LG 50PY3D

The 50PY3D ($2,999.95 list) is LG Electronics' first 50-inch plasma television to feature a 1080p resolution screen. And although the set's performance on my lab tests was mixed, I found its picture quality to be very pleasing—once properly configured, that is. The main problem is with standard-definition (SD) video sources; quality depends on which of the TV's several picture mode presets is used. Some modes overly soften fine details, while others deliver some of the best SD video processing I've seen from an HDTV. With HD video, the picture was detailed, but colors were slightly oversaturated. When processing 1080i video, such as that from broadcast HDTV, the set delivered a picture containing more jagged edges than other 1080p plasmas I've tested.
The TV's glossy black frame incorporates a couple of slick design touches, such as a multifunction display centered along the bottom edge that shows which video input is selected or the channel that's currently tuned. And immediately to the right of the display are a set of stylish, touch-sensitive controls that are visible only when in use; however, these controls were a magnet for fingerprints.
Integrated side-mounted speakers give the set a relatively wide stance for a 50-inch screen. It's similar in width to larger 52-inch LCDs, such as the Sharp LC-52D92U and the Samsung LN-T5265F. With its crescent-shaped swivel stand that provides 40 degrees of total travel (20 degrees both left and right), the 50PY3D measures 34.3 by 51.3 by 14.0 inches (HWD) and weighs 117 pounds. Removing the stand reduces the height and depth to 31.9 inches and 4.3 inches, respectively.
The remote control is similar to those included with most LG HDTVs, including the 47LBX. Its rectangular face has a slight curve that transitions nicely into its beveled sides, and the wedge-shaped profile thickens toward the bottom, providing a natural gripping point. The buttons on this comfortable, well-balanced control also have good tactile feedback, but the only backlit keys are those located along its top edge. Programming the remote to control other components such as a VCR, DVD player, audio receiver, or set-top box requires using the codes provided on an included CD.
Most of the video ports are located on the back of the set and face outward for easy access. I was pleased to find that the three HDMI ports, two component video inputs, and VGA port are all compatible with 1080p60 (60-Hz) input. The TV's HDMI ports are also compatible with 24-Hz signals from capable HD disc players such as the Samsung BD-UP5000. A selection of front-accessible connections occupies the left side of the set. Among them is a USB port for accessing data on portable storage devices. Using the integrated software you can play digital music and display pictures over USB.
The 50PY3D offers a native screen resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels progressively scanned (1080p). Overscan is an issue, though; the set expands the picture and loses some of the viewable image along the edges. As with the LG 47LBX LCD, the 50PY3D unfortunately overscans all HD video sources connected via HDMI by 6.5 percent unless the input label is renamed to "PC" in the TV's option menu. All HD component video sources sacrificed 6.5 percent of the video picture regardless of menu setting, and standard-definition video was overscanned by 7.5 percent (ideally, overscan shouldn't exceed 1 or 2 percent). If you own the HDMI-less version of the Xbox 360, you may want to consider picking up the console's VGA adapter, as the TV's corresponding port allows for 1080p input without any detail-destroying video overscan. On a positive note, the 50PY3D didn't add any lag-inducing video delay that can interfere with game play.
As with all HDTVs, the 50PY3D provides several picture presets that help you easily optimize picture quality for varying room environments. Color and luminance measurements using a Konica Minolta CS-200 chroma meter revealed that the 50PY3D's "mild" picture preset came closest to matching standards used in broadcast TV and cinema production. I found its colors were slightly oversaturated, but uniformly so. The TV's mild preset negatively affected standard-definition (SD) picture quality by softening the picture excessively. This resulted in a loss of some fine details, particularly obvious in a waving flag scene in the HQV Benchmark test DVD. Comparing the mild preset to the other presets available, I noticed that the sharpness control determined how much detail was visible in SD video. Increasing sharpness returned the missing details, but some portions of the picture (particularly along vertical edges) began to look overly enhanced, resulting in ringing artifacts.
Picture quality with HD, as opposed to SD, video sources was less dramatically affected by the 50PY3D's video presets. But when I examined the TV's performance on the section of the HD HQV Benchmark's video reconstruction test, which features three moving bars, I noted jagged edges on all three. I then looked closely at some 1080i satellite TV programming and found more jagged edges than were visible in other 1080p plasma televisions, such as the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U and the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-150FD. Objects with curved edges were particularly prone to these jagged-edge artifacts.
The 50PY3D, however, easily handled two scenarios that have historically been challenging for plasma televisions: displaying fine color gradients without introducing banding artifacts, and minimizing the appearance of video noise in extremely dark scenes. Grayscale tracking from dark to bright intensities, however, exhibited an increasing amount of variance as it approached black, with some shades tinted slightly green or yellowish-red. A professional calibrator should be able to correct this issue by accessing the set's hidden service menu.
To measure the TV's contrast performance I used a checkerboard test pattern and a 9-point sample. I logged an average contrast ratio of 511:1, which is below average for a modern plasma television. While the TV's black-level measurement of 0.18 cd/m2 wasn't obviously brighter than the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U's result of 0.15 cd/m2 (another 1080p plasma set), the Panasonic was able to generate a peak white level that measured 36 percent greater resulting in a contrast calculation of 847:1. Thus, the extra brightness of the Panasonic plasma would make it better suited for use in a well-lit environment.
Power consumption of the 50PY3D using its default picture preset (dynamic) resulted in a monthly cost calculation of $13.81, based on 8 hours of daily operation at $0.13 per kilowatt-hour (a local average). Switching to the TV's mild picture preset brought this calculation down to $10.64 per month.
The LG 50PY3D doesn't produce the brightest whites or the darkest black levels I've seen. Despite that, it remains a competitive plasma, and professional calibration would greatly improve its grayscale representation for a more natural and realistic picture. Another asset is the 50PY3D's stylish and functional design, with its swivel base and generous assortment of 1080p compatible video inputs. In addition, this TV also offers some of the best standard-definition video processing I've seen from an HDTV—if you can get past its excessively overscanned picture. But with the lights dimmed low and an HD movie rolling, the 50PY3D's detailed picture and room-filling sound may just make you forget its few flaws.