Philips 42PFL7403D/27 1080p 120Hz 42-Inch LCD HDTV
I’m no expert on technical issues for flat screen TVs. I did some research on customer issues before getting the Philips 42PFL7403D TV.
Price.
The price for LCD TVs has dropped dramatically from 2007 to 2009. This made the Philips a realistic option, given my budget.
Warranty.
The most serious issues seem to have been addressed. That gave me a little more confidence that the Philips would not be a money pit or service nightmare. However, that doesn’t mean problems are uncommon.
When you really look at those “extended warranties” they are always trying to sell you, the legalese might turn you off from getting one. For instance, one contract offered to me would send a technician to my home for repair. If it they could not “fix it immediately” or felt it would require more work, you would have to ship the TV to a service center. It could take months to get back.
From my impression, it’s rare the service technician can fix the TV right there, if it’s any kind of persistent or functional issue (unlike changing a setting or checking cables). So, you’re supposed to let them haul it off or send it some place. You then just have to wait for them to return it.
Plasma vs. LCD.
Each have their benefits and drawbacks. Know how you will use the TV (e.g. gaming, computer monitor, movies, TV) and where (e.g. bedroom, living room, desk). This makes a big difference in what you decide to get. Don’t depend on the floor clerk at BestBuy or Costco to help much with technical questions.
I chose LCD over Plasma because the room where it is has a natural light source that is bright. The LCD screen did not reflect as much as Plasma, at the same size, with its heavy glass screen. Also, LCD sets are much lighter. This was a consideration for wall mounting. Plus, they use less energy to operate than plasmas, too!
Using the Philips.
After struggling with the above for several months, I decided to buy the Philips 42 inch LCD TV. It fits my entertainment center perfectly and that’s why I got it. It has been 9 months since I bought it. These are my impressions.
It was easy to set up and get working. Everything was set up from box opening to playing in about 25 minutes. I am no technical geek, either. The HD picture is as good or better than any of the others (plasma or LCD) I saw at the store. I simply don’t see any fault or flaw in picture quality.
The set is being used with a popular cable provider, since no “over the air” signal is available.
To me, most LCDs have awesome display capabilities with virtually identical technologies. What made me choose this set was its good looks, price, and size.
After 9 months, it’s been very dependable. There have been no technical problems at all. There are more HDMI ports than I need. This makes my two DVDs and Cable service easily selectable.
Sound.
The sound quality is what I don’t like the most about this Philips LCD. I wanted a set without 8 inches of speakers on the bottom. That would have made it too tall for my entertainment center space. This LCD, with its rear-mounted speakers has less than sub-par sound in my opinion.
After adjusting the sound settings, and choosing automatic mode (which is supposed to be “the best”), the sound was still muffled. It was not balanced correctly for some TV shows. In other words, there was too much background audio and it was hard to hear the dialogue.
The poor sound is particularly noticeable when watching sports. It is difficult to hear the announcers, while the crowd noise is too loud. I solved this problem by using my stereo amp. The sound quality is super when I use it.
Remote.
Philips has a cheap remote with this LCD. It works, but is not intuitive. You need to carefully read the instructions to understand how to use it. Programing my cable box remote solved that issue. Now, I don’t use the Philips remote at all.
Woud I Do It Agan?
After using it for 9 months, there is no question I would buy this same Philips 42 inch LCD TV again.