Philips 60PP9202 Review

John S · 12-21-2003, 06:05 PM

60" 4:3 HD RPTV
Price Paid: $1248 at www.electronicsalley

SUMMARY:
I'm exceedingly pleased with the product.
I've been checking all the NFL games out in HD and movies, lots and lots of movies. Philips HDTV's are bargains for what you get, and if you get a darn good price on a Philips, it becomes a screaming extreme bargain. Video performance is jaw dropping on this set.

A friend brought the Full Screen 4:3 version DVD of the Hulk over last night, whoa, almost a new level of performance, and the screen seemed Movie theater big on the monster 4:3 format set letting the TV do the progress scanning from a cheap non-progressive scan DVD player, for a mind blowing experience. Surprisingly good flick too. :-)

Who should buy this HDTV: Budget minded consumers that are not video tweakers, and just want a great picture with only a minimal tweaking of the picture controls needed.

Those who should not buy this HDTV: I would think the truest videophiles would be disapointed in the fact the picture controls are limited, especially compared to other HDTV models.

STRENGTHS: (Pros)
About the largest 4:3 format screen size possible in any type of HDTV except front projection. Amazing picture quality on DVD, it's own NTSC tuner (non HD), SVIDEO sources, and full 1080i HDTV. Easy to use menus with simple to use picture controls. 56" Full Res 1080i HDTV 16:9 widescreen format. Good progressive scan performance from cheap non-progressive scan DVD players. Slim foot print for such a large HDTV RPTV. Low total to my door price as the stated purchase price included delivery.

WEAKNESSES: (Cons)
Only one true Component HDTV input, Limited picture controls in user menus, Only one user save-able picture controls set shared by all sources, No PIP when viewing HDTV, only limited PIP when viewing DVD on the component video DVD inputs, no 720p support at all.

DonDavis · 12-22-2003, 12:50 PM

John S knows this already but I thought I would add my comments too.

I have the same set and am very pleased as well. But I'll add that its like having 2 TVs. 1 during the daytime and a totally different one at night. I have a lot of glare that I have to deal with that really takes away from the picture. That can be fixed and is not the TV's fault. Just has to be considered when shopping around. Nighttime viewing is great and have no complaints at all.

On Saturday and Sunday nights, there were football games in HD on ESPN. I don't have an HD tuner and could not figure out how to display the screen in wide mode. The broadcast looked tall and thin. I tried poking around the menus for quite some time and eventually gave up. Anyone have any tips?

John S · 12-22-2003, 03:19 PM

If you don't have an HD tuner, I don't think you can...

You get a glare problem???

Dang one entire wall of my living roon is windows from floor to cieling, and I have nto had any issues.

There was one reading light that caused some though, I just put a different lamp in that location.

DonDavis · 12-24-2003, 05:50 PM

Sorry, I should've been more clear. There's a window behind the viewing area and it currently has wood blinds. This is the source of the glare I mentioned. I just need to address that 1 window. The other 2 windows and the sliding glass door are non-issues.

John S · 12-29-2003, 05:02 PM

Ahh behind the viewing area... I can see how that could be an issue, as the reading light was also behind the viewig area.

I have had some tell me to remove the protective screen completely?? Any thoughts on this from you?

**HTF Ads**

DonDavis · 12-30-2003, 12:23 PM

John,
I initially had that thought but decided to leave it on. I have a 4 yr old and I'm just waiting for him to unload something right smack into the screen.

I know I'll have a cow and I just need to remember, he's only 4 and being a normal boy. So far he's been really good about not touching the screen. He couldn't keep his hands off our previous TV.

What kinds of shows to you get on your HD tuner? I'm guessing just NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS and a few independants. Is it just the big network stuff or do other folks such as ESPN or Discovery go OTA? Do any "cable" networks send a signal OTA?

John S · 12-30-2003, 03:08 PM

Yes, just the Football Games, and network fodder series programs. PBS is doing an excellent job on their HD here in Denver though. Real HD, as you can really tell when the cameras and production is up to snuff or not.

I guess when NFL season comes to a close, I will be going with somehting like Comcast HD.

But the games are most excellent, they seem to be try'n to improve their HD broadcasts week to week on the games at least. I had DD 5.1 on nearly all the games last weekend.

ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, PBS, and the WB in HD from my powered amplified indoor antenna. Not bad, not great....

John S · 01-12-2004, 04:22 PM

I did want to correct one mistake I made in the reveiw.

It does indeed seem to save the personal settings at least on the Component Video 480i input (allowing the set to progressive scan) and the Component Video HDTV 480p / 1080i input.

Sorry for the mistake, I could of sworn it did not do it, but in more experience with the set and calibration, it does indeed do this.

Steve...O · 06-27-2004, 02:27 PM

I have recently come across this set at Sam's Club for about $1,400. Seems like a good deal, but I have a couple of questions:

1. There appears to be a 16x9 anamorphic mode via one (and only one) of the inputs. For those of you with this set, how impressed are you with the presentation of 16x9 encoded material.

2. There is another set of component inputs, but it's not 16x9 enhanced. Assuming that I use the 16x9 mode for a HD input, how big of a sacrifice in quality am I making running the DVD player through the secondary set of component inputs? I currently have a Toshiba progressive scan player (SD-4900) but I don't have a digital TV so I've never been able to experience the added benefits of progressive scan.

The only reason I'm even looking at this set is that being a huge classic film buff, most of my DVDs are of pre-1954 films with some classic TV on DVD thrown in.

Thanks!

Steve

DonDavis · 06-29-2004, 11:32 AM

Hey Steve,

I think you will like this TV. As you mention, you have many older movies that are in 4:3 ratio and they will be huge on this set. I watch newer DVDs in the correct aspect and even my wife loves it (she was never big on home theater stuff but now is). Our set is primarily used for broadcast shows throughout the week and then a few movies on the weekend.

When a person removes the propaganda that they are fed by sales guys, 4:3 aspect TVs are more logical than widescreen for almost all homes.

To question 1,
I use 1 component input for my DVD. This set displays 16:9 in the same size as a 57" widescreen. It looks great!

#2
I think the other you mention is the component HD input. I don't have HD so it's not currently used.

I would buy my set again and really enjoy it.