Hitachi P50X01A (50-inch plasma)

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By Philip Wong, CNET Asia
Feb 29, 2008

It has been close to months since its initial launch and nothing has come close to the Hitachi P50X01A's aggressive pricing. Though its official retail price is holding fast at S$5,699 (US$4,049.02), this rare made-in-Japan plasma TV can be purchased for as low as S$4,599 (US$3,267.50) from major Singapore electronics retailers. Is this a genuine bargain of a lifetime or a steal with strings attached? We have the answer.

Design

Sitting next to a Pioneer LX Kuro, the P50X01A is noticeably taller, though it also considerably narrower, too. Part of the excess "fats" comes from a cosmetic matt-black plastic rim which runs along the corners, while bottom-mounted stereo loudspeakers add up to its already ballooning height. Sandwiched between these is a matching grille-looking flap concealing the front A/V inputs and TV controls, a rather old-school yet functional approach hardly appreciated nowadays. This, together with the glossy piano frame and clutter-free front, gives the set a no-nonsense appeal.

Aside from the new facade, Hitachi has retained two signature designs common among its past flagship plasmas. First of all, you will get a wide-angle motorized swivel function via remote, implemented on a rather huge stand for enhanced stability. If you're a little short of space, wall-mounting kit is also available for S$199 (US$141.39), excluding installation. Then there is the familiar rigid-yet-lightweight metal backing, adequately perforated to complement the twin silent internal cooling fans. To top it off, a generous provision of plastic clips is included to provide basic cable management to neatly tuck the cores from prying eyes.

Not pretty but definitely functional.
(click for larger image)

It's obviously ridiculous to expect remote button backlighting from a cost standpoint, though the bundled wand was spot-on for the essentials. Video switching between various sources is a snap, thanks to a suite of dedicated input buttons. That's excluding a multifunctional DVD/settop box control, compatible with over 20 brands, complete with auxiliary playback keys. The layout of these buttons, including a five-way circular dial, are well-thought-out, which further facilitates one-hand operation. Their tactile feedback, combined with an ergonomic grip, reduces hand fatigue for prolonged usage.

Having said that, it's the rudimentary software menu that truly shines in this department. It may lack eye-catching graphics of modern TVs but this is more than offset by a rich selection of structured A/V configurations under three (Dynamic/Natural/Cinema) video presets. Among them are three independent noise reduction functions to clean up the pictures, SpyderTV Pro-friendly white balance cuts and gains, and frame-rate conversion options. There is just one minor flaw. You will have to repeatedly toggle the navigation button to work your way around the menu instead of simply holding down the key.

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