30" widesreen 16:9 HDTV Philips refub for $600 shipped

[CTrain]

Their office is in Ohio but no telling where the TV are shipped from.

 

[fonzinator]

TV has arrived! Zero blemishes and seems to work perfectly. Came with remote and manual. Unforunately, I have no way to test out the HDTV. My Xbox hooked up (merely through S-video) looked fantastic. I adjusted the basic picture controls and there are tons of presets you can adjust. One awesome feature is the easily adjustable image size. There are 6 (?) preset image sizes that are easily scrolled through. One setting, while viewing TV via antenna, perfectly fills the entire screen while only cutting a little off the top and bottom and with minimal stretching. Sound is mediocre. With weaker tv signals, there are noticable bands in the signal. However, when viewing a DVD or strong antenna signal, no banding is present. The tv tuner is really slow when changing in between channels, but it's liveable.

So far...DEFINITELY worth $600!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention how awesome Pilot Air is. I called their local office (privately owned) and arranged to pick up the set on Saturday. When I went in, the owner was there and gave me coffee (I'm easliy pleased ) and was SUPER nice. They used a fork lift to move the tv right up to back of my Explorer. We heaved it in and I was off.

 

[gtsukada]

thanks for the update fonz, gratz on the tv

 

[Compton]

Originally posted by: CTrain
Yeah, reception from Best Buy is a really good indication of how good a HDTV is.

Anyhow, I'll reserve my judgement when I get the TV but the TV got very good reviews from Amazon customers.

Well maybe I'm different than most people, but I'd trust my own eyes in a store more than some customer reviews on Amazon.

 

[grimas]

Will do - search for my posts on avsforum.com under the direct display device forumn...

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Compton

Originally posted by: CTrain
Yeah, reception from Best Buy is a really good indication of how good a HDTV is.

Anyhow, I'll reserve my judgement when I get the TV but the TV got very good reviews from Amazon customers.

Well maybe I'm different than most people, but I'd trust my own eyes in a store more than some customer reviews on Amazon.

Take the customers reviews for what its worth.
Chances are these customers have the actual TV and had had it long enough to share how good/bad the TV is.
But to judge how good a TV is(a HDTV that is) from looking at crappy BB signals is foolish.

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: fonzinator
The tv tuner is really slow when changing in between channels, but it's liveable.

Just hook it up to a VCR that has SVID out then you can change channels as fast as the VCR does....

A little TIP for you.

 

[CTrain]

Mine is getting delivered tommorow

 

[fonzinator]

Originally posted by: CTrain
Mine is getting delivered tommorow

Sweet! Let us know how you like it.

 

[CTrain]

Just got it in. There are little scratches here and there but nothing noticeable.
This is expected with a refurb I guess.
Its heavy as hell, I'm by myself right now and theres no way I can move it myself.
Have to go buy a tv stand with wheels so I can move it into my bedroom.

Will let you know later.

 

[CTrain]

For all of you who said the TV looks like crap at BB and such are getting the wrong impression.

Anyhow, I got my TV in today and I went to get a TV stand.
Went to BB(Stands were too expensive) and I checked out the TV. Yeah it looked like crap.
All the TVs had the same feed and some of them looked great but the Phillip looked like crap.
If I had to base on that, I wouldn't buy the TV either.
So I went to Walmart bought a stand and they also had the Phillip there except it had some type of HD feed and the TV was calibrated right and it looked just gorgeous. It was on Discovery and I just stood there and watched it for a while.


So I got home and hooked it up. The picture from my regular cable looks like crap.
Pulled the manual and start adjusting the picture and now it looks pretty good for regular cable.
Hooked up the DVD and the picture is just gorgeous also.

My only complaint is cosmetic. The little marks are unnoticeable but on the left side of the speaker it seems there is mark like someone sprayed a different gray color trying to cover a scratch or something but we all know its a crap shoot what condition the TV would be in.

The TV is heavy as a mother. For $600, definately can't find a better HDTV.

 

[LikeLinus]

I hate you guys. You made me just order one of these.

They now have 18 left in stock. It was over 21 earlier tonight.

I got approval from the wife and she agreed that it'll be awesome in the bedroom! She rocks like that.

 

[CTrain]

OK, anyone who has this TV can help me out.....I can't find the Eye Fidelity feature anywhere.
Its suppose to be under Color Temp and above Dyn Contrast in the PICTURE option but I don't have it.

 

[Venomous]

Mine should be here tomorrow

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: CTrain
OK, anyone who has this TV can help me out.....I can't find the Eye Fidelity feature anywhere.
Its suppose to be under Color Temp and above Dyn Contrast in the PICTURE option but I don't have it.

I don't think this one has the Eye Fidelity setting it is a different model. However it does have an auto picture setting that I believe is called Active Control.

EDIT: actually their site says it does have it but I remember not seeing it when I had the set.

EDIT 2: Now that I read the online manual a little more, isn't just for certain inputs?

 

[LikeLinus]

How long is the delivery time?

 

[EXman]

Yes how long did it take guys and did all of you pick it up at a shipping terminal or did they come to your house.... I'm still mulling it over. Saw one at BB and they had a Prgressivescan DVD in and it looked GREAT. the samsung used to kill it but not yesterday.

 

[Blizno]

Got mine last night! It took almost two weeks after ordering it to get it.
Love the TV with one exception. When I run the sound through the TV speakers the mute button mutes the sound. When I run the sound through my stereo the mute button DOES NOT mute the sound! What is this?!?! No mute on a TV? Volume up and down work but mute does not.
I'm running it off the TV speakers now so I can have mute but would much prefer the superior speakers of the stereo.

Don't have cable or HDTV receiver but running DVDs in progressive scan mode is glorious. Everything is crisp and clear with beautiful color. I let myself be talked into expensive Monster cables for component video. I don't know if cheap ones would make it look this good.
It was set with far too much brightness and color but it's quick and easy to set video to reasonable levels. I've never seen a TV from the factory that wasn't set much too high. Maybe the factory floor flourescent lights wash out TV screens.

So far so good. Except for the muting issue this TV looks fantastic.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Blizno
Got mine last night! It took almost two weeks after ordering it to get it.
Love the TV with one exception. When I run the sound through the TV speakers the mute button mutes the sound. When I run the sound through my stereo the mute button DOES NOT mute the sound! What is this?!?! No mute on a TV? Volume up and down work but mute does not.
I'm running it off the TV speakers now so I can have mute but would much prefer the superior speakers of the stereo.

Thats normal. Atleast on my other two TV's (HDTV Mitsubishi and a XBR2 Sony Trinitron). Once you pass the audio feed outside the TV, it's control is done by the receiver itself. The TV has a programable remote, so it really shouldn't be a problem, just program your Receiver to the TV.

Damn 2 weeks is a long time! I can't wait

 

[Blizno]

"just program your Receiver to the TV."

How do I do that? The manual that came with the TV looks like a reprint. The Philips website has much better manuals for this TV. I'll print them out and see if there's more information.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Blizno
"just program your Receiver to the TV."

How do I do that? The manual that came with the TV looks like a reprint. The Philips website has much better manuals for this TV. I'll print them out and see if there's more information.

Sorry for the miswording. Program your receiver to the TV's Universal Remotes.

 

[fonzinator]

Originally posted by: orion7144

Originally posted by: CTrain
OK, anyone who has this TV can help me out.....I can't find the Eye Fidelity feature anywhere.
Its suppose to be under Color Temp and above Dyn Contrast in the PICTURE option but I don't have it.

I don't think this one has the Eye Fidelity setting it is a different model. However it does have an auto picture setting that I believe is called Active Control.

EDIT: actually their site says it does have it but I remember not seeing it when I had the set.

EDIT 2: Now that I read the online manual a little more, isn't just for certain inputs?

The 30PW850H DOES have Eye Fidelity. Read page 13 of the user manual. It can only be used in 4:3 and Widescreen viewing modes. It also requires a digital input (of course) and cannot be used on the AV4 input. Hope that helps.

 

[fonzinator]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
I hate you guys. You made me just order one of these.

They now have 18 left in stock. It was over 21 earlier tonight.

I got approval from the wife and she agreed that it'll be awesome in the bedroom! She rocks like that.

LOL!! Enjoy your new tv!

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: fonzinator

Originally posted by: orion7144

Originally posted by: CTrain
OK, anyone who has this TV can help me out.....I can't find the Eye Fidelity feature anywhere.
Its suppose to be under Color Temp and above Dyn Contrast in the PICTURE option but I don't have it.

I don't think this one has the Eye Fidelity setting it is a different model. However it does have an auto picture setting that I believe is called Active Control.

EDIT: actually their site says it does have it but I remember not seeing it when I had the set.

EDIT 2: Now that I read the online manual a little more, isn't just for certain inputs?

The 30PW850H DOES have Eye Fidelity. Read page 13 of the user manual. It can only be used in 4:3 and Widescreen viewing modes. It also requires a digital input (of course) and cannot be used on the AV4 input. Hope that helps.

Thanx for the answer. I did read page 13 prior but it did not say anywhere that it only shows up in 4:3 and widescreen mode.

I can't believe how gorgeous DVDs look on a HDTV widescreen. Forces me to add more DVDs to my collection.
Can't wait to get some type of HD feed to the TV.
You simply cannot get a better deal on a widescreen HDTV anywhere right now.
This will tie me up for a while until HDTV becomes mainstream.

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: EXman
Yes how long did it take guys and did all of you pick it up at a shipping terminal or did they come to your house.... I'm still mulling it over. Saw one at BB and they had a Prgressivescan DVD in and it looked GREAT. the samsung used to kill it but not yesterday.

Mine did also took exactly 2 weeks. Ordered on the 18th, shipped on the 25th and got it on the 2nd.
Make sure you give them a valid phone number so they can call you to arrange delivery.
Or you can use the tracking and when you see it gets to your town, call them to arrange delivery or pickup.