Philips
7000 series Smart LED TV
Price: $1400
www.directtvs.co.uk
Philips’s
new 7000 Series is a big improvement with the old 7000 model by adding a
Freeview HD tuner and supporting for 3D video. We tested at 42in version
(23PFL7666T) but it’s also available 37in model (37PFL7666T) and 47in
(47PFL7666T) for $1300 and $1700.
TV has two
USB ports on the back so you can connect flash drive to record TV programs or
playing multimedia files. We can see all the test footage except for DivX. SD
card reader allows you to play slide show and if you have a networked media
player or PC, you can transfer files directly by using DLNA - TV with
integrated Wi-Fi.
Once the
TV is online, NetTV function provides access to social networks, video
streaming from YouTube and Daily Motion and other catch-up services from the
BBC iPlayer. The system is quite fast in our tests, allows us to transfer HD
content without any stutter from the menus.
Although
we have proposed a dedicated surround system for watching films, two 14W
speakers of the 7000 series coped well with television programs. At half
volume, we could hear the test file clearly from across the room. Bass
response was not impressive, but mid-range and high-end were both strong.
The
picture quality is quite erratic. Many low-bandwidth Freeview channels lack of
detail, with many visible compression artifacts and almost no definition of the
face, even with the enabled adjustment image settings PixelPrecise HD. However,
it is another story when we switch to a Blu-ray film for inspection. Images are
extremely bright and vibrant, and with the smooth motion at the lowest setting,
chasing scene in Royale Casino is smooth, with very few motion
artifacts.
Quite
vivid colors in the default settings though optional menu did not provide much
control on colors. However, after some changes, we had vivid pictures. With
background working Ambilight, the scenes with strong bright colors make the movies
more impressive.
Philips is
one of the few manufacturers that use passive 3D technology instead of active,
which in theory is to reduce the resolution to each eye. However, polarized 3D
glasses do not not shake completely, you can view 3D content with opening
lights. Active system often shakes under fluorescent lights. More vibrant
colors than the active 3D systems we've watched, and the impressive depth
effect, especially with added Ambilight lights.
7000
series is very well equipped and is benefited by the addition of Ambilight. HD
performance is wonderful and 3D video is very spectacular, but
standard-definition scene is not impressed. However, those who prefer passive
3D glasses should find no further.
|
Summary
Comment. Outstanding
image quality and excellent 3D but it's too expensive for a 42in TV.
TV LED
42in.
1920x1080 resolution, 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 450cd/m2
brightness, 4 HDMI inputs, 1 SCART, 1 VGA, 1 component, 1 composite, Freeview
HD, analogue tuner, 2 year RTB warranty .
Energy
Consumption: 1W stand by, 75W active.
|
Toshiba Regza 46WL863B
Price: $2000
www.directtvs.co.uk
With a
long list of features and the thin bezel, of course 46WL863B of Toshiba looks
like a top TV. It has 3 sizes, so if you do not want 46in model is rated here,
you can select the 42in model (42WL863, $1271) or 55in (55WL863, $2015).
Beside
Freeview HD tuner, it has full internet TV service allows you to watch YouTube
videos and catch-up TV from BBC iPlayer. It also provides access to multiple
social networking portal. The menu system is one of the fastest system we've
ever tried – high text and image resolution, fast response time and a simple
layout make it very interesting to use. Integrated Wi-Fi means you do not need
to run cables around the house, and you can transfer media from DLNA devices.
TV has 2
USB ports to record TV programs or playing multimedia files. 46WL863B handles
well our video tests, including DivX and XviD. It even presents a preview video
for each file. TV works as well as a basic PVR when you plug the flash drive.
With only 1 tuner, you can only record one program each time and can not record
this program while watching another program.
Elite HD
Landscape, and playing in reasonable standard definition but there are
noticeable interferences and lack of detail in the low-bandwidth channel.
However, Freeview HD looks great and Blu-ray is incredibly sharp. LED generated
images and did not leak light.
Colors are
quite accurate by using Hollywood image preset, but the setting menu offers
many things to modify. Adjustments are also brought to 3D, so you can get benefit
from accurate color, brighter even when wearing active glasses FPT -AG01 of
Toshiba (it includes a pair, if you buy more, the price is $107/pair from
www.rgbdirect.co.uk). We still lack the brightness and vibratory phenomena by
light system, but outstanding depth effect.
Unfortunately,
sound quality does not match with the picture quality. Even at the highest
volume level, there is little change between bass voice and explosive action
scenes. Bass lacks though high-end and mid-range are quite clear.
With
$2015, of course 46WL863B has the price of a high-end TV. Fortunately, it has worthy
features and performance though the price was near the price of the elite plasma
television. If you watch movies a lot and need the best image quality, a plasma
TV like the Panasonic Viera TX-P46GT30B is a better choice, but if you consider
how it have coped well with everything we threw at it, Toshiba 46WL863B still
should be in your shortlist.
Summary
Comments.
A proud Advanced TV - Toshiba almost do the right things with 46WL863B.
TV
LCD 46in. Resolution 1920x1080, contrast ratio 7.000.000:1, 450cd/m2
brightness, 4 HDMI inputs, 1 SCART, 1 VGA, 1 component, 1 composite,
analogue, Freeview HD, Freesat HD tuner, RTB warranty 1 year.
Energy
consumption: 1W stand by, 148W active.
