LG J10HD home cinema system
Does this Chocolate-inspired set taste sweet or sour?
Review The one-box home cinema system business reached saturation point some time ago, particularly at the cheaper end of the market. So companies who, like LG, target the mainstream have to work pretty hard to make their products stand out. LG has certainly put in some effort into the J10HD.
LG's J10HD: Chocolate-styled
For starters, this 2.1-channel, 300W total power set is styled on the company's popular Chocolate mobile phone. For the tecnhology buffs, there's a hard drive, touch-sensitive controls and a good set of connectivity options. So is the J10HD any good? Well, yes, but not for the reasons that LG might have intended.
Our initial impressions of the set were good. It's very easy to set up and feels more solid than we had anticipated. It gets the basics - like having enough speaker cable to get the speakers a decent distance apart - right, and that's so important. Problems encountered when the kit's being put in place for the first time are often never put right for the whole life of the machine, leaving you feeling you've been sold a pup.
We also liked the way the system is configured. The way all the power comes from the active sub-woofer, and the rugged nature of the cables and connectors, are all very reminiscent of the Bose approach - which is a big clue as to the kind of consumer LG is after.
The J10HD's dark coat and "ice white" lighting highlights aren't going to fit into everyone's home - think modern, minimalist flat, rather than barn conversion - but then it's not meant to. There's a little bit of a 1980s feel to its look, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In the right context, the system looks good. There are also some nice touches, such as being able to dim the light coming from the displays.
COMMENTS
Lg J10HD Review
Great to find a good detlaied review but how good is the 5.1 sorruond effect boasted by LG. I hate wires so I currently have Technics system which is 5.1 but I abandoned the rears and opearate it as a 3.1 (i.e. centre speakers and 2 front, the sub woofer bass sound is in the 2 front speakers...it's a hi-fi as well). Anyway is the LG's sound any better than this do you think. Would like your thoughts before I buy.
Regards
JP
@ James Bassett
I dunno what version of english you are using, but your interpretation of Lewis' "turn of phrase" is truly bizarre, especially as he specifically references the complexity of the picture in the same paragraph. It is truly obvious to anybody that he is referring to the picture. Sheesh.
And as to you comment about calming down. No. The register has been a high quality resource for years, I get upset when I see it dumbed down as it has with Reg Hardware recently. Further your final remark is just a strawman I have seen used hundreds of times to quash dissent. Put it away.
Quality, not quantity
Clay Garland at 12:40. Not everyone has either the room or the desire to stick 8 speakers around their living room along with the necessary cabling! Besides, to my tastes, a top quality 2.1 system is far preferable to the loud, brash, bass-heavy Harmon Kardon which, works great with hollywood blockbusters and American rap/rock but struggles with material with any real subtlety.
Whilst I haven't heard the LG system, the review suggests the sound characteristics may suit a more conservative taste.
And Andy, I thought the reviewer was talking about the sound not the picture. After all, that's what this kit does. Okay, the picture is passed through in order to GET the sound but I thought (possibly incorrectly) that the reference was meant to infer that the level of detail in each separate sound effect and it's stereo placement was consistent "to the edges of the picture". Admittedly, maybe not a great turn of phrase (and I could be wrong) but, seriously, calm down a little and put your flame-throwers away. It's just a review, nobody is threatening your family!
So I can't stack it on the shelves,then.
So with the "touch-sensitive circular control that sits on top of the main deck and from which all the menus and functions can be reached" I can't stick the box anywhere close to a shelf above and use it other than via the remote.
That means it's out, on top and in the way.
Nice design feature.
I don't know.
Seriously, for nearly $600 US, I'd better be getting better than a 2.1. ESPECIALLY, considering that for a $300 permium I can get a Harmon/Kardon 7.1 Surround sound system with an HDMI Switching receiver and a 1080i DVD player. For now tho, I'll stick with my Yamaha 2600 and my Klipsch Speakers run through my 50" Hitachi display.
