Review If design is the most potent weapon in a TV manufacturer’s armoury right now, LG is wielding a pretty big shooter with its new Cinema Screen line. Offering corner to corner glass, a 10.5mm bezel and what the brand calls a ‘floating metal ribbon stand,’ these 2012 flatties are genuine head-turners.

Looking Smart: LG's 47LM670T

The first in the range to arrive on the Reg Hardware test bench is the relatively affordable 47in LM670T. It lacks the high-end picture tech packed into step-up models like the LM960V and LM860V but doesn’t skimp on build. From the taut plastic back plate to the wraparound metal trim, this is an extremely well made TV.

Quality construction

The good looks extend onscreen. The TV features a completely redesigned dashboard which integrates net streaming services such as iPlayer and YouTube with other sources of content, from terrestrial TV to network devices. As you scroll horizontally from one screen to another, tiled boxes pop open, inviting you to explore. It’s a smart, contemporary approach to UI design.

Input menu list

While the Smart TV interface may have evolved, there’s no change to the sheer breadth of content offered on LG’s portal. LoveFilm, Blinkbox, Acetrax, Box Office 365 and Dailymotion are all present, alongside social media apps and causal games.

MP3 playback transport

Streaming from local USB and across a network is similarly extensive. MKV, WMV, AVI, MP4 and MOVs all play, as do MP3, AAC/M4a and WAV audio tracks; the TV displays any album art provided. You can also timeshift programmes to an external USB drive. Overall, it’s a strong feature set.

Clarity event

The set’s picture performance is less clear cut. With amped-up colour fidelity, smooth gradations and stark contrast, the LM670T clearly has store appeal. However, there are shortcomings that will soon have you hankering for the kind of picture refinement found higher up the LG food-chain.

Interfacing options

Despite a fair number of picture calibration tools, nothing can fix the set’s limited motion resolution and bolted-down black level. With no effective fast refreshing available, clarity is lost when things get lively and any attempt to reveal shadow detail turns blacks into mid-grey.

In the frame

The edge LED backlighting is predictably sploshy, but it’s in keeping with what we’ve seen from other brands. There’s a simulacrum of local dimming, called LED Plus, but it’s clearly not in the same league as the multi-zone local dimming used on posher sets.

Not much to it from the side

The TV’s Passive 3D performance is fun though. My two current dimension test platters, Gnomeo and Juliet and The Smurfs looked fine (in as much as I could bear to watch), but there’s clearly crosstalk evident. Depth and brightness are excellent, although the half resolution line structure caused by the FPR panel tends to dull whites and add jaggies to diagonals.

Passive specs allow everyone to view 3D content without it costing a packet

As an aside, the set also has a Dual Play mode which allows two separate images to be viewed simultaneously using appropriately polarised Dual Play glasses (sold separately). This mode divides the split screen offered by console games to create the twinned screens. Unfortunately, you can’t use it to present two TV channels or two AV inputs simultaneously.

Ergonomic remote, apparently

The set comes with a pair of remotes, a generic backlit zapper and the brand’s pointy Magic Remote. The latter is designed for games and web surfing, useful as the set has an integrated browser that supports flash. Audio quality is perfectly adequate for casual viewing.

Appealing design, but the picture doesn't quite live up to its looks

Verdict


Ultimately, the 47LM670T is a ravishingly well designed thin-screen with an average HD picture. This won’t stop LG shifting mountains of them. My advice is look further up the Cinema Screen range, where greater picture precision should better complement this set’s high fashion façade. ®

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