LG 42PJ350 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
by LG
List Price:
Our Price: $570.49
You Save: $79.50 (12%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: CE
See more product details
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: LGRelease Date: 2010-03-04
Model: 42PJ350
Color: Titan
Product features:
- 600Hz Sub Field Driving
- High Definition Resolution
- 3M:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- TruSlim Frame
- Picture Wizard II
- AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable (9.8 Feet/3.0 Meters) - Supports Ethernet, 3D, and Audio Return [Newest Standard]
- AmazonBasics HDMI to DVI Adapter Cable (9.8 Feet/3.0 Meters)
- AmazonBasics High-Speed A to C Type, HDMI to Mini-HDMI Cable with Ethernet (9.8 Feet/3 Meters)
- AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - Braided (9.8 Feet/3.0 Meters)
- AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable (6.5 Feet/2.0 Meters) - Supports Ethernet, 3D, and Audio Return [Newest Standard]
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of LG 42PJ350 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Customer Review: This cannot be a sub $600 TV...
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, after suffering long enough with my fiance's 30" Philips tube set, I took the plunge and purchased the 42pj350. Let me preface this entire review by giving a little background here. I have worked for both Ultimate Electronics and American TV for a total of 4 years in the past and spend literally hundreds of hours looking at pictures on TV screens, adjusting them, using AVIA discs, etc... so I have a relatively solid base for judging picture quality here. I've loved Pioneer Elite projection sets and plasmas and sold many projection Mitsubishi sets on the basis of quality of the picture.
So...I set the set home and unbox it. Seven screws later, It's on the swiveling stand (yes, swivel stand on a $600 TV) and has taken the place of the bain of my television existence - the 30" tube. The only source I immediately have to try the set on is the composite Dish Network standard def feed, which really bummed me out. But, color me surprised when the channels, for the most part, look quite good from our 9' seating distance. Honestly, the little LG processes standard definition quite ok. After some quick picture adjustments (which I will talk about later), I start to surf around to find stuff to watch. NFL network has a game on - perfect for checking motion processing of a crappy 480i feed. Flawless. It looked damn good. I put the set in cinema zoom 1 (my fiance has had her old set in the same type of stretch/zoom ratio on her other set for years on standard def) and the picture quality is again more than passable for the signal. The deep blacks (compared to LCD sets I have owned) really allow the other colors on screen to pop nicely, even with contrast and color turned down. So far, standard def is a win.
Next night, it's time for some blu-ray lovin'. I drag my HTPC out from the bedroom and plug the HDMI in...presto...we've got an actually very readable desktop in front of us. I didn't even set the resolution to the native of the panel, I left it at the native for my 32" LCD in the bedroom and it was amazingly clear. The blu ray du jour of the evening is the biggest movie ever - the recently released Avatar. I get a warning about needing to update my player, which sucks because I don't have a network drop in the living room, but I decide to press on and take a chance. Holy hell..the 3 minutes of the movie that played looked fantastic. Compared to the 32" Olevia we have been watching movies on in the bedroom, this is a different world. Rich colors, sharp detail, noise free playback (no crawling dots like I have experienced on fairly recent Panasonic and Samsung plasmas) that looked amazing at our seating distance. After she is in bed, I break out the Xbox 360. Forza 3, Grid, and Left 4 Dead all look better than they ever have in this house. The kids have a 32" Vizio 1080p set in their room that we normally play on, but again, the deep black of plasma technology just pops the other colors off the screen. I felt like I needed to wipe the red from one of the Ferraris off of the screen because it just looked that wet. So far, so good with hi-def signals.
We spent much of Sunday (today) with cheezy sci-fi moves on SyFy network playing. My first foray into daytime viewing. I can't really complain. Yes, it is a giant piece of glass and does reflect things. News flash...tube tvs that we have been watching for 50 years are glass, too. We have a window to the left of the television and it wasn't a distraction at all. On a black screen, yes, you can see reflections. I can't see them as a distraction to most normal viewers. Our viewing is predominately night-time, but I will not limit daytime viewing because of a little reflection between commercials. It certainly is less distraction than the double reflections of my parents' 50" Panasonic with it's supposed AR coating. Reflections on that set turn into prismatic star shapes that apparently reflect off of 2 pieces of glass on the front of the set. After dinner, I drag the antenna out of the bedroom and rig it up for the misses to watch Desperate Housewives. Over the air HD looks stunning. It's truly amazing what 720p looks like on a 720p set. Yes, the native broadcast signal on ABC is 720p and it looks very, very good. I see no reason to spend twice the money at this screen size for 1080p and it's a damn shame that retailers are selling the 'you just HAVE to have 1080p' bill of goods to so many consumers when they would be blown away by the little LG that could. I'm a tough customer and have the box in the other room in case this set was going to perform like a $500 42" tv. It absolutely did not.
As far as picture adjustments go, it didn't take long to see what looked good, but I will AVIA this thing this week. I used Cinema as the starting point for out-of-the-box adjustments. Contrast is around 75, Brightness 50, sharpness turned way down at 30. I also set the color temp slightly cool - it looks good there with the Color Gamut set to Wide. Speaking of color..if you set the gamut to wide - turn the color itself down to compensate. I've got the dynamic contrast on low right now and it seems to work well. Normally, I would shut every picture feature off and go from there, but with the black level setting at dark, the low setting is in no way heavy handed in crushing shadow detail from what I can see so far. I turned the edge enhancement off, the dynamic color off (stange enough, this feature actually reduced saturation when turned on???) and the gamma is set at medium right now. True, there are much more detailed settings in the ISF modes, but I've got nothing but time to mess with them and the picture so far is quite good. Colors come off as damn accurate and that plasma black sets them off.
Inputs on the set are plentiful with no less than 5 HD inputs (3 HDMI, 2 component), an RGB 15 pin PC input, and composite for legacy devices. The set does lack S-video inputs or analog audio output - 2 things that can be forgiven for an entry level set like this one. Plasma buzz? Nope. Just a slight high-pitch noise that is less noticeable than what the CRT it replaced emitted. Image retention? Have not seen this happen yet. My parents also have a 50" Samsung (2008 model) and the IR is just unforgivable. 20 seconds in the DirecTV menu shouldn't leave an image up for 3 minutes after. I have been looking for it and didn't even see any after my unsuspecting fiance paused the DVR for something like 20 minutes before I woke up the other morning. The remote control and menus are both well laid out and intuitive. The remote is light years ahead of what Panasonic is sending out with their televisions. I swear they are off the same assembly line as their tube tv remotes from 10 years ago, which sucked big time, too.
Honestly, I'm a critical guy with this kind of stuff and expected much less from this panel. I used to run movie theaters in my younger years and have the consumer electronics background to boot. That is a perfect storm of criticism for almost any television that I watch. For a $540 street product (hell, even Sears is pushing this thing for about that price at brick and mortar) I can wholeheartedly recommend it at this screen size. Black levels are quite good, colors bright and accurate, and no screen door effect to speak of outside of 3 feet.
For those seeking a bargain in entry level plasma land - look no further.
Update 7/20:
After having the set for a couple months now, and upgrading my Dish Network to HD, I have a more in-depth experience with it. I am still very, very impressed. Sure, the black levels may not be Pioneer Kuro dark, but still leagues ahead of a standard LCD panel. Color reproduction is now spot-on after a couple weeks.
It's difficult to really convey how much better colors look on this set than the LCDs in the house. The only word that I can summon is 'glow.' The plasma panel's colors glow...they've got some luminance off the surface of the screen, whereas the LCD sets come across as less natural in color fidelity. This can be attributed to the fact that plasma panels produce their pictures using phosphor (like CRT sets did) to produce the light. LCDs use flourescent lighting behind the panel to do the same. The colors jump off the screen. Reds, blues, and greens just glow with realism.
This tv has really shaken my belief that 1080p is a must. My 9 foot viewing distance provides an excellent experience. Movies, TV shows, sports...they have all passed with flying colors. I would absolutely purchase this set again.
For those who care, LG produces a 'Zenith' branded version of this and the 50" model for Sears. The sets are identical, sans a couple video settings, the usb port, and a less full-featured remote. Generally, they retail for roughly $100 less than their LG counterparts. LG bought the Zenith brand name many years ago and break it out every once in a while to release more basic versions of their sets. I've examined them in a couple Sears stores and the picture performance is just as good as mine, almost 100% identical menus, and even has the swivel base.
Description of LG 42PJ350 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Get beautiful HD and the superior plasma contrast you're looking for with the PJ350. If you think plasma means a bulky frame or power inefficiency, take a second look with the PJ350. It has a TruSlim Frame that makes for a sleek design and its Intelligent Sensor technology and Smart Energy Savings makes sure it's using only the energy it needs.If you think plasma means a bulky frame or power inefficiency, take a second look at the 42-inch LG 42PJ350 720p Plasma HDTV, which features a TruSlim Frame that helps trim away distraction without compromising screen size. Other features include 600Hz Sub Field Driving for elimination of motion blur, a mega contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1, stereo speakers with 20 watts of power and Dolby Digital decoding, three HDMI ports, and the capability to play MP3 audio files and JPEG photo slideshows from a USB drive.
Key Features
 3,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio No more worrying about dark scenes or dull colors. The dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1 delivers more stunning colors and deeper blacks than you can imagine. |  600Hz Sub Field DrivingTired of streaky action or unclear plays during the game? See sports, fast action and video games like never before. The 600Hz refresh rate virtually eliminates motion blur. |
 AV ModeSports, movies and video games are best enjoyed with customized settings. With AV Mode, you can easily select from one of three picture modes for "Cinema", Sports" or "Games" to enjoy an optimized picture and sound experience. |  Picture WizardGet easy self-calibration with on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements such as black level, color, tint, sharpness and backlight levels. Take the guesswork out of picture adjustments with this simple-to-use feature. It's not actually magic, but it will sure seem that way. |
 Dual XD Engines for Superior video This Plasma HDTV combines two of LG's exclusive XD Engines to maximize picture quality for any type of video content. By combining XD Engine processors, panel performance is optimized ensuring higher color accuracy and more realistic images.. |  Intelligent SensorDon't strain your eyes. Let your TV do the adjustments for you. Intelligent Sensor automatically optimizes the picture to the lighting and color conditions in the room for a more enjoyable viewing experience. |
 24P Real CinemaStay in for the theater. Enjoy a true cinema-like experience in your own home with movies the way they are meant to be seen. LG's Real Cinema technology precisely displays 24p source frames on your screen, the same as on a movie screen. If you love movies, you'll love Real Cinema. |  ISFccc Calibration ReadyLG's ISFccc Ready HDTVs contain the detailed standards necessary for professional calibration of brightness, contrast, tint, sharpness, color levels and much more to meet local lighting conditions for both day and nighttime viewing. Settings are added to preset modes for easy access from your LG remote. |
 Clear Voice IIGet audio the way it was meant to be heard. Clear Voice II enhances and amplifies the frequency range of the human voice to help keep dialogue audible when background noise swells. |  Dolby DigitalDolby Digital lets you experience compelling 5.1-channel surround sound. And you can trust that you'll get the same great Dolby Digital audio quality no matter what you're watching--a DVD or Blu-Ray Disc, TV programming or downloaded content. Best of all, you can be confident that you'll hear the audio exactly as it was intended, because Dolby Digital is also used to create the soundtracks for movies and games. |
 USB 2.0Now reliving that fantastic family vacation can happen in the comfort of your living room. Easily connect your external USB devices to enjoy JPEG photos or listen to MP3 files. |  HDMI V.1.3 with Deep ColorMake installation of any enabled device a snap. Get 10.2Gbps of bandwidth for deeper colors and more to take advantage of the best Full HD experience. HDMI V.1.3 connectivity lets you prepare yourself for tomorrow's technology today. |
 SimpLinkHaving a hard time keeping track of your remotes? With SimpLink, all your LG devices can be controlled with just one remote. |  Smart Energy Saving With LG's Smart Energy Saving Features, you can conserve money and energy. |
Infinite SoundKey Specifications
Connections
|  Dimensions
|
LG 2010 HDTV Comparison
| Series: | LD350 | LD450 | LD520 | LD550 | LD650 | LE5300 | LE5400 | LE8500 | LX6500 | PJ350 | PK550 | PK750 |
| Models: | 22-inch 26-inch 32-inch | 32-inch 37-inch 42-inch 47-inch | 32-inch 42-inch 47-inch 55-inch | 32-inch 42-inch 46-inch 52-inch | 47-inch 55-inch | 22-inch 26-inch 32-inch 37-inch | 32-inch 42-inch 47-inch 55-inch | 47-inch 55-inch | 47-inch 55-inch | 42-inch 50-inch | 50-inch 60-inch | 50-inch 60-inch |
| Panel type | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LED LCD | LED LCD | LED LCD | 3D LED | Plasma | Plasma | Plasma |
| LED Local Dimming | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |  | | -- | -- | -- |
| 3D Ready | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | -- | -- | -- |
| Resolution | 720p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 720p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Contrast ratio | 50k:1 dynamic | 100k:1 dynamic | 100k:1 dynamic | 150k:1 dynamic | 200k:1 dynamic | 3mil:1 dynamic | 4mil:1 dynamic | 9mil:1 dynamic | 8mil:1 dynamic | 3mil:1 dynamic | 3mil:1 dynamic | 3mil:1 dynamic |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 240Hz | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 240Hz | 600Hz | 600Hz | 600Hz |
| Response time | 5ms | 4ms | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2 | 2.4ms | 2.6ms | 1ms | 2ms | -- | -- | -- |
| Netcast Entertainment | -- | -- | -- | | | -- | | | | -- | -- | |
| HDMI input | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Component input (Y, PB, PR) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Composite input | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| PC input | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USB port | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| MP3 and JPEG playback | -- | | | | | | | | | | | |
| DivX video playback | -- | -- | -- | | | | | | | -- | -- | |
| Ethernet | -- | -- | -- | | | -- | | | | -- | -- | |
| Wireless 1080p Ready | -- | -- | -- | | | -- | | | | -- | -- | |
| Energy Star | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | | | | -- | -- | -- |
| Series: | LD350 LCD | LD450 LCD | LD520 LCD | LD550 LCD | LD650 LCD | LE5300 LED | LE5400 LED | LE8500 LED | LX6500 3D LED | PJ350 Plasma | PK550 Plasma | PK750 Plasma |