LG 22LU5000 review

This baby 22 inch LCD is a return to form for LG, doing a lot right for very little money Tested at £300.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The looks, the price-tag and (mostly) the performance of a premium product

Pros

  • +

    Interesting looks

  • +

    good spec and ergonomics

  • +

    impressive pictures, broadly speaking, from all sources

Cons

  • -

    Tinnitus-inducing sound

  • -

    not the most confident DVD upscaler

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LG has taken the opportunity to make a small TV look cute without appearing frivolous. The 22LU5000 is curvy, multicoloured and sports an attractive, jewel-like stand.

It's not all whimsy, though: a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a brace of HDMI inputs mean the LG's equipped to see second-room service from any source(s), and it benefits from excellent on-screen menus as well as logical remote control.

Sporting a Full HD 1080p resolution, the LU5000 delivers vital, energetic pictures when using Blu-ray as a source.

The excellent new BD remaster of Dawn of the Dead enjoys strong contrasts, an extensive, poised colour palette and impressive detail levels.

The LG does good work with dark scenes and with motion too, though very complex patterns (a fetching plaid shirt as worn by a grimacing zombie, for example) can provoke shimmering.

DVD content looks good too
DVD content generally looks assured, too. Most of the Blu-ray performance plusses (convincing colours, bold contrasts) are present.

Detail is good, although the picture is softened, slightly, and the 'LU5000 can't deal with movement with the same authority as with HD material.

But that's to be expected. And with digital TV broadcasts, the LG's picture is detailed and vivid, with deep black tones and quite impressive edge definition. And when playing games, there's no discernible 'button lag'.

The sound is reasonable by the standards of the class, though nothing to write home about. But, in pure picture terms, the 22LU5000 has an awful lot to recommend it.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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