Philips Aurea 42PFL9900D LCD HDTV Expert Reviews

The 42-inch Philips Aurea 42PFL9900D is one of the best LCD televisions we've seen and is like no other TV on the market, with the Ambilight Spectra turning the TV into a kaleidoscope of colour. In addition, its processing system will clean up any ...

Excellent picture quality with hi-def material ; good sound ; hi-def inputs aplenty ; Ambilight Spectra is an eye-catching, unusual feature

Price ; no PC input

The price tag will put off all but the most well-heeled telly addict, but those that do shell out get a truly superb television in return. With some of the finest picture performance we've ever seen, the Philips Aurea 42PFL9900D is the perfect partner ...

Philips flagship TV from 2007 is a good benchmark, with plenty of worthwhile technology substance to fine effect alongside the original styling

This latest incarnation, Ambilight Spectra, has a number of key differences. Instead of the light effect being projected solely from behind the screen back on to your wall, there's now an €˜active frame' directly around the picture, which itself glows ...

Philips has delivered the first 'glow in the dark' TV, with colourful - and very expensive - results. Is it worth the premium?

Stunning picture quality. Unique looks. Stuffed with cutting-edge tech

Light Frame tech might be too showy for some. Very expensive

The Aurea is like nothing else on the market. You may have seen Philips' Ambilight backlighting system before, but this, the firm's latest flagship model, takes things to a new level.

Spectra Ambilight is a showstopper, Superb pictures, Highly impressive sound

Massively expensive, Could overly dominate a room

Immodest, but stunning in every way except for the scary price

Aurea has an illuminated frame shining a kaleidoscope of colours outwards

Visually stunning ; Fantastic hi-def pictures

Expensive

As a result of all this technological jiggery pokery, the picture quality on display is nothing short of stunning, particularly when you hook up a high-definition source

Apparently, Philips' new Aurea TVs are all about seduction. By light. In the words of Philips UK's CTV Market manager, they 'create an experience that is cinematically immersive and allows the viewer to escape from daily life'.

Picture quality, Good connectivity, Lengthy feature count, Bold concept

Problems with 2.35:1, Minor niggles with fast-moving objects, Bold concept

Measure for measure it is no better than its rivals, especially given the high price, but full marks to Philips for providing an increasingly uniform market with a fresh alternative

The latest TV from Philips may be hideously expensive, but you ain't seen nothing like it!

In wrapping this review up we're clearly bound to point out that at the best part of three grand, the 42PFL9900D is prohibitively if not grotesquely expensive for a 42in flat TV. But then the 42PFL9900D is no ordinary 42in TV, as its dazzling if ...

Philips' latest expenso-TV puts LED in your pencil

It's Ambilight gone wild! Excellent 1080p picture quality Spec'ed to the max

Prohibitive price tag; Ambilight psychedelia doesn't appeal to everyone

Top-class performance and a pioneering design, but at a troubling price

philips aurea 42pfl9900d review: The Philips Aurea 42PFL9900D may be very expensive, but its picture performance nothing short of stunning, and the Ambilight Spectra system stands out from the crowd.

Excellent picture quality with hi-def material, Good sound, Hi-def inputs aplenty, Ambilight Spectra is an eye-catching, unusual feature

Price, No PC input

The Philips Aurea 42PFL9900D may be very expensive, but its picture performance is nothing short of stunning, and the Ambilight Spectra system stands out from the crowd.

This Philips packs in plenty of worthwhile technology substance to fine effect alongside the original styling

Striking looks ; eye-catching Ambilight Spectra ; fine tuner ; sharp edges, excellent insight, vivid colours

Expensive ; can€™t quite get motion right ; black levels aren€™t perfect