LG 47LB7RF (47-inch LCD)

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By Philip Wong, CNET Asia
Jul 13, 2007

There is a growing In-Plane Switching (IPS) LCD technology push for TVs, the latest being LG and its souped-up Super-IPS variant. Besides the promises of enhanced performance, LG's latest offerings are also a step ahead of Hitachi and Panasonic's, shipped in sizes ranging from 26- to 47-inch screen sizes. As if that's not enough, the top-of-the-line 47LB7RF's bag of tricks also includes a highly sought-after feature which is probably a first among its class. Read on to find out more.

Design
The 47LB7RF's styling is a departure from the dated LB1R-series boxy designs. Gone are the chunky swivel stand shaft and side speakers, tastefully substituted by an unobtrusive curvy equivalent and bottom-mounted streamlined array. These blend seamlessly with the 2-inch-thick LCD frame, all dressed in stylish black piano finish in tune with the current A/V fashion. A clutter-free front and sleek 103mm casing further add to the set�s overall aesthetic appeal, though at the expense of a fixed pedestal stand and bothersome fingerprint smudges.

	Be prepared to stretch your neck to have a clear view of these A/V jacks. (Click for larger image)

We had little problem making impromptu volume adjustments via its onboard TV controls, conveniently located on the chassis� right. This, however, was not the case for the side A/V inputs which are strangely situated deep on the rear left. These are out of sight unless you arch forward well over its corner, a luxury near impossible for custom installations on recessed feature walls. On the brighter side, an optional attachment provides simple-yet-effective cable management. This routes cords neatly into a bundle, away from prying eyes.

Beyond the attractive shimmer and well laid-out keys, it�s a simple matter of features versus functionality when it comes to the ergonomic remote controller. On the one hand, value-added multifunctional capability allows basic playback controls with over 110 brands of VCRs and DVDs. On the other hand, video switching is implemented via a cumbersome toggle button. This calls up a list of eight inputs for selection regardless whether they are supplied with "live" feeds from external sources--a potential hassle for users with elaborate home theater systems.

For a flagship model, nor were we impressed with the sparse graphical software menu. While all expected basic video parameters are present, we found their advanced counterparts extremely lacking. Color management functions were obviously off the chart. Likewise for the XD Engine controls which offered less-than-flexible "yes" and "no" options. Under such circumstances, you will hardly need to reference the detailed user manual for indepth video fine-tuning. But if it ever arises, note that only a softcopy is available on a bundled CD.

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