Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I have always been a lover of Philips products and know their branding from my childhood in the UK but have had no luck with their 42" plasma TVS. After much decision making, reading online and visits to Best Buy, I chose the Philips last July and after a couple of weeks the screen stared to look like a mold was attacking it. When the screen was about 20% covered I called Best Buy (I purchased extra insurance through them) and after three weeks got a technician who basically said he'd never seen anything like it. After being told the screen would be replaced it went on back order at Philips and after another month I had to spend six hours on the phone between India and the USA to get anything done. After much complaining they gave me my money back (wouldn't swap out the TV as that model was not availalble anymore) and I purchased another Philips 42" plasma. Maybe that was a dumb thing but I gave them the beneft of the doubt.

But now it's June 2006 and my second new TV has broken down and has a black screen with flashing white light. I am very disappointed, especially as I've made the call to Best Buy and already I have to wait two weeks to get technician appointment. If I get my money back again I'll try another brand!

This is the worst experience I have ever had with a company and a product. Right from the beginning we had a tv that turned on and off by itself, whenever it wanted to. Since we had no idea this was a problem with this product, we thought it was the cable company or products. After a few months of working with the cable company, I read online about other people having this same problem with this tv. This is when the nightmare began, we made the mistake of calling Circuit City who referred us to Philips. I won't go into all the details here, but if you are considering buying this product, THINK AGAIN!!! I am now sitting with a tv that has no picture thanks to the repair man who did not know what he was doing. Philips response "an exchange is not covered under the warranty" and they hung up on me. Circuit City will do nothing until I let someone take it in and play with it....I wonder if they have someone to work on it that knows something about repairs???? Philips knows they have a defective product so they will not deal with you.....If you buy a product from them, you are on your own......I WILL NEVER BUY A PRODUCT FROM PHILIPS AGAIN

Just a word of warning before you buy this TV. For the first few months the TV was fantastic - then one day it just turned itself off - never to come back to life. That was in November of 2005 and over 3 months and 2 housecalls later the set is still broken and Phillips continues to do everything they can except replace it. Currently, according to Phillips, the parts are all on back order (for over a month now) and nothing has happened. Not only will I never buy a Phillips ANYTHING again - I will certainly make sure my coworkers and friends don't either.

This TV is absolutely wonderful. Picture quality is great (Especially Discovery HD in 1080i), features are good, Ambilight is super cool. Sound quality is better than some people give it credit for...What do you expect from a TV anyway, it's not a sound system!! Overall I am very pleased with this TV.

Great Concept, Great Price - Hence the Lonely Star
Now on my 2nd TV in 12months - and the new one is just going in for its 4th major repair. 1st TV got replaced after 3 major repairs.
So far the 2nd TV has had 3 power supplies, 2 new circuit boards, and now it needs a new PDP ....
Philips response - "Deal With It" "We're going to repair it aren't we"....
Picture fails, Sound fails, Intermittent Red Pixels on black portions of the screen... The list goes on...
Good News is that the Service performance has been good, oh and the ambilight works..Dont have a constant picture, but the wall glows nicely.

Recommendation: DO NOT BUY THIS TV.. Try another Brand - Yes they may cost more financially, but from my stance I'd pay it in a heartbeat now.

I had the 42" model for a year. After 8 service calls, Circuit City gave me a new one. This size was discontinued so I tried the 50" It started with the same problems on the first day: turns off and on at will, half the picture goes blank, I could go on. Progressive problems througout the year. Picture is good, ambilight is beautiful (that had a recal) but it the model is a lemon. Before you write a review here, live with the TV for a while.

Like other's that have reviewed this set, I took months to decide on a flat panel. I have had this TV for over a month and have not experienced any of the problems I have read here. I have a volume bar that may have been corrected with later versions. I do agree that the standard picture is somewhat flat but most standard TV on Plasma is anyway. Reproducing analog TV signals on a Digital screen will do that. Some TV manufacturers do this better than others but when this TV is in HD mode there is no better for the price. All of us reviewers had a choice to make. You could have plunked down the 3000.00+ for a Samsung, Panasonic or Sony that does standard TV better but we all decided that the price if this TV was lots better than those mentioned. I also didn't buy this TV for standard broadcasts nor am I saying that that the standard broadcasts are horrible. But, put this TV side by side in a HD broadcast and there is none better.
From my research before I purchased, I felt that all plasma's have issues. Some less than others, some more. All in all I am more than pleased with this TV. Its got lots of features. 2 HDMI inputs, PIP, in built HD tuner, tons of connects, better than average remote, ambilight(Super feature), easy menus and easy setup. Remember some people have problems operating toasters.