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LG 37LG3000 Review |
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Reviewed: 14 November 2008
Design
The 37LG3000 reflects the fact that LG have spent some considerable time getting the 'look' of their panels just right. The influence of an external design studio is obvious in a screen that is not trying too hard to please but comes across as an exceptionally stylish piece of kit.
LG's trademark glossy black finish has been toned down a notch to produce a subtle design statement. Backing up the style is surprisingly good build quality and finish for an entry level screen.
Announcing the arrival of a new user friendly operating system are the large graphics which form the interface for a huge range of tweaking options. The intuitive interface and easy to follow architecture will tempt even the novice to jump in and experiment.
Features
For an entry level screen, the 37LG3000 boasts a surprising number of adjustment options through its 'Expert Mode' which will keep those of you with much more than just a passing interest in tweaking the screen happy. More representative of its budget status the panel comes with a 1366 x 768 resolution, although there are a useful 3 HDMI (v1.3) inputs along with a 15,000:1 contrast ratio.
Screen: 37in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1366 x 768 Contrast Ratio: 15,000:1 Other Features: XD Engine, Clear Voice. Sockets: 3 HDMI (v1.3), 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.
The latest incarnation of LG's picture processing circuitry 'XD engine' forms the picture processing heart of the panel. LG are typical of a growing number of manufacturers who are adding cutting edge technology to their budget and smaller screens.
XD Engine bringing together a range of picture processing enhancements under the XD umbrella which focuses on improving the panels operation in two distinct areas. It works with the input signal to improve the quality of incoming feeds and then with the panel itself to improve the presentation of these feeds.
With LG's clear voice technology the 37LG3000 amplifies human voices to prevent any background noise from becoming too intrusive.
For those of you who like to tweak your TV settings but don't want to get too involved, Cinema, Sport, and Game modes offer preset picture configurations to complement the on-screen content.
A hidden speaker system tuned by the renowned hi-fi specialist, Mark Levinson, gives us some optimism for LG's acoustic ability. Interestingly there are a number of preset acoustic modes from which to choose; Standard, Music, Cinema, Game and Sport.
Performance
With a black level ability that matches some of the best LCD TV's and puts a few plasmas to shame, LG's 37LG3000 begins to set new standards for LCD performance at this price. Ultimately it can't hope to compete with the best plasma screens, which are able to produce precise shadow detail in even the darkest of films, but what it does achieve is a rich deep black picture that is free from greyness.
A fine black level ability has the added advantage of producing an excellent backdrop for colour. Long gone is the 'garish' edge to colours on LG flat panel TV's of the past. What you don't lose is the vibrancy we now expect from the Korean manufacturer, while there is a subtlety present in tricky areas such as facial tones, that may not match the best TV's but is not that far off the pace.
Standard Definition (SD) performance, especially from Freeview, highlights the problems associated with a poor quality source rather than any particular problem with the TV. Having said that, even though the 37LG3000 does a decent job of translating the 576 or so available lines onto its 1366 x 768 resolution, we have seen better Freeview performers, albeit at a much higher price. What the 37LG3000 gives you is a competent SD performance that is good enough for day to day use, intrusive elements such as digital 'noise' are present to the degree that they never 'grate'.
If High Definition (HD) performance is high on your agenda then the 37LG3000 is unlikely to satisfy. The one big concession to the budget is a 1366 x 768 resolution rather than a Full HD (1920 x 1080) spec. Nevertheless, High Definition (HD) performance is pretty good judging by this screen's ability to create some sharp and detailed pictures, in short, a performance we have come to expect from the format at this resolution. Along with the rest of the LG3000 series, what the 37LG3000 is not capable of doing is giving you that 'breathtaking' HD experience that a number of Full HD screens can provide.
Demonstrating once again how good this panel is for the price, motion handling abilities of the 37LG3000 compare favorably with much more expensive LCD TV's. In the absence of any 100Hz processing, LG's XD Engine manages to produce fast motion action, while not perfect, which displays a composure which gives impressive detail and resolution to even the fastest on-screen action. Again, the point is watchability, with a minimal amount motion blur and 'jerkiness' making the 37LG3000 a more than competent performer for fast action material.
The concession to large visible speakers for style is unlikely to produce a stunning acoustic performance, but the 37LG3000 is among the better sonic performers we have come across, delivering a level of Bass and projecting sound with a strength that few can match.
Conclusion
With the added bonus of a remarkably user friendly menu system and above average performance in all areas, LG's 37LG3000 is possibly the best value 37in panel available.
LG 37LG3000
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