17. Philips 30PF9946/12

Less extravagant in design than the 26PF9946/12 from the same manufacturer, this set looks unbeatable on paper: A large diagonal measurement, a price that's competitive for an LCD, and elegant design.

Design And Finish

The set is pleasing to look at. In fact, it's directly inspired by the line of plasma TV sets Philips has been selling as of late. The silver-gray plastics are of good quality. However, the system Philips has used for attaching the base is a bit uncertain and not very practical. Make sure you're not in a hurry when you're ready to set it up.

Ergonomics

Philips knows its way around living rooms, so naturally the design of its remote control is irreproachable, and navigation through the OSD goes without a hitch. The drop-down menus follow each other logically. There aren't a lot of fine adjustments, but they're enough for the majority of users. The OSD is identical to the one used on the 26PF9946/12.

Equipment

All the basic connections are here, plus a VGA connector for linking to a PC.