LG Plasma TVs

LG Electronics is one of a small group of major manufacturers that are still producing plasma TVs: Pioneer dropped out of the TV market altogether last year, leaving just LG, Panasonic, and Samsung to carry the plasma torch. LG has been producing plasma TVs since 1997, when the company developed South Korea’s first 40-inch PDP (Plasma Display Panel).

LG plasma television: PS8000 series
The two LG plasma TVs in the PS8000 series offer Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), four HDMI inputs, and a USB input for multimedia playback. Their features and size make them an obvious choice for the home cinema.

LG plasma TV 50PS8000, 50 inches (127cm), 860 GBP
LG plasma TV 60PS8000, 60 inches (152cm), 1,500 GBP

LG plasma television: PS7000 series
The PS7000 and PS8000 series are almost, except that the 7000 adds LG’s “Clear Voice 2” technology and what the company calls an “Invisible Speaker”. The Full HD resolution, multimedia playback via USB, and four HDMI inputs mean these models too are aimed at the home-cinema market. The extra cost seems to result from the additional audio technologies, so those planning to install the TV with a full surround-sound system can safely opt for the cheaper PS8000.

LG plasma TV 50PS7000, 50 inches (127cm), 1,000 GBP
LG plasma TV 60PS7000, 60 inches (152cm), 1,600 GBP

LG plasma television: PS6000 series
The single PS6000-series model also offers Full HD resolution, but cuts the number of HDMI inputs to three and lacks the Bluetooth connectivity found in the pricier PS7000 and PS8000 series. This is a no-frills home-cinema display — you don’t end up paying for gimmicky extras.

LG plasma TV 50PS6000, 50 inches (127cm), 820 GBP

LG plasma television: PS3000 series
In the PS3000 series, you lose the video playback via USB that you’d find in the pricier ‘PS’ series, but you gain LG’s “Clear Voice 2” technology. So it’s a question of which you value most. Either way, this is a cheap 50-inch plasma TV with Full HD resolution, and will therefore appeal to budget-conscious home-cinema fans.

LG plasma TV 50PS3000, 50 inches (127cm), 650 GBP

LG plasma television: PQ6000 series
In the PQ6000 series, you don’t get the Full HD resolution offered in the pricier ‘PS’ models. Still, the lower 1,365 x 768 pixels resolution qualifies as “HD ready” and will at least allow you to display 720p signals with no scaling. It’s kitted out for USB multimedia playback, and offers three HDMI inputs. While it’s still clearly suitable for the home cinema, the PQ6000 borders on budget-range territory rather than simply representing a no-frills alternative. Especially with the larger 50-inch variety, the lower resolution will take some of the shine out of HD signals.

LG plasma TV 42PQ6000, 42 inches (106cm), 480 GBP
LG plasma TV 50PQ6000, 50 inches (127cm), 590 GBP

LG plasma television: PQ3000 series
Now the quality really starts to drop: The 42-inch PQ3000 offers a resolution of just 1,024 x 768 pixels — enough to display the 720 lines of a 720p-format HD signal, but not to represent the signal’s full horizontal resolution, which would require at least 1,280 pixels per line. The 50PQ3000’s screen, on the other hand, has 1,365 x 768 pixels and can therefore display such signals with the full horizontal and vertical resolution. Buyers of the PQ3000 series will have to live without playback of video files via USB, but the TVs still allow playback of music and photos.

LG plasma TV 42PQ3000, 42 inches (106cm), 470 GBP
LG plasma TV 50PQ3000, 50 inches (127cm), 610 GBP

Discontinued LG Plasma TVs

You might find models from previous years on sale at clearance prices, or even available second-hand. This can be a great way to bring big-screen entertainment to your living room without blowing your budget. Here are some older LG plasma models that we’ve reviewed:

LG Plasma TV 50PG7000, 50 inches (127cm).
Available to buy new for: 1,200 GBP. The 50PG7000 delivers decent picture quality, but shows one weakness that’s typical of older plasma models — high power consumption.

LG Plasma TV 42PC1RR, 42 inches (106cm).
Only available second-hand. Now over three years old, the 42PC1RR is definitely showing its age: There’s no digital tuner, for example. On the other hand, the integrated video recorder is an unusual bonus.