I know people who would knock down their granny just so they could step over her to get their hands on budget house-hold 3D
The LD950 arrived in a box so huge I was convinced, with the aid of throw rugs and a poster, I could confidently relinquish my lease and live happily within. Open it up however, and you’ll be relieved to discover you’ve not accidently purchased a television so large you couldn’t in good conscience attach it to a supporting wall.
The 47 inch LCD television is just the right side of opulent. It’s surprisingly light too. It’s lifted with ease, a second pair of hands needed only to pop its free standing platform into place. Designed with families in mind, LG has intelligently made their product user friendly, just plug in and you’re ready.
The LD950 houses the usual suspects for its price range, 4 HDMI inputs, external storage via USB 2.0, VGA, 1080p etc, but as mentioned, we’re here for 3D, so we slap on some flimsy plastic glasses and push the “Make 3D Go!*” button.
*Sadly, this button doesn’t really exist.
LG’s LD950 uses passive technology (what’s used during a 3D cinema screening). Very basically, it splits the resolution and pipes it to each eye individually, usually sufficient to fool your noggin! Active technology is available and yields more impressive results; however it requires expensive power active shutter glasses, and is notorious for prompting migraines.
The LD950 comes with four pairs of polarised glasses, which seems generous. But considering a pair will set you back about two bills and the typical family home usually has more than 4 TV viewers floating about, it seems just a bit stingy that complimentary spares weren’t chucked in the box. God knows there was room for them.
Everyone has their own opinions on 3D so we’ll abandon objectivity for this section: the effect was actually rather impressive, especially when enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. Foreground images have striking, perceptible depth. That is until you grow used to it, or realize you have to leave a lamp on because the glasses make it occasionally too dark to see properly. Cinemas suffer from the exact same issue, so it’s a bit more forgivable.
Again, the 3D display is more than enough to wow children, please parents and add an element of intensity to an exciting scene. However I give it about a week before people get fed up wearing glasses and abandon the process entirely, save maybe for the odd 3D footie match.
Then again, I know people who would knock down their granny just so they could step over her to get their hands on budget house-hold 3D.
Mercifully, the LD950 also holds up as an exceptional standard HDTV. Games, Blu-rays and TV broadcasts give no cause for complaint. And impressively the True Motion 200 Hz prevents excess motion blur, which is a God-send. And these 3DTV’s go for a reasonably generous price.
Then again, you can get a 47” 2D HD Ready TV for a fraction of the cost so what you’re really shelling out for is the 3D. So it’s an entirely personal choice. Is the extra dough worth it for Cinema comparable 3D effects? We don’t believe so, but we can recognize when we’re in a minority.