Philips PFL97x3 (2008) Series

In the 42PFL9703D/10, Philips has brought together its latest picture processing engine with a cutting edge wide-colour gamut LCD panel to deliver what is undeniably one of the best pictures we've yet seen from an LCD TV.

Fantastic pictures ; Superior sound ; Generous features

Light artefacting around motion

One of the very best LCD sets ever made has startlingly good pictures and an endless array of features

A handsome, distinctive TV ; superbly detailed images ; superior sound

Byzantine set-up process ; seems pricey, even for this level of performance

This is one of the best 42in screens out there. Whether it's worth the money, only you can decide

Good picture quality, four HDMI inputs

High price, 100Hz mode flickers, not many legacy inputs

It has all the right specifications, but an imperfect 100Hz mode and a lack of inputs for older devices stop the 42PFL903D being an easy choice.

Good picture quality, four HDMI inputs

High price, 100Hz mode flickers, not many legacy inputs

Decent picture quality. Good blacks and off-axis viewing. Great design. Four HDMI inputs.

High price. Set-up wizard can make picture worse. 100Hz mode is poor. Minimum of non-HDMI inputs.

We had high hopes for the Philips 42PFL9703D, but a poorly performing 100Hz mode and some set-up quirks means the TV isn't the Bravia killer we first thought.

Good contrast., Integrated ambient lighting system., Decent sound., USB and LAN connections

Picture quality is very dependent on viewing angle., Faulty 24p reproduction., The price

High motion clarity in movies., Built-in tuner for analog and digital terrestrial TV., Eye-friendly Ambilight system., Ambient-light sensor for brightness adjustment., Handy multimedia extras., Decent sound., Excellent tuner picture

Low contrast ratio., Outmoded menu with oversized pages., Navigation wheel on the remote control moves too freely., No authentic 24p playback

Thanks to an excellent, bright tuner-picture, sensible features, and relatively rich sound, the Philips is a great everyday TV. On the other hand, the low contrast ratio and lack of 24p-playback make the TV less suitable for the home-theater.