PHILIPS 32PF9986/12 review

LCD TVs show us how close consumer electronics and PCs are getting.

Philips' 32PF9986 32" LCD TV, for example, has a DVI-I port, so you can connect a PC directly. It has a resolution of 1,366x768 and a 12ms response time, so it can display the Windows desktop at a decent resolution. What's more, it can cope with high-definition video and games.

The TV also has Ambilight. This adds two lights on the rear of the LCD that glow the same colour as the picture displayed on the TV, reducing eye strain when watching movies in a dark room.

Philips uses its Pixel Plus 2 video processing technology to enhance still and moving images. This made a huge difference when tested with a low-quality DVD, giving a better onscreen image than we've seen with other displays. Testing with higher quality movies and our monitor tests showed the 32PF9986 is an excellent display with wide viewing angles.

The TV's menus house a full range of picture control options, including dynamic contrast and picture sharpness. The default settings will be fine for most users, but those who like to get stuck in have enough controls to produce a great picture. The stereo speakers are impressive. They output a decent range of bass and treble so you don't need a separate amplifier and speakers for stereo sound.

Three SCART sockets, composite, S-video and DVI-I provide plenty of inputs. However, the only way to get a progressive component input from a DVD player is through a cable (provided) that plugs into the DVI port, so you can't connect a PC at the same time. To save fiddling around the back, you may need an input selector. Otherwise, this is an excellent TV if you can spare the money.

Author: David Ludlow