philips 42PES0001 Essence - Game Mode / comments

[admin_exported]

Has anybody bought one of these rare beasts?

I am particularly interested to hear about the Game Mode setting as I would like to know how these sets perform with an XBOX 360 or PS3 ie. is there any input lag or indeed any other issues. This is an important factor that is rarely even touched upon in reviews.

Does anybody have any comments (beyond the What Hi*Fi? review), as it is impossible to actually see one here up north where it is grim. They have them in that London I hear.

I want a very nice 42 inch TV. Is this the right set for me???

Is does look to be such a nice set, but it is hard to track one down. Some say it is being replaced, though Philips told me this was not true at the moment.....

 

[Anonymous]

I havn't got a philips myself, but I asked a simiar question in another forum about philips game mode and I was told with game mode ON it makes lag a healthy 20-40ms which is good. When playing a game therefore you would need to have it ON. Im also interested to hear what other people is this forum will say about this cuz i presume with the philips essence the game mode will be the same as on all recent philips sets, no matter which philips tv is bought. Im also considering a philips in the near future and Im not sure why reviews dont include a small gaming performance section in reviews

 

[Anonymous]

Yes - when you know how many people have 360s or PS3 these days (& to a lesser extent Wiis), it is an important issue. I've had games consoles since a Binatone with paddles and a gun (6 game -tennis, football (just tennis with a goal and 2 bats each) and shooting) through Atari VCS, Intellivsion, Spectrum, C64, Amiga, numerous Nintendo and Sega Systems, PS1/2, both XBOX generations and soon a (cheaper PS3). We want our headshots, not lag (or game modes that compromise the joys of a particular TV).

I have only noticed one What Hi*Fi? review (a Samsung I think) that mentioned the game mode, no lag details. Just the fact it had one (not very useful as many sets still have definate lag - Samsungs inlcuded).

Which forum have you been on?

We have been trying to persue this question on the web. One reviewer talked about the Essence game mode being bright and garish, another said his XBOX 360 component signal was washed out and speculated that analogue signals are degraded over the cable connecting the media hub to the display. Surely you can adjust the setting for game mode though - Philips are famous for the shear quantity of adjustments on offer.

One German review talked about judder as the game mode disables the fancy motion settings (another reviewer said these settings ghosted anyway). My German is not too good, but Google sort of translated it. It also mentioned judder on 24frame Blu-ray???

I am starting to think this is not the set for us, but we did start to really fancy one. If I can't actually see one I am not handing over over a grand and a half on the strength of a magazine review (I don't think WHF would suggest I should). The review cetainly did not raise any of these issues either (judder, ghosting, signal degredation over the hub cable).

Does anybody from the magazine have any expansion on the review???

And please - somebody say you own this handsome LCD!

 

[Anonymous]

As I dont have a philps yet, myself personally cant help too much

But it is true that putting on game mode disables the motion settings but thats a good thing. The reason is because the motion settings adjust the picture of your set, increasing the lag, making it largely more likely to get your face shot off in shooters unexpectedly. But i think this is common with most LCDs that have motion settings and thats why you would be advised to use game mode when playing a console game. Im not sure but i persume it shouldnt be much hassle changing the settings about depending on what you are viewing on your tv, but game mode is a must for games as it automatically turns of the motion settings. This is what one guy told me on the A V forums

"On no TV anywhere can you have a motion interpolation technique running and expect to have no lag. If you think about it, at the very least the TV needs to process 1 frame ahead of displaying it so at 50Hz input that would be 1/50 second delay + processing time! TVs have a game mode for a reason"

Sorry i dont know a lot about Tvs but thats all i know. You might already know this stuff but I might as well say it just in case. Hope you make a good choice with your tv. Its a hard decision to make nowadays.

 

[Anonymous]

have you considered a plasma badamz ? the panasonic p42g10 is a very good tv , and its fantastic value at richer sounds £769 , you will have zero lag with a plasma ...

 

[Anonymous]

I think we have already exchanged some info in my Panasonic 42X10B Flicker thread - I don't intend to get another Panasonic. Im just not sure I get along with them at all - I seem to prefer LCD.

Just been in the new Sevenoaks in Pondsford's (Sheffield). Those sets are lovely, but I'm not buying a £2500 42inch LCD cheers.

 

[Anonymous]

oh i didnt realise that was you , i dont know which lcd would be best for gaming , i agree that more info regarding response times should be made available , what household doesnt have a ps3 , xbox etc , a list of the fastest , best suited lcds for gaming would be handy ...

 

[Anonymous]

To be perfectly honest, we don't know what to get. We have the cash and we want a set - now. Everything seems to have flaws.

After my experiences with our Pana 42X10 plasma, I realise how important the motion capabilities of a screen are and I have noticed many sets I cannot cope with at all. It has put me off all Pana plasmas for now, this may not be fair on them, but I seem to find they have issues when I look at them in the shops - including the G10 (cannot tell MUCH there though). The range of Panas do not have a nice chassis either, which is a shame as my Brother's TH42PZ85 from the previous range is a lovely looking thing.

We are looking at a Sony 46 WE5 & Z4500 this week. I would just get one as I like the Sony motion capabilities (so important to me), bue we are all aware of Sony's current disregard for us punters regarding their backlights as cloudy (or bleedy - if that is a word (no)). I intend to interogate the shop we are visiting in Chesterfield as to their position on this issue if we buy one and have a problem.

Sony - this is not a feature of your otherwise very nice LCD TVs or their backlights. It is a design or production fault. Is it a cost issue as your sets are pretty pricey (in many shops - go in Lewis or the Sony Centre and faint)?

 

[Anonymous]

the z5500 is much better with sd ...

 

[Anonymous]

I think finding a Z5500 with no clouding is like finding the holy grail.

I did discover (back to this thread) that the Philips 9664 has no lag (in real terms) if you set everything to off on one of the inputs rather than select game mode (which leaves more on and therefore has a bit more lag). Wonder if the Essence is the same. It sounds like you can tailor everything anyway (Philips do like those menus and adjustments).

Can't find an Essence to view anywhere, but they seem to have the 9664 in Meadowhall (Sheffield), so off there the morrow. Will also pop in the Sony Centre and check out those clouds (ha ha).

We are hovering between a Philips (Essence or 9664) or a Sony if they have a good backlight. The Philips look so much nicer than the glossy plastic Sonys and I am a big tart.