great contrast and excellent image quality, offers access to 140 channels with HD broadcasts, included in the built-in Freesat HD receiver. Its Ethernet port makes it easy to connect to Panasonic’s Viera Cast service a web gateway which offer weather and news services, You Tube and Picasa.
Monthly fees are not required for the Freesat service, you can alternate between standard and now-and-next modes, set timers for upcoming programs, filter your channels by type and genre.


The special feature 24p Smooth Film is a frame smoothing technology look for it in the Other Settings menu under Systems. The imagery is fantastic for watching DVD’s, digital noise is reduced and there is no ghosting. PC connecting is not a problem either.


With its pleasant sound quality that comes from the integrated speakers the extra surround sound presets give an extra boost to the sound stage. With the bass on the sound becomes a little distorted and you cannot turn it up past 50 per cent because the sound hazy.


The high power consumption is a down side of plasma screens, with the settings set to maximum the TV used up a voracious 390W. There is no USB port, although pictures and videos can be viewed through the network or SD card slot, music files cannot be opened this way.
Even though Freesat HD is included along with Viera Cast and network access the TX-P4V10B is not a particularly good bargain compared to all the other cheaper LED and LCD screen TVs.