6. Conclusion

The GV42L has an upscale look and feel, with a classy design and very useful backlit remote. I found the GV42L easy to use and configure for all sources. Many LCDs have a little bit of over-coloring, where bright, punchy colors are overdone a bit and the result is a cartoonish look with some sources. The GV42L is one of the few LCD displays I've seen where this was not an issue. All sources had a natural look and feel that plasma displays usually offer.

While a good amount of adjustment and tweaking was necessary, detail, color accuracy and color saturation were all on par with many other LCD displays, which is to say they were excellent. Contrast performance was pedestrian, which is to be expected with a mid-priced LCD display. There is a significant amount of black crush with dark, film-based material, but most other sources do not have as many issues. The GV42L worked very well as a computer monitor, allowing long periods of use with very little to no eye strain. Non-HD sources are displayed adequately, but good luck finding many displays that do a great job in this area.

Priced at $1,699, the GV42L is a good choice for LCD fans who want a solid value, classy appearance and an overall natural image.

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