LG 55LW650T-Anyone own one?

[Neil]

Had a demo of this set today in Currys, and wow just wow was so impressed nearly bought it there and then.

Anyone have one or one of the smaller versions?

The passive 3D effects were jaw dropping much better than anything else I've tried before.

Lyris what do you think buddy?

Oh and second hand prices for my old Sony kdl-4000W would be handy.

[koopatroopa90]

My Dad was wowed by it (as was I tbh) when we went to Currys to look at a Toshiba I ended up buying. I had actually gone in to see the difference between the Tosh and the LG, albeit the 42" version!

The Toshiba apparently uses an LG screen and gives a great picture to my eye in 2D and 3D. Mines gone wrong at the minute though which is annoying...

[JSR]

I'm really intrigued by the passive 3D tech from LG, especially now that their models have gotten the "full HD 3D"-update. If you don't need to have the set today, I would wait for LW980. It's due to come mid-september. That model will have a gazillion local dimming zones located behind the panel (LG calls it nano-LED, very cool), instead of just a few LEDs placed around the frame like on 650. Thus you will get much more even backlight (less screen uniformity), and local dimming will give as good contrast as screens today can possibly create. If this TV ends up being as good as it seems, I might actually ditch my plasma.

[Neil]

Thanks guys. I'm in no immediate rush Alex so I can wait for the LW980 and have a look at that, any further improvement and I'll be getting one for sure.
If anyone is thinking of changing to 3D you should demo this set before you buy anything else it's really that good imo.

[Lyris]

I've not had a look at the LG 3D TVs (they don't want to send them as far as Glasgow to review) so that was reviewed by our guy in London.

But, I'm reviewing a Toshiba TV which uses the passive technology, and is almost certainly one of LG's panels.

LG LCDs almost always (or maybe always?) use IPS panels, so you get good (for LCD) viewing angle, but greyish black levels. That will be especially apparent if you are coming from a Sony W4000, which uses SPVA LCD and has comparatively darker blacks. Something to think about if you're watching in a dark room; which won't be visible if you look in a bright store.

Regarding Passive 3D: I love the lightweight glasses, and total lack of flicker. Very refreshing. The biggest downside is the fact that it is not HD, 540 lines go to the left eye and 540 to the right, with thick black lines visible over the 3D image (a bit like CRT scanlines). If you can tolerate this and the passive 3D image looks good to you, go for it, there's a lot to like about it but this is the Achilles heel for me.

[koopatroopa90]

What model Toshiba Lyris (if you can disclose that sort of thing)? Would be funny if its the one I have!

[Lyris]

This is a Toshiba 47VL863. It certainly fills a gap in the market.

[koopatroopa90]

Yep thats the one - I have the 42" version.

It's a decent TV but missing a few features I'd like (3D upscaling (usually crap but yeah..) and PiP are the two that come to mind), plus the remote is just weird with the slidy silver bit. The fact you have to turn the subtitles on every time you change channel is also annoying.

Mine being a bit buggered at the moment aside I really like it, especially the slightly understated design. Only cost ?600, less whatever Toby Flood (or his replacement) score in the rugby world cup. To my untrained eye the picture quality is excellent in HD, still perfectly reasonable in SD and as I think I've said before on another thread the backlight uniformity is perfect which seems hard to find on LED backlit TVs.

/thread derailment.

[Neil]

That's cool Koopa nice impressions

As always thanks Lyris I have never gone wrong with any TV related advice you've ever given me so it's good to know you rate the LG.

Like I said though no harm in waiting to see the new model, if I can't notice any significant improvement then at least it should bring down the prices of the older models

[Lyris]

Well, I've not seen the LG specifically, and I'm not totally enamoured with the similar Toshiba. What I mean is that it fills a niche for people who can't stand the expensive glasses and flicker of active 3D TVs.

[Neil]

Well the hype machine has gone up a few notches for the 980 on AV forums after it's official unveiling today, it looks spectacular.