Group test: 46in TVs

We realise that there are an awful lot of people out there who just don't think they can cope with a TV bigger than 37-40in. Surely anything larger would dominate the room too much, the thinking goes. Or else it would break the bank - the last thing you want to be doing in these credit-crunched times.

Both these arguments obviously have a degree of merit. But we nonetheless urge any of you who are seriously into TV - especially if you enjoy watching movies - to at least spare a thought for the 'step up' size of 46-47in. For a combination of ever prettier, ever more svelte designs together with plummeting prices means that the 46in/47in screen size is, in our telly-addicted opinion, fast starting to look like the most attractive part of the market.

To illustrate our point, we've rounded up four of the most high-profile 46/47in sets and put them through their paces - with one or two surprising results…

Overview Price: £1,300 More info: LG Electronics Size (on stand): 1026.2(w) x 734(h) x 293.4(d)mm Weight: 30.1kg Resolution: 1920x1080 Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 50000:1 Claimed max brightness: 500cd/m2 Connections: Four v1.3 HDMIs; component video jacks, D-Sub PC input, PC audio input, USB input, headphone jack, PCMCIA slot, composite video input, RF input, Two Scarts, digital audio output, RS232C (service and control) LG 47LG7000 LG may have continued to be super-aggressive with its LCD TV pricing this year, but it hasn't quite kept up with the Joneses on picture performance. Until now. The TV elevating LG to the upper echelons of the LCD performance league table is the 47LG7000: a 47in LCD model boasting a seriously attractive design and features galore while still costing less than you might expect. Kicking off the raft of features is some outstanding connectivity, which includes four v1.3a HDMI inputs, a USB 2.0 port for JPEGs and MP3 playback, and a D-Sub PC port. Plus there's an intriguing 'invisible' connection. For the 47LG7000 supports ground-breaking wireless Bluetooth communication with suitably equipped sources. Fine and dandy as this sounds, though, the reality is a bit limiting. For the TV can only 'talk' wirelessly with Bluetooth phones (for playback of any JPEGs or MP3s stored on them) and Bluetooth headphones. Wireless video streaming is most definitely not on the menu. Far more potentially useful is the set's TruMotion 100Hz processing, which both doubles the image's refresh rate and interpolates completely new image frames designed to 'fill in the gap' between the real frames in a source. The idea is that this will help movement in the 47LG7000's pictures look smoother and clearer. And you know what? It works. For provided you make sure you only leave TruMotion set to its low setting (higher levels cause nasty side effects), it does a great job of removing the slight judder and sometimes severe smearing often associated with LCD technology. This helps the TV's pictures look winningly sharp and detailed with HD footage too, while colours leap off the screen with an intensity of saturation and aggressive brightness that keeps your attention riveted on the screen. Crucially, though, this colour aggression isn't accompanied by the rogue colour tones witnessed with lesser LG sets. Even better, colours also enjoy some startlingly fine and believable blending. With some punchy sonics to keep the mostly glorious pictures company, the only thing LG could fairly have improved are the 47LG7000's black levels, as there's slightly more greyness over dark parts of the picture than we'd ideally like. But this problem isn't really all that severe, and so only detracts a little from what is easily the best LCD TV LG has ever made.

Verdict Plus points Excellent pictures, pretty design, packed with features, not expensive all things considered Minus points Room for improvement with black levels, Bluetooth functionality feels a bit gimmicky, its chassis is quite large by today's standards

Overview Price: £1,300 More info: Panasonic Size (no stand): 1168(w) x 737(h) x 93(d)mm Weight: 35kg Resolution: 1920x1080 Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 1000,000:1 Claimed max brightness: N/A Connections: Three HDMI inputs, component video input, two Scarts (both RGB), composite video input, PC input, stereo audio inputs, tuner input, CAM slot, S-Video input, headphone jack, SD card slot, digital audio output

Aesthetically the 46PZ85 is a touch disappointing. Not ugly by any means, but certainly a touch staid in its straightforward black bezel and angular lines.

Turning to its rear, we find three v1.3 HDMIs - one less than our Samsung and LG contenders, but likely still enough to keep most users happy. Plus there's a D-Sub PC interface, and an SD card slot for JPEG image playback.

The 46PZ85 really springs to life, though, with the various features and specifications focussed on good old-fashioned picture quality. For starters, the set's claimed contrast ratio is a phenomenal 1000,000:1.

It's also got a full HD resolution despite the difficulties of achieving this with plasma technology, and boasts both Panasonic's V-Real Pro 3 and Intelligent Frame Creation processing systems.

The former of these works on various picture elements, including colour, contrast, detailing and noise reduction, while the latter interpolates new intermediate frames of image data into source signals to make motion look more fluid.

Happily the 46Z85's impressive image technologies are all up there 'on screen', as the Hollywood saying goes. For instance, the Panasonic's black levels are mesmerising, achieving natural depths beyond the reach of any of our LCD contenders while still retaining the shadow details that give dark scenes depth.

The 46PZ85's deep blacks also provide a terrific counterpoint to the screen's colours, helping them look unusually rich, and for the most part extremely natural. One or two deep reds still look fractionally orange, but everything else is pretty much bang on.

The 46PZ85's HD pictures look razor sharp too, combining impressive fine detail levels with clear motion. But the TV can also do a better than usual job with standard definition sources, provided, at least, that they're of a decent standard to start with.

With the 46PZ85's audio also proving potent, clear and coherent, the only serious problem we could come up with is some twitching interference during sports footage when the Intelligent Frame Creation is active. But then, you can always turn this feature off when you don't want it.