LG 37LH40 37 inch 1080p 120hz lcd hdtv display
LG 37LH40 37 inch 1080p 120hz lcd hdtv back panel
This LG 37LH40 HDTV was to be used as a PC monitor. Besides games and movies, I wanted a “cinema” experience in my office, not just for the couch in the living room.
I Made A Decision.
The LG is a great TV. It has easy to use menus and about all the picture control a person could want. Picture control goes beyond the options of most LCD TV’s, with LG’s “expert” picture mode. You can adjust much more than just contrast and color.
My LCD and a PC.
The LG is hooked up to my PC using HDMI. My PC recognized it immediately. It lets you use a 24hz refresh rate (my PC uses it is as a 120hz model that runs 24hz without pulldown).
The two native resolutions are 1080p/60hz and 1080p/24hz. It is unnecessary for a PC. Yet, it is nice to know a blu-ray player will be accepted with a 24hz signal without issue. Normally, a PC changes to 24hz when fullscreen movies are played. It doesn’t matter if you have it set to 60hz.
Issues.
I wish this LG had picture-in-picture (PiP). My 1st generation, 2-year old Vizio LCD has PiP. Why doesn’t a brand new 120hz model have it? No PiP was almost a deal breaker. My plan was to watch TV in the PiP while browsing the web or working. Oh well, nothing is perfect.
The TV doesn’t have a written manual.
The remote feels cheap and the buttons are not backlit.
TruMotion.
The LG TruMotion does work. However, the picture looks surreal. It makes it uncomfortable to watch. This happened on every 120hz TV I compared, EXCEPT the Sony Bravia XBR series.
Sony’s motion engine seems to retain the cinema feel while adding smoothness to the picture. If you are unsure, definitely consider the Bravia. The price is worth it. If you keep it for years, the price may not matter anyway.
TruMotion is great for sports. It almost feels like looking through a window rather than watching a TV screen.
Performance.
The performance on this LG has been outstanding, so far (not including TruMotion). When I compare it to my Vizio 47 inch 1080p 60hz, it is a big difference.
Tearing showed in some movies and every game on the Vizio. The LG doesn’t have that problem. The LG displays scrolling and fast movement both smoothly and clearly. The color depth is outstanding. Movies stand out in 720p or less. There is no graininess compared to the Vizio. In 1080p, the screen clarity is impressive. Sitting only 3 or 4 feet away, the picture on the LG still looks great.
Sound.
The sound is good. It is not great. The voice clarity option is really nice. It helps keep a reasonable volume. Yet, you still hear voices from TV shows and movies very well.
Design.
The LG has a nice design. The LED on the bottom moves when the power is on. It’s a gimmick, but it looks nice.
The bezel is rather large. It is about twice the size of my Vizio 47 inch. I don’t think you’ll notice it, though. But, the bezel does have a highly reflective black surface. It seems to reflect any light behind me.
The screen is not glossy. However, it does have a little reflection to it.
Should You Get It?
I feel the LG is a great purchase. The difference in picture quality is noticeably better from older 60hz LCD’s. Personally, the XBR Bravia LCDs are a little better. But, you pay for that difference.
As a monitor, you will like this LG 37LH40. Just remember to take some time to set the picture. Out of the box it looks good but tweaking gets this screen to do amazing things.
Note: You may experience problems with the HDMI connection and your cable provider. The HDMI audio sync has been reported to be seconds slow on some cable boxes. Your cable may seem like a badly dubbed movie.