Philips Cinema 21:9 with 3D, full LED backlight and silly glasses

When Philips sent us the original 21:9 a year ago, we weren't expecting much from what seemed like an expensive gimmick. We were happily proved wrong -- it was a fantastic TV and we loved every moment we spent with it. Philips has now updated the TV, so we strapped on the old drool bib and snapped some close-up shots for your edification.

Philips has added two inches to the thing, making it 58 inches across. It's also swapped the old-fashioned CCFL backlight for a full LED array and has added 3D into the bargain. The price stays the same, and although £4,000 is a vast amount to spend on a telly, you get more for your money than you did last year.

Clearly a TV for people passionate about home cinema, it's reasonable to expect 3D as standard. Indeed, there are two pairs of 3D glasses included in the box -- Philips is one of only a few manufacturers to give glasses away, and we applaud it for doing so.

Philips' usual flair for style is extravagantly flaunted. The 21:9 is an incredible looking piece of kit, edged with real metal, and with a visual impact no standard 16:9 TV can approach, it's certain to dominate any room you plonk it in.

Like other Philips TVs, there's a great sound system, with forward-firing tweeters for clear high-end and speech, along with a pair of rear-firing woofers, which faithfully convey the rumble of bass and depth of music, or the deafening explosions if you're watching a Michael Bay film.

There's also an upgraded Ambilight system, the headline feature of which is you no longer need a white wall to get the best out of the immersive lighting system, which we've always loved.

We'll be reviewing the 21:9, in all its glory, very soon. Until then, check out some seductive shots of it in our photo gallery. Here, you can borrow our bib.