Buy Cheap LG LHB977 1000-Watt Blu-ray Disc Home Theater In a Box From Here Now!
LG's NetCast Interface lets you easily access a vast array of internet content. This model comes with two tower speakers.
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Technical Details
- NetCast Entertainment Access Delivers access to Netflix Instant Streaming and Pandora Internet Radio- Blu-ray Disc Playback Pure HD audio and video performance with Full HD 1080p
- Pure HD Audio Performance Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD and dts-HD
- Tower Full Size Speakers deliver broader spectrum of audio sound
- Two HDMI Inputs Deliver convenience and all-digital quality for connecting to your high-def sources
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By J. Berger (USA)
The LG LHB977 really represents a quantum leap forward in my home entertainment experience.
My previous system was the Samsung HT-Z310T upconverting DVD/surround package. It was no slouch, with many attractive features. I got it because it was a cheap way to sit out the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD battles and wait for the technology to mature. And it has matured, indeed.
BLU RAY and DVD Playback
The actual blu-ray playback and picture is incredible even beyond my expectations. Overall viewing experience is shockingly great in both picture and sound. My only complaints are that the BD-Live features are spotty (a low priority for me), and I found the controls slightly non-intuitive and inconsistent from disc to disc. For instance, it took me a while to figure out that for some discs you can use the "disc menu" key, while the main key on most blu-ray is actually "title."
DVDs look incredible, depending on the quality of the transfer and whether the source was filmed digitally. For instance, the Matrix Revolutions on DVD looked incredible. The upconverting feature here is a huge step up from the Samsung.
For both blu and DVD digital films look best. I got a couple disks with the unit for sampling, including old favorites remastered and newer stuff. The old favorites were amazing but the two best-looking prints by far were Star Trek (2009) and Spiderman 3. Newer movies really shine in this format, but a remastered version of the 1954 Godzilla was also a revelation.
SURROUND SOUND
The sound quality and volume are both outstanding. Quality is below-audiophile but still excellent. I can be fussy about these things, but not to the point that I feel comfortable spending thousands of additional dollars on multiple components to get the better sound. If I had unlimited funds, I might consider such a move, but the sound on this unit is truly impressive, and the value is even more so. I know some people like a louder system -- I find it hard to imagine enjoying a movie on this unit louder than 75% volume -- at that level we had to raise our voices significantly to hear each other. And I live in a city in a multiple-unit housing so even if I wanted to go louder, I couldn't. The pre-set sound configurations are good, I would have liked some more settings to play with on the audio or an EQ.
INPUTS/OUTPUTS
You can take just about any input with this unit. In addition to optical, component, coaxial and two HDMI inputs, you also get an AM/FM radio. Outputs are adequate as advertised but a couple of extra options would be welcome. For instance, I have a TV in my office which shares a wall with the TV in the living room. I'd like a simple way to run video AND audio to both TVs from the LG LHB977. I have an HDMI splitter, which is OK, but if you switch on HDMI audio-passthrough you lose the ability to employ some of the better audio features (basically resulting in diminished surround effect). Why must this be? Video component output to my second TV won't work if the main TV is hooked up. The benefit of a dual connection diminishes the more buttons I have to press to make it work -- in short, this unit won't make it any easier to connect multiple TVs.
USB input was a bit flaky. I couldn't get it to do much that was interesting but it will run pictures. I don't have an iPod so I can't comment on that part.
NETFLIX and ONLINE
All I can say about this feature is -- wow. I weighed whether the Netflix streaming was a feature worth paying for, given that I could stream on my computer and the quality there was only OK. I had also seen reviews pointing out that all or most Netflix streaming content is SD. As it turns out there is a LOT of HD content available for streaming (including movies and all five season of Lost). You can tell the difference between this "HD" streaming and 720p through the cable box (and it doesn't even touch blu-ray), but it's damn close and FAR exceeded my expectations. The SD content, for the most part, also looks fairly good -- below DVD quality but not a lot.
Roxio Cinema Now also had a good picture but I'm not in a big hurry to pay for their content relative to getting Netflix for free. I can imagine using it once in a while. YouTube looks like you would expect on a big TV screen. Pandora Radio is excellent and fun, and there's a music retouch audio configuration that makes it sound pretty sharp.
USER INTERFACE
This was a weird combination of very easy to use and a handful of very non-intuitive things. There's a Home Screen which gives you easy access to most features, but accessing files on USB was spotty. The easy intuitive Home Menu omits what it perhaps the most commonly used feature -- the ability to switch inputs. Most people are going to want to use this unit for surround sound while watching TV in addition to disks. To switch to the TV (HDMI 1), there's no onscreen menu item. You have to press "input" button which doesn't work consistently. After powering up you have press input repeatedly to scroll through options including radio, optical audio, coaxial audio, etc. etc. with HDMI 1 -- the most commonly used -- being the last on this list. If you switch back and forth after that, it will go to HDMI 1 first when you press input, but this resets if you power-off and back on. This is a huge and completely unneccesary hassle. There should be an option on the Home Screen which takes you to a visible menu of inputs, and you should be able to set a "favorite" here. The remote is adequate but unlighted.
OVERALL
I've highlighted some of the few weak points here, but overall this is a superb unit sometimes available at a great price (wait for a sale though the normal price is not bad), and I am very happy with it. Unless you're looking to spend $1000 plus, you won't find a better combination of sound and features. A few tweaks would put it over the top, but all things considered, I can't complain. Nice job!
By H. Guesmia (McKinney TX)
Watch out!:
1- You cannot watch movies thru USB (only pix and mp3).
2- There is not one single audio out (in case the kids are sleeping and you want to use the headphones).
3- You will need to purchase a wireless bridge (> $60.00) for the internet in case you cannot use ethernet cables.
4- The 4 screws to hold the towers are not supplied (too expensive for LG!).
Bottom line, you can get a better system for the same price or less.
By J. Klein
This is a Great Product. I purchased it based on the reviews posted here on Amazon. Easy Setup, simple controls, loads of features are all bonuses with this system......BUT there are a couple of minor things.....I would have loved to have seen more inputs! Maybe (1) RCA and (1) Component Input would have really made this system Superb! I have my ATT UVerse receiver in HDMI Input #1 but where do I plug in the Nintendo Wii?? There is no way to do it....and that is a problem because now the Wii is on a separate TV input with the sound from the TV speakers. As far as the Netflix, Cinema Now and other internet features....these are great and they all came alive with minimal setup. But (this has nothing to do with LG) the Netflix and CinemaNow are still in their infancy and do not offer alot of titles....especially Netflix. Overall, a very good system with great sound and very easy to use. Also, almost forgot, the IPOD dock is an excellent little feature and worked flawlessly.
By Harrison B. Rondon (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
This system was a gift for my family this year since I had to consolidate due to the economic downturn. Was easy to setup and immediately lit up the family entertainment room! We now spend more time together as a family playing on the Wii and watching movies! Sound is great and picture is awesome in blue ray!
By D. Allen
Amazing look, amazing features, May have to turn the rear speakers up a little bit to get the true surround sound feel. But overall a great purchase for under 600$. Toggle input switch isnt that bad unless your a big baby and the overall ease of the system and set-up is amazing.
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Buy LG LHB977 1000-Watt Blu-ray Disc Home Theater In a Box Now
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