LG 32LF7700

The LG 32LF7700 certainly looks the part, with its understated blackframe and slightly curved translucent bottom edge that hides thespeakers.

The touch-sensitive controls are equally impressive.Assuming you are buying this set for Freesat, connectivity is highlyrespectable, with the most notable sockets being one satellite inputand of course an RF input for Freeview.

The Ethernet serves nocurrent purpose, but could be used to receive the BBC's iPlayer serviceif it breaks free from its internet corral. It's a pity there aren't apair of satellite inputs to indicate the presence of a built-in PVR.

Freesataside, headlining the spec is XD image processing and a Real Cinemamode for watching 24fps Blu-ray movies. There's no TruMotion 100Hzmode, which features on larger screens in the LF7700 range, but itsabsence won't be missed on a 32in screen and helps keep the price down.

Ease of use

The remote control scores highly for its appealing layout and look, even sporting an attractive leatherette finish.

Operatingthe 32LF7700 proves a fairly painless task, as the remote integratesnicely with the menu system, which is logically laid out and combinesgraphical icons with clear readable fonts. Our only gripe is theFreesat EPG, which is unattractive and tedious to navigate.

The TV is slow to power up, but installing it is at least pain-free,with all Freeview and Freesat channels tuning in and being storedwithout error. Note that it's worth manually re-tuning both platformsfrom time to time to accommodate changes to channel line-ups.

Onenice touch is the energy saving meter, a translucent dialogue box witha circular dial. Settings are auto, min, medium, max and off. Thelatter is useful when listening to radio stations, but the screen isjust too dark on the max setting.

Picture

Reassuringly, the 32LF7700's picture quality more than matches the impressive specification. Our test disc, Fantastic Four on Blu-ray, with its vivid colour palette, variety of lighting and big-action scenes, comes across most spectacularly.

Theextra resolution of the full HD panel is certainly noticeable as the TVserves up every last ounce of clarity and detail. In its defaultsetting, colours are incredibly strong with a brightness that almostburns your retina.

Delve into the menu system and it's possibleto tinker with the backlight and contrast settings to optimise theimage. You can also select the Cinema mode, although the results areaffected by the ambient light in the room.

Real Cinema does adecent job of eliminating judder and there is little need to employ thenoise reduction facility. Despite excellent black levels, fine detailis lacking in darker areas, but overall images are punchy and engaging.

Freesat images are generally excellent, the BBC channels beingamong the best, especially the HD one that matches the Sky equivalentfor detail.

The 32LF7700 has been impressively engineered todeal with the MPEG artefacts and mosquito edge noise found in manystandard-def broadcasts, and manages to serve up some better quality SDpictures.

Comparing Freesat pictures with a Sky HD feed throws up the32LF7700's biggest problem, which is inaccurately rendering colours. Ittook a lot of experimenting with the viewing modes, tint and colourtemperature to make the shirts of England's one-day cricketers redrather than orangey-scarlet.

To add to the problem, thesettings might need re-adjusting when switching back to Blu-ray.Extensive use would make it a quicker process to make alterations, butit's a shame you can't save settings as pre-set user modes.

Sound

Across the dynamic range, the hiddenspeakers make a decent fist of pumping out enough sound. Annoyingly,you can't set bass or treble levels to your own preference and thereare Cinema, Sport and Game modes of dubious effectiveness.

Overall,it's fine for everyday use, but a separate home cinema system or even asoundbar is needed to properly enjoy movies and the like.

Value

Keenlypriced at £500 the 32LF7700 doesn't do anything to undermine LG'sreputation for competitiveness in the flatscreen market. Even without aFreesat tuner and full HD panel this would be considered a good 32indeal, but considering it packs some higher-level processing and overalldoes a superb job, it can certainly be considered something of abargain.

It really puts the heat on Panasonic which has had this niche all to itself until recently.

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