| LG 50PY3D Plasma HDTV |
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| Thursday, 24 April 2008 | |
 The Basics:LG offers both plasma and LCD HDTVs, and the 50PY3D was LG’s first 50-inch 1080p plasma. As such, it is priced somewhat higher than several of the company’s 720p 50-inch models. The 50PY3D has a healthy connection panel that includes three HDMI inputs and two component video inputs, all of which accept 1080p/60 and 1080p/24. RS-232 and IR ports allow for integration into a more advanced control system, and there’s a USB port for MP3/JPEG playback. While the video menu does not have an extensive amount of picture adjustments, it does provide direct access to advanced white-balance controls, and it gives you the option to enable LG’s XD processing, with contrast, color and noise settings. The menu also offers several features to counteract the effects of short-term image retention, plus an energy-saving mode that limits light output to reduce power consumption. There are five aspect ratio choices, including an automatic mode; however, there’s no mode for viewing 1080i/1080p sources with zero overscan. The 50PY3D’s design is simple but stylish, with a basic black frame accented by glossy-black, side-panel speakers and a rounded base. The plasma’s depth is just three-and-a-half inches. The Upside: This plasma serves up pleasing colors, good blacks and a nice amount of detail with both HD and SD images. It does not exhibit motion blur, and it has a wide viewing angle. The Downside: The 50PY3D isn’t as bright as an LCD; combine that with its reflective glass panel, and it’s not the best fit for a really bright, sunlit room. Short-term image retention is a concern with this model. Conclusion: The 50PY3D offers solid performance and a lot of 1080p-capable inputs. However, the 1080p plasma market has grown considerably more crowded since mid-2007, and this model’s performance doesn’t quite measure up with similarly-priced 1080p Panasonic and 720p Pioneer models. Like this article? Bookmark and share with any of the sites below.        |
