LG 32LD450 32-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)After comparison shopping for a LCD set to replace my current Sharp Aquos LC20D42U (also reviewed), I settled on this TV.

I'm not going to write a book - but the following are my initial impressions.

Given that my outgoing Sharp display had only 1 HDMI input, the LG's 2 inputs are acceptable for my needs (HD cable/DVR & PS3) but for others with more peripherals (stand alone Blu-Ray, DVD, multiple gaming consoles, etc), 2 HDMI inputs may not be enough. The set also has a component input (probably acceptable for use w/ a non-upscaling DVD player).

Unboxing the TV in my living room, I cranked all my lights to check for blemishes / defects. While the TV was in good condition, both the screen and the glossy black bezel had hand/finger prints in multiple locations. I'm not sure if this happened at the factory (made in Mexico) or if I got a unit that had been previously unboxed (manuals, remote, stand were all still in sealed plastic - so I'm guessing factory), but it was a little unsettling, even at this price point. It took me a few extra minutes to wet a cloth and clean the TV before setting it up.

The glossy black bezel is unremarkable - it doesn't look bad, but it does look (and feel) a little cheap. This is not a TV I would mount or place conspicuously - especially among high quality peripherals, audio equipment or as the anchor of an expensive entertainment center (of course it's doubtful that a 32" TV would typically form the center of an expensive piece of furniture like that).

After setting the TV up, I obviously turned it on. I was not immediately impressed. Like most new TV's, this one is pre-programmed to default to wild backlight / brightness / color settings (with the aim of display sets not washing out under bright store lights, I presume). After spending some time tuning the picture, I was able to achieve settings that were to my liking. The tuned picture is fairly impressive at this price point - solid processing, even backlighting, good black levels for a CCFL-backlit TV, and fairly accurate color although off-angle viewing could be better. Speaking of tuning, the menu / interface is very simple and very easy to use - both because of good menu design and also because there are not a whole lot of features on this set to be configured.

Which brings me to features - this is not among the next generation of LCD TV's; it has no LED backlight, it is not 120hz, it is not thinner than a strand of hair, it does not connect wirelessly or offer widgets or video streaming, and it is not 3D compatible (a feature I sincerely hope does not catch on for cinema or television - who wants to wear 3D glasses all evening?).

But if you don't want to spend a lot, don't need the TV to be a conversation piece while it is turned off, don't need to the TV to perform functions that your other devices would likely make redundant, and are looking primarily for decent quality picture and good value - then I'd recommend this TV to you.

Full specs can be found at the following location: [...]

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Product Description:
A great way to get into high-definition entertainment, the affordable 32-inch LG 32LD450 LCD HDTV offers 1080p Full HD resolution for crystal-clear detail, multiple AV Modes to optimize the picture depending on what you're watching (Cinema, Sports, or Games), and an amazing 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for more stunning colors and deeper blacks. Other features include a 4ms (millisecond) response time, capability to play MP3 audio files and JPEG photo slideshows from a USB drive, stereo speakers with 20 watts of power and Dolby Digital decoding, and three HDMI inputs.

Key Features

Full HD 1080p resolution
This stunning picture is the reason you wanted HDTV in the first place. With almost double the pixel resolution, Full HD 1080p gives it superior picture quality over standard HDTV.You'll see details and colors like never before.
100,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
No more worrying about dark scenes or dull colors. The dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000:1 delivers more stunning colors and deeper blacks than you can imagine.
AV Mode
Sports, movies and video games are best enjoyed with customized settings. With AV Mode, you can easily select from one of three picture modes for "Cinema", Sports" or "Games" to enjoy an optimized picture and sound experience.
Picture Wizard
Get easy self-calibration with on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements such as black level, color, tint, sharpness and backlight levels. Take the guesswork out of picture adjustments with this simple-to-use feature. It's not actually magic, but it will sure seem that way.
24P Real Cinema
Stay in for the theater. Enjoy a true cinema-like experience in your own home with movies the way they are meant to be seen. LG's Real Cinema technology precisely displays 24p source frames on your screen, the same as on a movie screen. If you love movies, you'll love Real Cinema. ISFccc Calibration Ready
LG's ISFccc Ready HDTVs contain the detailed standards necessary for professional calibration of brightness, contrast, tint, sharpness, color levels and much more to meet local lighting conditions for both day and nighttime viewing. Settings are added to preset modes for easy access from your LG remote. Clear Voice II
Get audio the way it was meant to be heard. Clear Voice II enhances and amplifies the frequency range of the human voice to help keep dialogue audible when background noise swells.
Infinite Sound
What's a great picture without great sounds to match? Infinite Sound delivers an amazing listening experience with deep, rich bass to make the most of your entertainment. Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital lets you experience compelling 5.1-channel surround sound. And you can trust that you'll get the same great Dolby Digital audio quality no matter what you're watching--a DVD or Blu-Ray Disc, TV programming or downloaded content. Best of all, you can be confident that you'll hear the audio exactly as it was intended, because Dolby Digital is also used to create the soundtracks for movies and games. USB 2.0
Now reliving that fantastic family vacation can happen in the comfort of your living room. Easily connect your external USB devices to enjoy JPEG photos or listen to MP3 files. HDMI V.1.3 with Deep Color
Make installation of any enabled device a snap. Get 10.2Gbps of bandwidth for deeper colors and more to take advantage of the best Full HD experience. HDMI V.1.3 connectivity lets you prepare yourself for tomorrow's technology today. SimpLink
Having a hard time keeping track of your remotes? With SimpLink, all your LG devices can be controlled with just one remote. Smart Energy Saving
With LG's Smart Energy Saving Features, you can conserve money and energy.

Key Specifications

Screen size: 32-inch class (31.5 inches diagonal)
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p Full HD)
Dynamic contrast ratio: 100,000:1
Viewing angle: 178 degrees horizontal/vertical
Response time: 4ms
Built-in tuner: ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM
Audio output: 20 watts (10W x 2)
Speaker system: 2-way, 4 speakers
Dolby Digital decoder: Yes
Surround system: Infinite Sound
Input labeling: Yes
Swivel stand: