Gadgets for Grownups

• 42-inch plasma flat-panel TV with widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio; 41.63 x 30.13 x 5 inches (W x H x D)
• Amazing 1,000:1 contrast ratio, high brightness
• Digital Pixel Generator system, Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion enhance standard- and high-definition sources for optimal quality

This TV offers Sony's TruSurround Sound SR 3D Audio processing, which creates the effect of surround sound using only the two built-in speakers. This technology eliminates the need to sit in the "sweet spot" where the audio sounds best, ensuring that any seat in the house is a good one. It also features reverse 3:2 pulldown, which reassembles the frame sequence of your original film-based content from DVDs to more accurately reproduce the original 24-frame-per-second material.

The KE-42TS2 sports a resolution of 1024 x 1024 (1024 dots x 1024 lines), and its built-in NTSC tuner means you may not need any external hardware to watch TV. For precision control, the KE-42TS2 allows you to make color temperature adjustments (to compensate for variations in ambient lighting) and dot phase adjustment when being used as a computer monitor. Its onscreen menus are available in English, Spanish, and French, and it can display closed captioning for the hearing impaired or silent viewing.

A direct DVI (digital video interface) HDTV connection ensures that through digital transmission of HD signals from external devices featuring a DVI connector, images retain their fullest quality. The set also has HD component-video and S-Video inputs for connecting a DVD player or other high-resolution device, an RF input for connecting a VCR, and composite-video inputs for connecting a camcorder or video game. Its audio outputs include a separate subwoofer feed. Audio and video inputs are located on both the front and the back of the TV for easy access.

The KE-42TS2 can be wall mounted with the optional wall bracket, or placed on the floor using the optional floor stand.

What's in the Box
TV, owner's manual, remote control, and batteries.

• 42-inch gas-plasma TV with built-in NTSC and digital ATSC/QAM tuners and high 3,000:1 contrast ratio; 44.9 x 29.8 x 5.5 inches (W x H x D)
• High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) offers direct-digital A/V connection with compatible gear
• Biamplified 2-way speakers with 26 watts total power; BBE ViVA HD3D Sound simulates surround sound from any 2 speakers

• 852 x 480 maximum resolution, 1.08 mm dot pitch
• Accepts SDTV, HDTV, DVI and RGB computer input signals
• Compatible with PC and Mac; 1-year limited warranty

Onscreen menus offer access to a variety of display settings, and you can choose between six display languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese). The 15-pin D-Sub, RGB, composite video, BNC, 4-pin Mini DIN, and DVI input connectors accept a wide range of input signals including SDTV, HDTV, DVI and RGB computer signals as well as NTSC (North America), PAL (Europe), SECAM (South America), NTSC4.43, PAL60, PAL-N PAL-M, and PAL-N. The AC 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz power supply consumes about 360 W of power during operation, while the internal 7W audio amplifier drives the optional audio speakers. The PFM-42V1 is also compatible with PC and Mac operating systems and is backed by a one year limited warranty.

• 42-inch widescreen high-definition plasma display with DVI input and 16:9 aspect ratio; 40.4 x 24.8 x 3.1 inches (W x H x D)
• Extraordinary 1,200:1 contrast ratio, high 700 cd/m2 brightness
• 10-watts-per-channel speaker outputs (for use with optional matching speakers, model PSM4230); subwoofer output for a direct sub hookup

A built-in analog tuner, a pedestal stand, and a generous array of inputs and outputs make set up a snap, and the SPN4235's widescreen (16:9) display is specially configured to match or approximate the native aspect ratios of your favorite movies, either from DVD or from HDTV broadcasts when the set is hooked up to a DTV receiver (not included).

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile. The SPN4235 is an astoundingly slim 3.1 inches deep, perfect for desk or wall mounting (the set includes a convenient pedestal stand, pictured). Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems.

Additional inputs include one HD component-video input (480p/720p/1080i) and one SD component-video input (480i) as well as one each S-video, composite-video, and RF. Samsung's proprietary video-enhancement technology, Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe), performs 3D noise reduction and detail and contrast enhancement for all interlaced (non-HD) sources.

The set also houses a 10-watts-per-channel audio amplifier for use with optional speakers, such as those in your existing stereo or home theater, or Samsung's matching PSM4230 speakers. A dedicated subwoofer output is just what you need to hook the set up with a powered sub for rafter-rattling low frequencies from your favorite movies and music. And, if you're listening in stereo or 2.1 (stereo plus subwoofer), onboard Dolby Virtual surround sound will simulate an enveloping surround experience with no need for rear-channel speakers.

The set's NTSC two-tuner picture-in-picture (side-by-side, split-screen) grants convenient, simultaneous viewing of two TV programs, and a fanless cooling system ensures quiet operation. Other optional accessories include a wall-mount kit (WMN4230) and a pneumatic floor stand (FS420).

What's in the Box
TV, pedestal stand, remote control, remote batteries, 3 ferrite cores, 2 speaker cables, 1 RF audio/video cable, 1 S-video cable, 1 PC cable, 1 component-video cable, 1 composite-video cable, stereo analog audio (left/right RCA) interconnect, detachable AC power cord, user's manual, and registration information.

• 852 x 480 maximum resolution, 1.08 mm dot pitch
• Accepts SDTV, HDTV, DVI and RGB computer input signals
• Compatible with PC and Mac; 1-year limited warranty

Onscreen menus offer access to a variety of display settings, and you can choose between six display languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese). The 15-pin D-Sub, RGB, composite video, BNC, 4-pin Mini DIN, and DVI input connectors accept a wide range of input signals including SDTV, HDTV, DVI and RGB computer signals as well as NTSC (North America), PAL (Europe), SECAM (South America), NTSC4.43, PAL60, PAL-N PAL-M, and PAL-N. The AC 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz power supply consumes about 360 W of power during operation, while the internal 7W audio amplifier drives the optional audio speakers. The PFM-42V1 is also compatible with PC and Mac operating systems and is backed by a one year limited warranty.

• 42-inch gas-plasma display with EDTV (up to 480p) native resolution; 46 x 28.9 x 14.9 inches (W x H x D) with stand
• 852 x 480 native pixel resolution; accepts 720p and 1080i HDTV signals
• Wide, 160-degree viewing angles; proprietary cable-TV RF interface offers pristine images right out of the box

A plasma screen gives you vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the HD4208TIII is a mere 3.9 inches deep, perfect for desk or wall mounting. Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems. The HD4208TIII offers 160-degree viewing angles, high 700:1 contrast, and typically luminous 600 cd/m2 brightness.

On this display, SVA uses a dissymmetrical unit structure from Samsung for the optical elements, which greatly improves tricolor illumination balance over previous models. Moreover, the set's advanced plasma AI system can automatically increase the discharge frequency on gray and dark scenes to precisely control brightness levels. Thus, images become clearer, more natural, and generally more vivid. The set also features a pure-black driving system to enhance black-level regeneration and pure-gamma rectifying technology, which produces 1,024 gray levels for extremely detailed home theater viewing. The 24-bit real-color display can realize 16.7 million colors with good reducibility.

SVA's 72 Hz line-by-line scanning technology thoroughly eliminates any flickering of 60 Hz NTSC TV pictures. And, unlike many plasma sets, the HD4208TIII doesn't need an RF commutator between it and your cable box; you'll be able to enjoy pristine, high-contrast cable images (at standard cable resolution) right out of the box. The unit's stereo speakers are powered by a generous 12 watts per channel.

Inputs consist of the above-mentioned VGA computer input, one each composite, S-video, RF (for antenna or VCR/cable box signal), and HD component-video, and four accompanying stereo analog (left/right) RCA inputs for your associated source components (DTV set-top box, satellite receiver, PVR, VCR, DVD player, etc.). An composite-video based audio/video output lets you feed an SD (standard-definition) interlaced video signal to a PVR or VCR.

• 42-inch flat-panel, HDTV-ready plasma TV with NextVision technology; 40.9 x 25.6 x 3.7 inches (W x H x D)
• XtremeView performance with up to 160-degree viewing angles (horizontal and vertical)
• Built-in TV tuner accepts all VHF and UHF channels and CATV input

Progressive scanning, for use with sources like DVD players and digital TV set-top boxes, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional picture, providing higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The display is compatible with high-definition signals, including 480p, 480i, 720p, and 1080i.

Picture-in-picture and split-screen (picture-on-picture) capabilities make it easy to view multiple windows at once. Professional-grade adjustment features let you tailor images to a particular application, and built-in virtual surround sound speakers round out the multimedia experience with a clean, professional look. Also included are tools for managing image shadowing, precise white balance adjustment, and an external RS-232C control interface (RS-232 cable not included). You'll also enjoy ViewSonic's free, 24/7 technical and customer support (excludes major U.S. holidays).