
Philips presented its first LCD television set with LED background lighting, the LED lux. In our test laboratory the number unity candidate had to prove that he is really worth a price of 3,000 euros.
The contrast measurements of the Philips television became quite difficult in the test, since it switches the LEDs off during black picture and switched on dynamic background lighting completely. Therefore we accomplished the maximum contrast measurement both with dynamic background lighting and without them. Result: During static background lighting we obtained a very good, but unspectacular value of 1.991: 1. With activated dynamics however a clearly better value resulted: nearly unbelievable 178.900: 1.
Chessboard contrast in order
Somewhat differently it behaved with the chessboard contrast: Here we did not determine statically 91:1 and dynamically 93:1 - both straight convincing results. Local switching of the background lighting off obviously did not lead to a increased contrast with our chessboard test pattern with black and white rectangles. The measured maximum brightness of the panel is with 479 candela per square meter - a good value.
Good picture with small weaknesses within dark ranges
The picture of the blocked Tuner (similar cable and DVB-T) offers beautiful smooth edges. However double outlines (halos) emerge again and again around moved bodies. During the rendition of DVDs the television overrides somewhat in dark display spaces, whereby an easy color noise arises in the form of color marks. We observed this effect also with Blu ray Discs (BD). Otherwise the television offers however a very plastic picture with mad colors and sharp outlines - both from DVD and from BD.
Ambilight Spectra 2
With Ambilight Spectra 2 radiate LEDs behind the television to the right and left. The light can so the spectator more thereby different colors accept and is in the picture pull in. First the changing lighting irritated; only after many tests we could determine the promised effect also at us and more in the happening on the ground-glass plate were actually merged.
Good clay/tone, habituation-needy remote maintenance
The clay/tone of the LED lux is, as used from Philips, very good: Strong basses and a space-filling sound make mood correct. Switching between DVB T channels is still with 1.6 seconds straight correct. Less well the turning wheel of the remote maintenance pleased us - it reacts for our taste too sensitively. But offer the lux three attitude assistants, who help inexperienced users when optimal configuring of picture, clay/tone and connections.
Very good equipment
Beside the LED background lighting and Ambilight the television under the designation offers „“an integrated Streaming Client to Media gateway. Thus you can receive pictures, videos and MP3s at the television over your home network. Small disadvantage: Philips understands too few formats. It concretely processes only JPEG photos, MPEG films and MP3-Music - it ignores everything else simply.
With the topic there are interfaces nothing too grumble: Under others four HDMI-1.3-Inputs and two Scart sockets permit the connection of various player.
Result
Philips LED lux 42PFL9803H the number one our 40/42-Customs-TV-Leaderboard is current. It offers a good picture and clay/tone quality, paired with mad equipment and a good ergonomics. The LED background lighting provides for mad black values and an insanity contrast - only it harms that this is not passed to one hundred per cent to the image quality. Beyond that the high price of approximately 3,000 euros provides for a bad price performance ratio.