HDTV Roundup: 50-58 Inches : LG 50PQ30
By
Digital Versus,
published on September 21, 2009
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2. LG 50PQ30
Our Readings
| Black levels: | 0.09 cd/m² |
| ANSI contrast: | 1000 to 1050:1 |
| Average gamma: | 2.28 |
| DeltaE on PC: | 3.4 |
| Relative energy consumption : | 248 W/m² |
| Homogeneity of whites: | 5/5 |
| Clouding: | 5/5 |
| Light leak onto dark greys at 45°: | 0.02 cd/m² |
| DeltaE at 45°: | 3.6 |
We take these measuements using the best settings for watching a movie. Cinema mode is generally the one we use. Wherever possible, we set the white levels at 200 cd/m².
The LG 50PQ30 is part of a small category of televisions. It's a 'small' family in more ways than one: plasma screens are in the minority, but the 50PQ30 also has a "HD Ready" resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (720p) instead of the Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 that has become the norm for LCD's and plasmas in this size range.
Build Quality & Design
The 50PQ30 may only be a 720p set, but that doesn't mean it isn't well-equipped. With three HDMI inputs and a USB port to access MP3s and JPEGs, it should have enough to please the majority of users. On the other hand, people looking for a more complete package, including an Ethernet port to access content online or over a DLNA network will have to look elsewhere. That's just not the kind of thing you find on a product at this price point.
Image Quality
Our test results were quite close to those for the LG 50PS60. Blacks were reasonably dark, the contrast was reasonable and brightness was average for a plasma TV--or, to put it another way, a lot worse than an LCD TV. Color handling has even improved a little from one model to the next.
The 50PQ30's main failing is its HD Ready display. Although SD sources look very similar to the way they did on other LG plasmas that we've tested, like the 50PS30 or the 50PS60, HD sources really suffer from the lack of detail. This was already a problem on the PS30 and the PS60, which were a little blurry for Full HD TVs. Now, it's even worse, and the PQ30 struggles with both our test cards, SD and HD:
Left: our 576p test card. Right: our 1080p test card.
The results we achieved with a PC also lacked detail, but we can't recommend you use a plasma with a computer because of the risks of screen burn.
Sound Quality
Even if it sounds good, the audio from the PQ30 won't make you forget what you can see.
Power Consumption
The 50PQ30 is one of the few plasmas TVs whose energy consumption remains close to that of LCDs. Although it does use almost twice as much as some other plasmas, it requires almost no power when on standby.
Build Quality & Design
The 50PQ30 may only be a 720p set, but that doesn't mean it isn't well-equipped. With three HDMI inputs and a USB port to access MP3s and JPEGs, it should have enough to please the majority of users. On the other hand, people looking for a more complete package, including an Ethernet port to access content online or over a DLNA network will have to look elsewhere. That's just not the kind of thing you find on a product at this price point.
LG's menu systems remain easy to use
- 50PQ30 50" Plasma TV...
Image Quality
Our test results were quite close to those for the LG 50PS60. Blacks were reasonably dark, the contrast was reasonable and brightness was average for a plasma TV--or, to put it another way, a lot worse than an LCD TV. Color handling has even improved a little from one model to the next.
The 50PQ30's main failing is its HD Ready display. Although SD sources look very similar to the way they did on other LG plasmas that we've tested, like the 50PS30 or the 50PS60, HD sources really suffer from the lack of detail. This was already a problem on the PS30 and the PS60, which were a little blurry for Full HD TVs. Now, it's even worse, and the PQ30 struggles with both our test cards, SD and HD:
Left: our 576p test card. Right: our 1080p test card.Sound Quality
Even if it sounds good, the audio from the PQ30 won't make you forget what you can see.
Power Consumption
The 50PQ30 is one of the few plasmas TVs whose energy consumption remains close to that of LCDs. Although it does use almost twice as much as some other plasmas, it requires almost no power when on standby.
| LG 50PQ30 | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
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Above all, this TV seems to be trying to be the lowest priced 50'' model available. It's big then, but the image quality is very poor overall.
I am so sick of everyone testing lcd and plasma only. Where are the dlp televisions. Mitsubishi dlp are in my opinion one of the best hd tv's you can buy. Accurate colors, black blacks, no burn in, no lag, and they are cheaper than the lcd or plasma alternatives. Not everyone cares if thier tv is flat. I would rather have a 70inch dlp than a 50inch lcd or plasma any day of the week.
Samsung has two remotes now? What an amazing idea. I hardly ever use my remote for more than turning the TV on or adjusting the volume, so this would be absolutely perfect.
The prices on the tested sets are way to high and as thackstonns says the Mitsubishi DLP's are great sets not to mention their new laser HDTV.
Why so little LG screens ? Only 2 ? There are alot better LG LCD's out there!
I found this article generally helpful but there are other brands/models I would have liked to have seen (Mitsu, Toshiba, Sony). Where are the rest tom's? Why 4 Samsungs and no Sony or Mitsubishi?
Hmmm I wonder which of this HDTV that is true 8 bits / color or 24 bits?
I agree with thackstonns. I have no beef with flat TVs, but my speakers are effectively 2 feet deep (if you count the space to the back wall), so a flat TV would look stupid in such a setup. Also, are there really people who would buy high-end TVs and not spend anything on audio? Who cares about the quality of built-in speakers?
I know Pionner has left the TV business, and that the very last models they made are now getting a bit on the old side. Nonetheless, it would be interesting to see how some of the TVs in this review stack up against a PRO-151FD or a KRP600A, especially when it comes to black levels, or the possibility of ISF calibration.
I am so sick of everyone testing lcd and plasma only. Where are the dlp televisions. Mitsubishi dlp are in my opinion one of the best hd tv's you can buy. Accurate colors, black blacks, no burn in, no lag, and they are cheaper than the lcd or plasma alternatives. Not everyone cares if thier tv is flat. I would rather have a 70inch dlp than a 50inch lcd or plasma any day of the week.
Right on, I completely agree.
thackstonns: DLP and LCoS TVs are always rear-projection (or front-projection, but then you don't call that a "TV"), not direct-view like LCD and Plasma and LED flat-screens. Personally, I've never seen a rear-projection TV that I've liked, they all suffer from hot-spotting which absolutely drives me nuts. I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon than watch a rear-projection TV.
I don't think plasmas still suffer from the burn in that is mentioned in each one of the plasma reviews. I have read on AVSforums that users have unintentionally left a static image on their Panasonic plasmas for hours at a time and had no ill effects. I'm not sure of other manufacturers, but Panasonic has somehow figured out a way to prevent it. So to say that it's not good for games and "entirely unsuitable for use with a PC" is false. If you disagree, maybe you should test for this while you still have your review units.
I also agree with cdillon. I have never seen a DLP I would ever consider over a plasma or lcd. The only advantage they have over plama and lcd is their screen size, and PQ is much higher on my list than screen size. And just because your speakers don't sit flush with your wall dones't mean that your flat-screen has to. Most people have their screens sitting on stands that house their A/V equipment and would not be flush with the wall anyway.
I gotta say I'm dissapointed with this article. 4 units from Samsung? Why? If you are going to do a review like this, be more specific in your product selection.
For your average reader, doing a review of the entry level models for 7 different manufacturers would have been more useful. Show me how Panasonic's entry level 50" 1080P plasma compares to Samsungs, or LG's LCD, or Vizio's. I want to know which model offers the best value, apples to apples, not 55"LCD versus 50" plasma.
Samsung not only has some of the best prices, but they also makes some of the best units. I have found Samsung to have the best value overall than any other brand. If he didn't show other brands, did you stop to think that maybe it's because they're not worth mentioning?
Samsung does make great TVs, but this article should have had another focus if they wanted to tout the company's products. Do an article where you compare Samsung's large panel lineup against the competition. To only have one plasma from Panasonice (the undisputed king of plasma now that Pioneer is gone) is suspect to say the least.
I am looking to purchase a large screen LCD or plasma in November, and this artcile is of little use to me. I want to know how the Panasonic 54" plasmas compare to equivalent sized LCDs from Samsung, LG, and Sony. I think most people who would get any value out of an article like this are going to be dissapointed.
If Tom's Guide wants to do an article like this, they have to make it more extensive. Do what Tom's Hardware does and make it far more in depth and then break it up into several pieces so they can publish it over a few days time.
The only thing this article did was make me want to subscribe to Consumer Reports so that I can get a real comparison of large screen TV's. At the very least I'm going to Google some more in-depth comparisons and ratings. All I can say is that I expected more from Tom's.
With all the talk of DLP, Plasma, and LED’s each one has its advantages and disadvantages. I hope that the new OLED TV’s come to market soon and at a reasonable price. While the 11” is now available from Sony at $2,500 Sony is working on larger models to be released in the future. There are several advantages of OLED TV’s , they are very thin – so thin the can be bent around curved surfaces , use very little power, contain no hazardous materials such as lead, have an extremely high contract ratios and wide viewing angle. For those interested one can go to YouTube and search for “OLED” to see presentations of the technology”. For now I am happy with my old projection set and converter box and will wait until the OLED TV technology is made available.
All I can say is that i use a 50" panasonic plasma connected to my HTPC at 1080 native. I have never had any burn in issues etc. May be a little image retention that is gone in seconds, but then again you get this on LCD's too.
I use it for Movies, gaming and evrything PC related.
No need to worry about issues with static images these days. An old problem, but not anymore.
Used to be a big fan of Tom's website. However, the quality of writing, limited scope, lack of focus, absence of comparison charts, etc on all their reviews has really turned me away. All of their stories feel like watered down advertorials. Somebody made a comment about Consumer Reports - it's sad when a jack-of-all-trades review publication can trump this site on a TV/tech roundup.
I would like to see toms hardware return to glory.
I agree with thackstonns. I have no beef with flat TVs, but my speakers are effectively 2 feet deep (if you count the space to the back wall), so a flat TV would look stupid in such a setup. Also, are there really people who would buy high-end TVs and not spend anything on audio? Who cares about the quality of built-in speakers?
Actually I know quite a few people that get a TV that fits their needs spatially but are perfectly happy with the sound they get.