Philips 50PFL7956T Pro Reviews

Only film lovers need apply here. The screen’s format just doesn’t work if you mostly want to watch sitcoms originally transmitted in 4:3 ratio or even regular widescreen TV broadcasts. But if the majority of your viewing, or at least what you value watching most, is movies then this is a spectacular TV. The shape is striking and effective, the Ambilight enchanting and the image quality exceptional. Sound is stronger than on many flatscreens, too.

A living room-sized version of a CinemaScope TV aimed at those who mostly watch Blu-ray movies, the Philips 50PFL7956T comes with a raft of must-have features – including a clean and easy 3D mode. The fullscreen option for split-screen games provides a tempting trickle-down tech from 3D, and some games look fabulous in a 21:9 shape, although this TV is at its best when it's simply removing the black bars from Blu-ray discs – and presenting them with more detail than ever.

The Philips 21:9 Gold is a superb TV which truly earned its place in the short list for Best TV 2011 in the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards. For the money, there’s simply no better way to watch high definition films. The full screen experience combined with the Philips Ambilight technology is just a real pleasure to behold. It sucks you in within seconds and turns even the dullest of movies into gripping blockbusters. At the same time, we still wouldn’t encourage anyone to buy it as their one and only set unless you really don’t happen to watch TV at all. Even with Auto Fill, there’s a nagging feeling that you’re missing something. You’re probably not but, oddly enough, that’s not the point. You might not care when it’s Eastenders but if it’s your favourite HBO series you’ll want to drink up every pixel of the plot. There are niggles here and there with the 21:9 Gold - with the 3D and with the IPTV platform - but it’s a real treat of a telly all the same. Life without it just seems so