LG 55LE5400

Value Comparison

The Samsung UN55C7000 is a beautiful looking TV, taking a big step away from traditional, boxy, black frames like the LG 55LE5400. The price difference between the two is also notable, a large chunk of which may be attributed to the fact that the Samsung is first-generation 3D display. We’re still not sold on the whole 3D HDTV thing yet, and you’d better know what you’re getting in to before you buy one. However, as a standard 2D TV, the Samsung UN55C7000’s performance was excellent, matching or beating the LG’s performance in several key areas.

Core Attributes Comparison
	LG 55LE5400	Samsung UN55C7000
Size	55 in.	55 in.
General Type	LED	LCD
Format	1080p	1080p

Blacks & Whites

The Samsung UN55C7000 produced a decent black level for an LCD, not the best we’ve seen. It was far better than the LG 55LE5400, however. The peak white did not match the LE5400’s, but most people will think it’s perfectly adequate. Overall, it has a better contrast ratio than the LG.

Color Accuracy

The Samsung UN55C7000 had trouble with color temperature consistency, but showed a great performance in the RGB color curve test. That said, the LG 55LE5400 had the best color performance of the group.

Color Temperature Comparison
LG 55LE5400 (Score: 7.72)
Samsung UN55C7000 (Score: 6.39)

RGB Comparison
LG 55LE5400 (Score: 9.36)
Samsung UN55C7000 (Score: 8.0)

Motion

The Samsung LN55C7000 showed remarkably smooth motion, but there was a fair amount of artifacting that went along with it. The LG 55LE5400 performed well in the same tests, but the Samsung clearly has the better results.

Motion Scores
	LG 55LE5400	Samsung UN55C7000
Motion Score

Viewing Effects

The Samsung UN55C7000 had the narrowest viewing angle of any of the TVs in this comparison pool, measuring only 44 degrees. We’ve certainly seen worse LCD displays, but both the Sony KDL-52EX700 and LG 55LE5400 were better.

Viewing Angle Comparison
LG 55LE5400: 5.67	Samsung UN55C7000: 4.95

Connectivity

The Samsung LN55C7000 has a remarkably thin frame. To accommodate the size, almost every single plug and jack has been reconfigured from its normal shape into some other shape that requires a proprietary adapters. There are also far fewer ports on the Samsung.

Connectivity Comparison
	LG 55LE5400	LG 60PK750	Sony KDL-52EX700	Samsung UN55C7000
HDMI	4	4	4	4
Component	2	2	2	1
Composite	3	2	1	1
S-Video	0	0	0	0
VGA	1	1	1	1
Analog Audio In	0	4	3	2
Digital Audio Out	1	1	1	1
Analog Audio Out	1	0	1	1
Ethernet	None	None	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Unknown	Unknown	Requires separate purchase	Yes
USB	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Memory Card Types	None	None	None	None
DLNA	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Yes

Other Comparisons

The Samsung UN55C7000’s big feature is 3D display, which the LG 55LE5400 does not have, and can never have. TVs are either 3D or they’re not, at least for the time being as Active Shutter 3D is the technology of choice for home 3D systems. We think the jury’s still out on 3D TVs, particularly the first generation models, which come with the inevitable ‘early adopter tax.’