Philips 42" LCD HDTV Review: Sports Fans and Gamers Eliminate Motion Blur

When it comes to low cost high definition LCD televisions the one thing you normally have to sacrifice is the name brand. That isn't true with Philips which offers a variety of reasonably priced and feature filled LCD HDTV's. One such example is the popular 42PFL7403D model which is a 42" full HD 1080p display. The recent price reduction has caused this display to fly off the shelves and motivated me to get up close and personal with one.

Styling: 5/5

Image Quality: 5/5

Value: 4/5

Overall: 4.5/5

Product Overview:

The Philips 42PFL7403D is absolutely striking. The black glossy black bezel is coated with a clear plastic that continues beyond the framing giving the television a refined and well finished look. The frame is thin and fluidly continues down to the small base. Despite being less than 3 and a half inches thick I found the overall fell of the television to be quite sturdy and well constructed. The small base is adjustable and leaves a very small footprint. The 42PFL7403D looks absolutely amazing mounted so if possible spring for the optional mounting bracket. The speakers are so well integrated their location is not even immediately evident. They do however produce impressive acoustics for a television with such a slim profile.

Thankfully the quality of the display lives up to the spectacular appearance of the set. The television handled a BluRay film with ease and produced an unrivaled 1080p picture. Playing games and watching sports on the 42PFL7403D was a pleasure thanks to it's 120hz refresh rate. The higher than standard refresh rate all but eliminated motion blur. Since this set uses LCD technology the viewing angle was great as expected and very resistant to glare. This television had a noticeably better picture then many of it's competitors in the same price range.

The 42PFL7403D offers plenty of connectivity with a host of inputs including HDMI, composite and component. The support offered by Philips is exceptional as they are always looking for ways to improve their product. Consumers can take advantage of this support by utilizing the included USB port to upgrade their firmware. There is also a typical 1 year parts and service warranty offered by the manufacturer.

Product Value:

Thanks to a recent price drop the Philips 42PFL7403D can be found at most retailers for just over $1000. For the price consumers will have a difficult time finding an LCD of this size offering a 120hz refresh rate. Almost all consumers will be pleased with the Philips 42PFL7403D especially sports enthusiasts and gamers.