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Strengths: Picture quality, Inputs, Size, Ambilight, Finish, Sound, Software update
Weaknesses: Menus, Buzzing, Heavy, Remote delay, Component inputs location
Summary: 2008-02-18 22:58:12 I purchased the Philips 42PFL7432D/37 in October of 2007 from Sears. As others have said, I spent a LOT of time researching this TV which was a replacement for a LG 1080P set that the audio fried on in the first 10 minutes of operation.
I will expand upon each of the strengths and weaknesses I noted above.
------------------------Strengths--------------------------
- Picture Quality - Overall picture quality of this set is very good. The longer you have the set the more you start to understand the old garbage in, garbage out saying. If you feed this TV a high quality source you will get a high quality picture. The over the air picture can vary from great to so-so and even the same networks can get it right on some shows and screw it up on the next. The good news is that it should only get better as the broadcast network engineers figure out their new equipment. The picture as delivered by HD-DVD is really great in my limited experience. Side note, I encourage you to look at the Toshiba A3 HD-DVD player even if you don't intend to buy HD-DVD movies long term. It does such a great job of up-converting regular DVDs with this set and is very inexpensive. Computer images also look very good.
- HDMI Inputs - Not a lot to say here other than I am happy to have three HDMI inputs versus the two that are included on some other sets.
- Size - You wouldn't think that you would notice the difference between a 42" and 40" panel (as used by Sony/Samsung) but you do.
- Ambilight - The Ambilight feature is one of those things that you just become attached to. I had purchased a Samsung 42" 1080P LCD at the same time I had the Philips and although I could have have kept either for about the same price I chose the Philips. It was the main factor as to why my wife wanted to keep the Philips as well.
- Finish - I consider the fact that only the rectangular border of front bezel is gloss black a big plus. The reason being that gloss black plastic is EXTREMELY easy to scratch and it is nice to have somewhere to put your hands when attaching/removing the set from the wall. While the all gloss of the Samsung I had was slightly more classy, I can't imagine how scratched up it would be by now.
- Sound - Some (not necessarily on Pricegrabber) have commented that the sound is not that great. I think it has very good sound considering how small the speakers are.
- Software update through USB - This is definitely a big plus and has already improved performance of the set in a few areas.
----------------------Weaknesses---------------------------
- Menus - Note, menu functionality is very good but I have to admit that I am a fan of the transparent menus I have seen on the Sony's and Samsung's. I guess you can't have it all.
- Buzzing - There is a relatively low level buzzing that I can hear when the volume is at low settings. It really bugged me at first but hardly does now (note, my wife could never hear it). It is my understanding that this did not occur on all sets but should be fixed on any set built 11/2007 or later. Another note ; the Samsung also had a buzzing though I believe it was not quite as noticeable.
- Heavy - This set is definitely heaver than some others out there. Don't get me wrong, it is not "Plasma heavy" but it is definitely on the heavy end for an LCD.
- Remote Delay - There is a delay of approximately 30-40 seconds after you start the set that some remote functions just won't work (i.e. volume). It is my understanding that the delay has been reduced to something much more reasonable in all new sets and is something that I will likely get fixed under warranty. For reference, it is related to the IR receiver in the TV, not the IR emitter in the remote.
- Component Inputs Location - Don't think that it is going to be easy to plug component/svideo cables into this set after it is mounted on the wall. The challenge is due to the component/svideo jacks being perpendicular (strait out) the back of the set. You can still use the side jacks if you just need to hook up something for short term viewing. FYI, the HDMI jacks are easy to connect when the set is wall mounted as they are in a recess in the bottom of the set pointing down. You really should use HDMI anyway.
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