LG 37LG60

September 6, 2008 04:17

4.5/5
After deciding that a 40" tv would be too big for my small room (not to mention expensive), and 32" would not let me appreciate 1080p for all it's glory, I decided to get a 37" LCD TV. I wanted an LCD that would play Video Games, Blueray movies, and to be used as my PC monitor in 1080p (also for video games).

I researched the specs of every 37" tv made by Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, and LG for a week. I checked Consumer reports and the AV forums. It was an axtremely hard choice as most of you probably already know and the 37" LG60 Scarlet currently has no reviews anywhere.

Sharp was the first to steal my heart with the 32" GP3 series but it didn't come in 37". Then Sony's 37" BR6 dazzled me with all of it's extra features, really good sound and sleek design. However the information is incorrect on some websites as the 37" does NOT have 120Hz TruMotion (only their 40"+ family members do). I then checked out Panasonic's LZ800, Samsung's A530 and LG's LG60 Scarlet. No matter what model I compare it to, LG's Scarlet blows the specs off all of it's competition. I couldn't believe the LG60 model had Trumotion for starters. 120Hz is practically non-existant on 37" models, I was very delighted to see this as my games and bluray movies have never looked so smooth and immersive. The contrast ratio of 50000:1 and 2.7ms response time is also the highest/fastest out of all the 37" models on the market and you won't see deeper blacks or comparible response times unless you go to 40" LCD's which are FAR more expensive.

The LG60 is very beautiful whether its off or on. The back is the TV has a lovely scarlet color but naturally you dont see the back very often. The Scarlet line is also the thinnest LCD TV ever made (Im pretty sure) at 1.7inches and thus the bottom grill of the tv is quite large in order to fit all of its components and speakers. It's an acquired taste for sure, one I personally enjoy but Im sure some would prefer something more elegant like Sonys BR6. Nevertheless, it still looks amazing.

(I don't know if I can list actual store names on this website so I'll just call them stores) However, the price for this tv is absolutely insane here in Ontario! One store wanted $2299 and another store had them up for $1999. I was just about to chose Sony's 37BR6 for $1599 until I called up a place in London, Ontario and they had this Tv for $1499 during that night's VIP sale. I couldn't believe my luck. I mostly likely would have chosen the Sony BR6 with its features such as PiP, P&P, Tv Guide, and great sound, had I not found the LG Scarlet for such a great price.

If your looking for a 40" LCD TV then personally I would go Samsung or Sony but that's for other reviewers to decide. As far as raw power in 37" goes... the Scarlet LG60 definately tops them all! But I would definately compare your local Sony and LG prices as it may just not be worth it for you if it's $500 more for LG.

- Lastat27

January 3, 2009 04:56

5.0/5

- chiptanis

December 18, 2008 02:14

4.0/5
I have owned the 37LG60 for about 6 weeks now and I am very impressed.

Setup: Out of the box, everything went fairly well and the packaging was good. The directions for attaching the stand are a bit lacking in that there are two different sizes of screws provided and it is up to the user to figure out which ones fit in which holes. The menus for A/V setup are clear and concise for basic set up and there are a plethora of advanced options for those that want to dive in.

Video: The picture is excellent. At the time I'm writing this, there is only one 37" consumer LCD HDTV that supports both 1080p resolutions and 120hz refresh rates. Visually any HD content played on the set is stunning, and even standard definition looks fine for almost everything. Much better than some less expensive sets that I looked at. There are almost never any visible jagged lines on SD content. The color and contrast were a bit off out of the box but that is normal with HD sets and 2 minutes of adjusting fixed it. I didn't even have time to run a calibration DVD or Blu-Ray yet and I'm already very happy. Just a note for those that are planning on purchasing a 1080p TV; at 37", in order to take full advantage of 1080p (be able to see the difference between 720 and 1080) you need to be sitting about 4 feet from the TV. With smaller sets, the difference is less noticeable. If you are looking to save money, getting a 720p TV would not be a bad idea. That being said, I love the way the 37LG60 looks and would recommend it on picture quality alone.

Inputs: The good news is there are tons of inputs. 4 HDMI, 2 Composite, a VGA for use as a computer monitor and more. The bad news is that I use a Panasonic Blu-Ray player and a TiVo HD with the system, both plugged into HDMI ports and most of the time when pausing or fast forwarding/rewinding content from either player, I get a high pitched clicking/static type of noise coming from the speakers. It is very faint, but I can still hear it. Since this is my first HDTV, I wasn't sure if that was a common problem, but after asking around, found nobody else that had ever heard of such a thing. I contacted LG online support and was told, "I am sorry, I have found out that can sometimes happen with digital but unfortunately there are not any adjustments that can be made for that issue." I'm going to try the Composite inputs to see if the problem exists there as well. It is not loud enough to make me return the set, but this is the issue that keeps me from rating a full 5 Stars.

Sound: The only other place where this TV is lacking is the built in speakers, which work fine for day to day use, but if you want to fully enjoy a movie experience, you will want to buy a sound system to replace the onboard speakers.

Visual appeal: The set itself is sturdy and attractive. The "scarlet" back is beautiful and the edges can be seen from almost any angle. The gloss black front and mirror finish base give it a classy look. I prefer matte finishes on TV's, which eliminate glare from other light sources, but this is easily overlooked, as the set is gorgeous.

Support: LG's online support was prompt and friendly but not entirely helpful in dealing with the clicking/static noise I am experiencing.

Overall, I'm giving the set 4 stars and keeping it in my house. I will edit my review once I've had a chance to try Composite cables.

- kermit814