Philips 42PF9630A 42-Inch HD Integrated Flat Panel Plasma TV with Pixel Plus 2HD and Ambilight

by Philips

Product Details

Data Sheet [789kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 126 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 92 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B000AEBBNG
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,743 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Save space and enjoy a wonderfully vivid picture with the stylish, 42-inch Philips 42PF9630A widescreen plasma T V, a great choice for your full-featured entertainment center. It has a built-in 181-channel NTSC tuner for standard tel evision broadcasts, and you can receive high-definition TV right out of the box with the optional, removable CableCARD, which picks up HD (ATSC) broadcasts from your digital cable provider (digital cable subscription required). This set inc ludes a tabletop stand, but it's also wall-mountable with optional kit (VESA compatible). It also comes with a universal , learnable remote control, which can "learn" functionality from other components' remotes. This plasma TV includes an a nti-ageing circuit to help prevent screen burn-in and an anti-reflective coating on the screen.

This set uses Philips' exclusive Pixel Plus 2 HD video processor, which provides excellent sharpness natural detail, inc reased depth, vivid colors and smooth and natural motion from standard TV, High Definition signals, and multimedia sourc es. Each pixel of the incoming picture is enhanced to better match the surrounding pixels, resulting in a more natural p icture. Artifacts in compressed multimedia content are detected and reduced, ensuring that the picture is clean and razo r sharp. Digital noise reduction ensures that the picture is perfectly smooth yet razor sharp.

The 42PF9630A has a 1024 x 768-pixel resolution, 160-degree viewing angle, a 1500 cd/m2 (candela per square meter) brigh tness rating, and a 10000:1 contrast ratio. (The higher the contrast ratio, the greater a TV's ability to display subtle color details and not get washed out by ambient room light.) Other features include picture-in-picture display (via com ponent and HDMI connections), auto volume leveler, adjustable color temperature and sharpness, sleep timer, and V-Chip p arental controls.

The 3D comb filter separates brightness and color signals better in 3D domain to eliminate cross-color, cross-luminance and dot-crawl distortion. It performs field-by-field comparisons of the television image to accurately separate the colo r from the black-and-white information and remove both horizontally and vertically hanging dots, as well as dot crawl, r esulting in a razor sharp image.

The Active Control function uniquely and intelligently optimizes picture quality by measuring and analyzing the incoming signal to automatically adjust picture quality settings. Active Control with Light Sensor uses a sensor to adjust the p icture brightness depending on the room light conditions.

The full-color Ambilight feature provides relaxed viewing and a unique ambiance via a soft light glow on the walls surro unding the TV. Research has shown that watching television with adapted ambient lighting promotes more relaxed TV viewin g. The Ambilight colors automatically adapt to the images on the screen to add a new sensation to the viewing experience . The light can also be switched to fixed colors or various shades of white. In standby mode, the lights can be operated to any color and create a unique ambiance in the room.

This TV has two built-in stereo speakers that produce 15 watts per channel (for 30 watts of total power), and can produc e Dolby Digital virtual surround sound, emulating a 5.1-channel sound field from just two speakers. It also offers the f ollowing connections:

• Composite AV (RCA) In: 3 (1 side)
• S-Video In: 3 (1 side)
• Component Video In (Y PB PR): 2
• HDMI In: 2
• RF In: 1
• PC Audio In: 1
• PC Audio Out: 1
• Monitor Out: 1
• USB: 1
• Headphone: 1

The USB connector allows access to multimedia JPEG, MP3, MP3-PRO, and ALB (photo slideshow) files of most USB memory dri ves and most digital cameras (USB 1.1 memory-class device). Plug the USB connector into the slot at the side of the TV a nd access your photos or music files.

Tech Talk
CableCARD -- The CableCARD system enables the "Plug-and-Play DTV" functionality as agreed between cable operators and consumer electronics manufacturers. It allows the decoding of encrypted or scrambled content delivered from the cab le system. CableCARD functionality includes conditional access and copy protection. A CableCARD-enabled television witho ut a CableCARD inserted receives high-definition standard TV broadcasts. When a CableCARD is inserted, the television re ceives high-value high-definition, cable programming.

HDMI -- HDMI makes an uncompressed digital RGB connection from the source to the screen. By eliminating conversio n to an analog signal, it delivers an unblemished image. The non-degraded signal reduces flicker and leads to a clearer picture. HDMI intelligently communicates the highest output resolution with the source device. The HDMI input is fully b ackward compatible with DVI sources but includes digital audio. HDMI uses HDCP copy protection.

What's in the Box
Plasma TV, remote control (with batteries), tabletop stand, power cord, printed operating instructions

Product Description:
This TV acts as the core component as you transform your home into a home-theater environment. With widescreen WXGA resolution, this TV is capable of presenting NTSC analog, ATSC HDTV, HD DVD, and can even display images from your PC system. In a sense, it bridges entertainment and information in a way that enhances life and the performance of it. Add some definition to your sense of being and to those around you as you choose this fine, Philips TV.

High-definition plasma WXGA display with up to 1024x768p resolution

HDTV ready for use with CableCARD + Integrated ATSC Tuner for receiving off-air free HDTV broadcasts (optional antenna required)

Pixel-Plus 2 HD improves details in standard TV and HDTV

Active Control with Light Sensor optimizes picture quality

Full-color ambient lighting enhances the viewing experience

Enjoy your favorite movies, photos and music - USB and Memory-Card slot for instantly playing multimedia

Aspect ratio : 16:9 Widescreen

Brightness : 1000 cd/m2

Contrast ratio (typical) : 3000:1

Diagonal screen size (inch) : 42 inch (107cm)

Picture enhancement : Progressive Scan, Active Control + Light sensor, Jagged Line Suppression, Widescreen Plus, Pixel Plus 2 HD, 3D Combfilter

Anti-Reflection coated screen

Viewing angle (horizontal) : 160 degrees / Viewing angle (vertical) : 160 degree

Panel resolution : up to 1024 x 768p // Supported Display Resolutions - 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

2 Built-in Speakers with stereo and virtual Dolby surround

Sound Enhancement : Auto Volume Leveller, Digital Signal Processing, Dynamic Bass Enhancement, Graphic Equalizer / Output power (RMS) : 2x15W

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite a review, but a correction, December 5, 2005

By 

JOEKC "JKC" (Kansas City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philips 42PF9630A 42-Inch HD Integrated Flat Panel Plasma TV with Pixel Plus 2HD and Ambilight (Electronics)

I own the non-Ambilight version of this TV and I feel it necessary to correct what was said in a review below, which is seriously in error. The reviewer said it is impossible to keep the screen from resizing/zooming when different formats came on the screen. This is wrong. In the format menu, you simply turn off "automatic" mode and set 16:9. When an HD broadcast comes on it will be in 16:9 mode. A 4:3 mode will have bars at the side. There will be no zooming or stretching. I usually don't comment on other reviews, but this "flaw" would have kept me from purchasing this set. It's not a flaw, just a misunderstanding of the menu settings.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bang for the Buck, December 3, 2005

By 

TheCommish16 (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philips 42PF9630A 42-Inch HD Integrated Flat Panel Plasma TV with Pixel Plus 2HD and Ambilight (Electronics)

Since when are 42 inch HD Plasma's offered at this price?? Especially brand name Philips Plasmas with Ambilight (which is two almost flourescent color changing bulbs behind the TV that change color with the screen). Well if it looks to good to be true...it's not. This is one of the best deals today in terms of Plasma HD television. The picture clarity on "normal" tv is exactly that..nothing special, just a nice wide screen picture. However, with HD connected, the picture is exactly what you would see in the store a few years ago with price tags of $5000 dollars plus. I'm not going to do into all the features of this TV, I will just say that I'me extremely pleased with it, and for the price, it really can't be beat. Enjoy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ambilight is great, but the unit isn't without problems, July 29, 2006

By 

citywulf (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philips 42PF9630A 42-Inch HD Integrated Flat Panel Plasma TV with Pixel Plus 2HD and Ambilight (Electronics)

I may have a newer version? I have a book, minimal but still lets you know what the menus are for. Note, the book (or CD, if that's all you have) states outright that, if the tv overheats, it will turn itself off until it is properly cool. Those of you whose tvs are completely turning themselves off - is your tv properly ventilated? It is quite stringent about leaving plenty of airspace around the set and not putting it near any heat source (that includes your air ducts).

The AmbiLight and USB/SD ports are a huge plus, and the wealth of personalization choices atone for some small ills - the tv picture for non-HD channels isn't great (getting an HD antenna fixed that for me) and DVD-R playback suffers in places as well. NEVER use the Automatic format, the distortion creates lousy picture. And just turn the volume all the way down and rely only on your home theater (the little built-in speakers don't impress). But anamorphic movies are gorgeous on this set, with just the right contrast.

Bottom line, if this will be your main tv and you don't have HD you may be better off elsewhere. But for movie viewing with a home theater for sound, the multitude of picture options and Ambilight make this set worth the price.

UPDATE: After owning the tv for 6 months, I have experienced a little of what others have reported. Although the tv has never shut off, I have had moments where the picture shuts off for a few seconds and instantly comes back on. *****A Firmware update fixed this problem, and customer service was quick to assist.**** Using the VCR (AV2), I have noticed the "circle of blur." Now that I don't have any more VHS tapes so won't be using AV2, I hope that problem is "solved." I love the Ambilight enough that I can't turn back now and will do what it takes to keep this tv. However, if you don't love Ambilight, don't bother! Try Panasonic, it was my second choice and has great ratings. If you do love Ambilight (I can't imagine watching movies without it!), keep your Firmware up-to-date.