RCA 42" LCD HDTV Review: Budget Doesn't Have to Mean Ugly

RCA has come out with some of the most attractive low cost flat panel HDTV's on the market today. So often budget LCD's have been associated with wide frames and bulky unstable bases but RCA has really started to stand out from the pack. Recently I had the opportunity to spend a good deal of time with one of these inexpensive RCA LCD televisions the 42" L42FHD37.

Styling: 5/5

Image Quality: 4/5

Product Value: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Product Overview:

It really is the narrow frame and low profile stand that really make the RCA L42FHD37 stand out from the crowd. The frame is composed of a light weight plastic and finished in a smooth glossy black. The base has a similar finish and composition and is only 10 inches deep. Despite the small footprint the television avoids the most common pitfall of the budget LCD and that is being top heavy, in fact feels quite stable on its little squat stand.

Luckily it doesn't stop there. The full HD 1080p display produces a quality picture that I found to rival any other budget LCD on the shelf. The impressive viewing angle approaches 180 degrees which means there won't be a bad seat in the house. I also found that the contrast ratio was a bit better in my opinion then some of the low cost LCD options on the market. I was able to easily attach a Playstation 3 via HDMI to deliver a BluRay movie in full 1080p HD. I found that the movie played great and was the picture was crisp. When playing fast paced games there was some noticeable motion blurring, but was expected since it has a 60hz refresh rate. I found this to be within and acceptable range.

I found the connectivity to be adequate. There are enough HDMI inputs for the average consumer's needs and several composite inputs to supplement and deficiencies. The included remote is easy to use and intuitive. I wasn't able to sync my cable boxes' remote so I ended up adding an additional remote to the collection. Just be aware of that possibility.

Product Value:

Priced competitively at most online and brick and mortar retailers just under $800 the RCA L42FHD37 offers a serious bang for the buck. I believe most typical consumers are going to be happy with this television. This is the perfect option for the living room or even a large bedroom. Gamers will likely be pleased if they can overlook the occasional motion blur.