Review of the LG 42LD450 HDTV

I'll admit it. I was slow in getting on the HD bandwagon. When the format was first introduced, there was very little HD programming available, and sets were very expensive. Now that HDTVs have come down dramatically in price, I decided it was time to get on board. I purchased an LG 42LD450 set from Amazon for $500. Here is how it stacks up.

To begin with, this TV is full HD (1080p) and 42 inches measured diagonally. I wanted something that was full HD, as I have a game console and Blu-ray player and needed something to fully utilize these devices. It also comes with two HDMI ports, one of which I will hook up my game console to, the other I will reserve for a future device. There is also a USB port that allows me to view photos or play MP3s on my TV.

The TV set runs at a speed of 60 Hz, which I was warned about when began researching this purchase. There is a view that says any refresh rate of less than 120 Hz will be blurry for viewing fast-action programming or games. I went to my local Sears store and was able to view a set running one side of the screen in 60 Hz and the other in 120 Hz. After staring at it for several minutes as a fast-moving video game was displayed on the screen, I was not able to perceive any difference.

The 60 Hz speed of this TV has been completely fine, and I have noticed no blur or degradation of picture quality because of it. Also, the color and brightness of the screen is remarkable. I am going from a 10-year-old standard definition TV to the 42LD450, so it is quite amazing. The colors are extremely sharp, and most of the programs I have watched appear much brighter on the LG set than my old (but very reliable) Sony.

The features of the TV are simple to use and accessed by pushing the menu button on the remote. They include such things as the aspect ratio, input options, sound options, and energy-saving mode. This TV is also well-designed, with no input slots being hard to access and all of them fitting the incoming cords snugly. The set comes with its own stand, which is solid but light and allows the TV to be mounted on a table.

The sound from the speakers is rich and deep without being tinny or overly loud. My old TV could be heard throughout the house even at moderate sound settings, but with the LG the moderate volume is configured in such a way that it stays in the room where I view the TV and does not "spread" to the rest of the house.

All in all, I am extremely pleased with this TV and would not hesitate to purchase another one if I ever decide I need a second set. For the $500 I paid, I think it represents a good value.