3D Projector Reviews

Full-On/Full-Off Contrast Ratio: 381:1

Pre-calibration measurements were made in the Cinema mode at the default settings. Post-calibration measurements were made in the Expert mode. The LG’s black level measured 0.032 ft-L and peak white 12.2 ft-L, for a contrast ratio of 381:1. Highest peak brightness was delivered by the default settings in the Sports mode: 15.22 ft-L. In this mode, the LG’s black level measured 0.030 ft-L, for a contrast ratio of 507:1.

Before calibration, the LG’s Warm color temperature preset displayed a strong blue bias at all IRE levels. The Delta E of its pre-cal grayscale averaged out to 15.6; calibration improved that number significantly to 2.8, with a high of 4.2 at 20 percent brightness. (Delta E is a figure of merit that indicates how closely a display adheres to the Rec. 709 HD color standard. Experts generally agree that levels below 3 are visibly indistinguishable from perfect color tracking.)

The Delta E of the LG’s color points in its Cinema mode’s default settings averaged 3.4. Calibration using adjustments in the color management system improved that to 2.11.

With the 2.2 Gamma preset selected, gamma in the Cinema mode was mostly linear and averaged 2.17. Post-calibration, gamma remained essentially the same.

Picture uniformity was below average, with a degree of reddish tint visible at the outer edges of the picture when I viewed full-field gray test patterns. This wasn’t an issue with regular program material, however. I did notice four stuck pixels (mirrors), which showed up as small white squares scattered at various points across the projector’s image. The LG passed all of our standard- and high-def video-processing tests.—AG