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LCD TV Group Test

LG MW-30LZ10

orean company LG is renowned for its low prices. It comes as no surprise then that LGs first 30in set undercuts Sharp and Sony sets by hundreds of pounds. We found it for just 2,000 from www.comet.co.uk as we went to press. The LG challenges competitors with its design too. The ultra-slim burnished metal frame around the screen looks sensational, as does the speaker panel beneath the screen, and the swivelling stand. Connections are fairly thin on the ground without an external media box/TV tuner (not supplied by Comet). Component video, S-video and composite inputs should suffice for home cinema use, and DVI input is great for viewing PC images. The lack of a superior RGB Scart, however, is a real downer for those who dont have component-capable DVD players. The MW-30LZ10 does have some nifty features though. Picture-in-picture (PIP) is the highlight, allowing you to watch two sources simultaneously and change the size and position of the PIP screen. You can also view awesome progressive scan images up to a resolution of 1,280x768 pixels, via the component input. Picture adjustments include individual red, green and blue tweaks, and multiple zoom modes to suit the material youre viewing. TEST SCENE

JOHNNY ENGLISH

Looking sharp

FADED AGENTS

In the early funeral scene the agents black coats dont look as black as they should, due to poor contrast
When you run a DVD though the LG, the first thing that hits home is the superb detail response. This brings out the minutiae found in the backgrounds of most movie scenes, creating a sharp and striking picture. Also impressive is the intensity and vibrancy of colours. Theyre natural-looking and lack the greenish tinge that can blight LCD pictures. Whats more, they rarely show colour bleed. Images are also very clear. Theres very little smudging around image edges, less picture noise than expected from a 30in panel, and little image lag on fast moving objects. Before we get carried away with this backslapping however, there is some bad news to report. Contrast is fairly poor, meaning that theres a layer of grey mist over black tones and it can be hard to discern certain objects during dark scenes. No complaints about sound though. The LG makes good use of its 2x10W of power. Theres plenty of detail and effects are nicely dispersed across the soundstage. Dialogue is audible over the most intrusive of soundtracks. Only a lack of bass lets the side down, but even this is good for an LCD. If LCD is to match the success of CRT sets, it needs companies like LG to drive down the prices. But theres far more to this set than a nice price. Pictures are also very impressive (barring the FURTHER INFO contrast), which makes this 30in stunner a bargain buy if you own Call or visit www.lge.co.uk a separate digital adaptor. WHC

GOOD POINTS

Pictures are decent and sound is crystal clear. Picture-in-picture is handy and the LG looks stunning

BAD POINTS

Slightly underachieving contrast. Lacks an external tuner box, and theres no RGB-capable Scart

OVERALL

Solid pictures, good sound and some nifty features, for a low price

RATINGS

Style Ease of use Features Picture Sound Value Overall 5555555556
What Home Cinema September 2003

0306HCC01 LG LCD-TV P

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LG MW-30LZ10 N 3,000 N 5544 N www.lge.co.uk
A slim and lightweight design

Big LCD outsider

LG HAS UNVEILED A LARGE-SCREEN LCD TO STRIVE AGAINST THE DOMINANT PLASMAS. BUT FOR THE ODD TWEAK, MARCO BILELLO FEELS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE HUNT
The minimalist remote has few visible buttons
e had been led to believe that LCD couldnt challenge plasma in the large-screen
composite video inputs, which share the solitary phono input. There are also dual input sockets for the speakers as well as a DC output. Elsewhere you have a 15-pin PC RGB input, a DVI input, a second stereo audio input and an RS232 serial port, all of which are located behind two screw-on flaps at the back of the set. The drop-down onscreen menu is attractively presented and easy to navigate, making tweaks and alterations a cinch. The large retro-style remote is also a breeze, with a small selection of clearly labelled buttons providing access to a host of features. The MW-30LZ10 is compatible with PAL/NTSC progressive scan and highdefinition signals, with the display sporting a resolution of 1280 x 768. The usual picture tweaks are present, but the set also provides individual red, green and blue level adjustment, while there are three preset picture modes and three predefined colour temperature options. The display supports three aspect ratio settings and theres a flexible picture-in-picture option. The zoom function is also worthy of a mention. Where the video functions are tempting and varied, the audio options are limited and bland, allowing for just treble, bass and balance adjustment and four preset audio modes. But then

LAB REPORT

Colour: Excellent with minimal bleed from tight edges Geometry: Excellent Frequency response: Excellent. Clear all the way up to 5.8MHz
again, most customers with three grand to spend would be using some serious offboard audio
entertainment stakes. Recent outings from Samsung and Sharp, however, have helped dismiss this notion, and now LG is the latest manufacturer to enter the race. At 3,000 the 30in MW-30LZ10 is a serious competitor to 32in plasma alternatives, while at the same time undercutting Sharps rival 30in LC-30HV2E (Nov/Dec 2002) by a grand. It is also blessed with dazzling looks, something LGs previous offerings have lacked.

UNEVEN SIDES

Picture quality is mixed. But, starting with the positives, images via the component video feed are bright and colourful, with excellent detail response ensuring that DVDs look immaculate. Impressively, theres hardly any sign of dot crawl or pixel noise, which makes images cinematically smooth. Colours appear natural and not falsely overenhanced while being contained by clearly defined edges. Brighter colours are particularly brilliant, but, darker ones appear slightly washed and faded, with blacks erring towards grey. There is also slight bleed, and image lag is a problem with fast-moving footage or camera pans caused by the low refresh rate of the LCD panel. Pictures via the S-video feed are less impressive. Colour rendition from DVDs is excellent, but there are greater problems with image lag and noise is also visible.

MIX AND MATCH

These cute stereo speakers accompany the set
In a minimalist touch, the brushed silver frame has been relieved of manual controls (these can be found facing upwards on an underside panel). The slender swivel stand can also be removed if you want to hang the display on the wall, and audio is provided by a pair of svelte speakers which perfectly complement the sets sleek looks. Frustratingly, unless you buy the MW30LZ10 from Comet you wont get the matching tuner box. LG has agreed a deal which gives Comet exclusive rights to sell a tuner with the set a curious move considering that the screen lacks
Connections are limited without the tuner box so watch where you buy
Scarts and an RF input. However, it does offer component video, S-video and
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Hooking up a PS2 exposed this further. When driving around Vice City, any sudden movements leave a blurry trail behind objects, while objects moving at high speed temporarily go out of focus. Edges also appear jagged and there are slight patches of noise visible. However, the set comes into its own when rigged up to a PC, delivering spectacularly clean, highly detailed images through its VGA input. The two 10W speakers are adequate and convey stereo material cleanly with decent levels of detail. Effects are sharp and dialogue is fulsome, although there is a distinct lack of bass.

RATINGS

Highs: Colour; looks; ease of use; clean images Lows: Low contrast; occasional image lag
Picture Sound Features Overall #### ###12 #### ####

FEATURES

Screen: 30in 16:9 LCD panel Specifications: 1280 x 768 res and up to 1280 x 1024 supported; 480p, 480I, 720p, 1080I support; 2 x 10W stereo output; tuner box only through Comet; PIP with multiple size/positioning; 3 aspect ratios; 3-preset picture modes; VCR and TV modes; zoom facility; treble, bass, balance adjustment; 5 audio modes; screen saver; clock; phase adjustment; sleep timer Connections: (display) component video input; S-video input; composite video input; stereo audio input x 2; DVI input; PC RGB input; RS232 input Dimensions: 759(w) x 546(h) x 180(d)mm; Weight: 18.4kg

BALANCING ACT

The positives far outweigh the negatives, leaving the MW-30LZ10 as one of the more impressive large-screen LCD TVs around. The low contrast ratio of 400:1 is a disappointment, as is the grey-ish rendering of blacks. But, brighter colours are vibrant and there is good detail to images. Its worth considering that the other complaints, especially image lag, are common LCD bug-bears. And remember: if you want the TV tuner box, youll have to buy the set from Comet. All in all, Sharps rival 30in LC-30HV2E just shades it, with more features, greater connectivity and the guaranteed inclusion of a media box I