LG 47LH90

Pros: Fantastic, wonderful picture! I put in a standard DVD into a blu ray player and it was BREATH TAKING on this set. SO bright and crisp - the avalanche footage felt almost 3-D.

Cons: The lip sync problem can be fixed without the firmware update from LG, but it's ridiculous that it exists and that LG customer service don't know the relatively simple fix that I've come across - it caused me some angst.

Summary: This television is amazing in terms of picture. It's just beautiful. Turn dejudder off. It will annoy you - everything looks like home handicam footage and you can't watch a minute of a movie without it really getting on your nerves - there's no blur issue with it off. Dejudder is an evil across the flat panel world, so it's hard to blame anyone for having it, but the default should be "off" - you can set it to "off" (from the default "low") under the "Picture" setting in the menu.

Now for the lip sync problem. This is a problem that you'll see when you use an HDMI cable from at least certain HD cable boxes. Mine is a Motorola DCX3000 from Comcast. The sync problem is PRONOUNCED. It is less so with the component cables but there a bit. The FIX for this is to go into your cable box settings - for my DVR this is done by keeping the TV on, powering off the box with the button and then hitting menu on the box or remote. I then go into "other HDMI settings" (or something like that) and under Audio - SWITCH IT FROM AUTO OR DOLBY OR PASS THROUGH TO PCM AUDIO - THIS IS CALLED "L-PCM" ON MY BOX and that will fix the audio sync problem.

The other way to address it is to use a receiver / external speakers for your audio. If you call LG, they will ask you a bunch of questions and tell you that someone is going to call you to set up an appointment to come with a firmware upgrade and make adjustments that might fix it. Fine, but in the meantime you're getting gray hairs. I came across the PCM audio setting fix on a message board and after using it I wanted to post it here so that others could benefit from it.

By the way, if you have the same HD DVR as I noted above, I found the manual in pdf on-line with a quick Google search.

Updated on Dec 14, 2009

UPDATE - the PCM audio fix worked for a lot of content but not all (HD NBC 30 Rock being an example); also the quality was a little dodgy - the gloss surround scratched with fine scratches very, very easily. So, it went back to the store and was replaced with a Sony XBR9 40", which has no sync problem and appears to have much better build quality.

CNET, if you're listening, I think a nice addition to your TV reviews would be a paragraph on build quality. The LH90 is made in Mexico and feels like it's made out of Lunchable plastic. The LED brightness is great, but that needs to be weighed along with the package it's in - will this thing last 10 years? Given that the sync problem was never fully resolved and the dodgy build quality (but a bit better than the LG SL series, where the front is a film that easily peals off), I'd give it a three in my revised rating.