The Philips 37PFL9632D review is now complete. Due to popular demand, I have added an “Input Lag” test under the “Benchmark” section, which will be performed on all the HDTVs we review in the future (whenever feasible). The methodology is as follows:
- A DVI-HDMI signal is sent from a HTPC to a HDMI distribution amplifier
- The HDMI signals from the distribution amplifier are fed to the HDTV under review and a separate reference screen*
- An online stopwatch program with milisecond precision is run on the HTPC
- A camera with a shutter speed of 1/1000s or faster is used to capture the lag between the 2 screens
* Ideally the reference screen should be a CRT which in theory exhibits the least input lag at baseline, but unfortunately I don’t own one that accepts HDMI input. That said, as long as the same HDTV is used as reference point, then this should provide a consistent framework for comparison. I am using a Samsung LE52F96BD set to [Game Mode], because this set is likely to be with me for some time.
Hello, and thanks for review.
Somewhat detailed question: Do you know the input lag on the Samsung set? I have seen other reviews of this Philips model showing ~130 ms input lag vs. a CRT, which would imply the Samsung has ~30 ms.
Very good review and thank you.
As a owner of a 42PFL9632, I saw all the things from your review.
Another interesting thing: on a HTPC, in 720p mode 24p works only in 60Hz resolution! And in 1080p, of course only selecting 24Hz. I tested Planet Earth, and in Ep. 10 (Seasonal Forests) is a slow panning on a snow field which cause most judder I ever see in non 24p mode. I simply play and I switch on/off HDNM (of course not in PC mode) and the difference is huge.
I hope line flickering will be solved with firmware (BTW, which firmware you used?), this TV has a very versatile CPU with Linux (hope it has enough power).
to Mircea : FW = 000.064.014.015 (see “I calibrated … after updating the firmware on the television to the latest version available…” in Calibration)
to Vincent :
“Input Lag” test: an excelent work. These technical inovations (and your strictness, of course) are the main reason why I like your reviews.
“Phenomenal SD video processing”: 9632/9732 TVs are european HDTVs for viewers in (continental :-) Europe with (almost ;-) no source of HDTV signal. So I suppose that brilliant work of Perfect Pixel HD engine during SD performance was the main reason for EISA for this TV set
Hi Vincent:
Top drawer review again and like everyone else I was impressed by the new input lag tests you’ve added. You still just a “one man army” as it seems that these reviews are still of the same quality of the ones done during the times of you and colin.
The panasonic seemd to have some promise when I originally saw the proposed specs but if anything it seems to be going the other way when it comes to HDTV development, I mean please any of you correct me if I am wrong but surely the televisions that have been released in, say the last few months, don’t go through the process of converting 1080p, to i, then back to p. Seems to be counter productive does it not?
Slight digression now but one of two things, I saw on your affiliates that they had on their website a 1600p display, take it this is only for computing (Gfx design, Video editing, CAD etc). Also I was looking in the sony store today at the possibility of a W2000 or a W3000 display (as I seem to find the 100hz motionflow seems to make movies nauseus). Was wondering what the best prices were for these screens.
Thank you and please anyone enlighten me – helps me in the long run
Rob B
Vincent,
Is there any chance you could publish your settings as used for the review?
Hi Vincent,
Thanks for the review. I had been planning on buying one of the Philips but held off when I heard that it didn’t have VGA input(why not!?) and they still hadn’t improved the processing to eliminate the “halo” effect.
I’m really shocked to hear that you’ve determined that the TV interlaces and then deinterlaces a 1080p and manages to screw it up! Are you really sure that that is what’s happening? I doubt that Philips would confirm it mind you but it just sounds totally brain dead. It sounds to me like there are simply bugs in the firmware which are applying the processing inappropriately.
I’d really love to get one of these sets but they need to sort out these major issues first.
I’m wondering though if the models higher in the range exhibit the same problems. I know people are under the impression that the firmware is identical in all the sets right up to the Aurea but I do wonder if that’s really the case.
Hi
First of all, thanks for the great review. Could you by any chance post the calibrated settings you used or make a thread like for the Samsung / Sony TVs on this site? I suppose there are many people who don’t have the equipment to properly calibrate their sets and would appreciate a help of a good reviewer.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks for the review, I have the 47PFL9632 and am very very happy with it.
Like others have said, I would be very interested in your settings.
Thanks!!
I have spent hours and hours trying to get my 47″ 9632 set up right so I appreciate this review.
One thing though. It makes 100Hz Clear LCD sound like the best feature of the set, but, for me I see no difference with it on or off and I am suspicious that this feature may NOT actually be implemented on larger than 37″ versions.
Certainly on my 47″ version I do not believe the feature is present and I would be interested if Vincent was able to take a quick peak at a 47″ 9632/9732 somewhere and offer his opinion.
(PS this it is a really really great site, the reviews are superb, but my god, the hyperlinks layout are hilariously bad. It would be taken even more seriously and with even more respect if it had a layout overhaul)
Hello Vincent
Thanks for your very intelligent review. The Philips is now off of my list of possible LCDs. It just goes to show that the company’s hype for the product (which sounds so good) should not be taken at face value.
You have now reduced my LCD short list to one – the Panasonic TX-37LZD70 – which I believe you have not yet reviewed. I look forward to your verdict in the near future.
As for plasma (my more likely choice), I’m down to the Pioneer PDP-4280XD or the Panasonic TH-42PZ70B. I’m most tempted toward the former but having seen both, albeit at Comet with their limited inputs, (the Panasonic has a slight edge in their showroom), there does not seem to be too much to sway one, other than the price. Which would you buy?
Best regards
Tony C
@Dan:
Field reports suggest that you’re right about ~30ms.
@Robbieb:
I’m not sure if the Panasonic converts 1080p->1080i->1080p, but at least there was no deinterlacing artifacts in the end result unlike the Philips.
To check the best prices, you can try using our price comparison tool at http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/partner/PG/
@Jim H:
I would also like to test an Aurea, but after this review I don’t think I’ll be receiving one anytime soon.
@Mark BT52:
Hmm… I certainly saw a big difference between [100Hz Clear LCD] “On” and “Off” both in test patterns and real-life programmes. Have you tried scrutinising the scrolling ticker on Sky News/ BBC News when toggling [100Hz Clear LCD]?
@Tony C:
The Pioneer has better blacks and video processing, and native 1080p/24 capability; the Panasonic has the edge in resolution and price. Only you can decide which is better for you. :)
Warmest regards
Vincent
Hi all,
Great review (again.. lol) Vincent! I bought my LCD screen 2 weeks ago and my main help to choose was your excellent review site!!
Two screens were at stake : the Sony 32D3000 and the Philips 32pfl9632 which shares the same features that the 37″ model tested. I spent a lot of time comparing the two models in shops.
My (subjective) thoughts :
– The Philips has a INCREDIBLE design and some good “plus” like the ambilight system or the USB connector and the swivelling pedestal.
– The overall image quality was almost always as good as the sony screen. But some points of concern remain.
Firstly, I do not like the image style when the [Digital Natural Motion] is ON. On HD material it gives a great sense of 3D but with SD material, it’s like watching a homemade movie…
Secondly, I had the impression that black scenes were problematics for this LCD screen. I didn’t manage to have good black levels with a decent amount of details in the black areas without increasing the luminosity and then loosing a good overall rendering.. Compared to the Sony, black tones were not well handled by this screen.
Thanks again for all your reviews which help me to choose my LCD screen (sony 32D3000 which can be found at a decent price now).
PS : Sorry if some sentences are strangely built… I’m french and I lack of vocabulary to clearly describe what I’ve seen… ;-)
I have a Philips 37PFL9732. I am not too happy with it. I seem to have to switch off most of the processing features that I paid for when I bought the set.
At first, I was using it with a normal Sky box that had a SCART output to the TV. Using HD Natural Motion introduced very significant halo effects, especially when the camera was panning across to follow a moving person/object against a textured background.
Also, use of Dynamic Contrast feature (or whatever they call it) causes a really annoying effect, when moving from a darker scene to a lighter one, and vice versa. For example, when two people are talking and the editing cross-cuts back and forth from one to the other. At every scene swap, the TV thinks to itself for about 1 or 2 seconds and then adjusts the whole picture to make it lighter or darker. This is really off-putting and I have to disable the feature, which makes for less overall black levels.
I now have Sky HD, so all programming goes via HDMI to the TV. The dynamic contrast problem is still there, but much less noticeable. I am assuming that the TV makes the required adjustments with the much-reduced time lag when processing a HDMI signal. The haloing effect using HD Motion Control is unfortunately still a problem, which is a real disappointment to me.
The same applies when watching BluRay via HDMI. I generally use the “movie” template setting which switches off the D Motion Control.
Apart from these defects, the TV produces a truly marvellous overall picture with the motion and contrast effects set at minimum or zero and the settings template set to “natural” with a few manual tweaks. Planet Earth in HD is a marvel to watch and hear, but the halo effects are really obvious e.g. when an eagle is being tracked against a rocky mountainside background.
What’s the point in paying for all these fatures when you just have to keep them switched off?