[Magna2006]

Begin postings for the Philips 42PF9631D/37 here.


Picture/Display

Aspect ratio : 16:9

Brightness : 1,500

Contrast ratio (typical) : 10,000:1

Diagonal screen size (inch) : 42

Diagonal screen size (metric) : 107 cm

Display screen type : HD Plasma panel

Picture enhancement : Pixel Plus 3 HD, 3/2-2/2 Motion Pulldown, 3D Combfilter, Active Control + Light sensor, Jagged Line Suppression, Progressive Scan, Widescreen Plus, Pixel Plus 3 HD Screen enhancements : Anti ageing circuit, Anti-Reflection coated screen

Viewing angle (horizontal) : 160

Viewing angle (vertical) : 160

Panel resolution : 1024 x 768p


Ambilight

Ambilight Features : Auto adaptive to video content, 2 Channel Left/Right control

Color Settings : Full Multi Colour

Dimming Function : Manual and via Light Sensor

Preset modes : 4 Active Adaptive modes


Supported Display Resolution

Computer formats : 640 x 480, 60Hz, 800 x 600, 60Hz, 1024 x 768, 60Hz, 1366 x 768, 60Hz

Video Formats : 640 x 480i - 1Fh, 640 x 480p - 2Fh, 720 x 576i - 1Fh, 720 x 576p - 2Fh, 1280 x 720p - 3Fh, 1920 x 1080i - 2Fh


Sound

Sound Enhancement : Digital Signal Processing, Dynamic Bass Enhancement, Graphic Equalizer

Sound System : Virtual Dolby Digital

Output power (RMS) : 2x12W

 

[zhelder]

OK, just to help get things started in this thread, here are some of the differences I noticed between the 42PF9631D and the 42PF9630A:

UPGRADES FOR THE 42PF9631D:


-Stereo Ambilight is activated by default.


- The set is more energy efficient. (372W when powered vs. 426W for the 9630A).


- The set has Pixel Plus 3, which is supposedly an upgrade from Pixel Plus 2 in the 9630A.


-Included stand is redesigned, and appears to be of better quality.

SIDEGRADES FOR THE 42PF9631D (Things that are different, not necessarily better or worse) :


- Speakers are now located in one piece at the bottom of the display, as opposed to two separate side speakers on the 9630A.


- All connectors now appear to be located on the back of the TV, as opposed to the bottom HDMI and and analog video and audio out connectors on the 9630A.


- Remote is redesigned slightly from the 9630A remote.

DOWNGRADES FOR THE 42PF9631D:


- Speakers are downgraded to 12W per channel, down from 15W per channel on the 9630A.


- Media card reader has been eliminated.


- The set has only 1 USB slot, as opposed to the two on the 9630A.


- Cable card reader has been eliminated. (What were they thinking?!?)


- The set weighs 5 more pounds than the 9630A. (97 lbs. vs. 92lbs.)


Other than these few changes, the sets appear to be the same. Any other differences that people have noticed?

 

[bigtvluvr]

Is this THE user thread for the 9631 -- nothing else ?


I'm surprised it's not longer. I wonder if people are still posting on the 9630 User Thread.

 

[Yerp]

It's the same as the 42PF9631D minus the ambilight, pixel plus 3HD, and different bezel (gray/black with speakers on the side).


It's over here in another thread, but I'll re-post:

42PF9431D impressions


Before this plasma, I had the 42PF7220A, but after numerous problems, I swore that I would not buy another Philips again. Unfortunately for me, I had forgotten about the dreaded WAF!! I purchased an LG to replace my older Philips, and well...that didn't go too well with the wife since it didn't fit the entertainment center as well as the Philips. So...the next day I returned it and drove to Costco and got their latest replacement for the 7220A.


Anyway, this model (exclusive to Costco maybe?) seems to be a frankenstein of sorts. It has the same bezel (a little darker silver/gray though with black around the screen) as the 42PF5321D that's sold at Sam's with the same specs as the 42PF9631D sold everywhere else (minus the pixel plus 3D and ambilight). It has the same number of inputs as the 42PF9631D - two HDMI, 3 AV, digital and analog audio out, USB, side inputs, etc. No cablecard slot however. It, of course, has built-in QAM tuner as well.


The picture it produces is very very nice, and it also seems that they have updated the active control mechanism to actually work decently. The internal scaler/de-interlacer is quite an improvement over the 7220A/7320A - to my eyes anyway. SD content is very nice actually....much better than the LG that I had briefly


Other than that, it has all the menu options as before...so not much change there. The best news of all, is that the firmware was just updated to handle the "black screen" issue...so far so good.


Anyway, just thought I would throw that out there. I'm crossing my fingers...but not too tightly since I bought it from Costco, and well...you know the rest


Technical specifications


Picture/Display

Aspect ratio: 16:9

Brightness: 1500 cd/m²

Diagonal screen size (inch): 42 inch

Display screen type: HD Plasma panel

Picture enhancement: Pixel Plus, Progressive Scan, Active Control + Light sensor, 3/2 - 2/2 motion pull down, Widescreen Plus, 3D Combfilter, Contrast Plus

Screen enhancement: Anti ageing circuit, Anti-Reflection coated screen

Panel resolution: 1024 x 768p

Contrast ratio (typical): 10000:1

Viewing angle: 160º (H) / 160º (V)


Sound

Sound Enhancement: Digital Signal Processing, Dynamic Bass Enhancement, Graphic Equaliser

Output power (RMS): 2 x 15W

Sound System: Virtual Dolby Digital


Convenience

Ease of Installation: Autostore, PLL Digital Tuning, Plug & Play, Automatic Tuning System (ATS), Auto Program Naming

Ease of Use: On Screen Display, Side Control, Smart Picture Control, Channel list, Smart Sound Control, Delta Volume per preset, Auto Volume Leveller (AVL), Graphical User Interface

Screen Format Adjustments: Subtitle and Heading Shift, 6 Widescreen Modes, 4:3, Auto Format, Movie expand 14:9, Movie expand 16:9, Subtitle Zoom, Super Zoom, Widescreen

Child Protection: Child Lock+Parental Control

Picture in Picture: HDMI-Component PIP

Clock: Smart Clock

Teletext: Closed Captioning Full Text

VESA Mount: Vesa compliant


Multimedia Applications

Digital Content Management: Digital Media Reader

Multimedia connections: USB

Playback Formats: JPEG Still pictures, MP3, Slideshow files (.alb)


Tuner/Reception/Transmission

TV system: ATSC, NTSC

Video Playback: NTSC

Aerial Input: 75 ohm F-type

Cable: Unscrambled Digital Cable -QAM Connectivity

Other connections: Monitor out, CVBS, L/R (cinch), S/PDIF in (coaxial), S/PDIF out (coaxial)

AV 1: Audio L/R in, CVBS in, RGB+H/V, YPbPr, Component Video in, (1, 2, 3Fh autoranging), Y/C

AV 2: Audio L/R in, CVBS, Y/C

AV 3: S/PDIF digital coaxial, YPbPr, (1, 2, 3Fh autoranging)

AV 4: HDMI

AV 5: HDMI

Front / Side connections: Audio L/R in, CVBS in, Headphone out, S-video in, USB

 

[retexan599]

I have the 50 inch version of this TV and it has performed flawlessly over the six weeks that I have had it. I like the Ambilight, and really like the wide flat black bezel.

 

[bigtvluvr]

What is 'stereo Ambilight' ??


And what is this other model, the 9431? I don't think I've ever seen it at CC or BB.

 

[Yerp]

So far I've only seen the 9431 at CostCo.

 

[bigtvluvr]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Yerp /forum/post/0


So far I've only seen the 9431 at CostCo.

Sounds like a 9631 made especially for Costco, no?


Drives me nuts tracking all these different numbers and then you throw in the specialty-made models for chain stores........ugg.

 

[bigtvluvr]

Is a media card reader a cable card outlet?


There's still a cable card on the 9631, right ?

 

[Yerp]

No cable card slot on either models.

 

[bigtvluvr]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Yerp /forum/post/0


No cable card slot on either models.

The 9431 on Costco's website says nothing about Ambilight....doesn't look like it has it. Looks to be a hybrid version of Philips TV's.


And certainly not Pixel Plus 3, doesn't even look like PP 2 from the description.

 

[mlandau]

check yerp's message on this thread to link to his thread. He owns it.

 

[bigtvluvr]

Anybody utilize or familiar with a rotating/tilting base for the 9631 ???


I will be putting my TV on a stand and rather than move and angle the entire stand, it'd be easier to 'swing' the TV around to where I am in the room.


Tilting isn't that important (it's not at the eye level it'd be if it were high on a wall), but rotating would be helpful.

 

[bigtvluvr]

On the subject of viewing angles and such:


My couch is about 18" off the ground meaning that when anybody sits down their eye level will be from about 36" (kids) to 45" (adults).


The TV will probably go on a stand that right now is 34" off the ground. So the 9631 AND the base will be on top of that.


Not sure if that line-of-site from the couch to the TV puts a premium on a tilting stand (which would probably raise it more) which can push the angle of the TV downward or upward to eliminate glare or whatnot, or if I need a lower TV stand.


Thoughts ??

 

[bigtvluvr]

I was seriousley looking at the 9631 because they've dropped the price. But I have access to the Philips Store and can get the 9630 about $300 cheaper -- give or take the delivery charge.


I like the idea of the newer model so as not to have all the software (firmware ???) glitches that everybody on this thread has been uploading for the last 12 months. On the other hand, the speakers are 12 watts instead of 15, I lose the memory card reader (not sure what I'd use it for), and the speakers are on the bottom (not sure if that's good or bad).


I'm really on the fence...someone want to push me over to one side or the other ??

 

[bigtvluvr]

What's this 'stereo Ambilight' I keep seeing references to?


Does the 9631 have 4 Ambilights and the 9630 only 2 ???

 

[zhelder]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bigtvluvr /forum/post/0


I was seriousley looking at the 9631 because they've dropped the price. But I have access to the Philips Store and can get the 9630 about $300 cheaper -- give or take the delivery charge.


I like the idea of the newer model so as not to have all the software (firmware ???) glitches that everybody on this thread has been uploading for the last 12 months. On the other hand, the speakers are 12 watts instead of 15, I lose the memory card reader (not sure what I'd use it for), and the speakers are on the bottom (not sure if that's good or bad).


I'm really on the fence...someone want to push me over to one side or the other ??

The only downgrade on the 9631 that I would consider major is the loss of the cable card reader. A media card reader, while nice, isn't really necessary with a USB slot. You can plug a flash drive into the USB slot for music and pictures. The sound downgrade probably wouldn't be noticed by most people.


There have been some incredible deals on the 9630 recently, and I jumped on one. I got a refurbished unit from Philips Outlet for literally half of what the 9631 is typically selling for in stores, and it has been flawless so far. If you can get a great deal on the 9630, I would say get that. I wouldn't pay much of a premium for the 9631, especially considering it lacks a cable card reader. For some people, the newest model is always the best, but in this case, I'm not so sure.

 

[zhelder]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bigtvluvr /forum/post/0


What's this 'stereo Ambilight' I keep seeing references to?


Does the 9631 have 4 Ambilights and the 9630 only 2 ???

Stereo Ambilight allows the lights on each side of the set to display colors independently. Mono Ambilight forces each light to display the same color at the same time. Both the 9630 and 9631 have two lights. The 9631 has stereo ambilight activated by default. The 9630 has mono ambilight activated by default, but stereo ambilight can be activated by those who are adventurous. (Check out the 42PF9630A thread for details.)


Some new high-end plasma and LCD sets from Philips have "Surround Ambilight", which has lights on all four sides of the television. At this rate, I guess 7.1 Ambilight will be coming pretty soon!

 

[bigtvluvr]

Thanks, Zhelder, I must have seen a 4-sides Ambilight on a larger plasma or LCD...thought I had seen it.


Anyway, since I'm looking probably at the 42" model, it's not something to worry about.

 

[bigtvluvr]

This set must be selling extremely well.....CC stores in NY Metro area all out last few days and maybe 2 weeks to get replacements.