Philips announces US availability for 2009 home entertainment line (with hands-on!)
Philips may be dodging the North American sector with its flashiest of products, but it's still showing the Yanks in attendance a little love on the home entertainment front. Today in a meeting in NYC, the outfit revealed US pricing and availability for its entire 2009 family, most of which was quietly introduced in January. Starting things off are the 6000 and 7000 Series of HDTVs, which just so happen to pick right up where the previous models left off in 2008. The 6000 Series will arrive in 32-, 42- and 47-inch flavors for $799, $1,399 and $1,699, respectively, while the 7000 Series goes 42-, 47- and 52-inch for $1,499, $1,799 and $2,299, also respectively.
While checking these very sets out, we noticed that the factory settings left the colors a bit blown out and overly sharp -- though, this practice is far too common in HDTV companies anyway. Nothing like wowing those Best Buy shoppers at first, only to sear their retinas at home, right? All kidding aside, the panels looked superb, and the A-B comparison mode made tweaking the settings a breeze. Hop on past the break for the rest of the details, and give our gallery a glance for a closer look at the whole lot.
Philips unveils the new look of HD with its Eco FlatTV™ line
New range of 6000 and 7000 series offers best in class HD video with a stylish design
ATLANTA – Taking high definition viewing to the next level, Philips unveils the new FlatTV 6000 and 7000 series which combines the best in technology and design. This stylish new line features an ultra-thin bezel surrounded by a rounded acrylic edge, which gives the set a less rigid look and enhances the technology. The high-end and ultra-slim design makes it less like traditional hardware and more like a sleek piece of furniture that complements the living space.. Offering consumers a range of sizes from 32 to 52 inches, the series delivers the ultimate viewing experience through best in class video processing, sound, connectivity and design.
Best in class response time
Bringing a cinema quality experience into the home, the new series delivers one of the sharpest pictures available in an HDTV. In addition to the 1080p 120Hz ClearLCD™ panel, these sets boast the fastest refresh rate on the market at a mere 2 milliseconds. This ultra-fast motion response time provides razor-sharp moving images, improves shadow detail and black levels in dark scenes while greatly diminishing motion artifacts.
The 7000 series takes speed one step further with introduction of Philips' proprietary Halo-Free technology. Halo-Free removes the faint halo accompanying fast moving action. This new video processing technology helps eliminate artifacts that are prevalent in LCD technology. With Halo-Free, consumers will see the football spiraling through the air or the complete action of a car chase as the director intended for it to be seen.
"The new design and superior technology in our FlatTV line will strengthen our offerings in the fast-growing, large-screen HDTV market," said Todd Richardson, senior vice president of sales and marketing for P&F, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor for Philips televisions and home theater in the U.S. "The ultra-thin frame design differentiates Philips from other sets on the market and the technology inside is certain to win over even the most discerning HDTV consumer. Consumers can look forward to an unparalleled viewing experience, thanks to the unique combination of exceptional picture quality and design at an attractive price level."
Thinner is better
The introduction in 2008 of Philips' design collection wowed retailers and consumers alike by packing great technology in a sleek and softer design that doesn't overpower a room. The new Philips series continues to evolve the design collection's revolutionary look into the new 2009 design resulting in simply understated elegance that makes the most of available space.
The new design allows the 42-inch display to take up nearly the same amount of space as a 37-inch display. This allows consumers to put a 42-inch in entertainment centers and other spaces where traditionally only something smaller would fit. The frame on these sets series is 45 percent thinner than the previous design, and the distinct acrylic flare around the exterior is a deep smoke gray to make the set blend seamlessly with any décor.
This new look delivers on consumers' desire for electronics that are sleek and minimalist where the picture is the focal point. At first glance, consumers will see the absence of a speaker grill, which makes the black bezel continuous around the set for a more minimalist look. The sound is actually powered from the back and carried out throughout the acrylic edge around the set – enveloping consumers in deep, rich sound. The end result is a TV that actually is part of your environment –superior performance packed in a design that is truly like no other.
More technology – Less power
Philips new line of Eco TVs™ are designed with a proprietary dimming technology that is designed to lower the LCD panel backlight to reduce power consumption without compromising the picture quality. A built-in light sensor automatically measures the viewing room's ambient lighting and adjusts the television's backlight for power efficiency. These combined technologies allow the new Eco line to help consumers save energy and money. For example, the 42PFL7704 1080p LCD is far more efficient than its predecessor, the 42PFL5352D 720p LCD set, offering consumers a whopping 80 percent reduction in standby power and a 59 percent reduction in power consumption when the set is on. These combined reductions could save the average consumer approximately $60 a year .
While all Philips FlatTVs are Energy Star 3.0 compliant, these sets actually exceed those standards by an average of 24 percent. These energy-efficient sets deliver on the best picture quality and distinctive style while incorporating lead-free components and flame retardant materials, which are safe to the environment. Furthermore, the packaging box contains post consumer recycled content and the user manuals are all made of recycled materials.
Smoother Images
Philips' LCDs further refine the picture with Perfect Natural MotionTM technology, which eliminates the persistent juddering effects that appear with recorded movie content, such as DVD and Blu-ray Discs. Perfect Natural Motion removes the judder from SD and HD pictures, including 1080p movies and 24p True Cinema, for a motion performance that surpasses that of cinema.
Incredible Surround
The new series features a unique invisible speaker system delivering a powerful audio experience from a slim TV cabinet. Philips' Invisible Surround provides powerful audio performance while concealing the speakers in a subtle, efficient design.
Clearer Choices
Setting up an HDTV has never been easier thanks to Philips' simple, unique Settings Assistant feature. In a few easy steps, users can select their on-screen preferences with the left and right cursor buttons. By using a program similar to an eye test, viewers can select what they perceive as the best picture and sound. User choose initial preferences from the five split-screen samples, creating their ultimate personal picture quality and then television will make the changes and store them for future use.
Greater Connectivity
The new series offers four HDMI 1.3a inputs with built-in consumer electronics control (CEC) for the cleanest, clearest digital signal. Consumers can hook up as many as four HDMI devices while assured their sets are future-proof for further connectivity. Adding a USB2.0 connection makes it simple to connect digital cameras, camcorders, flash drives or even an MP3 player to share your photos and music on the big screen.
Delivering a simple entertainment experience, the sets feature an easy "how-to" sticker on the back panel walking consumers through the connection process. No more wondering where to connect the various wires from other components – it's as easy as following the outline.
Versatility
With more than half of consumers mounting their FlatTVs on a wall, these sets offer a thin, ultra-sleek bezel which makes it ideal to mount on a surface. For those who prefer to use an entertainment center, the Philips FlatTVs offer a sophisticated designed stand which can swivel from left to right, ensuring that any seat in the house can be part of all the action on screen.
Philips new 6000 and 7000 series meets consumers' high demand for digital content with televisions designed completely with the end user in mind – simplicity, sophistication and style in a bold, future-proof package.
Philips offers more Eco-friendly options with the 2009 line up
ATLANTA – Consumers can now save energy and do their part to help the environment simply by watching television or enjoying the latest blockbuster on Blu-ray Disc.
Philips new line of FlatTVs™ and home theater systems raise the bar in sustainability while wowing consumers with a stylish, sleek design.
More technology – Less power
Philips new line of Eco TVs™ (5000 and 7000 series) are designed with a proprietary dimming technology that is designed to lower the LCD panel backlight to reduce power consumption without compromising the picture quality. A built-in light sensor automatically measures the viewing room's ambient lighting and adjusts the television's backlight for power efficiency. These combined technologies allow the new Eco line to help consumers save energy and money. For example, the 42PFL7704 1080p LCD is far more efficient than its predecessor, the 42PFL5352D 720p LCD set, offering consumers a whopping 80 percent reduction in standby power and a 59 percent reduction in power consumption when the set is on. These combined reductions could save the average consumer approximately $60 a year .
While all Philips FlatTVs are Energy Star 3.0 compliant, these sets actually exceed those standards. The 3000 series exceeds the Energy Star benchmark by an average of 29 percent, while the 5000 and 7000 series exceed the benchmark by an average of 24 percent.
These energy-efficient sets deliver on the best picture quality and distinctive style while incorporating lead-free components and flame retardant materials, which are safe to the environment. Furthermore, the packaging box contains post consumer recycled content and the user manuals are all made of recycled materials.
"The 2009 line is a prime example of our commitment to sustainability," said Todd Richardson, senior vice president, senior vice president of sales and marketing for P&F, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor for Philips FlatTVs and home theater in the U.S. "Our goal is to look at every aspect of the development process from start to finish, discovering innovative ways to be more eco-conscious with out sacrificing the exceptional quality and design consumers expect from Philips. Our award-winning Eco TVs are a great example of that commitment, setting the standard in design and giving consumers unmatched picture quality without the hefty power bills."
From start to finish-
While the reductions in energy consumption are impressive, P&F continues to develop products that are more environmentally friendly from manufacturing to end-of-life. The 2009 line marks a reduction in materials used in the manufacturing and packaging process. The bezel frame on the 6000 and 7000 FlatTV series is 45 percent thinner and the 3000 FlatTV series features an eight percent thinner bezel which requires less plastics. As in any manufacturing process, there are unusable materials, but rather than discard bezels with a scratch or imperfection, P&F regrinds them and reuses such bezels in cabinet backs and other items of plastic in the sets.
Packaging has also been drastically reduced and in some instances the packaging is half the size it was in 2008. With the 3000, 6000 and 7000 series of FlatTVs, the stand is not assembled and is streamlined packed along side the set, reducing the size of the box and amount of EPS (Expandable Polystyrene) needed to stabilize the set. Philips HSB3280 and HSB2351 soundbars feature detachable side speakers that snap into place creating an elegant one piece unit. This innovative assembly allows the width of the packaging to be reduced by half, saving raw materials.
In more mature technologies, such as DVD players, P&F has been able to stabilize the technology inside the player to be able to ship the unit with no Styrofoam. The amounts of screws have been reduced in most players by 30 percent. While individually these are small steps, they add up to reduce the amount of metals need and to help make the entire shipping packaging recyclable.
Philips expands high-definition home entertainment viewing experience with two new Philips Blu-ray Disc™ players
ATLANTA – With more than 1,000 titles available, Blu-ray Disc allows consumers to bring a true cinema experience into their living room. Philips is enhancing the viewing experience through its latest line of Blu-ray Disc (BD) players. These new offerings feature the latest in HD connectivity, Deep Color™ technology and BD Live features. The new BD players boast a stylish design with unbeatable sound and picture quality, taking Blu-ray Disc interactivity to a new dimension.
High Definition Home Theater –
The HTS 5100B is the first Blu-ray home theater offering from Philips. Combining the best in Blu-ray technology with immersive surround sound, the HTS 5100B brings cinema quality sound and picture directly to the living room. All that's missing is the popcorn. The HTS 5100B touts a stunning Full HD picture quality and features Deep Color™ technology which creates vivid images with more than a billion colors1 and eliminates on-screen color banding.
The HTS 5100B also supports 1080p at native 24 frames per second (fps)2 cinematic resolution, which is the same format used in movies, input via HDMI. Users can access extra features with Bonus View and preview content without leaving the movie with the Picture-in-Picture option.
Older DVD libraries will look better than ever as the BD player automatically upscales images to near full-HD quality - a major attraction to consumers who, as they migrate to HDTV sets, find that standard DVDs do not offer the HD content they have come to expect.
All this technology is packaged in a sleek design that puts old, bulky home theater in-a-box components to shame. The soft, curved edges of the console and the minimalist design of the room speakers, keep the picture and sound as main attraction
"With more than 90 percent of major motion picture studios producing films in Blu-ray and with a variety of rental options, Blu-ray Disc is becoming increasingly popular as consumers' choice for high-definition movies, music, games and more," said Todd Richardson, senior vice president of sales and marketing for P&F, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor for Philips televisions and home theater in the U.S. "Our new Blu-ray home theater and stand alone units offer consumers the best possible Full HD picture quality, full surround sound capabilities and access to bonus features."
Upgrade your existing Home Theater
Philips' new stand alone Blu-ray Disc player is the perfect addition to a current home theater. The BDP7310 processes full1080p at 24fps for cinema-like images. Bonus View allows consumers to access a wealth of additional features, enhancing the entertainment value beyond the film. The BDP7310 is BD Live, giving users access future online bonus content on compatible discs. Deep Color technology delivers vivid images in more than a billion colors and eliminates on-screen color banding. Helping make the transition to Blu-ray seamless, Philips upscales consumers existing DVD's them to 1080p to make the picture look even better. The BDP7310 offers DivX and WMV playback ensures users can watch a wealth of videos without limiting their format options.
Delivering a simple entertainment experience, Philips EasyLink™ 3 allows easy control of connected devices via HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC1) function with one remote. One button does it all - the TV and A/V components communicate via the same HDMI cables that deliver audio and high-def video.
Philips Soundbar Home Theater Systems
Fact Sheet
Philips turns up the volume as it unveils a new line of Philips Home Theater soundbars. The new line offers powerful sound, easy connections and a sleek, space saving design. This new line of soundbars features something for every need, from the ultimate one bar solution to save space, to one designed specifically for gaming that gives video game sound new life.
"With more consumers investing in a flat screen HDTV, a home theater system is the next step to turning your living room into your own personal movie theater," said Todd Richardson, senior vice president of sales and marketing for P&F, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor for Philips televisions and home theater in the U.S. "While everyone's needs are different, one thing most can agree on is the need for fewer wires. Our soundbar systems eliminate the clutter of wires, while providing powerful surround sound for a true cinema experience.
One Simple Solution – HSB2351
• All-in-one soundbar features integrated DVD player and subwoofer with 300 watts of total power. Space saving sleek design fits easily on an entertainment center or mounted on the wall.
• Dolby® Virtual Speaker for theater audio experience and HDMI 1080p with true high definition video upscaling.
• MP3 Link for music playback from portable media players, High speed USB 2.0 for media playback from USB flash drives and a built-in FM tuner.
• Available in April with a suggest retail price of $349.99
Ultimate Gaming – HSB3280
• Super sleek sound bar with ultramodern, exposed speakers and front AV inputs for ultimate convenience. Wireless subwoofer eliminates extra cables for an easy set-up.
• Triple Aux-in, connects TV, DVD player or Set top box in one simple step.
• Dolby Prologic II and Dolby Virtual Speakers technology for theater audio sound. Special game effect sound settings (Shooting/Sports/Action/Arcade) to enhance the gaming experience.
• Smart remote control system – One remote control for system and TV.
• Currently available with a suggest retail price of $299.99
