New Philips Essence (42PES001) - do they exist?

[notaclue]

Hello All

A few things: 

1. Went into Currys/Comet to have a look at one of new Philips Essence TV's, they didn't have them and both shops told me Philips weren't producing anymore TV's and if I bought one there would be no warranty blah blah blah. I assumed this was wrong, however it was odd that both sales people told me the same thing in different shops in different locations. I the notice you can't get them from John Lewis now. I can only find one retailer online that seems to have them. Anyone else heard anything or know why they are hard to come by? Does anyone know where I can go and see one as I am not paying £1700 online without even seeing it!

2. Has anyone seen this TV up against either the Samsung 40B7020 or the Sony 40Z5500? If so, any thoughts? I see What HiFi compared the Samsung and thought the Philips was better but oddly they compared the cheaper Sony W5500? I see lots of talk re backlights on the Sony - does this apply to the Z range anyone know? 

Finally I mainly watch sport on TV, football, cricket, tennis. I have an old non-HD Panasonic Plasma which I think is excellent but I can't do without HD now. Will I be dissapointed by the latest crop of LCD as I have been with the previous (especialy on Cricket where you lose the ball most of the time on an LCD) - am I better just buying the 42" Panasonic - What HIFI seemed to think not......I would go for a Kuro, but 50" is just too much for my living room. I still kick myself that I didn't by the 42" when it was available.....

Thanks in advance 

 

 

[Andy Clough]

1. Well, if Philips aren't producing any more TVs, someone should tell them. Currys/Comet may not stock them, but Philips are certainly still manufacturing them, and if you've been told otherwise, that's rubbish.

As for where you can get one, I'd ring Philips on 0870 9009070 and get them to put you in touch with your nearest dealer.

2. Yes, Philips 42PES001 is better than the Samsung, but then I appreciate it is very expensive. Sony hasn't supplied us with the KDL-40Z5500 yet, so can't comment on that one.

3. Latest generation of LCDs are much better at handling motion, so it should be fine for watching the cricket.

 

[Anonymous]

you didnt mention what your tv source is ie sky or virgin etc , or if you have a surround sound system to go with the tv .. from what you said about a 50 inch being too big for your room , im guessing your priority is the style of your living room ( you prob dont want to clutter it up with cables and speakers ) , its just a suggestion , but for £1700 you could get a very good 42 inch panasonic freesat plasma , ( better for sports than lcd ) and a yamaha soundbar , and a ps3 or blueray player ... champions league and wimbledon , fa cup etc are all on hd on freesat .. maybe you have that already , if sports is your thing then plasma is a good choice imo , your £1700 will go a lot further , i havnt seen the lcd sets you mentioned , but i doubt they are £750 better than the panasonic 42g10 , can be got for £950... just my thoughts ...

 

[Anonymous]

I've just gone through a totuous round of e-mails and phone calls to Philips trying to find a stockist of this product. I live near Manchester - hardly the middle of nowhere, but no dealers seem to have it. Many made adverse comments about Philips after care etc; and if my experience is anything to go by, they could be right. Essentially Philips could not tell me who stocks the tv! They suggested I contact all my local dealers - which I had already done, because they do not maintain any record of who they are supplying!! Unbelievable. They did offer to sell me one direct, but as I pointed out, £1700 is a lot to pay for something you have only seen a picture of.

All in all I thought it was atrocious customer service. How do they expect to sell any?

I will probably now go for the far cheaper Samsung UE40B7000/7020 which is everywhere, and looks really stunning.

 

[Andy Clough]

This model is still listed as available on the Philips online shop for £1799, so you can buy it direct from them.

I also know Philips recently changed their retail strategy, so they're no longer selling their TV sets through the big multiples such as Currys, Comet and Dixons. They're concentrating instead on their own independent dealers, Selfridges, Littlewoods, M&S and Tesco.

Availability of the Essence may be limited as that model is being phased out, and replaced by the new ones. We'll have an exclusive News video preview of the forthcoming 42PFL9664 Net TV shortly here on whathifi.com.