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Reviewed: 27th January 2011
Excellent colour reproduction
Mediocre black level ability
Notes
In this new age of austerity, while sales of flat panel TVs have remained reasonably buoyant, there has been a significant move away from higher end screens. Consumers are willing to forego some of the bells and whistles found on premium products in search of value.
LG's 42LD450 may not feature some of the more glamorous functions we have come to expect from a flat panel TV, but coming in at an impressively low price, if the picture performance is up to scratch this will soon be forgotten.
Design
The first element of a budget flat panel's specification to reflect the price is often design. We have now become used to ultra slim brushed metal finishes on our TVs, but not unsurprisingly, the LD450 is rather bland.
Having said that, the glossy black finish is of a reasonably high standard and while the design is not going to turn heads, it makes a reasonably stylish addition to the average living area.
Features
The 42LD450 comes in a step or two higher than LG's entry level LCD TVs and as such gets a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution screen. Anything less than Full HD is becoming a rarity in this day and age, but it is still a welcome addition at this price level.
Screen: 42in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Contrast Ratio: 60,000:1 Other Features: Picture Wizard. Sockets: 2 HDMI, 1 SCART (RGB), USB, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.
Unfortunately, most of the commentary from a features point of view now turns to where the LD450 is lacking. With only 2 HDMI inputs, the budget LG is seriously lacking in the connections department.
With most budget screens from rival manufacturers affording 3 HDMI connections we feel that this is an area where too many economies have been made.
If you find yourself wanting to hook up a Sky or Virgin Media box, Blu-ray player and games console then you're going to have to make use of the lower quality Component video connection or buy an HDMI switch box.
As you would expect, you get a built-in Freeview tuner with access to 40 TV and radio channels along with an 8 day on-screen guide and access to digital interactive services. Disappointingly however, there is no HD Freeview tuner.
Fortunately, the 42LD450 benefits from LG's excellent colour calibration controls which allow the user to fine tune the TV to a degree that will keep even the most tech savvy enthusiasts happy.
For the layperson, LG provide another excellent function in their 'Picture Wizard'. This makes setting up basic picture controls such as brightness, colour and sharpness simple for everyone.
Elsewhere you get a handy USB 2.0 connection through which you can connect a digital camera, MP3 player or flash memory for amongst other things, on screen display of your holiday snaps.
Performance
To begin with the most negative aspect of its performance, the LG 42LD450 demonstrated a rather lackluster Black Level ability.
LG as a whole have improved this aspect of TV performance quite significantly over the past few years; the problem is that rival manufacturers such as Samsung have improved to a greater degree.
Long gone are the days when LCD TVs had noticeable grey areas where there should have been deep blacks. Nowadays, even budget screens are judged on how well, amongst other things, they can reproduce that subtle detail presented in darker areas of the picture.
Even budget screens from rival manufacturers are able to demonstrate a slightly better on screen presentation of fine detail across darker areas than the LD450. The difference is not that significant, but noticeable all the same.
At one time having a reputation for a vibrant but often over saturated Colour palette, LG are now recognized as one of the more accomplished manufacturers in this area of flat panel TV performance.
With one of the most accurate out of the box set ups we have come across on a budget TV, LG are maintaining their well deserved reputation for colour accuracy. The 42LD450 is accomplished enough in this area to present even tricky facial tones in a wholly believable fashion.
Although the 42LD450 has a sophisticated colour management system, the accurate presentation of colour from the off will dissuade all but the enthusiastic tinkerer to go anywhere near it.
With a certain amount of calibration and given that it has a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution panel, the 42in and above LD450 models could conceivably become part of a decent budget home cinema set up.
For a sub £400 screen, the LD450 can reproduce an enviable level of sharpness with a High Definition source. Of course we expect to see gloriously sharp and accurate pictures and more from a Full HD screen, but to get this level of performance for the price is impressive.
Higher end Panasonic Plasmas and Samsung LCD TVs will provide a more immersive High Definition experience; but the 42LD450 is as good as any budget screen we have come across in its ability to present HD to this level of competence.
Unfortunately, we can't lavish as much praise on the 42LD450 when it comes to Standard Definition performance. Its not that the LG does badly in this respect, it just falls into that category of predictably bland SD performers.
The 42LD450 does a reasonably good job of presenting higher quality standard definition feeds, but it doesn't stand out from a raft of budget screens now available from other manufacturers.
The outstanding SD performers can transform a lower quality standard definition source, but as with the majority of budget LCD TVs, the LG struggles. Once again, the performance is not bad, but with an element of on screen noise and blurring with fast action motion the LD450 reveals its budget status.
Conclusion
The LG 42LD450 is an unremarkable budget screen that is competent enough in some areas to offer reasonably good value for money. Excellent colour reproduction is compromised to some degree by an average black level performance.
Excellent colour reproduction
Mediocre black level ability
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