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Reviewed by UK Guest, 12th Mar 2007. |
| Review Summary: Great technology on a budget |
Overall Score: 5/5
 
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Review: I originally started with the Philips 26" 26PF5321 which I purchased from a different store. After about six months I could no longer get a picture on the screen (just weird colours). I had been reasonably happy with the TV up until then but decided not to get an exchange. Instead I got a refund and looked elsewhere.
I came across this similar unit on Amazon - basically a slightly upgraded version - and found not only was it better but also cheaper even at the time of my first purchase six months earlier! I bought it straight away.
Straight out of the box the TV looked very sleek and was incredibly easy to setup. The Auto-install feature took only a few minutes to find each of the available channels and organised them correctly so there was no need for tweaking the setup afterwards. Viewing TV was immediate. One thing I haven't been able to test is the digital reciever - I can't get freeview in my area. Personally, I think the remote looks a little odd but this is probably just preference. It's quite long for a remote so not all of the buttons are accessible using just one hand without readjusting your grip. However, it is simple to use and also has a universal function for DVD and audio devices.
As this is a HDTV it's obviously built for recieving High Definition signals. Not having a HD signal yet, I watch terrestrial TV and it has to be said the picture isn't that impressive, if not slightly disappointing. If you're new to HD technology though, then note this is the case with all HDTV's when viewing terrestrial signals. Watching HD-DVDs and playing HD games (via an XBOX 360) is outstanding. The image is crystal clear and the colours are amazing.
What impressed me the most about this model is the connectivity. For a 26" TV at such a low price you couldn't ask for more. Most importantly for me are the component and HDMI connections, making the TV excellent for gaming and movies. With these connections the TV is also future proof.
I noticed a huge difference in sound over the previous model I owned. The sound on my other set definetly wasn't bad but in comparison to this one it seemed "flat". This model does a good job of replicating surround sound which is a difficult task from just two front speakers.
Two or three months with this new Philips and I am very happy. I've had no dead pixels as I did the previous set. However, the only bad thing I can really note is occasionally it seems to glitch. Twice in the last few weeks when turning on my XBOX 360 the screen has turned green. This is fixed simply by flicking onto the channel again.
I couldn't recommend this TV more. Excellent for people new to HDTV and plenty of connectivity to satisfy the technologically minded on a budget. |
Ratings
| Value For Money: |
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5 |
| Review Score: |
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5 |
| Recommended? | |
Yes |
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DVD, TV & Video