I now own a Zenith Z42PX2D that I am extremely happy with. PROS: *PQ is stunning .. colors vibrant *5000:1 contrast ratio *superb black levels *built in tuner for OTA DTV *2 component inputs *HDMI/DVI *Cable Card input *built in Orbiter, White Wash, and Inverse to prevent burn-in
CONS: *kinda wide (maybe because I don't need the speakers yet unless I move it upstairs.) *gamma control? Not sure if this is a service type option.
I haven't read many reviews on this unit and other forums aren't much help. They all seem to be Panasonic followers. I checked out the Panny and didn't see much if any difference in PQ. This setup had every option I could possibly need (with out buying extra cards) with a beautiful pic to boot at a great price. Anyone here own one and have any thoughts?
I bought the Zenith Z42PX2D online at BB after many weeks of comparison shopping and eyeballing. This is a superb bargain. Abe is quite right...PQ is outstanding on HD and remains very good with SD although never as good as CRT with SD. The internal sound is quite good (15W/channel and has surround modes to boot using multiple drivers.
I have entered the service menu which I found to be fully operational and extremely thorough. Found very few parameters needing change but did alter the color values to clean up a slight green push, especially apparent with SD and some DVD play...unnoticed with HD. Original color decoding using AVIA through component showed red and blue to be 0% but Green was down -20-->25%. Have made alterations and am now satisfied with all colors -5%.
This set provides many nice touches including settings memory for input type. Also features Orbiter and Whitewash and both are effective. I have experienced some image persistence during burn-in even with low levels but nothing permanent. Now after 300 hours I would have no concerns in this regard and frequently use screen ratios with bars both gray and black without problem.
Altogether a quality set for an unbelievable price. The Panny PD50U has the best overall PQ I have seen in EDTV but this Zenith compared up to 95% or more in this all-important regard IMO and did so with an operational service menu which Panny did not offer on the PD50U. I'm sure if they were both side-by-side in my room I could spot the difference on-screen but it would be ever so slight, especially now after Menu tweaking.
This is a keeper and will remain so for the few years I will wait until HD is sorted out even further and there is more content to view and larger sets to be had at cheaper prices.
My $.02 Paul
abe vigoda
Unregistered guest
Posted on
heya Paul .. it's b0n3/Joe disguised as Abe Vigoda. Trying to get some feedback on this PDP and it ain't happening here. It seems that we are the only two people on earth who own it ('cept for the one guy on epinions).. lol. btw, I LOVE this set and it keeps getting better with age. Image retention has diminished after the 100 hour break in. The blotchiness I noticed in the lower right hand corner was caused by my powered subwoofer. I can't figure that one out but moving it a little cured the issue. HDMI looks spectacular with the D* HD STB .. saved the 2 components for Xbox and DVD with incredible results. glad you're enjoying your EDTV .. I sure am digging mine!
P. Clarke
Unregistered guest
Posted on
Amen brother!!! Give my best to Barney and the gang. (You've got that music playing in my head right now.)
I guess You and me and Heidi makes three :o) LOL!
...have also been contacted by a fellow named Erick about the Service menu. He relayed to me his factory color defaults from both menus as I requested in order to keep track of any variations within the set. His matched mine almost exactly so these panels and their circuitry adjustments are fairly uniform so far.
Keep on truckin'.
Bigfoot829
Unregistered guest
Posted on
I just ordered this tv at BB after going to the store to buy a different open item. I fell in love with it after watching a dvd play on it. I've got over 300 dvd's and if you buy another tv after watching a dvd on this one, you might need to see an optomitrist.
What DVD player are you going to use with your new set? I would stay away from the Oppo because of some macroblocking issues connected to the Zenith via DVI. Stop on over to avsforums and look up the official Zenith Z42PX2D thread.
grats on your purchase
Stefman008
Unregistered guest
Posted on
I am looking at this Zenith Plasma EDTV or The Samsung Rear Proj DLP 42". Same price. What would you guys/girls suggest?