Ratings: 4/5
Price: $1125
LG
42LM660T
The LG 42LM660T is a slick, good looking set. It’s a ‘Cinema Screen’ design – the 42in
LED screen is framed by a very thin bezel, leaving a display that’s free from
any framing distractions and giving the impression of a bigger picture.
This works in perfect partnership with its
best feature – 3D performance. This is a passive 3D set, which in our
experience makes it less fatiguing on the eyes - especially over long periods
of time. The TV comes with five pairs of light glasses, each with a different
colour frame.
Martin Scorsese’s Hugo has been
lauded for its excellent 3D, and the LG delivers a great sense of depth and
detail. It is certainly one of the most comfortable screens here on which to
watch 3D films.
As for traditional, two-dimensional
viewing, you have plenty of options from the digital tuner, with Freeview HD
channels holding up nicely (although there’s no Freesat tuner). The LG’s colour
balance is a touch less rich compared with the more robust rival sets in this
test, but pictures are squeaky clean and have plenty of detail. While contrast
is competent, this LG can’t quite deliver the deepest pools of black. There’s
scope for picture adjustment in the menu settings; we preferred all the picture
and sound modes on Standard. This comes down to taste, though, so experiment.
The only tweak we’d recommend is increasing the motion processing to +2 – the
adjustment makes a difference, especially when watching in 3D.
Good up scaling to 1080p
Switch to a DVD of Mission Impossible 4:
Ghost Protocol, and the LG upscale to 1080p to deliver a clean, relatively
noise-free picture – and it is more than capable of handling fast-action
sequences.
Sound quality on modern TV sets is always
thin, and the LG is no exception. We’d pair it up with a decent soundbar at a
minimum for the best results.
LG consistently makes operating its TVs a
user-friendly experience. The user interface and programmer guide are logical
and neatly displayed. The friendly functionally also extends to LG’s remote
controls – you get two, one traditional remote and a LG specialty: the Magic
Remote Control. It’s a sleek, curved wand with a wheel that fits comfortably in
your hand, and you can use it like a computer mouse. It has a responsive cursor
that makes it easy to point and click at screen options.
A 2012 TV wouldn’t be complete without
extensive smart features.
There’s a whole host of online content at
your fingertips through LG’s App store and Premium video-on-demand services.
You can buy and download various entertainment, news and educational apps from
the App store, while the likes of BBCiPlayer, LoveFilm, YouYube and Acetrax
mean the latest films and catch-up TV are just a few clicks away. You’ll find
Twitter, Facebook and Skype (with an external camera), while Smart Share gives
you access to stored media.
This LG is a likable set. Rivals such as
Sony and Samsung have the edge in outright picture performance, but if you
watch lots of 3D the LG is your best bet.
Remote control app
Name: LG Magic
Ratings: 4/5
Price: Free
Devices: Android, iOS
LG
Magic
The app is designed to match the interface
of the TV itself, with the Premium and My Apps section laid out in a grid
pattern. The touch pad is pleasantly responsive and the main controls are
simple to use, but rival apps have more style and more controls.
