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The Cineos 42PFL9632D is a contender for the crown in a 42PFL7532D
lookalike contest -- at least when viewed from the front. Both models
sport a 42-inch screen surrounded by a five centimetre glossy black
frame, with a black speaker panel sitting inconspicuously beneath the
display. The 42PFL9632D comes with a solidly-built swivel stand, which
rotates 20 degrees each side.
Turn the unit around and the differences between the two models become apparent, starting with an Ambilight panel on each side of the 42PFL9632D. The HDMI port count has been raised from two to a future-proof three, but for some odd reason there are still two SCART ports.
Those who fancy the odd quick hook-up are catered for with a line of ports on the side of the screen, including composite audio/video, S-Video and a USB socket. A flatmate-friendly headphone port rounds out the list, but you'd want to be using a long cable to avoid an attack of square eyes.
Features
The 42PFL9632D has a 1920 by 1080p resolution, meaning Blu-ray, HD DVD
and HD television signals can be displayed at the highest possible
resolution.
Ambilight -- Philips' back-lighting system which projects soft light beyond the frame in accordance with the colours appearing on-screen -- has moved beyond gimmick status and become an integral feature of the television line-up. If you've been put off by the disco lighting effects seen in previous models, it's worth having another look at the 42PFL9632D's version of Ambilight, which allows you to trip the light fantastic in Relaxed, Moderate and Dynamic modes.
There are two features dedicated to reducing judder: the 100Hz Clear LCD with three-millisecond response time, and Philips' HD Natural Motion invention, which focuses on reducing the shakes usually found in high-def content.
Performance
As with other models in the Philips range, set-up is a very
straightforward process, with guides and wizards holding your hand
through the whole thing. Many calibration steps involve visual
comparisons that display an image and ask you to specify which side of
the split screen looks more appealing. It's like sitting for an eye
test, but without that intimidating optometry contraption in front of
your face. There are also split-screen demo modes for 100Hz, Ambilight
and Perfect Pixel, which allow you to see the difference each mode
makes before committing to a change in settings.
Philips' HD Natural Motion feature takes some getting used to. Designed to reduce juddering in high-def pictures, it can make movement in movies look unnatural. When we viewed Fantastic Four on Blu-ray, sweeping camera pans seemed almost too smooth. It's something we would grow accustomed to, but the first-time experience is a little surreal. During fast motion scenes, a faint trail on the lighter colours was occasionally detectable.
Whites were especially luminous on the 42PFL9632D, the glowing effect further enhanced when Ambilight was activated. Blacks, however, tended to become muddy, and scenes with shadows suffered from loss of detail. We may have become harsher judges in the wake of Pioneer's phenomenal PDP-508XDA, but the difference is significant.
Sound was more solid than we expected from the recessed speakers, but naturally the dual 8W speakers don't do justice to next-gen DVD audio. If you'll be sticking to TV broadcasts the in-builts will suffice, but movie aficionados will likely want to plug in a home theatre system for the full effect.
As befits its Cineos name, the 42PFL9632D is best suited to those with a penchant for drawing the curtains and firing up the home cinema to settle in for a night of next-gen DVD viewing. Activating Ambilight lends a sense of drama and occasion to the proceedings, removing you from your lounge room and making it easier to believe that Jessica Alba is an astronaut with a burgeoning side career in genetics research.
