IDTVs have become the norm on the high street, but IDTVs with built-in PVR functionality are few and far between, with Humax, Sanyo, Hitachi and now LG so far dipping their toes in the water.
LG's offerings are Freeview Playback Group 2-compatible LCD and plasma (the PT86 range) screens with 160GB hard discs and screen sizes up to 42in for LCD and 50 for plasma. At 32in, its 720p (anything higher res is downscaled to fit) HD screen may be relatively small but it has a lot more besides to offer.
The tuner arrangement comprises two digital terrestrial and one analogue variant, allowing you to record one while watching the other. The included (non-upgradeable) 160GB hard disc records about 57 hours of digital TV at the highest quality setting or 86 at normal. As with the Humax PVR TVs, you can also record externally from Scart or composite-connected sources such as a satellite receiver.
Well Connected
It's a striking-looking set, sporting a piano black finish and a not especially thin screen surround that curves at the bottom around the speaker area. It has a pleasingly slim footprint and sits on a small but sturdy semi-circular stand (it can also be wall-mounted).
Two HDMI connectors topline a fairly well-specified rear panel line-up. These are joined by component connectors and two RGB capable Scarts. There's also an optical digital audio output and stereo phono outs and, for PC users, a VGA PC input paired with an RGB/DVI PC audio output. A single UHF input is included for your aerial and there's the requisite CI slot for pay-TV.
Side AV along the left-hand side includes S-video and composite video inputs and stereo phonos, while a row of operating buttons runs down the right-hand side.
The remote has the same shiny black finish and can be used to operate additional equipment, including that from other manufacturers. It's understandably button-heavy considering the need for PVR controls, but remains intuitive to use, with certain PVR buttons handily coloured glow-in-the dark green.
Digital TV and radio channels get a grid-style EPG that can be toggled to show now-and-next data for each channel or the full seven days in advance, which can be skipped through quickly day by day.
