Philips 17PF8946 17-Inch LCD Flat Panel HDTV-Ready TV

by Philips

Product Details

Data Sheet [203kb PDF]

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Product Manual [7.21mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 3.1 x 11.9 x 20.4 inches ; 13.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 19 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002KQR0U
• Item model number: 17PF8946
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,732 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 10, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Philips 17PF8946 17-inch HDTV-ready flat-panel LCD TV is more than just great looks. The perfect size for a small space, the 3.1-inch-thick display provides an excellent audio/visual experience with features like Crystal Clear III, Active Control, Virtual Dolby Surround, and unique flat speakers. It even has a built-in FM radio tuner so you can listen to all your favorite radio channels, and up to 40 station presets make sure you tune in fast.

The high-definition (HD tuner not included), 1,280 x 768 WXGA LCD panel uses the latest panel technology, such as Philips' proprietary Crystal Clear package of innovations featuring a 3D digital comb filter (eliminates dot crawl and color bleeding, enhancing fine detail, cleaning up image outlines, and removing most extraneous colors), Dynamic Contrast for deep blacks and pure whites, and green and blue color enhancement. The high 400:1 contrast ratio gives you better subtle color details and the ability to see the picture in bright light conditions, and the 25-millisecond response time means it's capable of handling fast-moving action without image blur or lag.

Active Control delivers the best picture setting, any time, from any source. The incoming signal is automatically analyzed and key picture settings, like sharpness, color, and contrast, are adjusted. The 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio is the best for viewing HDTV and DVDs so you can have a more realistic cinema experience, but the TV has zoom modes for viewing 4:3 analog broadcast TV and pan-and-scan-formatted video.

Built-in flat speakers (4 watts per channel) sit on either side of the active-matrix TFT LCD, giving you full stereo sound without needing to connect to an external speaker system. Virtual Dolby Surround sound support simulates cinema surround sound effects without the need for rear speakers. Philips' Smart Listening auto volume leveling eliminates drastic volume spikes while changing channels or when channels go to a commercial break.

Other features include fantastic 176-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles, 100 preset channels, Autostore for easy tuning, Auto Picture (five modes give you picture settings for different types of programming), Auto Sound (four modes to tailor the TV sound to enhance what you're watching), multilanguage onscreen display, sleep timer, integrated NTSC tuner and RF jack for terrestrial reception, ergonomic remote control, and an antireflective screen.

Want to do more than just watch TV? The 17PF8946 has an FM antenna connector for getting better reception, a rear composite input, and a component input that helps minimize digital and line-scan artifacts during DVD playback. And, because the TV is progressive scan, it can take advantage of the more filmlike images produced by progressive-scan DVD players. It has a VGA input too, which receives the signal from your PC so you can use it as a TV and a PC monitor. A set of side jacks has a composite A/V input with S-video, a mini headphone jack, and an audio in for using the TV's speakers with your PC.

What's in the Box
17-inch HD-ready LCD TV, stand, remote control, 2 AA batteries, user's manual.

Product Description

17" LCD TV, HDTV capable, 1280X768, 400:1 contrast, FM radio, HD and VGA inputs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

130 of 130 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Picture, December 26, 2004

By 

Jeremy Tyree "GrandPa Geek" (SE PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Philips 17PF8946 17-Inch LCD Flat Panel HDTV-Ready TV (Electronics)

Got the Phillips 17inch HDTV LCD after buying a Sony 42 inch rear projection HDTV. Got the Phillips for my office so I could take advantage of HD up there as well. Ordered 2 Comcast DVRs as well, the Motorola 6412 dual tuner. I am in heaven.

The biggest plus for the Phillips is its picture quality. It is great on the digital channels and awesome on the HD ones. The analog channels are just OK as is the case with any high quality high definition TV.

One cautionary is that the HD component hookup uses the same input as the VGA monitor. A funky kind of cable is included with a VGA like plug on one end and a 3 cable component collection on the other. So if you plan to use HD and VGA without a manual cable switch forget it. You can do a VGA and plain digital, but this is an HD ready TV. I did not buy the TV as an extra monitor so I don't care, but thought I'd throw this in for those that are.

The speakers are what you might imagine for an integrated unit...i.e. OK. I have a small set of Cambridge Soundworks speakers (2 satellite speakers and a subwoofer) that plug into a headphone jack. Its not theater sound, but its way better than my 13 inch Sony or my PC for that matter. I believe this is the result of the Dolby virtual surround sound. Probably the best sound you can get without a true surround sound theater system.

I have a Sony progressive scan DVD player hooked up to the component inputs and the picture is just great. Its not as good as my HD progressive scan DVD player with DVI connection hooked up to the 42 incher downstairs, but pretty darned good. I got the digitally remasterd Star Wars trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed watching it on this TV...sound was pretty awesome as well. For me the only improvement might be a DVI interface.

In summary, this is the perfect TV for an office/small room. If you want HD in a small space...this is it.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Philips 17PF8946 17" LCD Flat Panel HDTV-Ready TV, September 6, 2005

By 

Marshall Schwartz "ms from phx" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Philips 17PF8946 17-Inch LCD Flat Panel HDTV-Ready TV (Electronics)

You can't beat the low price on this 17" LCD TV. The picture quality with HDTV or DVD-Progessive Scan sources is excellent. Built-in stereo speakers and FM tuner are handy features, but sound quality is mediocre, so recommend using with home theater audio system for your audio. Generous variety of video inputs. However, only one handles true high definition sources, a standard 15-pin VGA input which accepts either (1) the in-the-box included cable which has the VGA connector on one end and the three component video jacks (standard color-coded RCA type) at the other end, or (2) a cable with VGA connectors at both ends (not included) for hookup to a PC. For more than one high-definition source you'll need a switchbox (I bought one from an electronics store to connect my satellite HDTV and DVD-Proscan player), or a VGA splitter (for two PC's). All in all a great bargain.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philips 17PF8946 17" LCD Flat Panel HDTV-Ready TV, August 18, 2005

By 

TJ - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philips 17PF8946 17-Inch LCD Flat Panel HDTV-Ready TV (Electronics)

I'm the type of person who is usually comfortable with electronic equipment that is on the verge of obsolescence. That being said, I'm pleased with the Philips Flat Panel HDTV I purchased with the intent of using it as a computer monitor/TV to sit on a fragile desk in my bedroom. I have watched a total of three movies on it. The sound and picture quality were impressive especially considering I haven't made any adjustments to the factory settings. In fact, I've only had to make a few decisions after being prompted by menus that automatically appear on the screen. The Philips is definitely user friendly.

There are only a few drawbacks to the set which I hate to mention because I'm using it primarily as a monitor when it was really intended to be used as a TV. The screen is prone to etching when images, such as the Menu bar on a desktop, remain static for long periods of time. The speakers also don't work with the computer. Maybe they do with a PC but I had to have a VGA to DVI adapter cable to connect the Mac Mini to the Philips Flat Panel TV.

I still give the Philips 17PF8964 17" model five stars because I was able to connect a progressive scan DVD player to it without reading the instructions. The VGA to DVI adapter cable was also inexpensive and easy to find. And the instruction sheet allowed me to focus on only those few diagrams that pertained to my particular compatibility issue. The set is also very light compared to CRT monitors and TVs with 17" screens. Plus, the sound and picture quality easily surpass that of the "nice" TV bought for the living room years ago. As for the quality of the HDTV component, it'll be at least 5 years before I decide to use the feature...