Model: LG 42LH55
Description: 42" LCD TV with 120Hz Processing
Resolution: 1980 X 1080
Includes: Swivel table top stand
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: Summer 2009

Price Considerations: The LG 42LH55 is hitting a very attractive price/quality price point at around $1500 all in. It compares extremely well in price to not only other LCDs in it's quality category but also upper end plasma models. Its a bit more than the Sharp Aquos LC40E77U which sells for around $1000 but with 2 inches less in screen size and less features. The Samsung UN40B7000 is slightly higher at $1650 and has a similar feature set and compares well, but again with 2 inches less.

Quality Comparison: With picture quality, reduced motion artifacts, increased response time, sleek good looks, a swivel stand, good menu system and excellent calibration this LG is comparing well with the best TVs on the market – even top tier plasma (now that Pioneer is out of the game).

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 10 feet

See full HQV
test results

HQV Benchmark: Processor testing with the LH55 showed excellent results..

See full
calibration results

Calibrations: The 42LH55 calibrated excellently to D6500 due to expansive and easy to access white balance controls. To dial the TV in perfectly follow the following settings:

Picture Settings:
Picture Mode:	Expert 1
White Balance:	Warm
Brightness:	65
Contrast:	85
Color:	48
Tint:	G1
Sharpness:	H:52 V:52
Backlight:	50
Other Settings:
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
NR:	Off
Gamma:	High
Black Level:	Low
Real Cinema:	On
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the 47LH55 Calibration page

Special Note: One of the foremost adjustments to make with this TV is to turn the 120Hz/240Hz TruMotion processing off when watching film based content. Doing so will yield a much more natural picture as the film director intended. While this feature is great for sports programming and gaming, leaving it on even at the low setting will present you with unwelcome added effects in motion scenes in particular. Strange "canned" background set visual information will appear and disappear depending on whether there is motion.

HD Picture Quality: Dark shadow detail and color information in the new Blu Ray release of The Road Warrior was very accurate. I was extremely happy with motion sequences, black levels, and let it be noted that the anti glare screen can be a big plus with ambient lamp lighting in a room.

Deep Black levels provide for excellent contrast in this scene from The Road Warrior.

Digital Broadcast Signal Picture Quality: The TV did a remarkable job with this process and displayed a beautiful picture with natural colors, good black levels and lots of detail. Color information was vibrant but not over saturated in The Three Amigos and our staple copy of Risky Business which usually presents TVs with more problems that it did the 47LH55. I was very pleased and impressed that LG has not overlooked up conversion processing from a lowly 480i signal source.

This shot of Tom Cruise in Risky Business shows a good contrast presentation from this rough 480i DVD.

See full Contrast
measurements

Contrast Measurement: Though certainly not the richest and deepest we've experienced, black levels on the 42LH55 are adequate and the excellent dark shadow gray scaling helps to make up for any deficiency in this area. LG lists a dynamic (read dubiously tested) contrast ratio of 80,000:1. Our post calibration ANSI contrast measured modest but respectable 167:1. This TV has great balance and during viewing we did not sense a lack of deep blacks or of bright whites during sunlit scenes.

To See more detailed notes on dark shadow detail, color accuracy, viewing angle, and motion lag please click here to see the extended review.

Features: The LH55 is not LED backlit but nevertheless uses less power and is Energy Star 3.0 rates. As mentioned above, the TruMotion (120hz/240hz) feature is a key element of this TV. It works for sure, but should be turned off for film based and TV content. It will provide many unwelcome picture oddities with film based content. Sports programming and gaming are awesomely enhanced by the TruMotion feature. There is a keen new Picture Wizard feature which gives some basic calibration tools to allow users to adjust the 5 basic settings depending upon ambient room light. It's an interesting and somewhat useful feature that we have not encountered before.

To see the extended review on video aspect ratio, inputs, aesthetic considerations, remote and menu functionality, and audio function click here.

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Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro ACP6500, Sencore signal generator.

This review format and all of the headings, sub headings and paragraph titles are part of a copyrighted process. Any unauthorized reproduction or use, either in full or in part, of this product review format is expressly prohibited.

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Model: LG 47LH55
Description: 42" LCD TV with 120Hz Processing
Resolution: 1980 X 1080
Includes: Swivel table top stand
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: Summer 2009

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration: The 47LH55 calibrated excellently to D6500 due to expansive and easy to access white balance controls. To dial the TV in perfectly follow the following settings:

Picture Settings:
Picture Mode:	Expert 1
White Balance:	Warm
Brightness:	65
Contrast:	85
Color:	48
Tint:	G1
Sharpness:	H:52 V:52
Backlight:	50
Other Settings:
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
NR:	Off
Gamma:	High
Black Level:	Low
Real Cinema:	On
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the 47LH55 Calibration page

See full HQV
test results

HQV Benchmark: Processor testing with the LH55 showed excellent results.

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: One of the foremost lessons to learn with this TV is to turn the 120Hz/240Hz TruMotion processing off when watching any film based content. Leaving it on even on low will present you with unwelcome added effects in motion scenes in particular. Strange "canned" background set visual information will appear and disappear depending on whether there is motion. With that out of the way, to the picture quality with up conversion from 480i. The TV did a remarkable job with this process and displayed a beautiful picture with natural colors, good black levels and lots of detail. I was especially impressed by one scene in Risky Business showing plenty of dark shadow detail and definition throughout the dark scene. Some of the tougher color information in this movie also looked spot on on the new LG.

This picture shows an example of why I loved this TV. The shot of Chevy Chase in The Three Amigos looks like it was taken from an HD signal, but it is actually from a 480i signal source through composite video input.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: A couple of differences we noticed right away with the 47LH55 was the improved anti glare screen which doesn't have such a detrimental effect on the black levels or viewing angle of the screen. Black levels remained acceptable and even somewhat saturated with HD material and the viewing angle problem is gone. There was excellent dark shadow detail when viewing the new Blu Ray release of Rocky.

Check out the excellent color and and black levels in this scene from the new Blu Ray release of Rocky.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level: Black Level/Contrast: Though certainly not the richest and deepest we've experienced, black levels on the 47LH55 are adequate and the excellent dark shadow gray scaling helps to make up for any deficiency in this area. LG lists a dynamic (read dubiously tested) contrast ratio of 80,000:1. Our post calibration ANSI contrast measured modest but respectable 167:1. This TV has great balance and during viewing we did not sense a lack of deep blacks or of bright whites during sunlit scenes.

Check out the excellent contrast created by the LG with this 480i signal source image from The Three Amigoes.

Dark Shadow Detail: With the new LH55 series, LG has managed to provide a TV with an anti glare matte finish and still provide plenty of dark shadow detail. I was happy with shadow detail in scenes from all our input sources. The hazy appearance of some past screens was not present.

The 47LH55 did an excellent job with dark shadow detail in this scene from Rocky.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Rocky looks amazing on the LCD. Not too over saturated but just right. Where there is gray in a scene the TV is satisfied with letting the scene be gray. Colors that are meant to be subdued are displayed that way.

A scene from Rocky displays excellent color reproduction.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Much, much improved in this area, we measured viewing angle to about 110 degrees without significant contrast degradation.

Motion Lag: There is still some jerkiness present but it's slight compared to past models. With the TruMotion feature turned on there is very little motion lag so this is ideal to use for sports programming and games.

False Contouring/ Mapping: With film based content there is lots of false contouring present when the TruMotion feature is on. So turn it off and there is little to complain of then.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: There are several aspect ratio adjustments in the menu system. There is no discrete button for these on the remote control, which is a shame. It's such a convenient feature to include. 16:9, Just Scan, 4:3, Zoom, Cinema Zoom 1 through 16. The Cinema Zoom feature did a nice job of scaling and includes algorithmic sizing. The viewer can "zoom out" the top and bottom black bars on 16:9 content if desired (while losing some of the sides). There was some stretching evident with 2:35 DVD programming.

Find the correct video aspect sizing or you will end up with a stretched image such as this one from The Three Amigos.

Inputs: 4 HDMI inputs and USB 2.0 access, 2 component, and a 15 pin D-sub computer input rounds out an ample offering.

Aesthetic Considerations: LG has improved the looks of their TV offerings considerably with the LH55 series. The bezel is gloss black with a clear glass edge around the perimeter to give the impression of depth. The frame is not too wide and the screen has a matte finish. The TV comes with a lightweight semi circle gloss black stand that conveniently swivels side to side. When the TV is turned on there is a small red light that flashes then turns blue in the bottom right section of the frame, which can help locate the power switch in a dark room. The bezel is 3.4" deep providing a good depth for wall mount applications.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The remote is simple and well designed, easy to use. The menu has graphics that make it enjoyable and easy to navigate. I do wish the the remote control had a discrete button option for tuning the TruMotion feature. This would make turning this feature off and on much easier. As well I like to see a discrete aspect ratio button on the remote for changing aspect ratios during DVD programming. The menu provides extremely friendly calibration white balance settings, so as a result we (and now you) can dial the set in perfectly for optimum viewing.

Audio Output: 10W X 10W speakers drive the sound from the invisible speaker system. This new audio system eliminates traditional speaker drivers and contains speaker actuators around the perimeter of the entire bezel. We found the sound a little tinny and hollow. Special effects were more dynamic and voluminous than voice. Overall there was some improvement in sound from prior models but still more room for improvement here.

Features: The LH55 is not LED backlit and thus uses less power and is Energy Star 3.0 rates. As mentioned above, the TruMotion (120hz/240hz) feature is a key element of this TV. The feature performs well for sure, but should be turned off for film based and TV content. It will provide many unwelcome picture oddities with film based content. Sports programming and gaming are awesomely enhanced by the TruMotion feature. There is a keen Picture Wizard feature which gives some basic calibration tools to allow users to adjust the 5 basic settings depending upon ambient room light. It's an interesting and somewhat useful feature that we have not encountered before.

It looks like this TV may be purchased from an assortment of online retailers for around $1700. This TV is hitting a major sweet spot in price/value offering with its many excellent features and picture quality. It's my favorite TV at the moment for an LCD in this price range. The Samsung UN46B7000 sells for $2300 by comparison.

Compare all our TV Reviews

Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore AutoCal Pro ACP6500, Sencore signal generator.

This review format and all of the headings, sub headings and paragraph titles are part of a copyrighted process. Any unauthorized reproduction or use, either in full or in part, of this product review format is expressly prohibited.

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Netcast Entertainment Access is the big feature differential seperating the LH50 series from other 120Hz LCD models.

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 12 feet

See full
calibration results

Calibration: The 47LH50 calibrated excellently to D6500 due to expansive and easy to access white balance controls. To dial the TV in perfectly follow the following settings:

Picture Settings:
Picture Mode:	Expert 1
White Balance:	Warm
Brightness:	65
Contrast:	85
Color:	48
Tint:	G1
Sharpness:	H:52 V:52
Backlight:	50
Other Settings:
Dynamic Contrast:	Off
NR:	Off
Gamma:	High
Black Level:	Low
Real Cinema:	On
For complete picture setting including White Balance settings please see the 47LH50 Calibration page

See full HQV
test results

HQV Benchmark: Processor testing with the LH50 showed excellent results.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: A couple of differences we noticed right away with the 47LH50 was the improved anti glare screen which doesn't have such a detrimental effect on the black levels or viewing angle of the screen. Black levels remained acceptable and even somewhat saturated with HD material and the viewing angle problem is gone. There was excellent dark shadow detail when viewing the new Blu Ray release of Rocky.

A stunningly clear HD shot from Netflix fed TV series Lost.

See full Contrast
measurements

Black Level: Black Level/Contrast: Though certainly not the richest and deepest we've experienced, black levels on the 47LH50 are adequate and the excellent dark shadow gray scaling helps to make up for any deficiency in this area. LG lists a dynamic (read dubiously tested) contrast ratio of 80,000:1. Our post calibration ANSI contrast measured modest but respectable 167:1. This TV has great balance and during viewing we did not sense a lack of deep blacks or of bright whites during sunlit scenes.

This shot from Netflix HD fed Serenity shows off high brightness and great blacks in the same scene.

Up conversion from 480i: One of the foremost lessons to learn with this TV is to turn the 120Hz/240Hz TruMotion processing off when watching any film based content. Even on the low setting will present you with unwelcome added effects in motion scenes in particular. Strange "canned" background set visual information will appear and disappear depending on whether there is motion. With that out of the way, on to picture quality considerations with up conversion from 480i. The TV did a remarkable job with this process and displayed a beautiful picture with natural colors, good black levels and lots of detail.

Flesh tones are realistic in this shot from The Big Hit.

Dark Shadow Detail: With the new LH50 series, LG has managed to provide a TV with an anti glare matte finish and still provide plenty of dark shadow detail. I was happy with shadow detail in scenes from all our input sources. The hazy appearance of some past screens was not present.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Rocky looks amazing on the LCD. Not too over saturated but just right. Where there is gray in a scene the TV is satisfied with letting the scene be gray. Colors that are meant to be subdued are displayed that way.

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: Much, much improved in this area, we measured viewing angle to about 110 degrees without significant contrast degradation.

Motion Lag: There is still some jerkiness present but it's slight compared to past models. With the TruMotion feature turned on there is very little motion lag so this feature is ideal to use for sports programming and games. When turning the feature off for film based content, there was slight side to side jerkiness but much improvement over past 2008 models.

False Contouring/ Mapping: With film based content there is lots of false contouring present when the TruMotion feature is on. So turn it off and there is little to complain of then.

Features: As mentioned above, the TruMotion (120hz/240hz) feature is a dominant feature of this TV. The feature performs well for sure, but should be turned off for film based and TV content. Sports programming and gaming are awesomely enhanced by the TruMotion feature. It will provide many unwelcome picture oddities with film based content. Unfortunately there is no discrete remote control button for turning this feature off. Follow these instructions:

1. Press the Menu Key
2. Then scroll to Picture and press Enter
3. Scroll down to Advanced Control and press Enter button
4. Another window will pop up
5. Scroll down to TruMotion 120Hz option and press Enter
6. Press the right arrow key to turn this feature off

The big key feature difference of the LH50 series LG with the LH50 is the LAN connection accessing the "Netcast Entertainment Access". This feature enables Netflix Instant Streaming video, Yahoo, and YouTube content without having to feed through a computer to receive it. The Ethernet ability is right there in the TV! While we enjoyed watching Netflix HD content on the 47LH50, we were miffed by one very important oversight – the lack of picture menu controls for the LAN connection. Without the picture menu option, we were forced to view the incoming Netflix content with the 120Hz feature ON! Since this feature takes out the natural motion blur in film based content, we were able to see all of that annoying unintended background information which is present with the 120Hz feature. This presents film based images with a canned, kitschy appearance that varies greatly with the content. Some movies just cannot be viewed pleasurably this way. That stated, it is a very cool feature especially if your a Netflix fan – allowing for easy connectivity. The feature set up was painless.

Connection to the Netflix streaming instant que provides lots of viewing options with the LG 47LH50.

On to other features.

There is a keen Picture Wizard feature which gives some basic calibration tools to allow users to adjust the 5 basic settings depending upon ambient room light. It's an interesting and somewhat useful feature that we have not encountered. Given the attached calibrations settings from us, you will not need it except for fine tuning.

The LH50 is Energy Star 3.0 rated.

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: There are several aspect ratio adjustments in the menu system. There is no discrete button for these on the remote control, which is a shame. It's such a convenient feature to include. 16:9, Just Scan, 4:3, Zoom, Cinema Zoom 1 through 16. The Cinema Zoom feature did a nice job of scaling and includes algorithmic sizing. The viewer can "zoom out" the top and bottom black bars on 16:9 content if desired (while losing some of the sides). There was some stretching evident with 2:35 DVD programming.

Inputs: 4 HDMI inputs and USB 2.0 access, 2 component, and a 15 pin D-sub computer input rounds out an ample offering.

Aesthetic Considerations: LG has improved the looks of their TV offerings considerably with the LH50 series. The bezel is gloss black with a clear glass edge around the perimeter to give the impression of depth. The frame is not too wide and the screen has a matte finish. The TV comes with a lightweight semi circle gloss black stand that conveniently swivels side to side. When the TV is turned on there is a small red light that flashes then turns blue in the bottom right section of the frame, which can help locate the power switch in a dark room. It's also just a cool little effect. The bezel is 3.4" deep providing a good depth for wall mount applications.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The remote is simple and well designed, easy to use. The menu has graphics that make it enjoyable and easy to navigate. I do wish the the remote control had a discrete button option for tuning the TruMotion feature. This would make turning this feature off much easier. As well we like to see a discrete aspect ratio button on the remote for changing aspect ratios during DVD programming. The menu provides extremely friendly calibration white balance settings, so as a result we (and now you) can dial the set in perfectly for optimum viewing.

Audio Output: 10W X 10W speakers drive the sound from the invisible speaker system. This new audio system eliminates traditional speaker drivers and contains speaker actuators around the perimeter of the entire bezel. We found the sound a little tinny and hollow. Special effects were more dynamic and voluminous than voice. Overall there was some improvement in sound from prior models but still more room for improvement here. Volume levels seem inadequate and the sound experience can be muddy.

The Sony KDL-46Z5100 has an Ethernet connection port containing access to Amazon Video on Demand and other similar features such as 120Hz processing to the LG 47LH50. The Z5100 price tag is usually $100 to $200 more expensive than the LG. Samsung's LN46B650 sells for around the same price as the LG 47LH50 but does not contain an Ethernet connection. LG's 47LH50 series is basically the same TV but without the Ethernet connectivity and options that offers. This TV sells for around $100 less without that option. Add a point or two to the value rating if you plan on using the Netflix features.

Compare all our TV Reviews

Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore AutoCal Pro ACP6500, Sencore signal generator.

This review format and all of the headings, sub headings and paragraph titles are part of a copyrighted process. Any unauthorized reproduction or use, either in full or in part, of this product review format is expressly prohibited.

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INTRODUCTION: LG 50PG25

This is a second tier model in LG's 50" plasma 2008/2009 lineup. So the TV has some budget conscious constraints as our review below will point out. All 2008 LG plasma TVs claim a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and this series plasma has a native contrast of 20,000:1. Some of the features are effective and some not so much. The Fluid Motion and Video Noise Reduction features do not seem to have much effect on performance while the Clear Voice technology and Gamma picture function do work very well. It also contains some of the other common enhancements found in all of LG's new plasma lineup such as Clear Voice technology which enhances and amplifies the human voice element in programming with lots of background noise or music. There are 3 AV modes for preset picture viewing – sports, games, and cinema and the housing for the plasma contains the new invisible 10W X 10W speaker design with SRS Tru Surround technology. Resolution is 1024 X 768 (720p). The depth of these newer models has been reduced to 3.4". There are 3 HDMI input options on this plasma television.

PICTURE QUALITY RATING: 89/100

Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 10 feet

Up conversion from 480i and 480p: Viewing the recent 480i release of 3:10 to Yuma starring Russel Crow was a pleasere on this plasma as it displays very natural earth tones and good dark shadow detail. This is a "refined" 480i DVD so not as difficult to produce a good picture from as some older DVDs but the LG 50PG25 did a fine job of producing great images. At times and with some 480i sources we noted the 50PG25 budget oriented chip sets struggling to up convert without grain and background noise. This is typical for a budget plasma or LCD and one reason the higher end units demand a higher price tag. Flesh tones were natural though not the best we've seen.

The LG 50PG25's up conversion processing did a nice job displaying smooth lines,
and excellent light transition in 3:10 to Yuma.

720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: The 50PG25 is a 1024 X 768 plasma TV and therefore shows best in 1080i resolution. The HD picture during Safari scenes from our Blu Ray Dolby test disc had no problem displaying smooth fast motion scenes in vibrant colors. I have see better definition and color rendition and there is a subtle lack of pop to color information. However, this is a budget plasma TV and therefore is not expected to contain premium processing. I do like the fact that the plasma does not compromise color information by overcompensating in bright areas as many TVs these days make the mistake of doing. I would rather the picture be accurate and understated than have sections of oversaturated images.

The 50PG25 displayed slightly muted but realistic colors as
viewed in this HD shot from Safari.

HQV Processor Testing: The LG 50PG25 performed very well during our Video Resolution Loss Testing showing no dithering in vertical or horizontal bars. There were just slight jaggies noted near the horizontal axis in the Jaggies test. Testing showed that 1080i is certainly the best resolution for this television as it is with most. Surprisingly there was some jerkiness (similar to motion lag) in our Film Resolution Loss Stadium seating test when the scene pans slowly side to side. This is unusual for a plasma TV. There was little to no moire' pattern noted in the seating.

Black Level: The LG 50PG25 has average black levels but allow good dark shadow detail.

Dark Shadow Detail: Black information did not oversaturate darker scenes yielding good shadow detail in clothing and night scenes. The Gamma setting is useful in this regard and can be adjusted depending on room light conditions.

The plasma displayed good shadow detail in this HD shot of Elephants
in Safari. Notice the wrinkles defined.

Color Rendition/Color Accuracy: Color information was somewhat more subtle and muted in HD content than expected. With 480i signals I thought this plasma performed admirably enough with regard to color. It was pretty good especially in a darker room environment.

The LG 50PG25 displayed warm, realistic but not overwhelming
color in 3:10 to Yuma

Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: As with most plasma TVs the viewing angle for the 42PG25 was exceptional – about 160 degrees.

Exceptions: The Video Noise Reduction and Fluid Motion features seem to have little to no effect in testing.

Motion Lag: Surprisingly there was some jerkiness in our side to side panning Film Resolution Loss Test (stadium). However, we did not notice or detect it during fast moving film content.

FEATURES RATING: 91/100

Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: Aspect ratio processing and sizing was spot on non-distorted from a variety of input sources. Selection is auto, 16:9, 4:3, Zoom 1, 2. Zoom 1 and 2 are actually justified sizing options for a variety of widescreen signals as opposed to just zoom options. We found them useful and effective.

Inputs: 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component, one 15 pin D sub (for computer) and a USB port round out a generous supply of input compatibility.

Aesthetic Considerations: This is a very nice looking plasma TV with a relatively thin frame and a single layer glass design that gives a uniform appearance. Speakers are hidden and we measure the plasma at just over 3.4" which makes this an ideal wall mount TV. The subtly attractive ON/Off button is lit in blue in the bottom right section of the frame. A good looking accompanying swivel table stand completes a well done job on design.

Remote Control/Menu Functionality: The LG 42PG25 menu functionality has the same options as much higher end LG LCD and plasma and for that reason is a good value. It's one of the easiest menu systems to navigate and use on the market. The non-backlit remote control is fairly complete with the exception of a lacking aspect ratio button on the interface. Otherwise, it too is easy to use. As mentioned above there is a 10 point multi adjustment for White Balance.

Audio Output: The LG 50PG25 contains dual 10W speakers which are housed in the bottom section of the plasma with sound emanating from the bottom of the plasma. At first we thought the sound was pretty poor overall during film DVD content. However, turning on the SRS Tru Surround function enriched the sound somewhat. But the most important feature regarding sound is LG's Clear Voice Technology which allows voice frequency material to increase in volume over surround noise. It's an effective feature that works and the user will want to activate it through the easy to use menu.

Features: I like the effect of the non-reflective structure of the plasma pixels. It does help with non-glare considerations. This plasma contains all of the features found in the PG20 series plasma. However, there is an additional USB 2.0 input port. As on all of the new LG plasma TVs lifespan to average half life has been increased to 100,000 hrs. The PG25 plasma series also begins design upgrades to a single layer front glass panel with no bezel creases for a crisper appeal. The number of HDMI inputs is also increased to 4 on this plasma (three in the back and one on the side.) Highlight features are Gamma setting adjustment, and Clear Voice technology.

VALUE RATING: 98.5/100

Televisions in the higher end range are getting so good that budget conscious models sometimes fail to dazzle even though they do a fine job as a journeyman. The LG 50PG25 has very nice aesthetics with the streamlined no bezel edge single layer glass design. The frame is thin and attractive and at just over 3.4" in depth this is good budget model for any room. At $1200 it is the best deal out there in a 50" plasma for the budget wary. There are a few noted drawbacks such as non stellar upconversion yielding some background noise and colors that dont blow you away. But heck, for a couple hundred less than Panasonic and Samsung equal level competitors take this unit rather than an inferior 3rd tier Vizio product.

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OVERALL RATING: 91.88/100

See our Detailed Calibration
for the LG 50PG25

Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.

Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro, Sencore signal generator, Sencore VP403.

This review format and all of the headings, sub headings and paragraph titles are part of a copyrighted process. Any unauthorized reproduction or use, either in full or in part, of this product review format is expressly prohibited.

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