It ain't heavy, it's my plasma
PHILIPS UNLEASHES ITS FLAGSHIP 50IN PLASMA AND MARCO
BILELLO GRAPPLES WITH A MASS OF FEATURES TO AUDITION THIS BEAUTY
Philips had us in a tizzy when we reviewed the 42in 42PF9964
back in Nov. 2002. Following swiftly on its heels is the mammoth 50in 50PF9964,
which is the Dutch display kings' largest plasma to date. It delivers
high-resolution XGA (1365 x 768) images and is stacked to the hilt with
features and sockets. But is this behemoth plasma really in the same league as
its smaller 42in sibling?
It's impossible not to be bowled over by the classy looks of
this set. It's only 11cm deep and boasts designer looks, epitomised by the
sleek titanium finish of the frame that surrounds the screen. It can be mounted
on a heavy-duty but sultry curvy stand and those who don't have much space can
hang the display on the wall (but it's heavy!). There are no speakers supplied
with the product so it has to be connected directly to a home cinema system or
amplified speaker package. However it does come with a separate TV tuner in the
form of the excellent FTR-9964 which is also supplied with the 42incher. As
well as hosting a full range of connections the box carries out the process of
converting interlaced video signals into de-interlaced VGA ones.
REAR CONNECTIONS
Myriad connections are found at the back of the E-box. Video
signals are fed to the plasma via a single 5m 15-pin VGA cable keeping things
nice and tidy. Component video input provides the best-quality pictures from
compatible DVD players while from a prodigious four scarts, two are RGB
capable. The plasma can be used as a huge PC monitor when a computer is hooked
up to the PC/MAC 15-pin input. A centre speaker output plugs directly into an
amp and can be used in conjunction with stereo output. At the front there's the
usual suspects consisting of S-video, composite video and stereo audio inputs
along with a headphone minijack socket.
The display itself also hosts a wide range of sockets, which
can be found discreetly concealed behind the left side panel. Pleasingly,
there's DVI input as well as high-quality component video BNC connectors that
are matched with horizontal and vertical sync BNC's for using the display in
RGB mode with a PC. A VGA input connects the receiver to the display, while
there are also phono component video, S-video and composite video inputs along
with a BNC composite video input and an RS-232 serial port.
Immediately after switching on you are greeting with a
virgin setup menu which requires language and location specification and
culminates in an automatic channel search. The on screen menu is intuitive and
uses a double axis system that links all sections together, providing easy
access to all the features and tweaks. It's a breeze to navigate, while the
process is made all the more simple thanks to Philips' stylish remote. Buttons
are sensibly positioned, although the zapper can be a little sluggish,
especially when navigating the intricate on screen menu.
FEATURE PACKED
If it is features you're looking for, then this set has got
the lot. It delivers XGA resolution images and boasts a wide range of Philips
picture enhancement technologies. Digital Natural Motion predicts the path of a
moving object to deliver smooth images, while Active Control automatically
adjusts colour and contrast levels to ensure optimum performance. Finally,
Digital Crystal Clear adjusts picture levels to produce both natural contrast
and colour rendition.
Headlining the list of operational extras is a twin tuner
picture and picture system which includes picture and text splitscreen modes
and a mosaic function that flanks a main image with eight smaller windows
displaying footage from other channels. More standard features include three
contrast modes, three tint modes, noise reduction, six smart picture modes and
the standard level tweaks. You also get zoom and freeze modes as extras.
As Philips' flagship plasma it's no surprise to discover
that the 50PF9964 is fully multi-standard and is therefore compatible with NTSC
Region 1 discs.
The 50PF9964 is an impressive performer delivering natural
colours that aren't over-saturated, while the contrast level is decent. But in
order to enjoy quality pictures you'll have to fiddle with the picture levels
as the default settings need work. The whites are particularly impressive and
dazzle with brilliance. Sadly blacks err towards grey but this doesn't prevent
the set from delivering good contrasts. The starry constellation at the
beginning of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones is certainly dynamic
enough with the stars seeming to glitter against the dark background. The level
of detail to DVD playback using the component video feed is impressive. The
pattern on Matt Damon's tatty brown woolly jumper in the Bourne Identity is
clearly visible with the odd stray strand easy to detect. Detail response in
dark or shaded areas is also good but this is slightly spoilt by the presence
of minor dot crawl and sporadic patches of noise. Dramatic camera pans can be
hampered by slight image lag, although pleasingly there's hardly a trace of
colour banding to report.
GRAIN AND NOISE
The media box is one of the best we've ever encountered when
it comes to the problematic issue of coping with the wide variety of aspect
ratios used by the different broadcasters.
There is certainly much to admire about Philips' 50PF9964.
It is blessed with many useful features and has an enormous variety of AV
sockets at its disposal. Pictures are well-cloaked in colour but, while the
contrast is very good, the black level could be darker in order to provide
greater depth. The only serious niggle is the sporadic image lag that remains
evident of rapid pans. Unlike many other large-screen plasmas, this does appear
to be aimed primarilty at the pro-display market, more than the general
customer. And with no speakers included with the display, an amplified audio
system is necessary. |
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LAB RESULTS
Colour: Virtually no bleed or noise - very good
Geometry: Excellent
Frequency response: Clear all the way to 5.8MHz -
excellent |
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HCC Practical Tip
Without
doubt, when buying a plasma it's best to opt for an XGA display such as this
one, which produces more detailed images than VGA alternatives. The better the
source, the more this is noticeable, so you are more likely so see the
difference when playing a DVD than when watching an RF broadcast. But our
recent trip to Japan unearthed some interesting findings about plasma. VGA
panels tend to have brighter emissions compared to the higher-resolution XGA
displays and this often makes their pictures very attractive on the eye. But
with an eye on the future there's no doubt the XGA screens are the way
forward. |
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FEATURES
Features: 50in 16:9 XGA plasma display with external
receiver; Nicam stereo output; Digital Natural Motion; Active Control; Digital
Crystal Clear; DNR; three tint modes; three Dynamic Contrast modes; six Smart
Picture modes; colour enhancement; seven aspect ratio settings; auto-setup;
PIP; multiple PIP; dual screen; teletext;
Sockets: Plasma - DVI input, RS-232 serial port,
component video BNC connectors with horizontal and vertical sync; VGA input;
phono component video input; S-video input; composite video input; BNC
composite video input FTR-9964 receiver - Rear: component video input; four
scarts (two RGB); PC/MAC 15-pin input; 15-pin output; stereo audio input x 1;
stereo audio output x 2; centre speaker output 2. Front: S-video input;
composite video input; stereo audio input; headphone minijack input |
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0870 900 9070
