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Review: Philips Ambilight 42PF9631D Plasma TV

Is that the Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this latitude? Localized entirely in my living room? No wait; it’s just the ethereal glow of this 42-inch Philips Ambilight plasma display. Philips touts the Ambilight (colored lights that mimic the colors and actions on screen) as the killer feature on its flagship set. […]
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Rating:

8/10

WIRED
Crisp 1024 x768-pixel resolution. Responsive light sensor dimming. Picture-in-picture is a snap. Intuitive remote. Plenty of resizing options. MP3 and slideshow compatible via USB. Color tweaking out the wazoo. Ambilight effect + HD Content = orgasmic cinema experience.
TIRED
Confusing menus. Included stand is nerve-wrackingly flimsy. Only composite cables included. Light on A/V inputs. Smart Picture Control too fidgety. Poor quality speakers. Ambilight heft + stairs = hernia.
  • Screen Size: 42 inches

Is that the Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this latitude? Localized entirely in my living room? No wait; it's just the ethereal glow of this 42-inch Philips Ambilight plasma display. Philips touts the Ambilight (colored lights that mimic the colors and actions on screen) as the killer feature on its flagship set. But the real meat and potatoes lie in its sweet picture and true, natural blacks. But that darn Ambilight glow often proved distracting while gaming and unnecessary while watching shows on cable. Still, at the end of the day, this solid display at a competitive price is totally worth the green.