WHV302.39_lg_42px4dv

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42in plasma IDTV

Approx: 1,600

On test

Also Consider >>
SONY KE-P42M1 Also not HD Ready and not as good a performer even though it costs more. It is gorgeously designed Reviewed: Issue 298 LG RZ-42PY10X LGs current HD Ready 42in plasma represents pretty good value with its 2,500 price tag Reviewed: Issue 298

Fact file

I 42in 16:9 plasma TV I 852 x 480 native resolution I HD-capable (not Ready) I XD Engine processing I Built-in digital tuner

LG RZ-42PX4DV

Details

FEATURES

Screen size and shape: 42in, 16:9 Tuner Type: digital and analogue Sound system: Nicam stereo with BBE Resolution: 852 x 480 HD Ready: No Quoted contrast ratio: 10,000:1 Quoted brightness: 1,500cd/m2 Screen dimensions (minus stand): 1,252(w) x 653.5(h) x 94(d)mm Weight: 45kg Other features: autotuning; teletext; backlight adjustment; childlock; MPEG and 3D NR; 8-day EPG support; XD Engine II processing; Intelligent Eye; advanced colour management; Cinema mode

SOCKETS

HDMI input; RS-232; VGA D-Sub port; PC audio in; IR in; composite video in; 2 S-video in, 3 Scarts (one RGB); component video input; RF in/out

CONTACT

5544 www.lge.co.uk

TEST DATA

For a full explanation of test data, please see page 116
Test Colour Geometry Frequency response
Rating Very good Excellent Good
ad news alert: perhaps inevitably for a 42in plasma TV costing just 1,600,LGs 42PX4DV isnt fully HD Ready.But for once,that doesnt mean that HD fans should write it off Build quality is robust,and the combination of glossy black inner screen frame and matte grey outer chassis is effective,if hardly original. Among the connections are,an HDMI socket and high-def-capable component video jacks.This means its compatible with such next-gen HD sources as Skys HD receiver and Bluray/HD-DVD decks.So how come the TVs not truly HD Ready? Because its native resolution of 852 x 480 is too low.Still,if the TV downscales HD footage well enough,many may feel the loss of a little native resolution is a fair trade for futureproof connectivity. The 42PX4DV doesnt skimp on other features.Theres a digital tuner boasting 8-day electronic programme guide support (without direct timer event setting/genre search options). Theres also LGs XD Engine,to boost image clarity,colour saturations/tone,contrast,brightness, colour gradation/grayscaling,and frame rate handling. Theres plenty more,but instead we can reveal that all of the LGs up-front good stuff is not spoiled by a poor picture performance.

performance

Black levels are excellent.Not quite as good as LGs extraordinary quoted
contrast ratio of 10,000:1 would suggest,but dark scenes do enjoy genuine depth and dynamism. The TV also impresses with its suppression of the traditional plasma problem of fizzing noise over motion, colour banding,and grey dottiness over dark areas. Colours are excellent,too. Provided you set the saturation low, the tone is unusually natural for this money,especially during HD or progressive scan viewing.Thanks to exceptional brightness levels,richly saturated hues scream off the screen. Given the 42PX4DVs lowly native resolution of 852 x 480,its fine detail response clearly warrants close attention.Starting with HD feeds,the lack of resolution undoubtedly results in a slight softness and lack of texture relative to some true HD Ready TVs. Also,the LGs downscaling system introduces a little extra dot crawl. With standard definition sources the LG arguably looks sharper and cleaner than many of its higherresolution rivals. There are other little niggles, though.HD pictures flicker slightly. Digital feeds through the HDMI jack can suffer low-level MPEG noise (this can be minimised by carefully limiting the brightness and contrast). The 42PX4DVs sound is well above average.A touch more power and frequency range would have been nice,but for the money we were suitably impressed by the smoothly
handled bass,subtle well-rounded trebles,the lack of harshness,and clean mid-range. The 42PX4DV really is an intriguing proposition.Our HD obsession is such that we would probably choose to save up for a truly HD Ready TV.But if 1,600 is really as high as youre able to go,at least this LG delivers more quality,features and futureproofing than youve any right to expect I John Archer

Ratings

WHATS GOOD
Price; connectivity; features; pictures, especially with SD

WHATS BAD

Not HD Ready; HD pictures look softer and noisier than rivals and HDMI feeds look noisy
Picture Sound Features Ease of use Value
##### ##### ##### ##### #####

OVERALL VERDICT

Good budget option thats great with standard sources and compatible with hi-def
Issue 302 I What Video and Widescreen TV I 061

HCC124.25.grouptest_plasma

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Tried&Tested.

LG 42PX4DV

1500 (approx) N N www.lge.co.uk N Overall rating ####
LG continues to apply downward pressure on plasma TV pricing with its latest 42in offering, which includes a built-in digital tuner for a measly 1600. But does the low price come at too high a performance cost? adjustments for fleshtone, greentone and bluetone, and both 3D and MPEG noise reduction.

Picture and sound

The 42PX4DVs pictures are very deep, natural and textured enough to give genuine solidity and depth to darker scenes. Im not convinced the black levels justify LGs extravagant 10000:1 contrast ratio claim but our Tech labs do confirm a real world contrast ratio of 640:1, which can be considered excellent its certainly good enough to add extra scary whats lurking in the shadows impact during a DVD run-through of Scream. The 42PX4DV also proves adept at suppressing plasmas issues with colour Excellent banding, dot crawl and fizzing noise over moving objects. It also serves up a wideranging, vibrant palette and nearly natural (7200k) colour temperature. Elsewhere, the XD Engine helps standard-def DVDs and TV broadcasts from the built-in digital tuner look acceptably sharp. Predictably, XD Engine cant stop the LG appearing softer with high-definition material than PDPs with higher native resolutions. HD viewing on the 42PX4DV looks relatively good when downscaled, but frankly if you intend to subscribe to Skys initial HD offerings, or hope to exploit the graphical potential of the Xbox 360, buying a standard definition plasma is a false economy. Also, the LG has a minor tendency to exaggerate MPEG noise during HDMI viewing, suggesting some MPEG noise reduction is missing in the chain. In terms of audio, the 42PX4DV delivers smooth and reasonably deep bass, a clear mid-range, and no nasty harshness when the going gets tough. Average
LUCASFILM LTD. & TM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
creditable. Its black level performance is

Design and construction

Theres nothing particularly cheap about the 42PX4DVs build quality. The black inner screen frame and grey outer frame are a great aesthetic match, and the finish looks solid and opulent rather than plasticky.

Connections

The inclusion of an HDMI digital video input is pleasing, guaranteeing compatibility with next-gen digital and HD sources. Whats more, theres a set of HD-capable component video jacks, a trio of Scarts, a D-Sub PC interface, and even a CAM slot for adding extra functionality TopUp TV to the digital tuner.

LAB REPORT

Colour Black level Contrast Resolution Colour temperature (pre-calibration, low setting) (post-calibration) Luminance (pre-calibration) (post-calibration) Contrast ratio (pre-calibration) (post-calibration)

Features

The presence of component and HDMI jacks does not make this TV HD Ready, since its native resolution is just 852 x 480. The set will accept HD video but has to scale it down to the screens resolution. On hand to help with this is the latest generation of LGs XD Engine picture processing, for boosting image clarity, colour saturation and tone, contrast, brightness, colour gradation, and frame rate handling. Also worth mentioning is support for the 8-day Freeview EPG, separate
9300K 7200K 25fL 25fL 830:1 670:1

Conclusion

The lack of native high-def resolution here is a shame, but its all-round performance and future-proofed compatibility still qualify the screen as a budget bargain.

ITEM HD Ready

SPECIFICATIONS

SUPPORT G

A slick, comfortable remote aids navigation
Side-mounted AV inputs allow easy auxiliary connections
Progressive Scan G Digital TV Tuner G Composite video G S-video G Scart G Component G HDMI/DVI G PC Input G Headphone Resolution Brightness Contrast Dimensions Weight Also featuring Autotuning; teletext; backlight adjustment; child lock; MPEG and 3D NR; 8-day EPG support; XD Engine II processing; Intelligent Eye; advanced colour management; cinema mode
DETAILS All the right inputs and compatibility, but not high enough native resolution Compatible with 480p and 576p And analogue too LG spoils us! 1 phono input 2 inputs 3 COnnections (one RGB) HD enable HDMI 15-pin D-Sub Not here 852 x 480 1500cd/m2 (claimed) 10,000:1 (claimed) 1252(w) x 653.5(h) x 94(d)mm (minus stand) 45kg

JANUARY

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CONCLUSION
of the internet chatterati. Its pictures are arguably slightly better than the Philips model that comes in 4th, at least with high- definition. But theyre still deeply uninspiring, which just isnt good enough for comfortably this groups most expensive contender. The Philips 42PF7520D is only around half the cost of the Fujitsu even though it carries a built-in digital tuner, which is why it sneaked into 4th. But thats the only thing its got going for it, since its picture quality looks at least a couple of generations behind the best. Rolling home 3rd is Samsungs PS-42PS5H. This edges ahead by being HD Ready for around 2,000. But its image quality is sufficiently average, so that it only takes a mid-table spot thanks to the weaknesses of others rather than on its own merits.

hile this grouptest is clear-cut at the top end, its a bit messier at the bottom of our ranking ladder, with a couple of screens disappointing almost equally. In the end weve given last position to the Fujitsu P42HTS40GS, a favourite
Pioneers PDP-436XDE stands taller than any other 42/43in plasma TV weve yet seen
The first screen that wed actually recommend that you consider buying is LGs 42PX4DV. This display delivers a very likeable all-round performance for its puny price tag, as well as some future-proofed, HD-friendly connectivity. Its lack of a native HD resolution, however, is clearly a major mark against it. That said, its HD pictures are still good enough to make it a serious possibility for the buyer on a budget. There can be only one winner of this plasma punch up, though, and it simply has to be Pioneers PDP-436XDE. It stands head and shoulders above its rivals here in every single way possible, and moves plasma convincing ahead of LCD in the pure performance stakes. In fact, come to think of it, it stands taller than any other 42/43in plasma TV weve yet seen. Nice one I

RATINGS

1. PIONEER PDP-436XDE
Highs: Picture, sound, design, connectivity, features Lows: Ah, um, er
2,700 (approx) Features ##### OVERALL ##### 1500 (approx)
Picture ##### 2. LG 42PX4DV

Sound #####

Highs: Great price, good connectivity, impressive all-round performance Lows: Low native resolution, so not fully HD Ready

Picture ####

Sound ####

Features ####

OVERALL #### 2,000 (approx)

3. SAMSUNG PS-42PS5H

Highs: Connectivity, design, HD Ready Lows: Sadly, many aspects of the picture
Picture ### 4. PHILIPS 42PF7520D

OVERALL ###

1700 (approx) Sound #### Features ####
Highs: HD Ready, design Lows: Pictures suffer all sorts of problems, tripling up on DVI jack

Picture ##

OVERALL ### 3,295 (approx)
5. FUJITSU P42HTS40GS 3,295
Highs: Connectivity, HD Ready Lows: Expensive, for only average picture quality

Picture ###

OVERALL ###