Philips 46PFL9705H Ambilight 46in LED 3D TV

All the trimmings

Internet connectivity is supported too, presented through Philips' NetTV front end. There's the obligatory DLNA connectivity, and a USB port for hooking up local content storage and supports formats like AVI and MKV which aren't part of the DLNA spec.

Stylish remote

This TV uses the same oval remote as before. I wasn’t keen before but this time it’s grown on me. A dedicated Channel up and down rocker wouldn’t go amiss but perhaps it’s an acknowledgement that you’re just as likely to be changing channel on a Sky, Freeview or Virgin remote so you’ll only need to change the source on the TV remote, and that’s catered for by the Home button on the Philips oval.

Tuning a Philips TV isn’t complicated but to make the most of the picture it’s capable of, it’s worth the homework. The combination of sophisticated image processing technologies available mean that if you’re not careful, the super-sharp picture can look too rough and edgy to be comfortable.

Considering the power and capabilities of the set, it’s a a real surprise there’s no Freeview HD tuner on board. Given how much Philips is expecting you to pay for the 46PFL9705H, that's a genuine let-down. And, as ever with flatscreens, the sound is never the stand-out part of the experience. Here, though, it’s certainly nothing to complain about.

Verdict

So what do you want from a TV? Great image quality? Check. Decent sound? Check. Effective 3D, even if you do have to wear those pesky glasses? Check. Philips has managed to deliver on all counts, and that’s before you get to the additional features like online connectivity and Ambilight. What’s more, this TV, though not exactly a bargain, is competitively priced. But if only Philips had included a Freeview HD tuner. ®

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