Every new generation of flatscreen TVs brings with it some new must-have gizmo. And for the current generation, that gizmo is 100Hz.

Originally used in cathode ray tube TVs to tackle flickering images, 100Hz doubles the refresh rate of PAL signals - a trick that could reduce the problems LCDs have with rendering moving objects.

Despite its promise, the pictures we've seen on 100Hz LCD TV have dramatically varied in quality, with some 100Hz engines making pictures worse rather than better. So here's hoping JVC's debut 100Hz TV is not one of these.

The set gets off to a good start with some impressive looks. The main gloss-black bezel is impressively slim and beautifully finished, while the speaker section along the bottom has been angled in at the edges to contrast strikingly with the TV above it.

Connectivity is first rate, not least because the TV has three version 1.3 HDMIs, all CEC-compatible, which enable you to control an entire AV setup using the TV's remote. But also present are PC and component video jacks, a common interface for the digital tuner, and an optical digital audio output for sending multichannel audio to an AV receiver.

The 100Hz system we talked about is just one part of a much bigger image processing system on the 42DV8BJ, most of which resides under the umbrella of DynaPix HD.

Included within DynaPix is JVC's impressive DIST scaling engine, for enhanced scaling of standard-definition sources to the panel's resolution, plus tools for boosting contrast, and colour toning and saturation.

The resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels, making the screen a perfect match for the UK's hi-def TV sources.

A small concern

While all the specifications and features we've considered so far seem promising, there is one that's worrying: the claimed contrast ratio of 1000:1. This is low compared to figures quoted by rivals, and raises early concerns about the 42DV8BJ's black levels. However, it's possible that JVC is just being honest with its specifications - quoted figures are notoriously unreliable!