WP P036

11/5/04

12:42 PM

Page 1

ON TEST

FEATURES

Size alone is an attractive proposition for the relatively low price
1,280 x 720 resolution; picture modes with user setting; two DRP modes; picture level adjustments; four preset audio modes with user setting; AVL; three aspect ratios; 620 cd/m2 brightness; 600:1 contrast ratio CONNECTIONS: Component video input; S-video input; composite video input; stereo audio input; 15-pin D-Sub with PC stereo audio input; spring clip speaker terminals CONTACT: 01753 491500, www.lge.co.uk TEST DATA: Colour: Excellent Geometry: Excellent Frequency Response: Good Contrast: Good

LG MZ-60PZ10

THE FLAT FACTS
I 60IN 16:9 PLASMA SCREEN I 8,000 I RESOLUTION: 1,280 X 720 I DIMENSIONS: W: 1,455 H: 883 D: 99 (mm) I SPEAKERS: NO I TV TUNER: NO I SCARTS: NONE
LG takes on the plasma big boys with a 60in set. But can it compete?
nce plasma displays tip over the 50in Performance mark, theyre often seen as the domain Being our inquisitive selves, we actually found of businesses or serious home cinema that this LG can accept a 625p PAL progressive enthusiasts. As far as youre likely to be feed; on paper it only supports 480i and 480p. concerned, LGs MZ-60PZ10 falls strictly into the Not only this, but it will accept a 1080i hilatter camp with its complete lack of tuner. But definition feed, superb as a future-proof benefit with LGs typically value-conscious pricing ethic, if we ever get to receive these broadcasts. 8,000 will get you an extra 10in for up to a Lagging behind in terms of quality are the Sgrand less than Pioneer and Philips 50in video and composite feeds, but a useful 15-pin models. So we hope as we attempt to lift and set D-Sub is included for watching PC images. If you up this beast of a display, the quality of picture wish to attach stereo speakers, there are also will make this a winner on value. the necessary facilities to do so. On paper, the screen is one of the largest The LG MZ-60PZ10 is actually very easy to use; plasmas in the world, but nothing quite the remote is classy and the setup menus are prepares you for the sheer size of a 60in easy to navigate. This could be down to the lack display. Be sure that 50in is impressive, of options available for tweaking the video, but wed be hard pressed to find anyone a measly two preset picture modes, two needing more than 60in unless they like noise reduction options and four preset to have their entire field of vision filled with audio settings! But as far as actual ocular delight, of course. Plasmas also performance went, particularly with the PAL have the option to be hung on the wall, but prog scan we mentioned before, we were itd take a brave man to attempt this extremely pleased. The screen size is likely without at least a few friends to hand to expose even the smallest blemishes, but at 70kg its nearly double the weight of its a noteworthy performance in terms of your average 50-incher. The stand does minimal solarisation and shimmer in large include desktop support, and attaching banks of colour. Skin tones were held the screen to it seems sturdy enough and natural, with all colours and backgrounds complements the screen nicely. handled accurately enough to give depth to However, as soon as you check the rear any picture. Movement also posed little of the display, problems start to arise. The problem to the display, and only the slowest complete lack of Scart connection seems camera pans showed any traces of judder. a shot in the foot before the The kryptonite to this Superman LGs remote is distinctive and classy MZ-60PZ10 has even got out of while making menu hopping easy performance is the trouble it the starting blocks, while the has with contrast, black level lack of DVI or any other digital video input is a and greyscale, which are all below par. While rather large omission for getting the best out of a sticking to the best quality feed we could give it, plasma display. In this respect, we can only there was no definition given to a dark film such hope that HDMI or DVI and RGB Scart sockets will as Underworld, with the shadows and darker be included on the next model for the few of us details becoming completely lost. In these dark out there who like to watch good quality movies, its enough to spoil the impressive Freeview and Sky broadcasts. depth offered by lighter colours as the definition

COMPATIBILITY: DVD (NTSC) 480i DVD & DVB (PAL) 576i NTSC/PAL progressive 480p/576p High Definition 720p High Definition 1080i

YES YES YES YES YES

is stripped away to reveal a very flat picture. If you usually shy away from Underworld, Batman, Men in Black and their ilk then you may be able to put up with this, but it is a major weakness in an otherwise ample performance. Another gripe is the noise made by the cooling system which intrudes on everyday, low-level viewing. While LG has to keep costs down to offer the set at this price, the only place we can put up with this noise on electrical equipment is when using PCs or laptops. After putting the set through its paces, we must admit that its size alone is an attractive proposition for the relatively low price. However, the lack of connections (which cannot be upgraded), issues with dark pictures and fan noise all stop this from entering our premier league of plasmas. Improvements need to be made on the next model, so perhaps LG fans should wait for that to arrive. Well keep you posted on any developments. WP

RATINGS

FOR Giant picture, easy to use, sleek design AGAINST Contrast levels, fan noise, poor connectivity PICTURE.###$$ LOOKS.####$ FEATURES.###$$ EASE OF USE.##### VALUE.####$ Theres room for improvement, even if it does offer value for money

VERDICT ###$$

36 WHAT PLASMA & LCD TV

JUNE/JULY 2004

Document2

22/7/04

3:45 pm

Page 108

GROUP TEST

THE FLAT FACTS

I 50IN 16:9 PLASMA I 6,350 I RESOLUTION 1,366 x 768 I DIMENSIONS W: 1,214 H: 728 D: 98 (mm) I SPEAKERS: OPTIONAL I TV TUNER: NO I SCARTS: 1 (RGB)

Fujitsu P50XHA10ES

ujitsu has been making commercial plasma screens since 1997, but hasnt managed to sew up the market as it would have liked. But with this 50in giant it could be heading in the right direction. Our P50XHA10 came with an eye-catching RGB Scart among its hookups. However, its not a standard-issue socket; its only found on one of three optional connections boards the P50XHA10 can accommodate. Also, because its the only Scart, the P50XHA10s AV flexibility isnt as impressive as screens that come with a connectionladen AV switching/tuner box. While on the subject of tuners, the P50XHA10 doesnt have one. And nor does it ship as standard with speakers built in (although a matching pair is available at extra cost). In fact, the only other immediately noticeable thing the P50XHA10 does have is lots of PC hookups. Hmm. Were starting to wonder just how home cinema-friendly this screen really is. Things pick up when it comes to the attractive onscreen menus and a remote control so simple that an amoeba could use it. A scan down the features list uncovers another pleasing home cinema touch: Fine mode. This automatically adjusts everything about the picture colour, contrast, brightness etc to deliver whats claimed to be a more natural, cinematic image. Further handy tricks include AVM (Advanced Video Movement) digital processing to eliminate judder, noise reduction and an eight-slot memory bank for storing your own picture preferences for different types of source material.
couldnt help but notice faint traces of colour banding and fairly clear evidence of motion trails, by which we mean a momentary glowing artefact annoyingly popping up behind fast-moving objects or camera pans. Thankfully, the P50XHA10 does have a cure in the shape of the Fine mode we mentioned earlier. This setting radically reduces all noise in the picture by drastically toning down all picture settings. The only problem is that the result is so insipid its practically unwatchable in anything other than a darkened room. The P50XHA10 is definitely yet another step in the right direction for Fujitsu. But even with the impressive Fine mode, the company still hasnt quite caught up with the market leaders, at this size at least. WP
FOR Picture in Fine mode; design AGAINST Not many AV connections; Fine mode doesnt suit bright rooms

RATINGS

PICTURE.####$ SOUND.####$ LOOKS.####$ FEATURES.####$ EASE OF USE ####$ VALUE.####$
Fine mode is great, but this otherwise a disappointment

VERDICT ####$

Performance
The P50XHA10 doesnt impress much at first. Yes, the contrast range/black level is excellent. Yes, colours are rich and authentic in tone. And yes, the vertical line interference that blighted Fujitsus previous generation of screens has been virtually eradicated. But we

LG MZ-60PZ10

nce plasma displays tip over the 50in mark, theyre often seen as the domain of businesses or serious home cinema enthusiasts. LGs MZ-60PZ10 is the biggest screen in this test, and attempts to straddle both camps. Priced at 8,000 this a winner on value. However, check the rear of the display, and problems arise. The complete lack of Scart connection seems crazy, while the lack of DVI or any other digital video input is a rather large omission for getting the best out of a plasma display.

enough to give depth to any picture. Movement also posed little problem to the display, and only the slowest pans showed any traces of judder. Unfortunately flaws become apparent when it comes to contrast, black level and greyscale, which are all below par. While sticking to the best quality feed, there was no definition given to a dark film such as Underworld, with the shadows and darker details getting completely lost. If you are drawn towards darker looking films like Underworld, Batman or Men in Black this might become a serious problem Another gripe worthy of a mention is the rather annoying noise made by the cooling system which intrudes on everyday, low-level viewing. While it is understandable that LG has to keep costs down to offer the set at this price, the only place we can put up with this noise on such electrical equipment is when using PCs or laptops. After putting the set through its paces, we must admit that its size alone is an attractive proposition for the relatively low price. However, the lack of connections (which cannot be upgraded), issues with dark pictures and fan noise all stop this from entering our premier league of plasmas. Improvements need to be made on the next model, so perhaps LG fans should wait for that to arrive. Well keep you posted on any developments. WP
Being our inquisitive selves, we actually found that this LG can accept a 625p PAL progressive feed; on paper it only supports 480i and 480p. Not only this, but it will accept a 1080i hidefinition feed, superb as a futureproof benefit once Sky starts to broadcast in high-def. Lagging behind in terms of quality are the S-video and composite feeds, but a useful 15-pin DSub is included for watching PC images. If you wish to attach stereo speakers, there are also the necessary facilities to do so. When it came to performance, particularly with the PAL prog scan, we were extremely pleased. This screen size is likely to expose even the smallest of blemishes, yet it reveals minimal solarisation and shimmer in large banks of colour. Skin tones were held natural, with all colours and backgrounds handled accurately
I 60IN 16:9 PLASMA I 8,000 I RESOLUTION 1,280 x 720 I DIMENSIONS W: 1,454 H: 883 D: 99 (mm) I SPEAKERS: NO I TV TUNER: NO I SCARTS: NONE

FOR Giant picture; easy to use; sleek design AGAINST Contrast levels; fan noise; poor connectivity PICTURE.###$$ SOUND. N/A LOOKS.####$ FEATURES.###$$ EASE OF USE ##### VALUE.####$
Theres room for improvement, even if it is excellent value

VERDICT ###$$

108 WHAT PLASMA & LCD TV

ISSUE 3

3:52 pm

Page 111

MAKE MODEL:
50in 1,366 x 768 1,214 x 728 x 98mm Optional No 6,www.fujitsu-general.co.uk
60in 1,280 x 720 1,454 x 883 x 99mm No No 1,www.lge.co.uk

Panasonic TH-50PHW5

50in 1,366 x 768 1,210 x 724 x 98mm No Yes 7,www.panasonic.co.uk

Pioneer PDP-504HDE

50in 1,024 x 768 1,270 x 737 x 98mm Yes Yes 6,www.pioneer.co.uk

Panasonic TH-50PHW6

50in 1,366 x 768 1,210 x 724 x 98mm No No 5,www.panasonic.co.uk

BenQ PDP46W1

46in 852 x 480 1,138 x69 x98mm Yes No 2,www.aone.co.uk

SPECIFICATIONS

Screen size: Resolution: Dimensions(w xh xd): Speakers: TV Tuner: Price: Tel: Web:

FEATURES

Contrast ratio: Brightness ratio: Progressivescancompatible: High definition compatible: 3,000:1 1,000cd/m2 Yes TBC 600:1 620cd/m2 Yes Yes 3000:1 500cd/m2 Yes Yes 1,100:1 1,000cd/m2 Yes TBC 4,000:1 TBC Yes Yes 850:1 300cd/m2 Yes Yes

CONNECTIONS

Scarts HDMI input: DVI-Dinput: D-Sub input: 1 (RGB) No Yes Yes None No No Yes 3(2 RGB) No No Yes 1 (RGB) Yes No Yes 1 (RGB) No No Yes None No No Yes

VERDICT

Picture: Sound: Looks: Features: Ease of use: Value:
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OVERALL

And the winner is. Pioneer PDP-504HDE
s always choosing a winner from this selection of larger than life screens was about as difficult a as choosing which beer to start the evening with; you know that essentially theyre all pretty good, but the real art comes in finding the best one to suit you. Perhaps before we get too wrapped up in why Pioneers PDP-504HDE is the Stella Artois, er, sorry the cream of the crop, lets look at why the others missed out. Despite the fact that the P50XHA10ES is without doubt a step in the right direction, faint traces of colour branding and evidence of motion trails proved to be the 50in sets archilles heel. It may be true that switching to Fine mode reduces these nasty side-effects, but they left the image so insipid that its unwatchable in anything other than a pitch black viewing room. Next up was the big screen offering from LG. Without doubt this set is fantastic value for money, but lacking speakers, a tuner and a multitude of connections, it always had the odds stacked against it. Closer competition came in the form of the Panasonic twins, as we fondly like to refer to them. The TH-50PHW5 and 6 respectively. Both of these screens had plenty in their favour and you can pretty much

guarantee that should you make the hefty investment, you will not be disappointed. Ultimately, though it was a case of the 5 proving to be practically useless without a media box and the 6 just plain disappointing with DVD. Lastly, we came to the rookie of the plasma world BenQs PDP46W1. Until recently, the Taiwanese brand has tended to concentrate its efforts on the PC world, but having recently taken over a lot of Philips manufacturing the company is looking to move into the AV arena. Judging by this performance it will be made most welcome. Although the image on this 46in stunner suffered from occasional colour banding, the price tag and intuitive user interface make it a pretty enticing offer nonetheless. So why did the PDP-504HDE come out on top? Quite simply a combination of stunning design, a breath-taking performance, all the connectivity you could ask for and a great user system certainly all played their part. Ultimately, though this set won the day because it is quite simply one of the most impressive large screens weve ever seen, and we LOVE it.
WHAT PLASMA & LCD TV 111