LG 42PC1D HD-ready plasma TV

Posted by T3 Online on Tue 30 Oct 2007

42-incher that won't break the bank.

This plasma is one of LG's first to sport a "clear filter" screen. The usual thick glass panel is torn out and replaced by a thin veneer of plastic film, cutting down on the weight of the set. That's handy if you're wall-mounting it, and also means reduced reflections on the screen.

Pioneer has been using clear filters for years and they really come into their own during daytime viewing - a godsend if you're a housewife or, say, an under-employed technology hack.

The picture quality is good: Hi-Def clips are bright, crisp and noise-free, Quake 4 zips along without motion judder and a test run of night-riding, Tom Cruise hitman flick Collateral demonstrates the LG's mastery of black reproduction.

It's not quite as impressive all-round as the Panasonic TH-42PX60, which has a truly awe-inspiring contrast range, and the remote could be a little sleeker too. On the plus side, you get plenty of connections, including two HDMI inputs. It all adds up to a superb Hi-Def television for the price.