Cello 32in Platinum P32ANSMT review by Steve May

Independent AV reviewer Steve May discovers that small can be beautiful

The Platinum line may be Cello’s premium offering, but it’s not restricted to big 4K sets. This cute 32-incher is a Platinum screen in an altogether smaller package.

This diminutive iteration follows the design cues of its bigger brothers. The frame is a flashy grey silver, and there’s a distinctive integrated stereo sound system, here with two drivers. It’s really rather unusual to see such a relatively small TVs with such a prominent sound system, but then (of course) smaller screens benefit more than most from any sonic upgrade.

Connections include two HDMIs, three USBs, phono AV inputs, VGA PC input, MicroSD card reader and headphone jack. There’s not much you can’t connect.

As this is a smart TV, there’s also wired Ethernet and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi support, with WPS hook-up for compatible routers (which includes BT and Virgin). The tuner is Freeview HD, while the panel itself is HD Ready, which means a resolution of 720p.

The set also comes with an IR remote control with Air Remote USB dongle. The Air Remote makes navigation of the browser and Android smart portal easier. Insert the supplied USB receiver into one of the spare ‘Android’ USBs on the set, and activate the Mouse on the remote control. You can now direct the onscreen cursor much as you’d utilise a mouse. It’s a faster, easier way of getting around.

The set uses Android 4.4 which opens up the door to Internet browsing on the TV. If you want to download apps from the Google Play Store, then you’ll need to log into an existing Google account. Options include YouTube, YouTube Kids, Netflix, Sky Go and Now TV. Catch-up TV services are covered by BBC iPlayer, All4 and ITV Hub.

Image quality is impressive. Pictures have dynamic pop, and benefit from bold colours. Skin tones remain naturalistic though. Picture presets comprise of Standard, Dynamic, Mild and User. The latter unlocks contrast, brightness, saturation and sharpness adjustments.

One thing that surprised me was that a 32in screen actually makes SD channels a lot more watchable. Lower resolution channels tend to look ropey on larger screens, but hold up far better on this size screen. This model also makes for a useful gaming display. I measured input lag at a low 26ms.

The TV tends to over sharpen images to give extra clarity; this is fine when viewed at a distance. However gamers might want to remove the extra edge emphasis. To do this just select the User setting and reduce Sharpness to around 30 on the sliding scale. I think this also gives a cleaner look to HD channels and Blu-ray, although it’s ultimately a matter of personal taste.

The USB media player is the same as that found on other Cello TVs, and offers wide file support for video and music. It’s really quite handy.

This screen’s audio system is immediately better than conventional downward firing rivals. There’s enough volume for comfortable listening – it really doesn’t sound as if someone is shrieking at you down a phone line.

My verdict

Overall, the P32ANSMT can be considered a winner. It’s an extremely well specified, combining good quality pictures and decent audio. The idea of a premium 32-incher may be a novel one, but it makes sense. This 32-incher is ideal for bedrooms, dens or even kitchens, and the provision of better than average sound makes it attractive for living rooms too.