The LG LED's with local dimming

[Botch]

Tonight after work I stopped at a local store to see if they had the Toshiba LED tv (46") with local dimming, from the 'net it was much less expensive than the Samsung at $3,200. They had ALL the sets I was interested in seeing, and the sales clerk was actually very knowledgeable about the different models, especially for a furniture store.
The demo Blu-Ray disc they had running had a split-screen showing just what the "local-LED-dimming" feature bought you, and I'm sold.
He asked to show me an even better set, a 55" Sony top-of-the-line that has the next step up from local dimming, I guess its a three-color LED that REALLY made the color pop. They had one set left, demo, that originally went for >$6,000 but was marked down to $2,600. Would've been a good deal except 55", especially with the built-in surround sound speakers on this set, would be just too much for my smaller living room. Still, helluva picture!
Finally he showed me the LGs. They actually build the screens that Toshiba uses in their TVs, with the difference that they're anti-glare, while the Toshibas are bare glass (that'll be a big thing for me as my viewing room will be my upstairs living room with a picture window directly behind me). The 46" LG was only $1,499 on sale, WOW! Includes a Dolby THX feature which I guess self-calibrates. The sale ended tonight but I've found that if you go in the next week, ask for the sale price, and turn around and walk towards the door when they say no, you can usually get that price.
Anyway, that's the best set I've seen for the money yet. Just have to settle on a speaker outfit, and carpeting, and I'll be ready to pull out the plastic. Whee!

[MJL777]

Self calibrates? Hmmm...does it have some form of a spectroradiometer or something?

[apcarandang]

The THX certification only means it will be able to produce colors that is in accordance to THX specs. There are newer TV's that have a THX picture mode that is pre-calibrated to give the most accurate picture. I will still use a calibration disc to fine tune from the THX presets though.

APC
S & V Moderator

[Botch]

Originally Posted by MJL777

Self calibrates? Hmmm...does it have some form of a spectroradiometer or something?

Can't tell you, only that it has something to do with the THX certification.

Oh, and now the local Best Buy has it for $1,399....

[Caesartrav]

the feature you are referring to is called the 'intelligent sensor.' It is completely separate from THX certification but does allow the set to be adjusted in many different ways (brightness, contrast, backlight, sharpness, etc) based on the type of light, color of light, and intensity in the room. It adjusts every time the lighting conditions change.

I have seen this feature in action, as a seller in a store environment, and am actually quite impressed. It may not always be the most accurate, but it does help and allows the user to focus on content, not constant adjustments.

the intelligent sensor is found on all sizes of the LH40, LH55, SL80, and LH90 series. The LH90 is currently the only LCD tv with THX, so that would be the one you saw in the store. Happy hunting!

[MJL777]

I'm wondering how the THX standard compares to NTSC. Of course I think we all know that THX isn't actually an industry technical standard but I've never seen a THX certified movie with sub-par picture...

[deacongreg]

Well, this seems to be the perfect fit for this tv. Amazing features and technology packed into this model. And its compared to the same LG I believe your talking about Botch. I plan to hit Best Buy and see if they have this on display.



http://hometheaterreview.com/toshiba...dtv-reviewed-/

[Botch]

Yes, I got my latest issue of Home Theater just two weeks ago and they compared both that Toshiba and the LG model I was interested in. They gave higher marks to the Toshiba, saying the off-axis picture, and the detail in darker areas, were better. I couldn't see a difference in the off-axis picture at the store (and fortunately they were sitting side-by-side). I could see slightly better detail in the dark areas on the Toshiba, but I'm betting the matte screen on the LG has everything to do with that (in fact I've written a "Letter to the Editor" to HT, let's see if my hunch is correct).
I bought the LG. Not from BestTry, I won't get into the crap they handed me again, I gladly paid the $100 extra and got it from the furniture store. Was installed last night. I don't have my speakers set up yet as the new carpeting gets installed Friday, but I did slip Return to Forever's Live at Montreaux Bluray into my shiny new Oppo player, and listened to the sound from the TV itself. Dayam, what a picture! (granted, I'm comparing it to my >12-yr-old Phillips-Magnavox box tv, which someone so kindly took from my curb yesterday morning ) but I'm extremely happy with the picture and sure wish it was 48 hours from now!

[dragon51]

So are the LG good TV's now, and are they standing behind them I know for awhile they were not so good and LG would not honor any service work on them. I have been leary about them an Vizio tv's too.

[Botch]

Originally Posted by dragon51

So are the LG good TV's now, and are they standing behind them I know for awhile they were not so good and LG would not honor any service work on them. I have been leary about them an Vizio tv's too.

I'm happy with the TV, no idea if they won't do any service work, and I hope not to find out.