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Having completely abandoned active shutter 3D tech in favour of its passive Cinema 3D across its entire range of Edge LED-backlit LCD TVs, the use of the former on the LG 50PM670T is intriguing.
Not for technical reasons - polarised 3D tech doesn't work well on plasma screens - but instead because it suggests that LG thinks 3D is important in whatever guise (though 3D specs are an optional add-on).
We're not so sure about that, especially since the LG 50PM670T is more suited to a living room than a home cinema blackout setting where power-hungry, expensive and reflection-collecting 3D specs tend to be more tolerable.
On that front, the LG 50PM670T's integrated Freeview HD tuner is crucial. Backed up by an eight-day electronic programme guide (EPG) that covers two hours of TV schedules over eight channels, its performance is scarred by a lack of a live TV thumbnail. Engaging the EPG also completely cuts out sound; a serious no-no.
Multiple connections give the LG 50PM670T valuable versatility. Housed on the TV's left-hand side in a cutaway are two HDMI inputs, two USB slots (one of which can take a USB HDD to make recordings from the Freeview HD tuner), and a Common Interface card slot.
Just around the corner is a panel that's home to a further two HDMI slots, a set of component video and phono inputs, a Scart, VGA PC input, wired Ethernet LAN slot, an RS-232C port (a relatively rare option that enables the LG 50PM670T to be integrated into a home cinema control system) and an optical audio output. Missing are a composite video connection (though that's arguably now outdated) and a headphones slot.
In terms of screen technology, the LG 50PM670T is a relatively basic plasma, although it does have a Full HD resolution - many plasma TVs of this price manage only HD-ready - and a handy Resolution Upscaler.
All LG TVs using the active shutter 3D method require the brand's AG-S350 3D Bluetooth glasses, which weigh around 28g and take a couple of hours to fuel up (via one of the two USB slots) for around 40 hours of use.
The list price for these 3D glasses is a reasonable £39.99 (around $65), but we spotted them selling online for a more palatable £33.45 (around $54). Both Samsung and Panasonic manage nearer £15 (around $24) for their Bluetooth-based 3D specs. Happily, in our test a pair of Samsung Bluetooth 3D glasses worked with the LG 50PM670T.
