Weaknesses
Although the 42Q97HDX loves playing HD sources, it doesn't support the very highest quality HD format -- 1080p/24.
Also, we urge caution with a couple of features the TV does have, namely an Edge Enhancer and Movie Plus. The Edge Enhancer certainly does make the boundaries of objects more crisp, but often goes too far so that they leap out of the picture in a quite unnatural fashion.
Movie Plus, meanwhile, is designed to make motion look more fluid. It does succeed in doing this, but only at the expense of a flickering effect around moving objects, which -- for our money -- is actually more problematic than any motion judder.
Of course, though, if you don't like them, you can always turn the Edge Enhancer and Movie Plus features off, though this does leave a tendency to exaggerate any noise that might be inherent to a standard definition digital tuner source.
Conclusion
If you look hard, you can find better picture quality than that offered by Samsung's PS42Q97HDX. You'll undoubtedly have to pay more for it. Considered more fairly in the context of other 37-42-inch screens selling for around £800, the 42Q97HDX isn't just good, it's practically revolutionary.
Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Jon Squire
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megrobdan 8 March 2008
Good: Picture quality is superb.Ease of use.
Bad: The size of the box it arrives in.
Comment: Prior to owning this product i had owned a LG 37lc2d for 12 months which got great reviews from various internet sources.Why they thought the Lg or any other LCD panel for that matter was so great i will never know.
Anyway lets get back to the SAMSUNG PS42Q97HDX i have owned for 2 weeks.Firstly the picture quality for a tv 42" diagonal screen size is absolutely outstanding, the closest you will come to a high quality CRT tv.
STANDARD definition from sky was as close to perfect as could be, no picture noise that i could see,fast moving action football for instance was perfect no ghosting or trailing images. my rating on STANDARD def pitures from sky would be 9.75/10.
Freeview source was not quite as good as you would probably expect,but this again was far superior to that of probably every LCD panel out there,there was still no picture noise and no ghosting on this source,it was just the colours where not as vivid as from sky (This may be my signal).My score for Freeview source 9/10.
Now for NORMAL DVD source,i watched Lord Of The Rings 1-3 over 9hrs (sad i know) but the picture quality,well lets just say that i could not believe the quality it was incredible if the picture quality is like this on STANDARD DVd source,my god what would it be like on a HD source my score 12/10.
The sound aspect of this tv is in my opinion very good but not quite as good as the picture quality, no rattles on high end volume and the true surround system makes a considerable difference when activated for movies and the such like my score 8/10.
Setting the tv up was a total breeze due to the auto install of Anolouge tv signals and the BUILT IN DIGITAL FREEVIEW TUNER, from taking it from the box to watching my first programme including auto tuning took approx 12 mins.
The EPG guide of 8 days is excellent and the channel change speed of the INBUILT DIGITAL tuner exceeds that of SKY,my score 10/10.
This tv out performs any LCD panel i have seen. IT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR
IN TOTAL IF THIS TV IS ON YOUR SHORT LIST OR YOU ARE UNDECIDED TO GO FOR LCD OR PLASMA.
GO FOR THIS TV THE SAMSUNG PS42Q97HDX.IT HAS TO BE THE BARGAIN OF OUR TIME AT PRICES FROM £650 - £799
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