52IN DLP HDTV ATSC/ NTSC TUNER 12X7 1500:1 review

The connectivity options on the LG 52SX4D are generous. The primary connections include two HDMI inputs, two component video inputs, and two FireWire ports for use with D-VHS decks, MicroMV (only) camcorders, and the handful of DTV Link-enabled products. There are also two A/V inputs, one with composite and S-Video and one with only composite video and stereo audio inputs; a 15-pin VGA style input for computer hookup; and a set of Monitor A/V outputs with composite video only. Lastly, two memory card slots on the front of the set allow you to view digital camera photos and even play MP3s on the TV.

LG also offers a version of this television, the 62SX4D, which has identical features and a 62-inch screen.

The performance of the LG 52SX4D leaves a lot to be desired, both out of the box and after a thorough calibration. In LG's favor, the grayscale calibrated very well (see the geek box below), and the service menu is a model of simplicity, as the company introduced an Expert mode that includes only pertinent calibration-specific information. Of course, a professional is required to perform this service.

No professional can cure our biggest complaint with the 52SX4D. For whatever reason, the television didn't deliver nearly all the resolution it should have. A 720p resolution multiburst pattern from our Accupel HDG-3000 signal generator showed about 20 percent of the horizontal resolution to be missing from both HDMI and component video inputs. A certain amount of roll-off was also visible on visible on anamorphic DVD sources. As a result, high-quality images didn't look nearly as sharp as they should. Note that the Samsung HL-P5085W and Mitsubishi's WD-52525 both use the 720p DLP HD2+ chip, whereas this set uses the HD3 chip--a difference that may contribute to the loss of resolution.

We were also disappointed to find that the 2:3 pull-down circuitry really didn't work. Watching the opening scene from the Star Trek: Insurrection DVD, we noticed that the motion artifacts on the canoes and the square-shaped buildings in particular were quite jarring, and the set seemed to fall in and out of film mode as opposed to engaging its 2:3 processing and keeping it engaged.

The set's black-level performance was also not on a par with the other DLP RPTVs we've reviewed. The opening scenes of Alien and some dark material on the Seabiscuit DVD revealed less than inky deep blacks, with a lot of visible low-level noise.

On the upside, the 52SX4D's color decoding was relatively accurate, which resulted in good color saturation and natural-looking skin tones. HD material from our DirecTV HD satellite was a bit underwhelming, mainly because it looked soft. Color was good, and bright scenes popped, but the overall softness of the image was something we couldn't ignore.

The 52SX4D was a bit of a picture-quality disappointment, given the very good performance we have come to expect from DLP rear-projection technology. LG really needs to make some significant improvements in the product before it can compete with the rest of the DLP pack.