Plasma or LCD?

How do I choose between Plasma and LCD?
Size matters when it comes to making a choice. LCD is at its optimum performance up to and including 32", whilst plasma offers optimum performance at 37" and above. Panasonic Viera Plasma TV is currently the UK's Nr1 best-selling large screen TV. (see our chart below to help you make a choice).

Which is more energy efficient, Plasma or LCD?
The energy consumption of both is actually about the same in normal operating conditions. An LCD screen consumption is constant whereas with Plasma it fluctuates according to the brightness of a scene, eg when a scene is predominantly dark , a Plasma will use less energy. All in all the energy efficiency evens out for Plasma and LCD.

Time Slip Function

Super Multi Format
We have added the +R format to our range so we now offer recording and playback of all DVD formats, ensuring that you never need to worry about disc formats again.

Digital Networking
We added DV inputs and SD card slots to DIGA as well, to bring you easy digital networking with digital video cameras and digital still cameras.

Chasing Playback
This unique DVD-RAM feature lets you begin to watch what you are recording, even as you continue to record it. For example, let’s say you set to record a TV show for an hour from 9pm. Trouble is, you get home at 9.25pm. But why wait until the recording has finished? With a Panasonic DIGA DVD Video recorder, you can start watching your show from its beginning while still continuing to record it!

Simultaneous Record & Playback
Our DIGA models let you record and playback at the same time - great for recording episodes from a regular TV series! For example, while you’re recording the current episode, you may want to watch the one you recorded last week. Provided both episodes are on the same DVD-RAM disc you can watch and record simultaneously.

Time Slip Button
Press this once during a recording and you can see what you recorded 30 seconds ago - while still watching what you’re recording now! Our advanced picture-in-picture mode lets you view two pictures at the same time. Want to see what was recorded more than 60 seconds ago? Use the cursor keys to return to any previous point in the programme and see it in the main picture as you continue watching the ’live’ recording on the sub screen.

Extended Recording Times

Each model offers a variety of recording modes. Select the recording mode that best suits your needs: for programmes where high picture quality is required (such as home movies of your children or a sports event which contains lots of fast-moving action images), XP mode will prove ideal. But for everyday programmes (such as recording your favourite soap), EP mode offers longer record times and this saves disc space. All Panasonic DIGA DVD Video recorders are compatible with blank DVD-R and DVD-RAM discs. Recording using a 4.7GB DVD-R can deliver around six hours on a single disc when you choose EP recording mode. Use a 9.4GB double sided DVD-RAM disc and you can double that capacity to 12 hours (6 hours per side). Another option is to use Flexible Recording mode: this automatically selects the best picture quality based on the recording time and how much available space there is on the disc.

VIERA - Behind Today’s Technology

Your perception of television is about to change. Panasonic flat panel displays have always been the ultimate AV aspiration, but now we’ve created a new generation of plasma & LCDs which represent the perfect blend of science and art. You’re witnessing a whole new visual era: VIERA.

VIERA Panel - Excellent Brightness Even in Living Rooms
As the worlds largest and leading manufacturer in plasma technology, Panasonic demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the launch of new VIERA series, incorporating HD , Panasonic's revolutionary V-Real technology and highly convenient, unique HDAVI control and VIERA Link.

High-Performance, Environment-Friendly Panel
Panasonic has totally revamped all major components. The phosphors and other panel materials have been upgraded; the ribs and electrodes have been redesigned with new shapes; and the type of gas has been improved. The result is a clear, crisp picture that provides easy, comfortable viewing even in a bright living room. Panasonic is also committed preserving the environment.

Industry’s Highest Dark Area Contrast: Real Black Drive System

By reducing the pre-discharge emission when reproducing black, the New Real Black Drive System provides deeper, richer blacks and a stunning 4000:1* contrast. The result is dramatically enhanced image clarity and realism.

Our fully digital home cinema system uses an HDMI connection to digitally transmit the video and audio signals. Simply put, this means extremely pure images and sounds, with virtually no degradation or noise. This system unleashes the full beauty of DVD digital images, delivering clear, bright, high-resolution images that are perfect for large-screen viewing. Because the multi-channel DVD-Audio signals are also digitally transmitted, you get a brilliantly clear, dynamic sound.

The New Interface for Digital Signal Transmission

HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) is a new interface standard for digital transmission of video and audio signals. With HDMI, the signals are not compressed. Transmission is direct and "pure" - free of the degradation and noise that occur with analog signal transmission. This new interface supports image resolution all the way up to 1125p.

HDMI is particularly well suited for images that will be viewed on plasma display panels, LCDs, and other equipment that uses all-digital image processing. In terms of sound, HDMI is ideal for DVD-Audio and other high-quality digital formats. It accurately transmits even the most delicate signal components contained in high-quality audio signals. The result is a superb sound, whether the source is two-channel or multi-channel. HDMI is simple to use too, requiring connection of a single cable. With all of these advantages, HDMI is the ideal interface for today's age of steadily advancing digital A/V equipment and media.

Advanced Digital Pictures

Compare HDMI connection with conventional analog connection, using the DVD player as an example. With an analog connection, the digital signal from the DVD player is converted to analog and sent to the TV, then converted back to digital and displayed. Inevitably, there is some loss of picture quality due to conversion errors and to noise and signal degradation that occurs as the signal travels through the cable. With HDMI, on the other hand, the DVD signal is transmitted to the TV in its original digital form. There is no conversion from digital to analog and back, and thus no quality loss from conversion errors. Image quality is thus higher. Plus, because HDMI supports 625p, 1125i, and up to 1125p high-definition images with copy protection, it produces images with quality that is ideal for large-screen viewing.

Advanced Digital Sound

The super-high-quality linear PCM sound provided by DVD-Audio is not given its full potential when the digital signal is transmitted through an analog cable. With a conventional analog connection, the digital signal carrying DVD-Audio's detailed audio data is converted to analog before being sent to the amplifier and output. Sound quality is diminished due to noise and signal degradation. HDMI, on the other hand, transmits the signal in its original digital form, so the sound is extremely pure. HDMI also supports up to eight channels of multi-channel sound. Plus, it connects the player and amplifier with a single cable, rather than the multiple cables needed in conventional connection.

Easy to Use

HDMI transmits both video and audio signals over a single cable, so connection is quick and easy and the area around the TV remains uncluttered. Also, when each of the connected units is HDMI-compatible, control signals can be exchanged among them. This means that, in the future, it will be possible to operate several units from a single remote control, or to operate several units via linked control.