Review: Philips Aurea II 42PFL9903H 42in LCD TV

Opinion has always been divided on Philips Ambilight technology, so how does this 2nd generation incarnation fare?

clipped from www.reghardware.co.uk Philips Aurea II 42PFL9903H 42in LCD TV Review How in-your-face do you want your TV to be? Why not try one with a frame that lights up? This is not just Philips' Ambilight effect, this is second-gen Aurea, where the frame sprays multiple colours at you from the front too. So as the picture in a nature show switches from succulent leaves to a tiger’s face, so the frame snaps from variegated green to bright orange and black stripes, extending the main picture with soft-focus mimicry. And with the Ambilight matching those colours on the wall behind, Philips achieves a remarkably immersive effect. The first Aurea, released in late 2007, had a frame design so uncompromising that it divided opinion. It was curious, with the light frame curving out at you with a matte finish to the coloured lights embedded into it.