In keeping with its 'simple is best' theme, the television keeps it fairly light on the features front. XD Engine is a picture-processing technology that runs constantly in the background. It combines a raft of different processes, including the likes of deinterlacing, scaling and colour optimisation, in order to increase overall image quality.
The 1,024x768-pixel display resolution is rather unusual for such a large screen. As any computer buff will know, a 1,024x768 resolution is designed for screens with 4:3 aspect ratios. The 42PC1D, of course, is a widescreen TV with a 16:9 ratio, so the pixels have been made rectangular in order to fit the screen correctly. Thankfully, as Panasonic's excellent TH42PX60 plasma TV shows, also with the 1,024x768 resolution, it doesn't necessarily mean that the screen is worse or less capable of showing detail -- the human eye is more receptive to horizontal detail on a screen than it is to vertical detail, so the LG's resolution shouldn't be automatically viewed as a weakness over screens with 'proper' widescreen resolutions like 1,366x768 pixels.
Performance
When it comes to the crunch of providing a good picture, this TV outperforms some costlier rivals. Feed it some hi-def video and you get a superb image, bursting with detail and colour and conspicuous by its low noise levels.
Fast motion, such as you see with the frenetic swordplay and magic of Oblivion on the Xbox 360, doesn't draw out any nasty judder or artefacts -- and there's plenty visible even in the darkest of dungeons, thanks to the TV's fine black levels.
LG rates the contrast ratio as 10,000:1, which sounds insanely high, and yes, the black levels are very good -- but not up to the eye-bogglingly amazing standards set by Panasonic with its TH42PX60 plasma (which, funnily enough, also has a 10,000:1 claimed contrast ratio, but is much more expensive).
Standard-definition pictures are also impressive, whether from the built-in digital tuner or a connected Sky+ box or DVD player. There is MPEG noise noticeable here, despite the best efforts of the XD Engine, but overall it's a fine performance for the price.
Sound quality is decent, but nothing to write home about. Despite the inclusion of a SRS TXT virtual surround mode, we didn't really notice any all-enveloping effects popping up behind us.
Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Nick Hide
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User reviews4
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Russell Speak 12 February 2007
Good: Great picture, low price, full of features, great looking
Bad: The sound isn't the best but still better than most TVs for the same price
Comment: I recently upgreaded my 37" LCD TV for this 42" Leviathan. It's big but will fit comfortably in any sized living room (mine is tiny). It's also amazingly cheap at only £800, and I have to say it's the best £800 I've ever spent. I love this TV! The picture's great, the sound's good, it looks gorgeous and it's packed with features like picture-in-picture, which I've always wanted. The remote is heavy and durable and the buttons are very responsive, although not ideally placed. The remote is also universal, which means you can operate any VCR from it.
If you've been waiting for an affordable plasma TV which looks great then I can highly recommend this one. Go on, treat yourself.
Kevin Tubb 20 November 2006
Good: Colour is very vivid, detail is good, menu is easy, looks very nice
Bad: Some slight picture distortion on quick frame changes in standard definition, remote is very plastic
Comment: I've had this about a week but haven't got Sky HD yet. If you are looking for 42" on a sub £1k budget I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this. You can get more if you can pay more, so I'd look elsewhere if you can afford over £1-1.5k.
Brian Holding 14 August 2006
Good: All of it
Bad: The programmable remote could use some user input, perhaps blue glow in the dark?
Comment: Buy it
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