Video Performance – LG KU-17WDVD The brightness of the LG
KU-17WDVD’s screen is good and has almost no hot spotting. Unfortunately, the
gray scale tracking is the poorest of the three, and the grays in the image
continues to appear slightly purple no matter how the picture settings
(including the individual RGB controls) are adjusted. When playing a DVD, the
edge definition is not as sharp as on the Toshiba set—but better than the
Mintek—especially with lateral movement in the picture. On-screen graphics,
however, are good and the set exhibits the best overall color palette when used
with a PC.
Winner: ToshibaLook and Feel – LG KU-17WDVD
The most outstanding aspect of the
KU-17WDVD is its classy, metallic remote control. This fine example of the
remote control maker’s art features an intuitive layout of large, easy-to-press
buttons. A sliding cover hides the less-used controls, while the convenient DVD
eject button is out in the open near the top of the remote. There’s a small
carrying handle on the back of the set and a cover to conceal the connecting
cables. The side-mounted DVD controls are marginally easier to get to than the
other two set’s top-mounted controls.
Winner: LG
Features – LG KU-17WDVD
Several nice features help the KU-17WDVD
give the Mintek DTV-233 (see next page) a run for its money. The KU-17WDVD is
the only model to include PIP, or picture-in-picture (plus POP and side-by-side
dual screens) capability in addition to individual control of the “red,”
“green,” and “blue” picture settings. Like the Toshiba SDP7000, the KU-17WDVD
has a five-band audio EQ and automatically selects the DVD input when a disc is
inserted in the side-mounted slot. Of the three, the KU-17WDVD‘s stand has the
most swivel and tilt range. The presence of an eject button for the DVD player
on the remote is a mandatory feature since the chassis-mounted disc
controls were near impossible to find and operate unless you’re leaning over the
TV.
Winner: (tie) Mintek & LG
Audio Performance – LG KU-17WDVD
Here’s a quick, succinct
description of the KU-17WDVD’s audio performance: decent clock radio
sound. With its five-band equalizer set flat, the bass response is weak and
thin. On the preprogrammed “music” setting, the bass gets a little tubby and
bloated. Even after adjusting the EQ for best output, the sound is acceptable
but not great; in other words, although the KU-17WDVD plays CDs, you probably
won’t utilize that aspect.
Winner: Toshiba
LG KU-17WDVD, $1,199.95
www.lgusa.com;
800.243.0000
RATING: SOLID
