• LG LE5500 series overview
  • Corner detail
  • Stand detail
  • Profile view
  • Back panel inputs
  • Side panel inputs
  • Remote overview
  • Remote detail
  • Quick menu
  • Simple manual
  • Netcast menu
  • YouTube client
  • Picasa photo service
  • Yahoo widgets
  • Flickr widget
  • Games
  • DLNA and USB streaming
  • Picture wizard
  • Local dimming
  • Dejudder controls
  • Expert picture menu
  • Ten-point IRE system
  • Picture quality
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LG LE5500 series (photos)

LG LE5500 series overview

In the last few years the most compelling LCD challengers to the picture quality reign of plasma were equipped with multizone LED backlights that could dim or brighten in different areas of the screen independently. Broadly known as "local dimming" technology, in the best cases it delivered superb black-level performance and manageable trade-offs in the form of stray illumination or "blooming." In worse cases, such as the LG LE5500 series, that stray illumination is not managed well.

Unfortunately, we suspect that many buyers lured by the LG's claims of dimming won't understand the differences--among them the fact that this TV uses LED that illuminate the screen from the edge, rather than from behind. The LE5500 does offer plenty of perks, including accurate color, decent bright-room performance, a stylishly thin frame and numerous Internet features, but seekers of LED-based LCDs who place a premium on image quality should look elsewhere.

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Corner detail

A subtle reddish tint sets the LE5500 apart but probably won't match most decors.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Stand detail

The stand of the LE5500 allows the thin panel to swivel.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Profile view

The LE5500's panel measures just 1.1 inches deep.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Back panel inputs

The LG's back input scheme is pretty standard, with three HDMI, two component-video, and one PC input, among others.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Side panel inputs

You'll need to use breakout cables (included) to connect component or composite sources to the side. The side bay is narrow enough that LG recommends a width no greater than 10mm (0.39 inches) for HDMI and USB cables/thumbdrives. The second USB port is nice if you monopolize the first with the optional Wi-Fi dongle.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Remote overview

LG's new clicker is a long, thin wand with decent button differentiation and friendly, rubberized keys. We liked the bulge in the middle that corresponds with a convenient notch on the underside for your index finger; we missed direct infrared control of other devices.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Remote detail

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Quick menu

The menus are basic and functional, with plenty of ways to get around, including a nice Quick Menu of shortcuts.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Simple manual

LG calls its onscreen manual "simple" and that's definitely the case--it's more like a rundown of features than a usable manual.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Netcast menu

A series of convenient tiles provides a gateway to the principal Internet functions.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

YouTube client

YouTube browsing is simple, although searching via the remote control is still a chore.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Picasa photo service

In addition to the Flickr widget, there's a Picasa client for more photo-viewing options.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Yahoo widgets

The selection of nonstreaming Internet features nothing to write home about, and most of the utilities, with the exception of Picasa, come courtesy of Yahoo widgets. At the time of this writing, the LE5500 has access to eleven widgets. Yahoo's platform is somewhat more usable than in the past, with snappier responses to button presses and faster load times for individual widgets. That said it could be a lot faster, and the initial load of the main widget taskbar can take 20 seconds or more--still an eternity on a television. Apps selection and usability overall is a step behind Samsung and Vizio.

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Flickr widget

Not into Picasa? The Flickr widget lets you look at online photos, too.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Games

The Games platform, not to be confused with the games included with Yahoo Widgets, includes extremely basic custom titles, for example Sudoku and Whack a Mole--the less said, the better about these pointless exercises in frustrating gameplay.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

DLNA and USB streaming

The LG can access photos, music, and video via DLNA from networked PCs in your home, or via USB devices plugged directly into its side panel.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Picture wizard

We also liked the improvements made to the Picture Wizard, which consists of a series of test patterns that can help non-Experts adjust basic controls and get the gist of what picture setup is all about.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Local dimming

LG built local dimming into its edge-lit LED, but it's not as effective as the full-array variety.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Dejudder controls

LG now offers the capability to adjust dejudder processing, a welcome extra pioneered by Samsung last year (although it doesn't work nearly as well).
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Expert picture menu

The Expert menu is the gateway to LG's array of additional picture controls.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Ten-point IRE system

There are now specific gamma settings (1.9, 2.2 and 2.4) in the excellent 10-point IRE system available in the Expert menu.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Picture quality

Our first experience with local dimming from an edge-lit LED configuration, with Samsung's C8000 series, was significantly better than what we saw on the (significantly less expensive) LG LE5500. The LG's imprecise dimming produced distracting brightness variations, and the TV's black-level performance overall was still worse than other standard, nondimming edge-lit models'. Accurate color in bright scenes and a matte screen for bright rooms help soften the blow somewhat, but all told, the LE5500 turned in mediocre picture quality.
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

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