42in LCD Picture Sound Features Usability Value Outstanding HD picture quality and very good all-round performance tempered only by average black levels HD Ready: yes Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Rating: 91%

Reviewed: 19 June 2007

Design

The LG 42LY95 is just the right size to show off the Korean manufacturer's stylish new range of LCD TV's. With unique flush fitting speakers either side of the frame, it is no surprise that a Milan based design studio has been responsible for the new look. An ultra thin profile with glossy black frame and matching pedestal elevate the 42LY95 into the forefront of distinctive LCD design.

We have to mention built quality too which is absolutely top notch and on par with any other LCD manufacturer.

Features

With an impressive Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution, the 42LY95 has the potential to display sources such as Sky TV (The 1080i source matching the 1080 lines available on the panel) pixel for pixel, negating the need for any picture scaling to fit (with LG's 1:1 pixel mapping through HDMI). With a 42in panel we are reaching the sort of size where the Full HD spec can be appreciated.

	Screen: 42in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Contrast Ratio: 5,000:1 Brightness: 500cd/m2 Other Features: XD Full HD picture processing, Wide Colour Gamut, Intelligent Eye, Simple Link, comb Filter. Sockets: 2 HDMI, 2 Scart, S-video, component video, PC input.

 

LG's LY95 series of LCD TV's has been billed as a step up from the entry level LF66 TV's and as such, comes equipped with LG's 'Wide Colour Gamut' backlight system, TruC (Note: this feature is not available on the LG 37LY95) which is a feature of the new 10-bit panels.

The 10 bit panel on the LG 42LY95 provides a Color Saturation of NTSC 92%. This is a measurement of colour purity and is compared against the NTSC (National Television Standard Committee) standard of 100. Commercial CRT TVs and LCD TVs normally have a colour saturation of 72%.

Picture processing technology on the 42LY95 comes in the shape of LG's proprietary XD engine which in its latest guise is dubbed XD Full HD, the Full HD a reference to the fact that it has been optimised for the 1920 x 1080 resolution panels. The 42LY95 also sports an enhanced noise reduction function and a Digital Comb Filter.

Designed to enhance the general quality of the viewing experience, LG's 'Intelligent Eye' has been designed to automatically adjust the picture depending upon current lighting conditions.

Simple Link technology (HDMI-CEC) technology allows you to control all LG-compatible equipment through a single remote control.

As we would expect, the LG 42LY95 has good connectivity with 2 HDMI inputs (1.3 spec), 2 Scarts, Component input and S-video input along with PC input. Additionally the 42LY95 sports an integrated digital Freeview tuner with 7-day Electronic Programming Guide (EPG).

Strangely, LG has dropped its Picture-in-Picture functionality on the LY95 range.

Performance

With the LG 42LY95 we can start to see the benefits of a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. With standard Definition (SD) Freeview, pictures are disappointingly noisy and a little grainy. Switch to a Sky (1080i) standard definition source however and there is a marked improvement. The picture is still not perfect, but the advantages of 1-to-1 pixel mapping are obvious with a level of sharpness and detail that is comparable with the best 40in plus LCD TV's.

Colour performance from the 10-bit panel is excellent and a marked improvement on LG's 8-bit panels. There is an extra vibrancy to on-screen colour with a realism that is evident in complex images such as skin tones.

High Definition (HD) is where the LG 42LY95 comes into its own. The level of detail and sharpness is a revelation, and on the 42in screen feels like a true cinematic experience. Speed up the action and the LG 42LY95 doesn't disappoint, retaining its composure even with the fastest sporting or movie action.

The only real negative aspect of the LG 42LY95's performance are its black levels. As you would expect, not so noticeable in daylight conditions, turn the lights down however and darker areas show a hint of greyness. Shadow detail to a degree is retained, but not to the level of the class leading best.

Acoustically, the LG 42LY95 is a solid performer with the twin 10w speakers delivering quite an impressive level of bass and a surround sound system (Surround MAX) that actually delivers a surround sound effect.

Conclusion

Freeview pictures disappoint, but with the benefits of Full HD resolution clearly evident and some of the best HD pictures we have seen, the LG 42LY95 is a serious contender. Achilles heel in its black level performance however just knocks the shine off a little - still worth serious consideration.