The prominence of Philips LED TVs has been surpassed by the emergence and rise in popularity of other brands such as Samsung, LG and Panasonic over the last couple of years. Whilst Philips has produced some solid performers and has been at the forefront with innovations in energy efficiency and internet TV, their TVs have also taken some criticism about – being difficult use including unfriendly menus and electronic programme guides as well, and not fairing as good as they might when it comes to reliability.
The line-up for the 2011 Philips TV range is interesting with both Philips active 3D LED TV models (Philips 8000 and 9000 series), as well as Philips passive 3D LED TV (Philips 7000 series) being included. The only other manufacturer to include both passive and active 3D TVs across their range is LG.
 Philips 55PFL7505D/F7 55 inch LED TV
55″ LED edgelit 120Hz LCD with Perfect Pixel HD engine
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An area where Philips TVs have excelled in the past was being amongst the first manufacturers to produce true internet TVs. This trend has continued with the expansion of internet features and the inclusion of a full web browser in Philips Smart TV models.
When it comes to the design of the Philips LED TV range, they offer something a bit different to other manufacturers. First of all they might not be as impressively slim as the designs of other brands, but their rounded design is very appealing. The fact that they are not so slim has the advantage that there is more room for a decent sound system. The audio performance of the high end models in particular is refreshingly impressive and excels where so many other brands fall short.
The visual performance of Philips LED TVs is good. There are many in-built picture enhancement features that result in producing great colors and sharp picture quality, however sometimes the picture can look overly processed and unnatural. Some people may also find the menus and EPG a little complex and tricky to navigate at times.
A new feature which I think will divide consumer’s opinions is a feature called Ambilight. This feature projects light rear-wards on to the wall behind the TV so that the TV is bordered by a glow from the TV. The color of the light projected can be configured to match your décor and varies depending on what you are watching. It is said to enhance the cinematic experience and give the perception of watching a larger screen, it sounds a bit of a gimmick but I sure some people will love it.
In all, the new range of Philips LED TVs are impressive and could set help them claw back some ground which they have lost to other brands over the last couple of years. If Philips LED TV reviews are favourable then future developments such as their investment the first 3D TV without glasses might restore their high profile in the home cinema arena.
