Philips LCD 42PFL9532

Performance
Our expectations are high, thanks to the Blu-ray players we have been reviewing. We plugged the PFL9532 in to our PS3 first, as we are familiar with the content on it. But before I start gaming (oops, now you know how TVs are reviewed here), the necessary calibration disc was pressed into service. The DVE disc, which has never failed us, is practically part of the family now.

Blacks were not the blackest, though in comparison with some other brands it impresses. Even with contrast the limits are good, but not spectacular – nowhere near a plasma, for instance. What was good was the color accuracy: it was intricate and lovely to look at.

The menu system in Philips TVs consist of a blue-and-white GUI that takes up the whole screen when turned on, and can be a little irritating as a blue screen constantly intrudes in your frame of vision. When you go into the actual setting of each parameter, however, a normal level indicator strip comes on the side of the screen.

I turned on all the features: pixel plus, HD natural stuff etc. The outcome? A decent image flow, with motion frames being treated well. Jaggies and blur were present here and there, and an acute amount of background noise lingered – especially in open, monotone images. But all this was in tolerable amounts; only if you are a fanatic would all this make a difference.

Conclusion
We're seeing a gradual improvement in LCD TVs, with each new model. The question is: it possible to get full-HD fun at an affordable price? I think yes. The PFL9532 costs Rs 1,19,990, and that is a good thing. After all, not all of us can afford Rs 1.7 lakh and above. You wouldn’t get the best picture quality, but you do get solid value for money.