ON TEST / 42IN LCD TV
Verdict Approx price 1,000

LG 42LT75

BFreeview Playback works superbly, good value, good pictures, features ESecond digital tuner weakens signal, limited viewing angle
The UKs rst Freeview Playback TV is here and its a corker
LGS 42LT75 IS the UKs rst TV to meet the Freeview Playback standard, offering digital recording, similar to Sky+, but with the Freeview broadcast service. So should Sky be quaking in its boots?

Features

The rivals

/ Hitachi P50XR01

Doesnt have full Freeview Playback functionality, but this 50in plasma does have a built in HDD along with a digital tuner. Tested: Issue 328
/ Loewe Individual Compose 40
Built-in digital tuner and HDD recording, but no Freeview Playback. Tested: Issue 326
Before we get into the 42LT75s Freeview Playback stuff, lets get a couple of more basic things out of the way rst. Its connections include two HDMIs, component video input, PC input, and a digital audio output. Now we can get down to Freeview Playback business,
starting with the fact that the built-in hard-disk drive required for recording the Freeview channels is a very healthy 160GB in size enough to store around 60 hours of digital recordings and between 45 and 90 hours of analogue ones. If youre wondering why the maximum digital recording capacity
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is xed while the analogue one varies, its because the TV automatically records the direct digital bitstream in the case of Freeview, whereas with analogue the user can decide whether they want the recordings in High or Normal quality modes. Naturally, the 42LT75 comes bearing two digital tuners, so that you can record one digital channel while watching another, and thanks to the TV adhering to the latest Freeview Playback Group 2 standard, you can use the seven-day electronic programme guide to set Series Links. As with Skys system, these are dependent on broadcaster support, but Freeview claims that around 90 analogue recordings are good too, especially if you opt for the High mode, with only a touch of MPEG blocking and extra softness evident to betray the fact that theyre not the original broadcasts. The basic picture quality of the screen, meanwhile, is also rather good. Especially notable is how good standard-denition feeds from the Freeview tuner look. Weve oftcriticised previous LG screens for not handling digital broadcasts at all well, but here, in the course of integrating the Freeview Playback system, LGs technicians have improved things enormously, largely removing the previous overt noise, motion smearing and colour tone problems. The 42LT75 delivers better black levels with all sources than previous LG LCDs too, reducing the level of greying over of dark scenes to a point where it seldom seriously distracts you from what youre watching. Despite its focus on standard denition, meanwhile, the 42LT75 is a very accomplished HD performer, presenting hi-def sources with excellent crispness and detail, pleasingly little noise, and generally very natural colours. Things could still be better, however. Black levels, though improved, are merely good rather than great. Also the viewing angle is limited, and colour saturations, while natural, arent as dramatically vivid as those of some rivals. Our tests revealed that the second digital tuner receives a weaker signal than the rst, resulting in lost channels for those in borderline Freeview reception areas. But provided youre condent about your Freeview signal, none of these niggles prevent the 42LT75 from amounting to comfortably LGs best LCD picture performer to date.

Fact le

/ 42in LCD TV / 1,366 x 768 pixels / Freeview Playback support / 1080p/24fps support / 160GB HDD built in
/ Time in Lab: 8 days / Serial No: 709WRWK3V665 1,038mm 295mm
The 42LT75 delivers better black levels with all sources than previous LG LCDs///
per cent of its channels are already playing ball. Moving into other areas of the 42LT75s spec sheet, some people might be disappointed to nd just an HD-Ready 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution rather than a 1080p one. But to our mind this merely reects the screens focus on the standard denition Freeview services. The screen can still take HD right up to 1080p/24fps, though, with LGs XD Engine system on hand to improve picture quality and an impressive 8,000:1 contrast ratio promising good black levels.
Playback Test Colour temperature Contrast ratio Luminance Colour Frequency response

Rating 6,476K 222:1 96fL

Power consumption: Standby: 1W Playing: 169W Lab notes: Theres absolutely nothing in these results that might set alarm bells ringing

Spec check

Screen size and shape: 42in, 16:9 Tuner: 2x Digital and 1 analogue Sound system: Nicam stereo Resolution (pixels): 1,366 x 768 HD Ready: Yes Quoted contrast ratio: 8,000:1 Quoted brightness: 500cd/m Processing: XD Engine Screen dimensions: 1,038(w) x 687(h) x 295(d)mm Weight: 21kg Other features: Freeview Playback with 160GB hard disk, TimeShift capability, twin digital tuners, High and standard recording modes for analogue sources, EPG support, Intelligent Eye, picture presets, colour temp adjust, MPEG NR, XD NR, XD Colour, XD Contrast; Black level boost / Sockets: 2 HDMI inputs, 2 Scarts (1 RGB), component video input, RS 232, composite video input, D-Sub PC input, RF input, CI slot, SPDIF output, S-video input / Contact: www.lge.co.uk

Ease of use

Its hard to imagine how all the recording/pausing/rewinding/ forwarding/series link functions of this Freeview Playback TV could have been integrated any better. Even die-hard technophobes should be recording away to their hearts content within minutes. And within a couple of days theyll have forgotten that life without Freeview Playback ever existed.

Sound

While theres nothing outstanding about the 42LT75s audio, its certainly no sonic slouch, having enough volume, clarity and dynamic range to keep up with all but the most OTT of action movies.

Picture

The 42LT75s recording quality is excellent. Recordings of digital channels are indistinguishable from the original broadcasts, as youd expect of a TV that records the direct digital bitstream. But

Value

Given its size, performance quality and feature count, the asking price seems remarkably cheap Z
LGs outstanding Freeview Playback implementation nally brings the full joys of the digital TV age to the masses
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