Ten... 40-42in net connected HD TVs

Panasonic TX-L42E30B



Panasonic may be a plasma brand at heart, but it’s destined to make a splash with LED if this E30 is anything to go by. Although positioned under the brand’s DT30 3D models, but it offers a better 2D viewing experience due to more uniform backlighting. Its design is a step up the ladder for the usually staid brand, and offers outstanding network media streaming.

File compatibility across the network and from USB aced my AVCHD, DivX, AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV and MPEG test files. MP3s play back with album art.
Picture clarity is high, with good motion resolution. The key to this is the brand’s 200 BLB Intelligent Frame Creation Pro picture processor. Black levels are good, but not stygian. The brand’s cloud-based Viera Connect content portal is the final temptation. In addition to BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, you can also download a variety of apps and games from Viera Market.

Panasonic TX-P42G20



Panasonic’s G-series plasma models set the benchmark when it comes to high performance on a budget. Only marginally less chic than the LED opposition, the screen compensates with a compelling hi-def picture. Motion clarity is the best in this group, colours are naturalistic and black levels cavernous. With a Freesat tuner as well as Freeview HD mincluded, the TV offers more HD viewing options than its rivals.

Want extra content? Panasonic’s first gen IPTV portal, Viera Cast throws open the doors to YouTube, Daily Motion, Skype, Acetrax and Eurosport, as well as games and general purpose apps. Media streaming support across the network includes AVCHD and AVIs, however, MKVs were ignored.