You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Group test: 4K Ultra HD TVs<br />
POLAROID P55D600<br />
£699 inc VAT • polaroidhdtv.com<br />
A favoured brand by TV bargain hunters, Polaroid has stepped<br />
up a level with its first cut-price UHD offerings, led by the 55in<br />
P55D600 reviewed here. If you need more screen space, you can<br />
also buy a 65in version, the P65D600, for around £1,000.<br />
This big panel certainly looks the part: it’s network connected,<br />
offers 2160p resolution and is 3D ready. A pack of eight cheap<br />
polarising 3D glasses are included in the box.<br />
It’s a nice enough looker, too. The bezel is thin, with a chrome<br />
wrap around the edge of the screen. The TV stands on two shiny<br />
plastic feet. Inside there’s a single Freeview HD tuner, although you<br />
can record from it to a USB HDD.<br />
There are four HDMI inputs, though only one HDMI is 4K HDCP<br />
2.2 compliant. This will restrict your options as 4K content services<br />
begin to roll out. There’s also component AV input, a minijack for<br />
SCART with a supplied adaptor, a trio of USB sockets, a digital optical<br />
audio for use with soundbars and a VGA <strong>PC</strong> input. In addition to<br />
ethernet LAN, the set offers dual-band integrated Wi-Fi.<br />
Unfortunately, app support is rather limited. The set has a Netflix<br />
client, but as the TV lacks an HEVC decoder, there’s no option for<br />
4K streaming. Catch-up is limited to the BBC iPlayer, but you can<br />
also view YouTube, BBC News and Sport, Dailymotion, Viewster or<br />
download an assortment of general purpose diversions, such as<br />
Flickr, TuneIn radio, iConcerts, Accuweather, Twitter and Facebook.<br />
There’s also a Media Player for DLNA network and USB sources. File<br />
support for video is wide, stretching from MKV to AVI. The audio<br />
player handles MP3, WMA, AAC, <strong>PC</strong>M and WAV, but not FLAC.<br />
Build<br />
Features<br />
Performance<br />
Value<br />
Overall<br />
While this Polaroid may not impress with its catch-up provision,<br />
image quality is rather good. The P55D600 doesn’t offer high refresh<br />
rates or image interpolation tech, but that’s not an issue if you just<br />
want a big, cinematic pictures. It looks good with HD sources from<br />
TV and Blu-ray. With high contrast and vibrant colour reproduction,<br />
this is an easy image to like. It isn’t a difficult set to set up either,<br />
although there are caveats. The TV ships with exaggerated edgeenhancement.<br />
Sharpness should be set to zero as anything higher<br />
introduces unwanted ringing artefacts.<br />
To evaluate 4K performance we hooked up an Amazon Fire TV<br />
streamer. Marvel’s Daredevil in UHD looks rich and gritty, but not<br />
overly different to when seen in HD. The set’s edge lighting is a little<br />
scruffy, causing pools of light in the corners. As a consequence, we<br />
found Hell’s Kitchen looked a little dull and cloudy in the shadows.<br />
Switch the Backlight control from Auto to Low to prevent the set<br />
from inadvertently switching itself off during low light scenes.<br />
3D is more trouble than it’s worth. Dimensional imaging is very<br />
directional, often resulting in the top half of the panel out of focus,<br />
while the bottom is in, or vice versa. Audio is unimpressive. The<br />
downward-firing speakers lack volume and sound monophonic.<br />
VERDICT: Overall, this Polaroid does what it says on the box. While<br />
you wouldn’t rely on the P55D600 for your catch-up needs, media<br />
playback is fine and image quality is entirely acceptable. Nothing<br />
fancy, just solid, pixel-packed images that please far more than<br />
you might imagine given the low price.<br />
TEST CENTRE<br />
February 2016 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews 77
Change language