[The News Bot]

Reviewed by David Mackenzie
The 42LG7000 offers extensive, easy to access calibration options, but goes on to introduce other flaws (with partial workarounds) which mean it's not as good as it should be for serious movie watching. Many of the right ingredients (including fantastic usability) are here, but for now, we have a display that comes frustratingly close before stumbling slightly in the final lap.
Read the full review...

[mjcairney]

An excellent and very informative review - thank you David.

Cheers,

Martin.

[Tcdoe]

Thanks for the review!

Any chance of posting the optimal calibration settings?

[inf]

Thanks for the review.

One thing that catched my eye and raised my eyebrows

Firts the 24p mode. In the review you said that it doesn't work right? I find this pretty wierd for a set that features a 5:5 pulldown. Or is that it just doesn't work as it's intended to? Could this be fixed with firmware upgrade in the future?

How bad is this issue? I'm kind of a movie freak, and been looking for a perfect set especially for Bluray movies, and this LG and Sony W4000 are the ones that ive been looking for. So is the 24p issua with BluRays bad?

[David Mackenzie]

Firts the 24p mode. In the review you said that it doesn't work right? I find this pretty wierd for a set that features a 5:5 pulldown. Or is that it just doesn't work as it's intended to? Could this be fixed with firmware upgrade in the future?

Hey Inf, as I said in the review, the 24p issues on this TV aren't the usual kind. As you say, it CAN display smooth frames - but it will skip every few minutes.

So yes, it's a working 24p mode, but then jumps every so often. I hope that this is fixed with firmware. I'm sure it could be.

If you want the perfect TV for watching movies, this isn't it I'm afraid, at least not right now.

[AvecMon]

This TV is going on sale on Boxing day for £550 at Currys. Given the price, would the reviewer recommend it or should I really look elsewhere?

[Audio_Monkey]

Originally Posted by AvecMon

This TV is going on sale on Boxing day for £550 at Currys. Given the price, would the reviewer recommend it or should I really look elsewhere?

I'm wondering the same thing. With an RRP of £999 such a huge saving is very attractive.

Out of interest, what products reviewed before/since will produce similar/better results? I would like to see what the prices are like on those at the moment too.

[dave1814]

yep im thinking the same!

this or the TH42PX80B is the question?!

[AvecMon]

Originally Posted by dave1814

yep im thinking the same!

this or the TH42PX80B is the question?!

The TH42PX80B is 720p only. Shame, as Panasonic Plasma TVs seem much better...

[cebs_uk]

does anyone know if the same issue affects the 47 or 52 inch version.

there is a good review of the 47 in hcc this month and it makes no mention of 24p good or bad.

again i am wondering whether to get one in the sale.

[Mike.P®]

There is a £50 off voucher in the Mirror that makes it just under £500 today only from Dixons.

Im totally lost whether to take a punt on it now ...........

[021C]

When was the voucher printed?

[David Mackenzie]

does anyone know if the same issue affects the 47 or 52 inch version.

I wouldn't like to say for sure, but from experience, these issues tend to affect all sized versions. There are other TVs out there that can be had for prices similar to the discounted one without these issues.

[MediaJ]

Originally Posted by Mike.P®

There is a £50 off voucher in the Mirror that makes it just under £500 today only from Dixons.

Im totally lost whether to take a punt on it now ...........

use the 10% off code instead to get a bit more off - only valid 'til 6pm.

Code is CHRISTMAS10

I'm torn between this and the Panasonic TH42PX80B...

[David Mackenzie]

The Panasonic is going to be a much better choice in almost every area. I've not reviewed that specific model myself, but if it's consistent with the rest of their range (as Panasonic seem to be), you can expect better contrast, motion smoothness (no 24p issues), and full detail. And the usual plasma advantage of great motion resolution.

[MediaJ]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

The Panasonic is going to be a much better choice in almost every area. I've not reviewed that specific model myself, but if it's consistent with the rest of their range (as Panasonic seem to be), you can expect better contrast, motion smoothness (no 24p issues), and full detail. And the usual plasma advantage of great motion resolution.

Thanks David Must admit I've been edging towards that one purely because it's a Panasonic. Still a bit of time to keep pondering - I'll go grab some turkey then decide!

[speedsurfer]

Originally Posted by MediaJ

use the 10% off code instead to get a bit more off - only valid 'til 6pm.

Code is CHRISTMAS10

I'm torn between this and the Panasonic TH42PX80B...

Many thanks! Just ordered a TH42PX80 for £449.99!

[David Mackenzie]

£449.99

Wow. I might join you on that...

[speedsurfer]

Not sure the code still works mind, was suposed to be until 18:00 tonight, but I ordered about 20 minutes after and it still worked. Worth a go anyway!

Edit: Appears to work like the 2.5% voucher after 6PM (10% off all orders from 3.00pm to 6.00pm Xmas day (1179) - 2.5% from 6pm (3708))

[MediaJ]

Originally Posted by speedsurfer

Many thanks! Just ordered a TH42PX80 for £449.99!

No probs, I ordered it too!

[Dizagaox]

I'd like to input/follow-up on some of the mentioned criticisms raised by David Mackenzie in the 42LG7000 review:

(1) The 24p stuttering issue

I've not encountered this problem at all. Same model, 24p Real Cinema ON and TruMotion LOW, PS3 outputting The Dark Knight @ 1080/24p. Breathtaking.

This stuttering issue sounds isolated (in this case, the reviewer's TV), and not at all representative of the entire product line.

If it's not an isolated issue, the only explanation I have is maybe you set TruMotion to HIGH? I'm certain you reviewed TruMotion with it set to HIGH, when it should be set to LOW or OFF.

(2) Issues with quality loss

Under Advanced Controls you can change and turn off all the "behind-your-back" processing. You don't need to go into PC mode to get the full quality.

I personally don't use any of of the Advanced Controls processing for HD (except 24p and TruMotion), I think it defeats the point. Only use these for SD.

(3) Ghosting

If you mean the "Triple Ball Effect", this might be another isolated issue. A couple of the LG70s (US version of same series) had the same problem earlier this year. It's a shame this seems to have made it over to our versions, but my TV doesn't have this issue... YET! I'm on the lookout!

(4) TruMotion

I really want to know how you managed to get TruMotion working under PC mode, because it's not meant to work at all!! With mine, TruMotion turns off immediately when you have RGB-PC, and the manual says it's the same deal with HDMI-PC too.

I also think the issue you have with TruMotion is because you have it set to HIGH, not at the recommended LOW, because imo LOW is pure class. Far superior to Panasonic's IFC. Sky Sports is pure class and, shockingly, even stuff like MTV and BBC News are really smooth! It's so fluid, as the propaganda says (rightly so!).

I keep TruMotion on and set at LOW for most things. Just try the demo out if you're unsure.

For DVDs (upscaled) and Blu-rays though, I turn it off, but Dark Knight with TruMotion set to LOW looked fantastic! Right at the beginning, when Batman jumps on Scarecrow's van. It would normally awkwardly lag, because it's such a rapid movement, but at LOW the 42LG7000 is awesome for it.

But not every film is Dark Knight, and actually, I didn't like No County of Old Men with TruMotion on, so I turned it off and keep it 24p Real Cinema (which is 100Hz anyway). I think the only HD movies that TruMotion (on LOW) really works well with are action and animation. Even then, it does defeat the point of 24p if the TV adds frames, so perhaps it's better just off?

[mabseyuk]

Originally Posted by Dizagaox

I'd like to input/follow-up on some of the mentioned criticisms raised by David Mackenzie in the 42LG7000 review:

(1) The 24p stuttering issue

I've not encountered this problem at all. Same model, 24p Real Cinema ON and TruMotion LOW, PS3 outputting The Dark Knight @ 1080/24p. Breathtaking.

This stuttering issue sounds isolated (in this case, the reviewer's TV), and not at all representative of the entire product line.

If it's not an isolated issue, the only explanation I have is maybe you set TruMotion to HIGH? I'm certain you reviewed TruMotion with it set to HIGH, when it should be set to LOW or OFF.

(2) Issues with quality loss

Under Advanced Controls you can change and turn off all the "behind-your-back" processing. You don't need to go into PC mode to get the full quality.

I personally don't use any of of the Advanced Controls processing for HD (except 24p and TruMotion), I think it defeats the point. Only use these for SD.

(3) Ghosting

If you mean the "Triple Ball Effect", this might be another isolated issue. A couple of the LG70s (US version of same series) had the same problem earlier this year. It's a shame this seems to have made it over to our versions, but my TV doesn't have this issue... YET! I'm on the lookout!

(4) TruMotion

I really want to know how you managed to get TruMotion working under PC mode, because it's not meant to work at all!! With mine, TruMotion turns off immediately when you have RGB-PC, and the manual says it's the same deal with HDMI-PC too.

I also think the issue you have with TruMotion is because you have it set to HIGH, not at the recommended LOW, because imo LOW is pure class. Far superior to Panasonic's IFC. Sky Sports is pure class and, shockingly, even stuff like MTV and BBC News are really smooth! It's so fluid, as the propaganda says (rightly so!).

I keep TruMotion on and set at LOW for most things. Just try the demo out if you're unsure.

For DVDs (upscaled) and Blu-rays though, I turn it off, but Dark Knight with TruMotion set to LOW looked fantastic! Right at the beginning, when Batman jumps on Scarecrow's van. It would normally awkwardly lag, because it's such a rapid movement, but at LOW the 42LG7000 is awesome for it.

But not every film is Dark Knight, and actually, I didn't like No County of Old Men with TruMotion on, so I turned it off and keep it 24p Real Cinema (which is 100Hz anyway). I think the only HD movies that TruMotion (on LOW) really works well with are action and animation. Even then, it does defeat the point of 24p if the TV adds frames, so perhaps it's better just off?

Sorry, I know this is my first post, but I have to agree with the above. I also don't get the problems in 24p and hope I dont get what you mentioned in the review.

After the review, did you contact LG to confirm if this was an issue because maybe you just had a bad TV?

If I had read your review before buying this TV, it would have put me off, when in my view there is no need to be put off because I don't have any of your complaints other than the recent price drop which hacks me off considering I paid a damn sight more for my TV

Mabsey

[Jif1981]

Thanks for the review David.
I bought one of these bad boys today

Any chance of posting the optimum picture settings? or your best out the box setting?
No complaints with picture, but if I can make it beter..........

Thanks

[leemk]

Got one of these today , Tried 3 blu-rays , I robot , Beowulf and Dark City , Superb quality , no stuttering that i could see.
Incidently has anyone used the product support from currys, i got it for £6.99 a month .

[Phil Hinton]

If you read the review carefully you will see its not a stutter but indeed the TV jumps a couple of frames every now and again when playing back 24p. This problem was not only seen on this set but other LG panels and is an issue. If you don't see it on your TV then great stuff, but it has clearly been on a few review sets from LG and if you watch the video review you can also clearly see the issue.
The fact that the set loses high end detail is also another well documented issue and switching to PC mode gets around this. It is a fault of the LG which is again well documented now.

David is a fully trained and highly experienced reviewer who unlike many of the subjective magazine and certain website reviewers, actually goes to great lengths to actually review the TVs sent to him. We have testing procedures to show up all potential issues with TVs and projectors and David wouldn't mention anything he didn't feel was at least an issue with performance. If anybody is going to notice issues with processing issues David is your man as he encodes DVD and BD discs for arthouse film companies in his other job. We check the processing but I can assure you that David would not have anything switched to high as you suggest, other than to quickly probably laugh at the results. Unlike other publications that claim to be ISF qualified yet there are not records with ISF to confirm this, we are all ISF qualified and certified with testing procedures that far excell anything the print or other websites can or do employ, yet they try to copy it! There are no perfect displays, never will be, but we can at least give you the correct information for you to decide what isues you can put up with - or even see- when making your choice. The fact these issues have been seen on more than one panel suggest they are there, its just that maybe not everyone can see them. (or know what to look for).

Thanks for your feedback and if you are not seeing the slight issues David has raised with what can be considered an excellent TV - then thats great and I hope you enjoy your tv.

[David Mackenzie]

Hey Mabseyuk, glad you're enjoying the TV.

If it's not an isolated issue, the only explanation I have is maybe you set TruMotion to HIGH? I'm certain you reviewed TruMotion with it set to HIGH, when it should be set to LOW or OFF.

Definitely not; TruMotion was turned off. I'm not a fan of the video-like effect systems like this add to movies.

(4) TruMotion

I really want to know how you managed to get TruMotion working under PC mode, because it's not meant to work at all!! With mine, TruMotion turns off immediately when you have RGB-PC, and the manual says it's the same deal with HDMI-PC too.

I imagine it will be off with the RGB/VGA input, yes. It's permanently on using HDMI if the input is labelled "PC" though.

(2) Issues with quality loss

Under Advanced Controls you can change and turn off all the "behind-your-back" processing. You don't need to go into PC mode to get the full quality.

Unfortunately that's not the case. The visibility of the effect will vary depending on content, but it's there.

Enjoy!

[Dizagaox]

Originally Posted by David Mackenzie

I imagine it will be off with the RGB/VGA input, yes. It's permanently on using HDMI if the input is labelled "PC" though.

Is that the same as HDMI-PC mode? I'm doing what you did in the video, but under the Expert settings TruMotion is fixed off. I want it on LOW for Sky.

[David Mackenzie]

Yes, the menu reports that it is off to the user - but it's actually on (at what intensity, I'm not sure).

[oldeyes]

Thanks for clearing that up. So it would seem RGB-PC works correctly but HDMI-PC has a bug?

Well in any case, thanks to this one "feature" I decided to go for the Samsung 6 series instead - not as good deal, but it was important for me to play movies from the PC without trumotion and without "background processing".

[Forbez]

Originally Posted by Tcdoe

Thanks for the review!

Any chance of posting the optimal calibration settings?

I'd like these too, if possible although i understand that it'll be different for each persons setting / ambience, but a good place to start would be ideal.

Thanks