LG PQ 60
July 3, 2009It’s decision time. You’re upgrading your TV to something a little more ‘this century’, or perhaps you’re in the market for a second screen.
$2,299
Pros: 600Hz, great for watching sport and playing games; built-in HD tuner and USB drive for downloaded movies.
Cons: Not quite full HD
Ideal For: Sports enthusiasts and/or gamers looking for an affordable option.
It’s decision time. You’re upgrading your TV to something a little more ‘this century’, or perhaps you’re in the market for a second screen. For the uninitiated – those who can’t tell contrast ratio from resolution (it’s okay, you’re not alone) – selecting a suitable screen from row upon row of shiny panels and undecipherable specs is unenviable. The main players in our TV drama include Plasma (the mainstay), LCD (the up-and-comer) and LED (LCD’s bright new hope). Generally, plasmas display better blacks, have a wider viewing angle, quicker pixel response time (speed at which the image updates), and are more affordable over 42 inches. So what does all this mean for LG’s 50-inch high definition plasma? Despite not being the more detailed full HD (1920x1080p resolution) model, LG’s HD (1366x768p resolution) looks the goods; clocking in at a speedy 600Hz, with an impressive 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. If viewing the maximum visual detail of a Blu-ray disc (in full HD) is not a priority, opting for this model HD TV will save a substantial 700 big ones. The PQ60 also comes with an HD tuner built in and USB 2.0, so you can plug and play your DivX movies, view your pictures and listen to your mp3s. Handy. Dolby Digital, optical audio out, three HDMI inputs and swivel stand bolster the feature list. However, those looking for bleeding-edge visuals will need to shell out considerably more coin.
Pasquale Condidorio
