LG BD390 user reviews

4.0 stars

"The player your Blu-Ray discs have been asking for!!" on May 11, 2009 by Tbear1130

Pros: Speed, quality of audio and picture, streaming of Netflix and YouTube.

Cons: Doesn't stream Pandora. I'm hoping this can be added via firmware update. This is the only thing keeping the BD390 from getting 5 stars.

Summary: I tried to save money by buying the Sharp BD-HP16U to match it to my Aquos TV. What a piece of junk. Once I returned it, I decided to do my homework. I looked at Sony, Samsung & LG. I finally selected the LG BD390. Once I hooked it up and played my first Blu-Ray (The Police Certifiable concert) I haven't looked back. What's not to love. This unit is fast and plays a gorgeous picture. the big thing for me was the built in WiFi capability, including Draft-N. Unlike the Samsung, there is no dongle necessary. I am streaming Netflix, YouTube, and viewing movies, photos, and listening to music all from shares on my network. Be careful. This unit will turn you into a bonafide couch potato. I purchase a lot of gadgets and I can say honestly that this is one of most satisfying purchases. I would recommend it wholeheartedly. The $400 price tag is tough to swallow at first, but it was worth it once I started using it. For those of you wondering, I am not affiliated with LG in any way. I just like the unit that much and decided to share my opinion with the masses. Espicially since CNET has not reviewed it yet.

3.0 stars

"Far short of expectations" on June 19, 2009 by caseblue

Pros: Integrated streaming Netflix

Integrated WiFi for access to PC based media

Adequate remote control layout and clean, simple, sharp user interface

Cons: HDMI does not work with Vizio GV47L LCD flat panel TV, rainbow static only

Slow responsiveness, I can't believe this is considered fast by Blu-Ray standards

Connected to wireless network with ease but won't access PC media (Vista issue)

Summary: This is my first Blu-Ray player and I have to say that I'm VERY underwhelmed by it and will be returning it as soon as BestBuy opens up today.

I love integrated WiFi for NetFlix and PC media access but the HDMI output does not work with my Vizio GV47L LCD flat panel TV so I'm stuck with using the component outputs which can't do 1080p. Hours with first & second level tech support at both manufacturers was futile with both claiming ignorance and disinterest in developing a solution. LG obviously released this product without ensuring full compatibility to existing televisions (firmware update to the LG did not help). This Vizio TV is 1080p and less than 2 years old. From an engineering and testing standpoint, there's no excuse for this and LG's dismissive customer/tech support failed to invoke any brand confidence in me.

Not sure yet but I'm either going PS3, Samsung BD-P3600 or just wait for Blu-Ray players to mature for another year or so. The key functionality I want is Blu-Ray playback (in 1080p), streaming NetFlix, and network access to PC media. Gaming is a low priority.

With respect to the playback and uses I did experience with the BD390, the unit seemed to work quite fluidly and flawlessly. Upon isolating the HDMI compatibility issue with absolute certainty, I ran the device for a few days on 720p and 1080i through the component cables. All video and audio performance was great as far as a Joe average consumer like me can discern. Resolution, color, fluidity as well as basic 5.1 audio attributes were great while watching Quantum of Solace which stoutly challenges all such measures.

All connections and menu settings are quite simple with system navigation tasks feeling intuitive from first use. Unfortunately I didn't quite develop the same fluency with the playback functionality (resume, skip, markers, slow, fast-forward, etc.) which had me feeling very clumsy.

I connected the BD390 to my security enabled wireless network (n router on a 15MBS Comcast cable line) seamlessly on the first try and got a NetFlix trial account started in a flash. NetFlix worked great even though resolution is very poor on the 47? LCD panel. The value of experience equation for streaming NetFlix is certainly the algebra between convenience and picture quality with the latter suffering greatly. I still like it very much though. Connection to my wireless network was a breeze but I never bothered to sort out the Vista side issues that made my PC media access attempts from the BD390 result in ?PC Media Sharing not Authorized? slaps in the face.

So overall I'm neutral to dissatisfied with the LG BD390 and also now less enthusiastic about Blu-Ray in general. I?m somewhat annoyed with the value tradeoffs of the experience and will likely hover for months hoping for product developments before advancing.

1.0 stars

"Fails to provide its basic function" on October 21, 2009 by dtv74

Pros: Easy setup, Wireless network feature works well.

Cons: Can't playback all blu-ray discs without purchasing a seperate, additional USB flashdrive.

Summary: I am attaching all my email communication with LG. (Start From The Bottom)

Dear Mr. ,
Thank you for contacting LG Electronics. Your e-mail regarding your concern has been received.
I sincerely apologize for the delay and inconveniences; unfortunately some movies have more data than others and it will require more space, the player already have 1 GB, make sure to clean the memory and try to use the USB.

Virginia Q.
E-mail Administrator
Customer Interactive Center
LGEAI
-----Original Message-----
From:
Received: 10/20/2009 4:06 PM
To: "Daniel" <customerservice@lge.com>
Subject: Re: LG Customer Inquiry

Thank you,
I really feel I have been short changed, to have to buy additional hardware to get my player to work is not really acceptable. You are basically selling the public an incomplete item. Why doesn't LG provide sufficient internal memory for this player? Why make the customer pay additional money out of pocket to run the most basic feature?
I have a few days before my 30 day return policy expires, I will test your fix. If it doesn't work, I will return the player. I may return it even if it does work.
I am disapointed because this player got a good review on Cnet.com. I will be forwarding this whole email string to them so they will be aware.

From: Daniel <customerservice@lge.com>
To:
Sent: Tue, October 20, 2009 6:58:33 AM
Subject: Re: LG Customer Inquiry

Dear ,
Thank you for contacting LG Electronics. We are always glad to assist you.
Regretfully, although you may not be using the BD Live features within the disc, this and other couple of movies will automatically download BD Live content or try to save information to the receiver in order to achieve successful playback, which is the reason why an external USB memory key is needed to play such movies.

Alfred Q.
E-mail Administrator
Customer Interactive Center
LGEAI

From:
Received: 10/19/2009 6:23 PM
To: "Virginia" <customerservice@lge.com>
Subject: Re: LG Customer Inquiry

Thanks again,
I think there is some miscommunication, I was not using any of the BD live features. My wireless was not even on at the time. The problem is just when the movie is played in the normal manner.

From: Virginia <customerservice@lge.com>
To:
Sent: Mon, October 19, 2009 5:19:26 PM
Subject: Re: LG Customer Inquiry

Dear Mr. ,

Thank you for contacting LG Electronics. Your e-mail regarding your concern has been received.
I sincerely apologize for the inconveniences, use USB memory of at least 2 GB, unfortunately some of the BD Live features are bigger than the internal memory of the player.

Virginia Q.
E-mail Administrator
Customer Interactive Center
LGEAI

-----Original Message-----
From:
Received: 10/19/2009 3:47 PM
To: "customerservice" <customerservice@lge.com>
Subject: Re: LG Customer Inquiry

Thank you for your response.
What size and type of USB memory drive do you recommend?
Why is LG telling me I need to add an additional component to their brand new Blu-ray player? Shouldn't the player have the capacity to play Blu-ray discs out of the box? Shouldn't LG be providing a product that works as advertised?

Thank you,
From: customerservice <customerservice@lge.com>
To:
Sent: Mon, October 19, 2009 2:42:27 PM
Subject: LG Customer Inquiry

-----------Reply to Customer Inquiry------------
Dear ,
Thank you for your email. We apologize for any inconvenience this may be causing.

We?ll be glad to assist you with this situation. In order to fix this problem insert a USB MEMORY DRIVE while playing the movie.

Pablo C.
E-mail Administrator
Customer Interactive Center
LGEAI
-----------Original Customer Inquiry------------
Received Date : 10/17/2009 21:33:37
The type of inquiry : Product Operation
Product/Model No. : DVD&VIDEO&SET TOP/BD390

Just played my first blu-ray disc "watchmen." Started great for the fist
30 to 45 minutes, then I had a problem with the audio and video sync-ing up. It seemed that when the disc changed ?layers? the audio would lag by a good half second or more. This happened 3 or 4 times during the movie when the ?layer? changed. (I could tell the layer was changing due to a slight skip in the picture, similar to DVD?s I have viewed in the past.) The strange part is when I paused the movie and rewound a few seconds, the audio and video would sync back up. Do I have a defective player?

Updated on Oct 22, 2009

More communication with LG:
Dear Mr. ,
I sincerely apologize for the inconveniences; I will need you to turn off the player and the insert the USB memory and turn on the player again and try to play the movie. I will also send your information to the engineers to check on this, I need to know the connection you have between the BD390 and the TV or if you have a home theater in between, also I need the audio settings on the player.
Virginia Q.
E-mail Administrator
Customer Interactive Center

From:
Received: 10/21/2009 9:02 PM
To: "Virginia" <customerservice@lge.com>
Subject: Re: LG Customer Inquiry

Ok - Went out and bought the usb flashdrive as told by you, cleaned the internal memory, cleaned and initialised the usb memory, I even downloaded and installed the software update from your players settings menu. Put the movie in and it had THE SAME PROBLEM. thank you for wasting all of my time and money. Is anyone at LG interested in this?
What is your response?

5.0 stars

"The Best of the Inexpensive Wi-Fi Blu Ray Units Around" on November 28, 2009 by sunilsidhwani

Pros: The ease of setup for Wi-Fi and Streaming ssetup over Netflix, You Tube, Cinema Now and Vudu.

Cons: When streaming from Netflix, you should be able to setup the queue with this unit as opposed to just read only access. Perhaps a future Software Update would address this pet peeve.

Summary: I simply cannot believe that others out there had challenges in setting this unit up to access the internet. People, it's really not that difficult, even for someone with perhaps minimal or limited knowledge of wireless internet setup. Instead of manually typing in the SSID into this unit, you should be able to use the Search module built in to this device to detect the available Networks that are bradcasting their SSID's. Once you get your SSID, just select it and you're on your way. And once you're up, I highly recommend getting the latest Software Update by simply performing the search for the latest available software out there online. With this, you will have access to streams not just from Netflix, You Tube and Cinema Now, but also from Vudu as well. In addition, this unit, provided the accesses have been granted from your Home Workgroup, can also stream Media from within your Shared Drive Space. If you are going to do this, I highly recommend you have an adeqautely higher speed internet, such as the services provided from Verizon FiOs and Comcast with a minimum of 15 mbps available. I have the 20 mbps down/5 mbps up and this works flawlessly. On occasion, if the network speed has slowed down, this would be the only time you'll experience any buffering. And the stream quality will depend upon the quality of the stream available out there in tandem with the upconversion that this unit will perform but this has been usually excellent in the two days I've had my unit.

I purchased this on Black Friday not only price matching Sears' Regular Price of $245 but also got a free Blu Ray Title with it as part of the BF Special. For those in the Dallas, TX, visit the Flower Mound, TX location and speak to Eddie T. (Ops Mgr) or Michael H. (Store GM). I highly recommend speaking with the folks at this store as they are very helpful.

Updated on Nov 29, 2009

I got the whole weak signal issue that some of you reported in your posts here. Ladies and gentlemen, this may be due to "User Error". I even fell victim to this and am admitting it. Effectively, per page 23 in the User Manual, after installing the BD 390, LG recommends that the user reboots the router in order for the network to realize the "Wi-Fi handshake" between the Player and the rest of the network. In my case, I was receiving Netflix Streams for the first 24 or so hours but after that when I attempted to watch a Netflix Movie last night, I got nothing but weak to no signal. Instead of calling LG, I called Verizon FiOs Tech Support and they pointed out the "User Error" to me. Fortunately, my Ethernet still works but they will replace my router at no cost.

This is not a pitfall to be taken against the Player but a pitfall of not reading the User Manual cover to cover. Read page 23 as it explicitly discusses Notes on issues possible on Wi-Fi. I hope this helps.

Updated on Nov 29, 2009

I ran out of space earlier and so I wanted to update here on one important detail I forgot to mention. My Wi-Fi as a whole even on the PCs on my Home Workgroup were inoperational. Thus, Verizon took on the Router Replacement of the Wi-Fi Router provided by them with my FiOs Service. I hope this clears up any doubts that might occur when reading my updates. Thanks and good luck to all! Enjoy!