Sound on the 42DS9 was impressive for such a thin set. We don't usually expect much from thin TVs in the oomph department, but this one manages to pump out clear, deep sound. We found the sound levels on HD DVDs were very low, but this seems to be a side effect of the audio encoding. Freeview was incredibly punchy. It goes without saying that movie fans should invest in external speakers, but for regular viewing, the built-in speakers will do very nicely.
On HD DVD and Blu-ray movies, we were impressed by the smoothness of the on-screen motion. It's not as spectacular as the 120Hz, 5:5 pulldown-capable Toshiba 40ZF355D, but it's a likeable image and smooth enough to please all but the harshest critic.
There were also generous amounts of detail in the picture. Casino Royale looked brilliant, with all the original grain and noise intact. The previously mentioned opening scene of Serenity on HD DVD looked good too, with good colour, smooth motion and plenty of detail. If it wasn't for that pesky backlight, we'd be completely smitten.
The super-skinny remote isn't a total disaster, but it
feels cheap. The TV isn't the most sprightly in responding to its commands, either. It's not a patch on those from
Panasonic and Sony, which have much faster remote response times.
Conclusion
The uneven backlight on this TV spoils an overall strong performer. We
liked the Freeview and HD picture performance of this set, but can't
totally forgive the uneven illumination, which will bother most people
at some point.
The best competitor for this TV is the Toshiba's 40ZF355D. It does a better job with HD, has an unobtrusive backlight and costs around the same. You have to decide how much size really matters.
Edited by Shannon Doubleday
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