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Introduction
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01.Tour & Design
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02.Blacks & Whites
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03.Color Accuracy
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04.Motion
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05.Viewing Effects
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06.Calibration
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07.Remote Control
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08.Connectivity
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09.Audio & Menus
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10.Formats & Media
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11.Power Consumption
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12.Vs RCA L40FHD41
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13.Vs Panasonic TC P42S1
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14.Vs Sony KDL 40S5100
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15.Conclusion
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16.Series Comparison
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17.Ratings & Specs
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18.Comments
Philips 42PFL3704D/F7
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IntroductionNext: Page 2
Blacks & Whites
Tour & Design Summary
Editorial Note: This is a review of the Philips 42PFL3704D/F7. Test results are for this model, but should indicate the general performance of other sizes in the 3000 series. The 3000 series includes the following models: 52PFL3704D, 47PFL3603D, 47PFL3704D, 32PFL3504D, 22PFL3504D, 19PFL3504D. Read here for more details on series differences.
• Bezel is made of glossy, black plastic.
• Indicator LED is in the bottom right corner.
• Stand comes attached to TV; no mounting.
Front
The Philips 42PFL3704D/F7 has a glossy black bezel with branding on the bottoms center. Towards the right is the indicator light and remote sensor. Get used to this corner, because if you're not pointing the remote directly at it, the TV will ignore you.
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Indicator Light and Remote Sensor | ||
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Back
The back of the TV is bland. There's a cluster of ports towards the right side, below which are two HDMI ports.
For information about the ports on the back of the Philips 42PFL3704D/F7 see our Connectivity section.
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Sides
The left side of the TV has a handful of ports and the right side has the on-set controls.
For information about the ports on the back of the Philips 42PFL3704D/F7 see our Connectivity section.
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Stand/Mount
The stand comes attached to the TV, so there's no assembly required and no option to mount the thing. It has a thick neck and is made of the same glossy black plastic as the bezel.
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The TV's stand is permanently attached, meaning easier setup and no option for wall mounting. |
Controls
The controls on the TV can perform basic functionality. The top two toggle volume, the next one down is the menu button, then the channel buttons, and finally the power.
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| Menu |
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Channel up/down |
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| Power |
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Remote Control
The remote is pretty basic. It has large buttons, rounded sides, and takes AA batteries.
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The unit's remote is very basic: it has large buttons and not a lot of clutter. |
In The Box (6.0)
The 42PFL3704D/F7 ships with its remote and a plastic bag ful of manuals. Batteries aren't included, and although this might have been a common ommittance for some RC car from 1987, it's a bit strange on a modern TV.
The TV comes attached to its stand, meaning the only required setup is finding batteries for the remote.
Aesthetics (3.0)
There's not a lot to say about the Philips 42PFL3704D/F7's aesthetics. It's thicker than the average LCD, and uses cheap-looking, glossy black plastic. It's not exactly an eyesore, because it doesn't attempt any design flourishes. The TV takes a humdrum design and fails to make it modern.
| Other Models in the 3000 Series | |||
| This is a review of the Philips 42PFL3704D/F7. The other sizes of HDTVs in this series should be similar in terms of performance and usability. For details about any differences, click on the image to jump to the Series Comparison page. | |||
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19PFL3504D 19 inches |
32PFL3504D 32 inches |
47PFL3603D 47 inches |
52PFL3704D 52 inches |
Shop for the Philips 42PFL3704D/F7
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