John Lewis LG 55JL9000 review

Passive 3D was equally impressive. The glasses themselves are some of the most tasteful frames we’ve seen and we think they actually look much better than LG’s own passive 3D glasses. 3D settings are pretty sparse, but at least you’re able to adjust the 3D depth and 3D viewpoint to your own liking, making it easy to find the most comfortable level for you. We found the default 3D settings were more than adequate when watching our test scenes in Avatar, and we hardly saw any signs of crosstalk regardless of where we were sitting. Only the Na’vi subtitles gave us any trouble, but this was when we looking at the TV from the very edge of the screen. Otherwise, everything appeared pin-sharp with no ghosting whatsoever.

One of the four HDMI inputs on the back of the set is ARC compatible, with a second supporting MHL. Other connectivity is generous too, with component and composite inputs, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, optical S/PDIF audio, a CI slot and a 3.5mm audio jack. It also has built-in wireless, making it easier to get online, and a pop-up 2-megapixel camera that can record video or take screenshots. Sadly, there’s no Skype app, so video calling is out of the question.

The JL9000’s highlight is the webOS interface, which is one of the most intuitive and best-designed Smart TV systems we’ve seen. The series of long, colourful cards that appear along the button of the main home screen are very easy to navigate, particularly when you’re using LG’s new magic remote, and its range of built in apps is excellent. It would have been nice to see ITV Player and 4OD on top of the already present BBC iPlayer and Demand 5, but the inclusion of Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Now TV and BlinkBox more than make up for it. There’s also Facebook, Twitter, Deezer, Picasa and Plex for LG Home Theatre, although the latter will cost you £3 from LG’s app store.

The 55JL9000 is a great TV with excellent picture quality and top of the range Smart TV services, but the soundbar adds little to its overall value. In this sense, LG’s cheaper LB730V series is a much better buy, as you not only get all the same services and fantastic picture quality with a more manageable stand in a wider variety of sizes, but in the case of the 55in version of the LB730V, you also get £100 knocked off the price.