Philips Cineos 32PFL9603D review

Philips' Cineos 32PFL9603D is very different from the average 32in LCD TV.

The list of image-processing features is seemingly endless, as is the wealth of inputs and outputs. It also looks better than the average LCD TV thanks to a glossy black bezel, which is surrounded by a thinner translucent one.

The Cineos has a resolution of 1,920x1,080, so you can benefit from the maximum detail in Blu-ray movies and games on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. An unscaled aspect ratio option also makes it easy to get a crystal-clear Windows desktop with 1:1 pixel mapping.

You'll have no trouble connecting your equipment, thanks to the four HDMI 1.3 inputs. One is usefully located on the side, along with composite, S-video and stereo phono inputs. It's good to see both stereo phono and coaxial S/PDIF audio outputs for routing sound to a separate amplifier and speakers. The built-in speakers sound good enough for general use, but a surround-sound system is still preferable for movies.

One unusual feature is an Ethernet port, which enables you to connect the Cineos to your network. You can then stream music, photos and videos to the Cineos from a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) server running on a PC or NAS device without needing a separate media streaming box. A USB port means you can also connect a flash drive or hard disk for playing back JPEG slideshows, MP3 audio files and MPEG1 and 2 videos.

Like previous Philips TVs, this one has plenty of processing power for improving picture quality. It uses the latest version of Perfect Pixel HD Engine. You can make numerous adjustments through the comprehensive menu system and even store separate settings for each input. It's all relatively easy to navigate thanks to the jog dial on the well-designed remote. Our only minor complaint is that menus were a little slow to respond.

While watching familiar scenes in Casino Royale on Blu-ray, we were awestruck by the smooth motion in pans with Perfect Natural Motion switched on. In fact, the absence of any motion blur made movies look more like video shot at a high frame rate, and it took a while to get used to this odd sensation. The 1080p resolution also made everything super-sharp and, in combination with the smooth motion, lent HD content an almost three-dimensional quality.

Another good test of a TV's processing capabilities is how well it copes with standard-definition sources, and Freeview in particular. Again, we were impressed by the Cineos's ability to sharpen and scale images, and minimise MPEG artefacts.

Philips claims a dynamic contrast ratio of 55,000:1 but, as usual with these systems, we preferred it switched off. Blacks were still impressively dark, like the Acer G24's. Colours were excellent and skin tones looked true to life.

The final trick up the 32PFL9603D's sleeve is Ambilight Spectra 2. Bright LEDs behind the left and right edges of the TV emit light that matches the colour of the image at the edges of the screen. These can be different on the left, right, top and bottom. This has the dual benefits of reducing the contrast between the brightness of the screen and the darkness of your room at night, but also gives the impression of a larger image, as the picture seems to expand into the room. One of the new features of Spectra 2 is a slight time delay that improves the feeling of motion in fast-paced sequences.

You may balk at the price of this 32in LCD TV, but Philips' 32PFL9603D is simply outstanding. From the fantastic design to the immersive Ambilight and stunning image quality, it's well worth the money if you want the best 32in LCD TV around. It doesn't offer the best value, but it easily deserves its Ultimate award.