LG Electronics 42PC1DA

We're not going to lie to you: You could very nearly buy two identically sized bargain plasmas for the price of one LG 42PC1DA plasma HDTV. Its price of $3000 (as of 6/6/06) is nearly twice that of some 42-inchers we've seen in the PC World Test Center. But plasma enthusiasts would do well at least test-drive the LG. Hands-down, it had the best-looking screen of any plasma we've tested recently, according to our test jury. For the average popcorn-munching TV watcher, it may not be worth the steep price--but if you demand a top-notch picture, you'll want to check this one out personally.

The LG 42PC1DA is a luxury TV in every respect. From its sleek, glossy black case to the smooth curves of its base, this HDTV commands attention even when it's turned off. But power it up and you'll find your eyes dazzled by the display itself. The LG outpaced every other TV we tested, in almost every category. The set received its highest marks for color quality, particularly showing off the vibrant reds and greens in a scene from the Seabiscuit DVD that we use for testing. Brightness and contrast were also exceptional: The set is rated as being 25 percent brighter than most other TVs right out of the box, and a little tweaking boosts this differential even more. Bottom line: Whether viewing DVD video, high-definition, or standard-definition content, the LG was our go-to model for crisp detail and spot-on color.

Setting up the LG 42PC1DA is a piece of cake, much easier than the setup of budget models such as the Maxent MX-42HPM20. Ports are horizontally placed, clearly labeled, and spaced widely apart. Accessing them to plug in components is quick and easy, and the set has copious input options for all types of devices. My only complaint concerned the set's lack of a DVI input: When inputting video through HDMI (without audio), you have to use a miniplug audio jack to bring in the audio track, the same type used by your computer. This means that if you're bringing in audio from a set-top box, you'll need an RCA-to-miniplug converter cable. I would much rather use standard RCA cables to attach to one of the four other RCA audio jacks, which I can't imagine by a typical user would normally fill with stereo gear.

Still, that's a minor quibble about an otherwise excellent set. You can quickly and efficiently manage the TV through its menus, and the sophisticated menu setup allows for deep configuration options. The adaptive picture mode splits the screen into four panes, each showing how the video looks through a different video setting. This makes testing different video modes much more intuitive: You can see side by side how a different color or brightness setting will impact the picture, without lots of trial and error.

LG doesn't skimp on its speakers either--they offer rich sound. Even the remote control is well organized and easy to navigate. The manual spends a bit too much space outlining the integrated TV Guide system rather than explaining basic features, but that's a minor quibble. If you can get over the sticker shock, you'll find the 42PC1DA as impressive as they come.

Vizio P42HDTV

Never mind the unfamiliar name; check out the Vizio P42HDTV in person. You may be shocked by its impressive picture, particularly its surprisingly bright screen. Then take a look at the price tag of $1599 (as of 6/6/06); you'll have a hard time finding better image quality at this price level.

Our jury found the Vizio's image quality on a par with, and occasionally superior to, other recent 42-inch plasmas in most respects. Both high-definition and standard-definition content got middle-of-the-road scores, while DVD-viewing scores were a bit higher. The Vizio garnered most of its praise for its bright screen and impressive contrast, ranking only slightly behind the LG 42PC1DA on these scores. If you frequently watch TV in a bright room, the P42 would be a very good choice. Color quality was less impressive, skewing toward oversaturated green tones.

If you require simplicity, the P42HDTV won't disappoint. The remote and the menu system have few frills, and the set offers only a limited set of customization options. In addition to giving up some deep-tweaking features, you'll find working through the on-screen menus slow-going, as the menu display and refresh are poky and unresponsive. Making matters worse, the remote requires near-perfect aim in order to register on the TV.

The P42HDTV covers the basics, though. The set offers multiple picture-in-picture viewing formats, and the internal speakers are loud and clear--a rarity on a set this size. Note, however, that the set has no CableCard slot (so you'll need to use an external tuner box) or DVI input (for use with a PC). But unlike Vizio's P50 HDM, this is a full-fledged HDTV, with both analog NTSC and digital ATSC tuners, instead of a stripped-down monitor with key features missing. The Vizio is the real deal, despite its low price.

Setting up the TV can be tricky, as accessing the cable ports is difficult: They're lined up in a row along the bottom of a panel sticking out from the rear of the TV: Access requires some serious crawling around and fumbling for ports, which face downward. Fortunately, ports are color coded and the manual is written in plain English.

Fans of this set's display aren't likely to mind the extra headache and scraped knuckles that come with setting up the TV: At such a fantastic price and with generally above-average image quality, a few headaches are to be expected. While we take some issue with the color performance, we otherwise have few serious concerns to keep us from recommending the Vizio P42HDTV.