LG Infinia 42LV5500 42-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with Smart TV

Clever Designs      Classified mid-rage moddel under LG's 2011 Line-up, the LV5500 might not appear remarkable at first sight. However, the Koreans' lastest attempt at subtle decorations on the LV-series such as shimmery effects and transparent edges on the bezel were not unnoticed. Apart from its classy looks, the LV5500 also portrays a slim figure, credit to edge-mounted LEDs like its 1080p rivals here to date, LG has Created many HDTV permutations with self-illuminating logos and touch controls. The LV5500 offers the same touchy-feely experience, but minus the illumination perk on its bezel. Port-wise, you get not one but two USB ports for multimedia needs. This HDTV also comes with extensive media format support, being friendly with newer codecs including DivX plus HD on the MKV container. This 42-inch er also swivels about 20 degrees both ways. Intelligent Features      Home Dashboard is where Lg's Smart TV features reside. As you can probably tell from the screenshot, installed apps as well as LG's Smart Share are similarly found here. App for social Portals such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter have been factored in, along with news and streaming sites like CNBC and MLB TV. On the down side, the youtube interface is rather sparse since you only get to search or watch featured clips. Streaming over DLNA is supported (Smart Share), but do note that LG's Plex Media Server needs to be installed on any of the networked PCs in order to pull media propreties such as plot synopsis and film ratings from the web. More importantly, the LV5500 also flaunts a responsive web browser with handy Favorites and history tabs.      There is no lack of advanced picture presets, including two ISF Expert settings featuring LG's CMS (Color Management System) adjustments. Interestingly, all HDTVs compared this month come equipped with dual 10-watt speakers, but it was the LV5500 which rang true with its clean and robust audio fidelity. Similar to Panasonic, this Smart TV also endorses the DivX Plus HD codec on MPEG4, but goes one up with H.264 and MOV support. The TV plays subtitle formats such as SRT or SUB as well. It's also important to note that the LG Apps store was not yet available at the time of writing. DisplayMate and HQV Benchmarks DisplayMate Color Ramp Test: Color gradients were notably smoother compared to the rest of the edge-lit contenders. Viewing angle was wholesome up to 70 degrees. DisplayMate: The LV5500 has an aptitude for vivid colors and gradual gredients, marred only by minor banding on the darker end of the scale. Surprisingly, light distribution was modestly spread despite this model's choice of edge-mounted LEDs. HQV: Noise reduction wasn't exemplary, although the LV5500 is comfortable with processing moving interlaced content. Praiseworthy 24p decoding from a 1080i60 source is a plus as well. The only catch is LG's Real Cinema has to be enabled for truthful 24p playback. Blu-ray Audtion Corpse Bride: The LV5500 struck a comfortable balance between black levels and picture detail on this Tim Burton classic, as the animated visuals were crisp with ample depth to show. Blooming issues were also less apparent compared to its LV3720 cousin, which was marred by inconsistent backlighting concerns. LG's IPS screen might net push insanely sharp contrasts like those with glossy screens, out its matte screen definitely makes it friendlier to the eyes during the day. Vantage Point: The good news is that LG's TruMotion did not introduce any motion anomalies on Vantage Point, although the 100Hz rendition was a little too smooth for our liking. Color accuracy was fair, and what's notable is the TV's Dynamic Contrast feature which managed to bring the images to life without obvious backlight fluctuations. If audio quality matters to you, know that the LV5500 has one of best sonic delivery with its Infinite 3D Surround and Clear Voice II features combined . REMOTES AT A GLANCE      Offering the besi fit, LG's latest remote also features dedicated controls for its Smart TV functions, such as a Premium and Home button. The Quick Menu button is also handy for tweaking basic AV parameters on the fly, such as audio modes and aspect ratio. LG Infinia LV5500 Series 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with Smart TV Models: 55LV5500 55-Inch Models: 47LV5500 47-Inch Models: 42LV5500 42-Inch FEATURES LG Smart TV1 LED Backlighting TruMotion 120Hz Wi-Fi Ready (Adapter Included) Magic Motion Remote (Included) Full HD 1080p Resolution DLNA Certified ENERGY STAR Qualified Picture Wizard II Intelligent Sensor Smart Energy Saving ISFccc Ready SPECIAL OFFER

Source : hardware magazine.