LG 47LH40 47-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Gloss Black Review
To begin with, though I'm an ardent film collector, this LG television is my first foray into the HDTV market. It's replacing a 27" RCA CRT, a six year old television that still functions perfectly. However, after finally aquiring a PS3 Slim and attempting to get into gaming, I found my poor CRT was simply out of its league. Also, now that many Blu-Ray prices are dropping (particularly on older titles), I thought it'd be great to have a system capable of handling proper Blu-Ray transfers of favorite films like "The Road Warrior", "Outland", and "Barry Lyndon" (all of which never had a proper restoration on DVD, and two of which are sadly still unavailable on Blu).
For those who have no idea where to begin understanding what to look for in a HDTV, CNET is an invaluable research resource. Their in-depth reviews of various models are some of the most helpful out there (though they do not have one for this particular unit). Also of interest are their articles that explain in detail what difference certain features make and what HDMI cable you should buy (seriously, don't spend more than ). After doing my due diligence, I decided this LG model struck the absolute best balance between low price, huge screen size, and abundance of higher-end specs.
Setup was a breeze, all that's required is a screwdriver to screw in the included base. I was able to install the base and setup the TV myself, but considering this unit weighs around sixty pounds you may want someone else to assist (the delivery driver will usually help). Then it's just a simple matter of plug-and-play. There's also a cover for the bottom stand hole in case your unit will be wall-mounted. The menus are very user-friendly and easy to navigate, and there's even instructions included directly on the TV. There is a small setup booklet included, but the bulk of the manual is on an Abobe Acrobat file in the included CD-ROM. No issues with the remote either, the buttons are nice sized and well mapped-out.
A fatal error many frugal yet selective television consumers make is buying a cheaper entry-level HDTV like this and expecting it to somehow perform like a 00 plasma unit. It's just not going to happen. However, considering the gorgeous picture on this model and the relatively low price tag, it's difficult to justify paying more for a "better" LCD or a potentially problematic plasma. For instance, I considered some of the new LED LCD models, many of which offer a refresh rate of 240. But I simply couldn't make a discernable distinction when compared to this model (which has a rate of 120), and the image simply wasn't impressive enough to warrant the massive price tag.
The Blu-Rays I've tested (which included "Quantum of Solace", "Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan", "The Phantom", and "Glory") all looked - in a word - incredible. The sheen of clarity on each print was jaw-dropping (though "Glory" has a good deal of grain still present). DVDs look great as well, just not as sharp as Blu-Rays. My wife and I spent an entire Saturday going through the extended edition DVDs of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy on this model, and I simply have no complaints to report. The screen is large enough to provide a cinematic effect (especially in a bedroom), the movement onscreen was fluid, and the colors leaped off the screen. Even a series like "Battlestar Galactica", where the picture was intentionally degraded to give it a 'grittier' feel, looks gorgeous on plain-jane DVD.
The TruMotion feature isn't the failed experiment so many reviewers claim it to be. Under the correct circumstances, such as a high definition NFL game, the effect works wonderfully. Films, however, aren't quite built for this sort of thing. The TruMotion feature effectively removes the atmospheric sheen on the film print to the extent that it causes certain scenes to look amateurish, as if shot on home video. It's difficult to explain without example, but if you visit a floor model at a local store, many retailers will let customers toggle with the settings.
Also, regarding the infamous "lip synch" issue, I've watched hours of cable in addition to multiple DVD and Blu-Rays and I haven't had a single problem. My model was manufactured in February 2010, so it's possible they've updated the firmware on the latest models. In fact, I really can't find any serious faults with this model, it's as if this unit was made specifically for my needs. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay to this model is to say that I don't feel as if I bought an "entry level" television. For now, it's five well-earned stars, I'll update later if any issues arise.
LG 47LH40 47-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Gloss Black Feature
- LCD HDTV features an elegant & distinctive design with swivel stand
- 1080p Full HD resolution 1920 x 1080p Trumotion 120Hz panel for clear smooth images even for fast action scenes with 4x HDMI v 1.3 digital inputs
- Intelligent Sensor Mode LG's Smart Energy Saving Technology, Energy Star 3.0 compliant
- Invisible speaker system with Dolby Digital 5.1 & Clear voice for richer more balanced sound & a polished look
- 70,000:1 Dynamic contrast ratio
LG 47LH40 47-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Gloss Black Overview
47" LCD HDTV, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 120 Hz, 70,000:1 Contrast Ratio, ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM - 1 Tuner, SRS TruSurround XT, 4 HDMI input
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Customer Reviews
Awsome LG TV - Jefferson T. Edgerton - Georgia
This is my first LCD Tv but I have owned a Sony Vega HD for several years. This one is mounted over the fireplace and I could not ask for a better picture. Yes you get a little edge issue when the room is completely dark but that was expected due to the reviews that I had read. It is a must to turn off the Motion technolgy. Great buy!
LG TV should be a top consideration for LCD shoppers - G. D. Grubbs - U.S.
I got this TV for my bedroom, mainly because I got the LG 55LH40 55-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Gloss Black for the living room, and it was awesome.
Both TVs have a beautiful picture, and the sound is fine (to me) without attaching a surround sound system. I think I'm going with LG products on TV's and Blu-ray players for the foreseeable future, as the quality appears to excellent. Hopefully, they won't become like Sony and after many years let everything go to pot. I can't bring myself to buy anything Sony anymore, with all the products that I've had by them more recently that fell apart far too soon.
Just a word about the delivery if bought through Amazon -- it was a wonderful experience with the first one, the 55 inch. I was able to schedule a delivery time range, and when they brought it, they took everything out of the box, set it up, and took all the trash away, so no TV box out for trash pickup advertising to everyone what we got. However, on the 47 inch, it was a one-man job through a different delivery service, Pilot, and it was not white-glove -- he just left it with us inside the door. Regardless, I would buy a TV from Amazon again in a heartbeat, if I need one. The savings is too good, with prices better than local and no tax usually.
I would also suggest the LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player for those in the market for a Blu-ray player, especially with Netflix streaming.
Great TV but does have the lip synch issue - toolivestew -
I did see some reviews that mentioned a lip synch issue (sound and picture not perfectly synched), but they were so few that I took a chance. THIS TV DOES HAVE A LIP SYNCH ISSUE. The difference between the picture and sound went from barely noticable to maybe .25 second delay of the sound. I hooked my Comcast cable box up to my home receiver via an optical audio cable and didn't have the issue when listening through my home theater system.
I called LG customer support and they acknowledged that this TV has a lip synch issue when using an HDMI cable. They put me in touch with a local technical service and they were at my house within 3 days to update the firmware on the TV. Now that the firmware is updated the issue is resolved.
Now that the issue is resolved I love this TV. The picture is great. When first powering the TV on, the picture looked kind of wierd. I had read reviews indicating that the "Tru Motion" can make the picture look strange. I turned that off and the picture looked better. I couldn't be happier with the picture on this TV - espescially for the price.
The sound of this TV is about what you would expect. Nothing special, but definitely adequate.
I also like the Matte finish of the screen. I have windows directly across from the TV and there is absolutely no glare.
I would recommend this TV to anyone with the disclaimer that they should expect to either run the audio through a home theater system or expect to work with Customer Service to get the firmware update to fix the lip synch issue.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 23, 2010 03:00:09
