Samsung PN42A450 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

A big-screen plasma HDTV for under a grand? Such a notion would have been unthinkable just a year or two ago, but with affordable sets like the PN42A450 sprinkling Samsung's new plasma series of televisions, the time may be now for you to take the high-def plunge. (Current Amazon price.)

The 42-inch PN42A450 features a lot of the bells and whistles found on Samsung's higher end series 550 and 650 plasmas, but the key difference vs. this and the other 450-series sets is that this model is 720p.

Will 720p meet your needs, making the PN42A450 the best plasma for you? Keep reading for our quick features review...

The big question to first address is whether 720p will suffice. Most videophiles will tell you that the difference between 1080p and 720p resolution on a screen smaller than around 50" is negligable. They argue that the naked eye simply can't see the upgrade in resolution on a 42" screen like that of the PN42A450.

So by that standard, paying extra for 1080p on a 42" HDTV could simply be a waste. And 720p is still considered high definition, meaning you'll definitely see the upgraded quality on sources such as Blu-Ray discs, gaming consoles like Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, and HD television signals.

And the PN42A450 has plenty of other specs to warrant a closer look. From a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio to Samsung's revered Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) technology, the PN42A450 delivers a lot of modern features for a price that's hard to pass up.

And of course you can't forget audio. The PN42A450 includes the SRS TruSurround XT sound system, which promises to create a sound experience to make you feel like you're viewing your favorite films at your local mega-multiplex.

And don't worry that a lower-end set like the PN42A450 won't include enough high-end input options to handle your AV connections. The PN42A450 includes 3 HDMI inputs to accommodate your HD video sources, plus a host of other connection choices to handle virtually all your AV gear.

Ultimately, though, don't let this or any other Internet review make your purchase decision for you. First make sure you find out what other buyers think of the PN42A450. Read their user reviews of this TV at Amazon.com.

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