Group test: 42in plasma and LCD TVs

Overview Price: £2,000 More info: Loewe Size (with stand): 1070(w) x 757(h) x 260(d)mm Weight (inc stand): 39.5kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 3000:1 Claimed max brightness: 1400cd/m2 Connections: One HDMI inputs, two Scarts (both RGB), component video input, composite video input, S-Video input, D-Sub PC input, Stereo audio output, headphone jack, stereo audio inputs, CAM slot, RF input Loewe Modus L 42 The Modus L 42 has the distinction of being the only TV in Loewe's current range to use plasma rather than LCD technology. It's decent enough to look at in a minimalist kind of way - though it has to be said it's no swan compared to the German brand's other über-stylish sets. Connectivity, meanwhile, disappoints big time by only including one HDMI socket. This just isn't enough for a large TV these days, in our humble opinion. Key features include HD Ready specification, a built-in digital tuner, and Loewe's Image+ picture engine which, as with most such systems, uses processing algorithms to improve contrast, colour, sharpness and video noise suppression. Sadly the Modus L 42's picture performance doesn't quite live up to Loewe's usual standards. For starters, standard definition pictures look really quite fuzzy. The picture is also pretty noisy, suffering a combination of dot crawl, MPEG blocking noise with digital feeds, and most disappointingly of all, plasma's old-school problems with dotting noise over horizontal movement. The screen suffers with another old plasma problem we'd hoped we'd seen the back of, too: colour blends that appear as stripes rather than smooth gradations. Finally in the negative column, dark areas of the picture look a touch hollow. The Modus L 42 certainly isn't unremittingly bad, however. Its colours, for instance, are excellent, producing a perfect blend of vibrancy and natural tones. Also, although dark areas of the picture might look hollow, they do at least look black rather than the washed out grey seen on some rival flat TVs. The L 42's sound is much more in keeping with what we expect from Loewe - which is to say it's as good a combination of outstanding power, clarity, extreme bass range and rich vocals that's as you'll ever hear from a TV.

Verdict Plus points Tidy looks, great colours, deep black levels, outstanding audio Minus points Picture noise, only one HDMI, hollow shadows, soft standard definition pictures

Overview Price: £2.300 More info: Panasonic Size (no stand): 1020(w) x 705(h) x 95(d)mm Weight: 30kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 10000:1 Claimed max brightness: N/A Connections: Two HDMI inputs; three Scarts (2 RGB); component video input; composite video input; S-Video input; D-Sub PC input; Stereo audio output; headphone jack; stereo audio inputs; CAM slot; RF input; SD card slot Panasonic TH-42PX600 Panasonic is unquestionably one of plasma technology's most vocal advocates. So you won't be surprised to learn that the brand's TH-42PX600 is our final plasma entrant in this group test. Pity, then, that it doesn't look a bit grander - its dull grey, slightly plasticky finish is certainly no feast for the eye - although things do improve if you fork out for the slender floor cabinet option Panny makes for the set. Two HDMIs lead out a healthy set of connections, with a PC input, three Scarts and even an SD card slot you can use for playing JPEGs or playing and recording MPEG4 movies. The set also sports a digital tuner and HD Ready capability, along with Panasonic's entrant into this group test's canon of fancily monikered picture processing systems: V-Real. V-Real is arguably more sophisticated than most though, with such tricks as 11.5-bit video processing and automatic gamma control serving up a phenomenal claimed 29 billion colours; a detail booster; colour enhancements; and an unusually sophisticated 'noise prevention' system. The net results of all this processing wizardry are far and away the best pictures in this group test. Black levels are particularly remarkable, combining extremely natural, deep blacks with outstanding amounts of the subtle shadow detailing that helps give dark scenes perspective. Colours, meanwhile, enjoy more subtlety of tone and blend and a greater range than those of any other set here - high definition pictures look wonderfully crisp and detailed, noise of all types is almost completely suppressed, and even standard definition pictures look consistently great. As if all these picture glories weren't good enough, the 42PX600 also sounds spectacular - arguably even better than the Loewe model, and that's saying something. In short, if there's anything wrong with the 42PX600, we can't find it!

Verdict Plus points Spectacular, near-flawless pictures, scintillating sonics, plenty of features, and impressive connectivity Minus points Um, well, it's the most expensive set here…

Overview Price: £1,400 More info: Philips Size (with stand): 1237(w) x 734(h) x 280(d)mm Weight (inc stand): 31.5kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 800:1 Claimed max brightness: 550cd/m2 Connections: Two HDMI inputs (PC and video use); two Scarts (2 RGB); component video input; composite video input; S-Video input; Stereo audio output; headphone jack; stereo audio inputs; RF input Philips 42PF5421 Our plucky LCD combatant in this group test starts blindingly well by being, at just £1,400, the cheapest set covered. Not that it looks cheap, though - with its gloss black finish it's just as pretty as any of our plasma rivals. Where the 42PF5421's low price finally comes home to roost is with features. The set manages to be HD Ready, but carries no built-in digital tuner, and no obvious processing system for improving picture quality. Still, we guess we can just about live with this stripped down features count if the TV performs well. And you know what? It does. The set's stand-out strength is its sharpness, as it makes HD sources look blisteringly crisp and textured. Colours are hugely impressive too, pumping out fulsome saturations with both vitality and tonal naturalism. Perhaps the 42PF5421's single most unexpected achievement, meanwhile, is the way it presents dark parts of pictures with precious little of the hollowness and greying over so often seen on large LCD TVs. Refreshingly, too, objects move across the screen with relatively little interference from LCD's traditional smearing noise. The only signs of the 42PF5421's budget nature are a slightly gritty look to some HD sources, and a more drastic reduction in performance with standard definition than we're entirely comfortable with. Sonically this Philips set is roughly equal with the LG. Which is to say it's got plenty of volume and a broad, clean soundstage, but could do with a touch more bass for handling action scenes.

Verdict Plus points Excellent value, good HD pictures, nice looks, twin HDMIs Minus points No digital tuner, average standard definition performer, PC only connectable via HDMI

Final verdict In terms of finding a single winner, this group test has turned out to be pretty straightforward. But in terms of the bigger picture, the scrap between LCD and plasma, things are slightly less clear cut. Starting with the straight TV battle, propping the rest up is the Loewe Modus L 42. This is a surprise, to be honest - Loewe is usually thoroughly deserving of its consciously created status as a 'high end' brand. But within the admittedly generally high standards of this group test, its tendency to suffer with some rather old-fashioned core plasma problems gives it a poor start from which it never completely recovers. Trying to separate the Philips LCD and LG plasma for second and third places is difficult. Both are in the same price bracket, and both have particular strengths in their favour - HD clarity in the Philips' case, black levels with the LG. But in the end, after much toing and froing, we've placed the LG third and the Philips second, largely on account of our love affair with HD, which the Philips does better, and partly on account of the Philips' £100 smaller price. Unquestionably the best TV in this group test though, is Panasonic's TH-42PX600. Its pictures are a revelation with high definition and standard definition sources alike, it's a sparkling audio performer, and it boasts bags of features and great connectivity, making it as close to perfection as any TV we've seen. Looking down this league table, which has two plasmas at the bottom and a budget LCD second with the final plasma cruising to the top spot, you can appreciate the difficulties in trying to pick an obvious winner between LCD and plasma technology. In fact, if these results prove anything, it's probably more that you're better off not getting drawn into the whole plasma vs LCD debate, instead just picking a TV based on its own individual merits, rather than its core technology.

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