Comments Philips 42PFL9664 42in LCD TV - TV - review

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james1000

3:18 AM on 5 August, 2009

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Why oh why is Philips still peddling lcd when LED is the future? Given the price I expected this to be a pre-requisite.

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Geoff Richards

9:00 AM on 5 August, 2009

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@James1000 - a TV is simply defined by its backlighting technology, just as not all 1080p TVs are automatically better than 720p models...

Edge-lit LED backlighting facilitates a thinner chassis, but as John quite rightly points out, does that *really* matter so much when the TV is on the wall, or pushed into the corner of your living room?

This model achieves excellent image quality via the extra grunt Philips has thrown at its processing power; the Perfect Pixel HD system doesn't come cheap, but it allows it to outshine lesser models. And of course there's the Ambilight system too.

There's life in the "old" tech yet :)

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Kaplan

11:42 AM on 5 August, 2009

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@Geoff, if the TV is in the corner of the room then depth seems irrelevant but (for me at least) if it's going on the wall then every mm counts.

Any comment on the Natural Motion system? When I see Philips TVs I usually think the smoothing looks plain weird - you can almost see the system kicking on and off. Same with some of the latest Samsung LED systems. Anyone else find this? Can you tone this down (on both Philips and Samsung) to a natural level without turning it completely off?

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Wilson

11:51 AM on 5 August, 2009

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@james1000

Sounds as though you're another victim of Samsung brainwashing (sorry marketing) getting you to believe there's such a thing as LED TV - as Geoff quite rightly points out these so called new LED TVs are the same LCDs but with LED backlighting. LED Edge lit TVs (eg Samsung B8000) are only marginally improved over traditional CCFL. It's LCDs with direct LED backlighting with local dimming that you should be looking out for! But even these are still LCD! The true next gen tech TVs are OLED which are still in development.

Samsung - misleading the nation!

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DarrenBurn

4:07 PM on 5 August, 2009

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Quick question - does the Philips Net TV allow you to therefore go onto the iPlayer website and watch content directly from there on your TV - or would you need to hook up a HDMI laptop

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davidcrofter

11:43 PM on 6 August, 2009

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Yes it seems the term LED is the new buzz word for people who want to believe in fairies - last year it was 1080p being a neccessity or your set will not be HD.

Can anybody guess what next years will be??

I am placing my bets on "HD Freeview Built In".

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james1000

2:15 PM on 7 August, 2009

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@Davidcrofter - sorry to disappoint but I dont actually believe in fairies. Common sense on the other hand... Just to educate you lcds have been dogged by contrast issues when compared to plasma. Therefore led is (for the rationally minded) a logical progression as this addresses this issue to some degree.Why are you in denial of such a thing?

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Wilson

5:08 PM on 7 August, 2009

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@james1000 - Your missing the point. Technically these so called 'LED TVs' are still by definition LCD and come with the inherent drawbacks (degrading picture of axis, motion blur). The only thing that is different is the rear lighting and that like the other parts of LCD TVs have been improving over the years but the method of the tech has always been the same ie. a transmissive display unlike plasma or OLED or SED or CRT etc. etc.

LCDs with local dimming rear lighting (see im not specifying LED - another lighting could be employed) with the ongoing LCD panel improvements are in my opinion the pinnacle of LCD tech!

The next gen TVs are OLED and if they are not, I'll eat my hat (pending whether or not I'm wearing a hat)

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Jan Andersen

1:23 PM on 13 August, 2009

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I just baught the 32" in this serie ( 32PFL6404 ), and remain with the question, does this TV serie have LED backlight ?

Aggree that LED backlight with individual LED control, local dimming, is a flop and should be avoided ( at least in todays attempts ). Examples like the Samsung B7000 made me go for a regular backlight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H-d8d5gSgY

But plain LED backlight should be the optimal, both in terms of energy and uniform backlight.

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Lee Marshall

9:50 AM on 20 October, 2010

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Just bought one of these from Marks & Spencers with a five year warranty for only £599, reduced from £999.

Bargain.

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IYBYISYL

8:11 PM on 23 October, 2010

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Thanks to Lee Marshall... I just purchased one too(eventually, long story)... I await its delivery with eager anticipation. M&S... £599 5 year warranty.....:)

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Lugg

2:06 PM on 5 November, 2010

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@ Lee Marshall - Whoa, are you serious about that price? How/ where did you get that from? Any particular branch of M&S? Was it new? Any info greatly appreciated as I would love to get my hands on one for that price

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While I might have only been partially convinced by Philips' attempt to do 'mid-range' last week, the 42PFL9664 continues to show that when the brand is in flagship, no-holds-barred mode, it's very much still an innovative, original and lovably eccentric TV force to be reckoned with.

Overall

9/10

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Reviewed by John Archer

05 August 2009

Price as reviewed

£1,699.99

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