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Testing of Philips 42″ LCD tv (part 2)
This is only part 2 (of 2) of the test – Testing Net-tv, Mediaplayer, PC-connection, Startup, Remote, Settings assistant etc.
In my quest to find a new tv, I’ve finally settled on this 42″ Philips PFL8694 LCD:
Philips 42PFL8694
Size: 42″ LCD panel, 3ms
Resolution: 1920×1080 (Full HD)
Ambilight (only on the sides)
100hz (with motionflow-funtions)
Mpeg4 tuner (DVB-T and DVB-C)
2x12w speakers (w Incredible Surround)
DLNA, Internetbrowser, Net TV and USB-mediaplayer
I felt obligated to test this TV, as I have previously done with the Sony W5500 and Samsung B650 (see my other video) to show whom ever may be in the same hellhole that is “shopping for a new tv” why exactly this one (as opposed to the other I have tested) passed my strict quality requirements 
. Again: I’m not an expert in this field, so take my test and opinion as another users view. Also: my SD handycam is really not optimal for this kind of recording, so be aware that the picture quality is in reality.. better (to say the least). The camcorder also sometimes cause a bit of fuzziness due to autofocus and high brightness due to auto contrast (sorry about this).
This model is in many ways identical to other Philips series 8000 models (according to the philips webpage), so my test will probably mostly apply to the whole range of 8000 models of the same size (except for the remote + some do have 10w speakers and other IMO minor differences).
Settings:
Contrast: 73
Light: 53
Colour: 53
Sharpness: 5
Noise reduction: Off
Colourtone: Usual (111, 85, 47, 8, 9)
Light sensor: Off
Pixel precise HD:
- Perfect Natural motion: On/off (dependent on content, but mostly ON)
- 100hz: On/off (dependent on content, but mostly ON)
- Advanced sharpness: On (I like it sharp )
- Dynamic contrast: Minimal
- Dynamic backlight: Best picture
- Mpeg artifact reduction: On
- Colour correction: Off
I’ve not really meddled much with sound or ambilight settings yet.. but I will probably do it at some point.
Key results:
+ Great SD and HD quality
+ Vibrant delicious colours
+ Very good sound (for a TV)
+ Ambilight (on some content)
+ Easy to find good stable settings
+ Net-functions are almost usable
(unlike Sony and Samsung variant)
+ Remote is really well designed
+ No visible uneven backlighting
+ Silent operation (no buzzing or whining)
+ Overall all-around good quality
set with no major fallbacks
- Slow startup (approx. 10-12 sec)
- Slow channelchange (2-3 sec)
- Abilight can be intrusive
(can be adjusted or turned off)
- Black-levels are not fantastic (but more than ok)
- Some problems with auto-format and
missing 4:3 option on some TV-trans.
UPDATE: This is resolved by choosing Auto-format in the formatmenu (picture) and then Auto-zoom in the Auto-format menu.
- Menus a bit slow and missing
rollarround function (ie go up to get down)
makes navigation harder than it needs to be
- Net-tv is too slow to be really usable
NB: most of these are minor details and
some are common problems on many tvs
Main conclusion: I really like this tv, and as opposed to the W5500 and B650 I really feel that this tv is well built and of good quality all around. No uneven backlight issues and no buzzing noises. This overall “Good product quality” stamp is what made me choose this Philips. Because when I buy something with this kind of price tag, I expect everything to be “in order”.. which I did not quite feel that I got with the previous Sony and Samsung models.
In reality, it comes down to your personal priorities regarding whats important. The Samsung had the best picture clarity (because of crystal tech) and the Sony had the best motion flow technology. But in my case these aspects were countered by some things just being “out of order”.. like uneven back lighting (W5500) and a annoying buzzing sound (B650). To some.. these things will not matter, but overall.. I’m confident that the Philips I have chosen will give me the best TV and Movie experience.
Duration : 0:9:18
14 Responses to “Testing of Philips 42″ LCD tv (part 2)”
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July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
porcaria tv lcd de …
porcaria tv lcd de philips !! compre 1 tv lcd de 42 poligada ! so usar 7 mil hora ja deu pao ! so tem som e n’ao tem imagen ! e tecnico philips diz precisar trocar panel inteiro ! custa mais caro que compra 1 novo ! liguei para central de atentimento philips ! so enrolo ! espere mais 40 dia ate agora nada de resposta si vai me trocar ou concerta ! por isso não recomentar consumidor compra marca philips ! pq tv tem qur dura 10 anos so dura 1 ano e pouco ! gasta 3 mil reais ficar jogando no lixo
July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
tell me about …
tell me about philips cenima 21:9 it is 200. so hows that ?
i think it have motion flow problem . what you think guys ?
July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
nice but i’m not …
nice but i’m not that crazy about the ambient light thing, i find it distracting and is the net tv feature slow
July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
@jesperc20 uhm i …
@jesperc20 uhm i see
July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
@ …
@SplendidoSplendente They often broadcast old tv-shows in 4:3.. and I sure don’t wanna see those stretched to 16:9! I already use the Auto-Zoom.. but its not always working well. Like I wrote.. It also has problems with tv-broadcasts in cinematic formats + subtitles and logos.. sometimes it keeps alternating between different zoom levels. In those cases I usually just pick the 16:9 format and its fixed, but that should not be necessary. It’s not a huge deal, but I might do a video about it
July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
@jesperc20 ahhh now …
@jesperc20 ahhh now i see…you mean something like “show me the video input with its actual size” as the one selectable when watching video from a USB?
Then no, it’s not possible on TV mode
But if some danish broadcasters still use the 4:3 (I doubt it) and you want to see it with the 2 black bars on the side, then it’s possible: image>automatic image format>zoom
July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
@ …
The problem with Auto-format is that sometimes it scales the picture from tv-broadcasts all wrong.. especially when a movie in cinematic format (ie 21:9) also contains subtitles/logo. Sometimes it even constantly rescales the picture. Its not at big deal.. but both samsung and sony have much better scaling options.
@SplendidoSplendente I know my manual and tv-menus from A-Z and there is no forced 4:3 option for all content – only available very rarely. Unless they made it just a few days ago
July 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
@ …
@SplendidoSplendente Do you have a forced 4:3 option for all content? Or just the not always ideal Auto-Format + Auto-Zoom and occasional 4:3 option that I have? The Auto-Format option still annoys me sometimes during tv-broadcasts, where I can’t choose “Non-scalable”. Philips should work to improve this.. as well as implement a “Roll-around” function in the menu’s + make an easy access menu for Perfect Natural Motion. These things would make navigation a bit easier
July 15th, 2010 at 9:28 am
I have a 37PFL8404H …
I have a 37PFL8404H
Upgraded with the new firmware yesterday: now startup and channel change are faster (especially switching between channels).
There’s the 4:3 option, even if it’s a bit difficult to find.
July 15th, 2010 at 9:28 am
@kriscrazy As far …
@kriscrazy As far as I’m aware, it does not play MKVs. But honestly I don’t think much of mediaplayer functions in tv’s. I’ve tried both samsung, sony and this philips. The filesupport is too limited and the menudesign is not good. I would buy a WD-tv (100$) or Popcorn Hour mediaplayer if I were you.. they play everything perfectly.
July 15th, 2010 at 9:28 am
can it play mkv …
can it play mkv files
July 15th, 2010 at 9:28 am
philips’s sound is …
philips’s sound is great! =)
July 15th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Thanks for the …
.. but I will check up on it to make sure. The start-up and channel change time is not a real issue for me.. but it might be for some. Anyway.. this tv is only slightly slower in changing than the other models I have tested. The missing “rollaround” function in menus is what annoys me the most. But its all small potatoes 
Thanks for the notice. I think I have the latest.. because my tv is hooked up to the internet and will automatically download and remind me of new firmware. Nice feature
July 15th, 2010 at 9:28 am
I assume you have …
I assume you have got the latest firmware? I’ve read in the latest firmware the start-up time is now faster? Also changing channels should be faster with the latest firmware?