Overview LG 42LW4500

LG in 2011 radically changed its strategy for the development of its 3D-TVs. She completely abandoned the use of active shutter-type 3D glasses in monitors and televisions. The new Cinema 3D TVs use passive polarized glasses. Their sales began only this summer. LG has positioned the Cinema 3D lineup as TVs with new 3D imaging technology. In fact, it is not at all like that. But this market has great potential, which will continue to grow rapidly in the future. Today we will talk about one of these models - LG 42LW4500. Now it is the most affordable among the 2011 3D TVs on the Ukrainian market.

To achieve the lowest price point, LG removed the SmartTV package and Internet access from the LW4500. Other characteristics of this model remain the same as those of competitors. The TV has LED backlighting with local dimming (LED Plus). It is equipped with an S-IPS matrix, which has good viewing angles and a response time of -2.6 milliseconds. There is also a built-in media player and digital tuner. The most important technical miracle is the 2D to 3D conversion, with which you can watch 3D from anything: video filmed with your own camcorder, on-air television or playback of any films from your home media library. To do this, you just need to use a single USB port. The package contains 4 pairs of glasses - LG did not stint for its customers. In the LG LW4500 lineup there is not only a 42-inch model, but a 47-inch one.

Above the LG 42LW4500 is the LG 42LW650S, which has a price tag of 3500 hryvnia more. It includes the SmarTV package, which has a browser, app store, and more. Another 42LW650S has slightly better Infinite 3D Surround acoustics and the ability to record to USB-media (a function called a "time machine"). Below our model is LG 42LV4500, which is 1000 hryvnia cheaper than it. It does not have the 3D package, advanced type LED lighting and INFINIA design that the 42LW4500 has.

LG 42LW4500 looks like a single monolith. It has a thin and barely visible frame made of transparent plastic. Therefore, the front surface of the TV is excessively soiled. If you do not wipe it regularly, then the appearance at the surface becomes sloppy. The TV has a massive stand, thanks to which it cannot fall in any way. She also rotates it horizontally.

On the front panel there are hidden touch control buttons. With their help, the TV turns on and off, the channels are switched, the sound volume is adjusted and the menu moves. When turned off, they are not visible at all, and when turned on, they light up in white.

All TVs have an unpresentable rear view, because you often don't have to look at it. You just need to connect all the necessary cables once, connect the digital decoder of the cable operator and safely forget about everything.

This is the cheapest 3D TV, but it looks very decent. Its thin bezel features INFINIA's signature design: a small bezel with all the benefits that come with hidden speakers and LED backlighting. The rear panel houses a modest connection block. Fortunately, it has an optical output. On the edges there are such connectors: USB, CI for digital CAM-module, HDMI and headphone output.

The remote control has also undergone some evolution. Compared to last year's remote, they added a 3D key, which activates the conversion mode, as well as a record key. The latter is used in other models that have the function of recording air on USB drives.

The TV set comes with four pairs of ordinary glasses LG AG-F210 passive type. Their production is very cheap due to inexpensive plastic, so the company did not skimp on such a number of glasses. Passive models are two times lighter - they weigh 16 grams.But all glasses are worn with the same comfort.

The interface of this model can be called quite convenient. With the help of a special mode of favorite channels, it is easy to manage all 150 channels "in the cable", which are available today in Kiev.

The menu is called up by pressing one of the buttons on the remote control. Before that, you need to add all your favorite channels to your favorites list. The main menu is familiar to all LG TV and monitor users. After you insert the drive into the USB connector, the media player menu will immediately appear on the screen.

The main highlight of all 3D TVs this year is the 2D to 3D conversion. Our model has 3 modes of operation: converting files with 3D recordings and processing an ordinary picture into three-dimensional (this can be both video and photo). The recording format determines where both images are saved in the file: one next to the second or one above the other. The TV takes any of these pictures and can combine them to create a three-dimensional image.

As soon as it becomes three-dimensional, the TV recommends wearing glasses. You can adjust the 3D depth and viewing angle. All manufacturers have this 3D transformation capability.

Passive glasses have less effect on the brain and vision, but LG considered it necessary to display a special warning sign when starting 3D conversion that you need to take a break every hour when watching TV in 3D.

The main question that interests everyone is the difference in sensations while watching a 3D TV with active glasses and polarizing passive ones. After all, the company for some reason has forever abandoned the release of active models. The feeling from both glasses is exactly the same. It is clear that the ability to convert 2D to 3D gives a new experience of watching TV and movies. The good news is that the glasses battery does not need to be charged, and four complete pairs allow collective viewing. Now you can watch football in 3D with friends. But today viewing 3D is an individual matter. Someone likes this kind of entertainment, but for someone it causes pain in the eyes and a headache. I recommend going to the cinema before purchasing this TV. There you can check your feelings and make a choice. If you feel good, then you can safely buy a TV and enjoy watching it. If not, then wait a few years, after which TVs with autostereoscopic screens should appear.

I do not consider the lack of the SmarTV package to be a serious drawback. I think that everyone will want to get 3D for that kind of money. But such a drawback as the lack of DLNA, which will make it impossible for your connection to home video archives and network resources, can stop many people from choosing this model.

LG's direct competitor - Philips - has in its arsenal a similar model Philips 42PFL7606H / 12. It costs a hundred dollars more, but has a SmartTV package and proprietary Ambilight lighting. The Philips 42PFL7606H / 12 TV also uses passive glasses. It also has 4 watts more sound power than the LG, but the LED backlight does not have local dimming. Also, Philips only has 2 pairs of glasses in the package, and there is no 2D to 3D conversion function.

The LG 42LW4500 TV is perfect for active viewing of 3D images for very little money. If you are on a budget, I recommend that you take a closer look at this model. I would also like to say that there is no point in buying the LG 42LW4500 if you will not use 3D.

The main advantages of the LG 42LW4500 3D TV: