Philips 19PFL3405

Philips 19PFL3405 review

An HD ready, LED-backlit panel is key to this 19in Philips LCD. Though there\'s no sign of the Dutch firm's signature Ambilight feature, the 19PFL3405 is better looking than most TVs of this size. A gloss black surround is flanked by a red plastic lip at the bottom of the screen that most recalls Samsung TVs rather than Philips' past efforts. Though its interface is identical to its high-end brethren, it's somewhat stripped-down; on the main screen you'll find icons for Watch TV, Add New Device, Setup and Browse USB. Add New Device brings a list of inputs and labels, so if you plan to attach a DVD player permanently to, say, the 19PFL3405's HDMI input, the Home screen can host a dedicated icon. Browsing USB is a simple affair, but limited to MP3 music files and JPEG photos. It's equipped with a very sensitive digital tuner, but, oddly, the EPG is black and white, and though it's nicely presented and easy to read, it blocks out both the pictures and sound of the channel you're watching. That programme guide displays eight channels over two hours, though checking the next day's schedules is a very slow process. Picture quality from Freeview is good, with plenty of vivid colours and a contrast-heavy image looking relatively clean and involving.