LG 42PG6000 Review

50in Plasma

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

Excellent value plasma with superb high definition performance.

HD Ready:

yes

Resolution:

1024 x 768

Rating:

88%

Reviewed: 28 April 2008

Design

Having farmed out the design of their flat panel TV's to an Italian studio for a few years now, the Korean manufacturer LG has very quickly gone from 'clunky' to 'cool'. With their latest range of plasma screens, LG is set to enhance its reputation as producer of some of the most stylish pieces of audio visual kit out there.

With the 42PG6000 you are immediately aware that there is something visually different about this screen. Look closely and you will spot a frame that rather than being raised from the screen, sits flush with it. The screen and frame appear to have been hewn from a solid chunk of material. Completing the effect is a single piece of glass covering both screen and frame.

Features

The 42PG6000 features no less than 4 HDMI inputs (v1.3) along with 2 scarts and the usual Composite, Component and Svideo inputs. There is also a very useful USB port through which you can view your digital photos (through a slide show function) or play MP3 files.

Screen: 42in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1024 x 68

Contrast Ratio: 30,000:1

Other Features:XD picture processing, 100Hz (TruMotion)processing.

Sockets:4 HDMI inputs, 2 Scarts, Composite input, Component input, S-video input, PC input, USB 2.0.

Picture processing technology on the 42PG6000 comes in the shape of LG's proprietary XD engine. The XD Engine brings together a range of picture processing enhancements under the XD umbrella which focuses on improving the panels operation in two distinct areas. It works with the input signal to improve the quality of incoming feeds and then with the panel itself to improve the presentation of the these feeds.

A feature starting to appear more frequently on Plasmas, 100Hz processing, aims to reduce the 'flickering' effect associated with fast on-screen action sequences by inserting extra frames into the picture (up from the usual 50 frames per second to 100fps).

The PG6000's screen not only looks rather stylish, but incorporates some cutting edge technology. A non-reflective internal cell structure has been designed to minimize excessive glare which can be a problem in brightly lit environments.

On the acoustic side, LG's "Clear Voice" technology has been designed to isolate the sound frequency range of on-screen dialogue and improve its quality (especially when background noise from the TV would become intrusive).

Gamers will be interested to know that 'game mode' optimizes the screen for this type of input, and sports and movie mode also adjust the screens parameters to process these types of input more effectively.

Performance

Despite a resolution which falls below Full HD, the LG 42PG6000 excels with High Definition content. Although we have come to expect supremely sharp, crisp pictures with HD, we have to place such an accomplished performance into context - this is one of the cheapest 42in plasma currently available to UK consumers.

LG's colour palette has been transformed more recently and now produces what could be described as a vibrant rather than garish colour performance. This translates into stunningly realistic and vibrant colour tones with HD content. Tricky facial tones with standard definition pictures were not entirely accurate, but you have to look close to spot the inconsistencies.

What is not as impressive on the 42PG6000 is the black level performance. Falling short of Pioneer's benchmark 'Kuro' range and Panasonic's new plasma offerings, the graduation across darker scenes is not as subtle and the deepest blacks are simply not as deep. The performance of the 42PG6000 in this respect is very good, comparing favourably with the most accomplished LCD TV's, but Pioneer and Panasonic are just a little better.

Despite LG professing to substantially 'clean' any incoming feed with their XD picture processing technology, Standard Definition performance betrays the budget status of the screen. With a poorer 'Freeview' source some image noise was visible and although 100Hz processing is at work, there was still noticeable 'flicker' with fast sporting action material. With a Sky or Virgin feed things improve noticeably, but again, pioneer and Panasonic plasmas are more accomplished in this respect. Although we were slightly disappointed by SD on the 42PG6000, in general, even with Freeview as the source, the viewing experience was not compromised to any great degree.

The acoustic ability of the 42PG6000 is acceptable rather than outstanding, and given that the speakers are hidden in the bezel of the screen this was not so surprising. We did not discern any noticeable benefit from LG's 'clear voice' technology.

Conclusion

Given that the 42PG6000 can be sourced off the internet for around £700, this screen represents excellent value for money. As the centrepiece of a budget home cinema system only Panasonic's 42PX80 comes close and as a general day to day TV at a very competitive price it is also worth a close look.