Have your say & ask the experts

TKratz and hmtb:

If you prefer an artifically enhanced picture with oversaturated colours and contrast levels blown out of proportions, that makes everything look like Disney channel, then Philips 46PFL9740 is the perfect telly for you.

Wrong suggestion/opinion, I am afraid.

Before we started to compare the sets in the studio, both sets have been "normalised" (usually to the mid/50% settings). I was particularly anxious to see them not in the "shop demo" modes and was allowed to play and reset both TVs as I pleased. The Philips had a clear and obvious edge  in clarity/sharpness when watching moving objects (the pendulum effect), in richness of colours (greens in particular) and in the softness/natural appearance of all colours (my wife's description). The "depth" of blackness was the same, it was simply very black in both sets, no difference. I did not have any special preference for one or the other, and the price was - roughly - the same.

Philips, however, has one important extra  and usually overlooked (by uninformed) advantage - the Ambilight. The 46PLF9704 has the latest, 3rd generation Ambilight system which is a significant step forward from the previous ones. We have had the Philips now for over 4 weeks and all our friends (some keen videophiles) voted the Ambilight as a ... necessity. We use Ambilight all the time.

Best regards.

Ok, so do you mean to say that the Pioneer is better than the Philips, but Philips has one important gimmick called ambilight which makes the picture appear better?

I have seen the Philips, although the blacks are good, but not as good as the Pioneer. Watch "The Dark Knight" to compare.

Philips TVs are excellent TVs, but not close to the Pioneer yet. The Kuro renders colours most naturally & beautifully. Obviously, as gel said, it probably boils down to personal preference.

hnery:

Wrong suggestion/opinion, I am afraid.

What exactly do you mean by that? I wasn't trying to tell you how you felt or what you experienced. It was a general note about this Philips TV, and it is a fact that it is very hard (if not impossible) to make this TV show a correct picture. Just ask anyone who works with ISF calibration.

hnery:

Before we started to compare the sets in the studio, both sets have been "normalised" (usually to the mid/50% settings). I was particularly anxious to see them not in the "shop demo" modes and was allowed to play and reset both TVs as I pleased. The Pioneer had a clear and obvious edge  in clarity/sharpness when watching moving objects (the pendulum effect), in richness of colours (greens in particular) and in the softness/natural appearance of all colours (my wife's description). The "depth" of blackness was the same, it was simply very black in both sets, no difference. I did not have any special preference for one or the other, and the price was - roughly - the same.

Black levels truely are very good on both sets (thanks to the LED backlight on the Philips), but did you then also notice, that there is practically no shadow details on the Philips? And that there is a distinct halo around light objects on dark backgrounds? Otherwise I suggest you look again.

Ooooops !! - Philips, not Pioneer ! - Sorry.

Obviously, Dr Freud was right about  his psychoanalysis:-)

So it was Philips, Philips, Philips, Philips 46PFL9704.

P.s. I have corrected/edited my previous posting. Only Philips has Ambilight. It was a very odd mistake.