LG 47LW5600 Review

Model: LG 47LW5600
Description: 47" LED backlit LCD TV with Passive 3D and 120Hz Processing
Includes: Swivel table top stand, 4 pairs of Passive 3D Glasses, Wifi Dongle, Breakout cables for component and composite inputs.
Reviewers: Jack Burden
Date: Summer 2011

Strengths

• Value Price Point for 3D Readiness
• Magic Wand Remote Control is excellent
• 4 Pair 3D Glasses and Wifi Dongle included
• Off Center Viewing Angle
• Full Web Browser for Internet Search
• Calibration Controls Excellent
Menu System Features and ease of use

Weaknesses

• Graininess and Picture Noise in HD Picture from Film
• Limited Internet Apps
• Standard Definition Picture Quality Dimmer than normal
• Glare from Ambient Room Light/ Non-Clear Coat Screen
• Judder in side to side panning images

General Picture Quality Characteristics:

• Good deep black levels
• Excellent side viewing angle with little contrast degredation during side viewing at 40 degrees
• Dark Shadow Detail sometimes overwhelmed by blacks
• HD picture – lots of noise and motion artifacts with film based material
• HD Picture – With broadcast content colors pop and the picture is very lively
• SD Picture – generally a little soft and a little dim with our calibrations. Use Standard Calibration instead with Color Temp adjusted to W8. With this change, the SD color is more vibrant and images sharper.
• Soft, rather than sharp edges in almost many images
• Lots of glare on the non-clear coat screen
• Picture Depth Average

Picture Quality Rating (HD): 8/10

The HD picture on the LW5600 LED backlit LCD TV is good overall though there are obvious positives and negatives. Side Viewing Angle is excellent for an LCD TV, and black levels are another standout feature of the picture. Color rendition is also good as are flesh tones. Negative attributes include picture detail that is sometimes too soft, average picture depth, and a good bit of glare from in room light sources especially at side angles. Dark shadow detail is also just average. The LW5600 also offers local dimming. Testing with this feature did not yield much improvement in the picture so we recommend leaving the feature off as it may cause issue with screen light uniformity.

Picture Quality Rating (Non-HD): 7.5/10

Features Rating: 8/10

A few of the upgrades in the LW5600 over the model below include the passive 3D viewing option (with 4 pairs of glasses), 2D to 3D conversion, local dimming from the edge lit LED backlighting, and Picture Wizard II. It also contains upgrade features common to the LV5500 with 120Hz TruMotion, the Magic Wand Remote Control and the Full Browser and Internet Suite options. Let's review each of the feature upgrades below:

Internet Options: LG NetCast Internet Connected Internet Feature Options: There are a few Internet options that appear to have been dropped from last years offering including Yahoo! Widgets and Skype. But other options have been expanded from the premium services Netflix, Youtube, VUDU, AP, Google Maps, Cinema Now, NBA, Facebook, and Twitter. There are around 20 premium services in all. There are currently 49 Apps in the LG Internet Apps store – not nearly as many as some competitors but the list is growing. A few we noticed include Yoga trainer, Horoscope, H&M Fashion, Color Blind, and a Paint App. It appears LG is concertedly playing catchup in this area and doing a reasonably good job at it. I would rate the Internet Suite options at very mediocre at this point and a good ways behind Samsung, Sony and Panasonic in offerings though the most important ones are there. We are glad to report that the TruMotion feature and Picture Menu options can be accessed on the LW5600 with Internet options.

The Internet TV lineup (Netcast SmartTV) for LG's LW5600

Value Rating: 8/10

At $1329 from authorized Internet retailers the 55LW5600 offers lots of extra features which can help future proof this TV. It has a nice Internet suite, the fun Magic Wand remote, and passive 3D compatibility. Competition with compatible features comes from the Sony KDL46EX720 and the Samsung UN46D6500.

Overall Rating: 7.75/10

See the calibrated picture settings for the 47LW5600