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HEAD-TO-HEAD TEST>Budget 42in plasma TVs

LG 42PX4D

RATINGS
STYLE FEATURES PICTURE SOUND VALUE OVERALL EASE OF USE ####$
LG 42PX4D vs Philips 42PF5520
A battle of budget giants that finds LG comfortably on top but no sign on either screen of the tell-tale HD Ready badge
Not so long ago it was hard to imagine 42in plasma prices ever dropping below 2k. Yet before us right now we have two sets from big brand names, too going for just 1,600 and 1,500. But, can we really expect LGs 1,600 42PX4D and Philips 1,500 42PF5520 to deliver quality at such low prices? Theres a clear aesthetic winner between these two TVs, with LG romping home courtesy of its glamourous colour scheme and finish. By comparison, the all-grey Philips looks bland and old-fashioned.
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AT A GLANCE

FEATURES 42in 16:9 plasma TV HD compatible (not Ready) 852 x 480 native resolution Built-in digital tuner XD Engine II processing 10,000:1 claimed contrast ratio 1,500cd/m2 claimed brightness Noise reduction (normal and MPEG) 7-day EPG Intelligent Eye pic adjustment Colour management CONNECTIONS HDMI input RS-232 control jack VGA D-Sub port PC audio in IR in Composite video in Two S-video in Three Scarts (one RGB) Component video input RF input/output www.lge.co.uk 0870 6075544
BOTH PLASMA SCREENS HAVE A BUILTIN DIGITAL TV TUNER IN COMMON

Adapt to adaptors

The LGs connections extend its early lead. Stars of its show are high definition-capable HDMI and component video jacks, backed up by a trio of Scarts and a separate VGA D-Sub PC connection. By comparison, the Philips initially looks very stingy, with just an optical digital audio output, a DVI jack and a pair of Scarts catching our eye. However, the DVI jack is configured to take analogue PC and component video feeds as well as DVI PC or movie feeds. This means youll need the right adaptors and may need to
change connections around regularly. Although the LG manages it more comfortably than the Philips, both screens have the necessary connectivity to call themselves HD Ready. But, sadly, they then both fall at the same HD Ready hurdle: native resolution. Both TVs only carry 852 x 480 pixels well short of the minimum of 720 lines demanded by industry-approved HD Ready specs. The good news for HD fans is that both screens can at least show 1080i and 720p high definition pictures albeit scaled down to fit the lowly native panel resolution. Another thing both screens have in common is a built-in digital TV tuner. And both back this up with support for the 7-day Freeview electronic programme guide. The Philips
additionally lets you select timer events from this EPG. The Philips, meanwhile, boasts Active Control, which continually assesses the content of incoming pictures and adjusts a variety of picture facets according to what it finds. However, this is a fairly straightforward system thats no match in sophistication terms for the XD Engine. The LG has more secondary picture control features at its disposal too, including some impressively subtle colour management options and an MPEG noise reduction system for smoothing out blocking noise from lower-quality digital broadcasts.

Ship shape levels

With DVD and HD D-VHS copies of Master And Commander: The Far Side of the World prepped, we got stuck into the LG and were impressed with what we saw.
One of two S-video inputs
HMDI input and RS-232 control jack A remote with good layout and style
A glamourous colour scheme and finish
This LG performs far better than youd expect for its money

44 WHC JANUARY 2006

This screen lacks the resolution necessary to be HD Ready

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A native resolution of just 852 x 480 denies the TV true HD Ready status
Budget 42in plasma TVs>HEAD-TO-HEAD TEST
The Philips design seems a little dated

Philips 42PF5520

STYLE FEATURES PICTURE SOUND VALUE OVERALL EASE OF USE ###$$
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Particularly outstanding for a 1,600 42in plasma TV are its black levels. Right at the start of the film theres a phenomenally dark shot set beneath the HMS Surprises decks that many cheap plasma TVs make look like featureless grey fog. But the 42PX4D has enough black-level profundity and subtle greyscaling and shadow detailing to actually make this scene look full of depth, scale and detail. During brighter Master And Commander moments, such as those on the Galapagos Islands, the LGs brightness and colour talents excel. The vibrancy of the picture is outstanding, making it look dynamic and engrossing. The rich saturations arent achieved at the expense of serious colour tone abnormalities. Darker, standard definition scenes (like where the ships doctor removes the arm of the young crew member) can exhibit one or two slightly off-key fleshtones. But, for the majority of the time, people and objects all look equally authentic. Standard definition pictures look impressively noise-free and sharp, doubtlessly helped by the fact that their native resolution is so close to that of the TVs plasma panel. However, perhaps inevitably, high definition pictures dont look quite as sharp or, more accurately, detailed as

on higher resolution panels. Shots looking down on the shimmering surface of the sea, for instance, definitely dont enjoy the full texture that weve seen on 1366 x 768 native panels. The need to downscale HD pictures to the LGs 852 x 580 resolution also means they look a touch grainier than weve seen them. Still, these HD issues only reduce the picture level to good rather than great, and combine with the classy standard def performance to make the 42PX4D look like a serious bargain. Cue big-time pressure on the Philips 42PF5520, pressure under which it succumbs pretty quickly.

Under pressure

With a standard definition DVD feed of Master And Commander, the Philips picture looks alarmingly rough and ready. The biggest problem is dot crawl, as pixels in darker picture areas flicker on and off seemingly at random probably thanks to poor isolation of each separate pixel chambers voltage. The 42PF5520s colour tone isnt much to write home about either. We know that even sailors get sea sick from time to time, but that cant explain the perpetual green tone and
WHEN IT COMES TO SOUND, THESE BUDGET PLASMAS ARE ON A PAR
pallid complexion of all HMS Surprises sailors during our Master and Commander sessions. Its not just darker, subtler colours that look off, either; during the bright Galapagos scenes, rich shades or red and orange look out of kilter with the rest of the colour palette. Its also depressing, as we head into 2006, to find that the 42PF5520 suffers quite badly with old-school plasma problems, like fizzing noise over horizontal motion and colour striping. Composite feeds, meanwhile, show excessive amounts of dotting over small, bright patches of colour. Its not all bad, though. As the Surprises crew try to trick their French nemesis into following a floating bit of wreckage at night, the 42PF5520 reveals itself the proud owner of some extravagantly dark black levels. Also, the rocks, flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands benefit from some very acute fine detailing that completely gives the lie to the TVs relatively low pixel resolution. Its just a shame this sharpness can sometimes exaggerate the noise caused by some of the sets failings.

TEST SCENE

> >Master and Commander
As the Captain goes below decks to examine the state of his ship and crew after the first attack, the LGs colour tone, motion handling and lack of noise is well ahead of the Philips.
FEATURES 42in 16:9 plasma TV HD Compatible (not Ready) 852 x 480 resolution Built-in digital tuner 3,000:1 contrast ratio 1,000cd/m2 brightness 7-day EPG support Dolby Virtual audio Active Control Direct EPG timer setting CONNECTIONS DVI input with HDCP (also takes component and analogue PC via adaptors) Composite video in S-video in Two Scarts (one RGB) RF input Two stereo audio inputs Electrical digital audio output CAM slot Headphone jack www.philips.co.uk 9070

And the verdict?

Theres not much to say about our two 42in budget plasmas when it comes to sound. Theyre essentially on a par both pretty good overall. Picking a winner from this head to head is pretty straightforward. Provided you can live with its lack of native HD resolution and want a really good all-round performance and future-proofed connectivity at an affordable price, the LG finishes a few furlongs ahead of the Philips I
A Headphone jack and two stereo audio inputs

DVI input with HDCP

A good, functional remote

WHC JANUARY 2006 45

42PX4D 42" Plasma Integrated HDTV
LGs Exclusive XD Engine Six distinct processes contribute to picture improvement. LGs XD Engine takes the low resolution of analog signals to near HD levels by improving brightness, contrast, detail and enhancing color as well as reducing signal noise. This total solution results in cinema like high resolution images. Image Sticking Prevention Provides protective measures to minimize damage as a result of stationary images.
ATSC/NTSC/QAM Clear Tuners 9-in-2 Multi Memory Card Slot HDMI with HDCP IEEE 1394 with DTV Link 5000:1 Contrast Ratio 1000 cd/m2 Brightness 1024 x 768p Resolution
Digital Cable Ready (CableCARD) TV Guide On Screen
Video Native Display Resolution 1024 x 768p Contrast Ratio 5000:1 Brightness 1000 cd/m2 Lifetime 60,000 hours Viewing Angle 160 3D Y/C Comb Filter Color Temperature Adjustment 3 Modes Aspect Ratio Adjustment 7 Modes 3:2 Pull-down Cinema Correction 480i EZ Video/Picture Selection Mode 6 Modes High Contrast Screen w/Non-glare Coating Glass Filter XD Engine Enhanced Noise Reduction Black Stretcher Colors 1.07 Billion DTV Signal Strength APM (Adaptive Picture Mode) Audio Audio Output Power Surround System Type Bass/Treble/Balance EZ SoundRite (Volume Leveler) EZ Sound/Sound Selection Mode Speaker System Details BBE 3D EchoSound System Mono/Stereo/SAP 15W x 2 SRS TruSurround XT 5 Modes 2 Way 4 Speaker
Core Features Tuner(s) ATSC/NTSC/QAM Digital Cable Ready (DCR) Memory Card Reader (9 in 2) - 1st slot: CF Type I/II - 2nd slot: MS, MS PRO, SD, MMC, SMC, XD Special Features Custom Channel Labels Custom Input Labels PIP POP Split Screen PIP Exchange/Move Dual Tuner PIP/POP/Split Screen Discrete IR Codes Favorite Channel Selection/Surf Tri-lingual Menus English, Spanish, French On/Off Timer Sleep Timer Auto Off (When no video is present) Flashback (Previous Channel) Parental Control With V-Chip Image Sticking Prevention EZ Menus (High Performance Interface) EZ Scan (Auto Programming) Intelligent Fan Control Program Guide Gemstar IEEE 1394 Software Capability Full AVC Decoder Formats MPEG 2 Digital Cable Ready Closed Caption Child Lock Screen Adjust AV Input Navigation
Audio/Video Inputs/Outputs TV Rear - RF Inputs - S-Video In - Composite Video & Audio L/R In - Composite Video & Audio L/R Out - Component DVD/DTV (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i) & Audio L/R In - RGB In (PC/DTV Input) - PC Sound (1/8" mini stereo) - HDMI with HDCP - Digital Audio (Optical ) Out - Digital Audio (Optical) In - RS-232c (Software Upgrade Interface & Control) - Remote Control In (IR) - Digital Cable Card Slot - Gemstar Out (G-Link) - IEEE 1394/DTCP TV Left Side - S-Video In - Composite Video & Audio L/R In TV Right Side - EPF Slot Dimensions Cabinet Dimensions without Stand - Width x Height x Depth - Weight Out of Package Cabinet Dimensions with Stand - Width x Height x Depth - Weight Out of Package Dimensions with Packaging - Width x Height x Depth - Weight In Package Power Consumption UPC Warranty Remote Control Standard IR Wired Option Universal Backlit
Cabinet/Accessories Cabinet Style Cabinet Color Table Stand Included Speakers Included (Not Detachable) Front Lighted Display (LED)
Table Top Silver/Black Index
49.3 x 27.8 x 1 1.16.1 lbs.

49.3 x 25.7 x 4.0 99.8 lbs.
52.8 x 30.3 x 15.0 127.8 lbs. 450W year parts/labor

TV Rear

CABLE CARD

RS-232c INPUT

TV Left Side

S-VIDEO

(R) - AUDIO - (L)

9-in-2 MEMORY CARD

TV Right Side

G-LINK

IEEE 1394

HDMI 2

HDMI 1/DVI
COMPONENT 2 INPUT DVI INPUT

OUTPUT

DIGITAL AUDIO (OPTICAL)

RGB IN (PC/DTV INPUT)

PC AUDIO INPUT
(480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i) (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i) COMPONENT 2

COMPONENT 1

(L) AUDIO (R)

OUTPUT INPUT A/V

REMOTE IN

CABLE IN +75 |

ANT IN +75 |

AC INPUT

LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc.
1000 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 www.LGusa.com
Design and specifications subject to change without notice. 03/23/05
2005 LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ. LG Design and Lifes Good are trademarks of LG Electronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.