Rated 
One of the best out there
FULL HD 1080, integrated tuners
no PIP, heavy
Posted 1 year ago - This is my second plasma TV. I have a different brand 42 in. that is going to the masters bedroom. This plasma TV is now the centerpiece of my home theater room (Onkyo receiver, Jamo/Klipsch speakers (7.1 set-up), Samsung Blu-ray, XBOX 360). I did extensive research before buying this Hitachi plasma TV, reading up on expert reviews and Internet blogs. At the end, I came to the conclusion that this plasma TV is comparable if not better than the more well-known brands. Although Hitachi is not a household TV name in the US, I have found that it is a well respected brand in Asia. It actually predates Sony and all the other big Japanese/Korean brands. I bought this TV for its 1080 capability as I have it hooked up to my Blu-Ray. The Internet is full of conflicting statements about the TV's HD capability. The manufacturer does not help at all as it is silent about its 1080 capability. Other people are saying it is capable of only 1080i while some are saying it is truly 1080p. As I am no video expert, I will not comment on this. All I care about is that the TV gives astounding pictures when hooked up to my Blu-Ray. The TV has a feature which lets you identify the video signals at a press of a button on the remote and it does show that Blu-Ray video signals are being shown as 1080p. In fact, my Blu-Ray also says that the TV is capable of 1080p, so that ends my argument about the TV's 1080p capability. The black gloss piano finish is also a plus as it blends well with my components and speakers which are in black. This plasma TV does not have a PIP feature, which should be standard on this type of TVs but, it is just a minor issue for me. I have the TV mounted on the wall so, I cannot comment on the swivel base. I guess it is a cool feature as I have read many people commenting on its usefulness. Plasma TVs are heavier than LCD TVs. If you can have the TV shipped free with white glove service that would be awesome. Else, be prepared to have a second or third person help you bring in the monster. I only had my wife to help me bring in the TV from the car garage to the second floor of the house. And it was a real struggle as the box was huge and weighed 135+ lbs. The TV itself is 100+ lbs without the base so, mounting it was a real back breaker. I have owned this TV for almost a month now, and so far, it has not given me any technical problems. This plasma TV can be had at half the original price of $2500+ when first introduced the fall of last year. With that price, you can never go wrong with this TV.
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