Panasonic To Add TX-P42VT20 & TX-P46VT20 To 3D TV Lineup

Despite sceptics’ initial reservations about 3D TVs due to compulsory eyewear, lack of 3D content and above all high prices which may put off even serial early adopters, the Panasonic VT20 series of 3D TV has actually been doing rather well. Demand far outstripped supply in the immediate weeks prior to the World Cup 2010: stock of the Panasonic TX-P50VT20B was extremely hard to come by either in brick-and-mortar or online outlets. Of course, that the Panasonic VT20 range is widely acknowledged as the best HDTV — be it in 2D or 3D — available to buy on the market currently did little to relieve the out-of-stock situation.

With the World Cup now well into its second week, stock of the Panasonic VT20 have been slowly replenished, with more units of the 50-inch version becoming available to buy online or in-store.

There is more good news on the way. According to a leaked document which listed the new HDTV models — more than 20 in all — Panasonic are planning to exhibit at IFA 2010 in Berlin, there is a 42-inch Panasonic TX-P42VT20 (and possibly a 46-inch Panasonic TX-P46VT20) in the pipeline. As usual, the individual models sold in the United Kingdom will have the extra character “B” appended to the end of the model names to indicate the British 3-pin-plug versions.

Size (inch) Model Name Alternative Name
40 Panasonic TX-P42VT20 Panasonic TX-P42VT20B, TXP42VT20
46 Panasonic TX-P46VT20 Panasonic TX-P46VT20B, TXP46VT20

Conventional wisdom dictates that the larger the display, the better the 3D experience. 3D effects gradually diminish towards the periphery of the screen, so a bigger screen would fill up more of your stereoscopic vision, contributing to more immersive 3D depth perception. However, because not every person has the physical space available at home to accommodate a 3D TV measuring more than 50 inches (diagonal) in screen size, Panasonic’s decision to release smaller versions of the popular VT20 3DTV series in the form of the TX-P42VT20/ TX-P42VT20B and the TX-P46VT20/ TX-P46VT20B may satisfy a niche in the market.