HDTV Reviews

The Philips 32PF7521D kick off nicely with twin HDMIs, but these receive handsome support from component video and PC jacks, a digital audio output, and the usual SCART/S-Video/composite video standards. What makes us particularly happy about all this is that unlike many previous Philips LCD TVs, you’re not expected to input digital video, component and PC signals through the same, single connector. Hallelujah.

The 32PF7521D has a digital audio output as the set has a built-in digital tuner, so the digital audio output is there to permit the export of Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks should the Freeview service start broadcasting them.

The 32PF7521D isn’t without its good points. For one thing, Pixel Plus’ talent for making standard definition pictures look massively sharper and more detailed than they would normally is clearly apparent. HD sources also look very sharp, suggesting that the HD ‘downscaling/upscaling’ process we described earlier isn’t causing quite as much nastiness as we might have feared.

Elsewhere it’s nice to see precious little evidence of LCD response time motion smearing issues. And while colours aren’t always very natural, they’re usually vibrant and bright.

The combination of these strengths means that occasionally – predominantly with bright, largely static footage – the 32PF7521D’s pictures can look really rather good. It’s just a pity these occasions don’t occur too often.

The 32PF7521D’s audio happily suffers no such inconsistencies, always combining fair power handling with clear treble and mid-ranges, and a well-dispersed soundstage. More bass would have been nice, but that’s hardly a new complaint for an LCD TV.
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