Big Picture Big Sound

LG 55LHX LED/LCD HDTV: Ultra Thin, Ultra Bright

By Chris Chiarella

At a gala event this week at Alice Tully Hall in New York City's famed Lincoln Center, with non-stop live music by Mass Ensemble and a steady stream of curious civilian onlookers, LG showed off a host of new high-definition displays utilizing the latest design innovations. LED (light-emitting diode) has been coming on strong as the apparent successor to CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamps) as the backlighting of choice for LCDs (liquid crystal displays--I'm on a roll with all the abbreviations).  And LG is embracing the technology in a big way.

State-of-the-art LED lighting is the standard for the two models of their new "borderless" SL90 Series of LCDs, as well as new models in the company's LH90 series.  The 47-inch 47LH90 includes local dimming technology to produce superior contrast ratios.  One of the secrets to it its exceptional picture is its 96 zones of independently controlled backlights, each featuring 8 LED lights for a total of 768 LEDs.  The LH90 series also includes a 42-inch (42LH90) and 55-inch (55LH90) models.  It is the first LCD television line to achieve THX certification.

Model pricing is as follows:

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Big Picture Big Sound Editor Chris Boylan pinches the LG 55LHX to see if it's real.

In a class by itself was the 55-inch LHX series model (the only screen size currently in this line), which also features local dimming for enhanced contrast.  The 55LHX, also on display at the event, packs in a whopping 244 independently controlled lighting zones each with 12 LED segments for a total of 2,928 LEDs, all in a TV just under an inch thick. Contributing to the set's  anorexic physique, the TruMotion 240Hz model arrives bundled with a wireless receiver box to handle all of the gear inputs and outputs.  And you won't have to worry about visible wires, because the receiver can transmit an uncompressed 1080p video signal from 30 feet away.

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A necessary accessory for the thin 55LHX is this breakout box which accepts all of the inputs and transmits them wirelessly.

No pricing has been announced yet for the 55LHX, but it is expected to be available later this year.

More Information: www.lgusa.com

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