Good price for the features

The screen is so clear that it shows imperfections I didn't see before in the picture. I hope to figure out a way to smooth out the picture to hide this, but it is not that much of a distraction.

I only had one problem with this TV, and it was due to concealed damage to the TV. The plastic that surrounds the screen was cracked, but Circuit City was excellent about swapping out the TV with absolutely no questions. I guess when you spend that much for a TV, they don't hassle you. This was more of an inconvenience due to the incredible weight of the TV.

While the TV is progressive scan, I decided to also upgrade my DVD player to a Progressive Scan unit, and the picture is incredible through component inputs. You don't have an option to change the screen size when using Progressive output to the TV.....as far as I've seen, so make sure that you buy nothing but widescreen formatted DVD's where possible. It will show the exact aspect ratio the DVD is recorded in.

As far as normal programming through my Dish Network service, it is definitely improved. Some programming is much clearer than others, but that is typical. My old Proscan has a line doubler in it as well, so to improve on the picture was a nice benefit.

I don't have a HDTV converter yet, but I can only imagine how nice that will be.

I've only had the TV for a few days, so we'll see how it does in the long run.

Similar Products Used:

Proscan 34" widescreen - Non-HDTV

Super sharp picture, good sound for a tv, great menus and adjustments, nice style.

Only 1 progressive input, but has a 2nd non progressive component input as well.

This is one of the best looking direct view HDTV models I’ve seen. Make sure to get a progressive scan DVD player to show off its crispness. For a sub $3000 HDTV, it can’t be beat.

Similar Products Used:

Most major brands.

I have never seen a picture so clear and vibrant from all the TV’s in the store

Unable to set different color settings per input Device.

I was aware of this set from the tests described in the Home Theater Magazine but when we went to the store and saw this set next to a Sony, RCA, Zenith HDTV set all playing the same program, I could not believe my eyes. The installation took only 15 minutes, but the TV was very heavy. The off the air programs and my Direct TV channels are so different. Then we played some DVD and the result is incredible. I could not believe the results. So, wonderful picture, good price, easy installation. What can you expect more. Now just wait a couple months to see the durability.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Hitachi

Great picture for DVDs with a progressive scan player, fun interactive menu

Picture flaw in progressive mode, no way to directly select a source input

I've had this TV for about a month. I don't watch much cable but I have to say the TV does its best to improve picture quality from this source with its Natural Motion feature. Some channels do look much better than others...
I primarily bought this TV to watch DVDs in widescreen format. The quality with a progressive scan DVD is amazing. Colors are vibrant, details are incredible, it feels like at the movies. One big regret: it is always necessary to scroll down through a list of source inputs to access the one you want. It would have been a good idea to put buttons on the remote that allow a direct access to each input... I guess I can live with that.
However I think there is something I can't live with. I've noticed a flaw in the picture which only happens in progressive mode, whether from a progressive scan DVD or when watching regular cable (or a VCR tape) with Natural Motion in progressive mode (the flaw isn't there in the 1050i mode). When in progressive mode, there are shapes that appear on the screen. There are very visible on very dark areas and very light areas as well. I tried to find more about those shapes so I used the THX optimizer on the Pearl Harbor 60th edition DVD. In the second video test, the brightness test, just increase brightness to about 55-60. Now look at the screen. It should be covered with a "rib cage"-like shape. It's the best way to describe it. They are lines, short in length (maybe 6 inches) which go from top to botton on the screen on either side of it. They are not horizontal, but at a slight angle. If you increase brightness on a dark screen (like with the THX test), you really see the lines. They do look like the rib cage of a human skeleton :) I know, it sounds silly but it's really ugly. Apparently, Philips doesn't know about the problem. I've checked all the Good Guys store I know in my area and every 34PW9817 on display has the flaw. However, the 30-inch model (30PW9817) doesn't have it! Go figure. I'm in the process of having the TV exchanged with another one, same model, but I don't think there will be an improvement. I even think I could get worse... What I saw on display in stores was really, really visible to anyone. Yet, even the salesmen didn't notice it.
Other than that... It's a wonderful TV for watching DVDs in progressive mode... I give it 4 stars because of that flaw.

Similar Products Used:

none