The Top 42-Inch HDTVs

Few things stand out about the LG 42LGX--except its price. At $2000, this 120-Hz HDTV costs twice as much as its stablemate, the LG 42PG25.

The notes from our performance jury offer little praise for the 42LGX's picture quality. One judge described several images as "flat" and found the visuals in chapter 12 of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to be "very dull." Another judge complained that the same scene was "a little bit too dark to see the details." In an American Idol clip, one person's face looked more like oil paint on canvas than like human skin.

The TV looks cool when it's not in operation. Rather than going with the industry-standard basic black, LG adopted a red theme--as does another 42-inch HDTV from LG, the 42LG60 (Scarlet). The back of the TV is red, and a red circle below the screen glows when the set is switched off.

Once it's on, you'll find that using the 42LGX is easy. The first time around, its setup wizard asks whether you're using it at home or in a store, and adjusts things accordingly.

The built-in audio performs well-- in quiet scenes, anyway--with virtual surround sound that puts you in the story, but the speakers strain to handle big sound.

The 42LGX has a lot to offer, but its high price limits its appeal.