Philips 37PFL9603D

The basics

This 37-inch Full-HD LCD television from Philips, includes the company's astounding Ambilight glow system, has 100Hz scanning, quadruple HDMI ports, DLNA networking and Easylink. As well as a 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio it also uses the Perfect Pixel HD Engine, Perfect Natural Motion and Perfect Contrast to improve the image.

The good

The only time you hear numbers like ‘2250 trillion’ these days is when they’re describing bank bailouts or the years until Sony is profitable again. So it’s a genuine pleasure using these very digits to enumerate the number of colours this accomplished LCD can titillate your eyeballs with. In a rapidly decreasing (but every bit as delightful) numerical sequence, this Cineos also offers 30,000:1 contrast, 100Hz frame doubling, 4 HDMI ports and a minuscule 2ms response time. And it’s all wrapped up in Philips’ Ambilight glorious glowing to make viewing even more comfortable. The brace of 15W speakers have virtual surround, auto volume levelling and bass meatier than a cow and Bovril club sandwich. With extra offal. Tasty.

The bad

Try as we might, we haven’t got a bad word to say about the Philips. Ow, stop twisting our arms. Alright then, the remote and picture controls are really geeky. Ouch! And it’s a bit expensive, but that’s it. Now put that drill down.

The bottom line

Philips realises that many of us want our hi-tech products to look and feel hi-tech, not fade into the decor like an Ikea sideboard. The 37PFL9603D is not only a superb TV, but a sci-fi icon that glows like it’s been irradiated with some kind of proton reversal beam.