Round two: Specs
We decided to do a spec-check standoff. Maybe we’ll see the loser go running back to the factory. The ambilight again struck hard in the form of 100Hz frame rate, and the 3ms response time (in contrast with the 8ms of the non-Ambi).
This time the referee – that’s me! – decided to intervene. I strongly feel response times are hogwash; I have yet to visit a factory and see under what conditions these are measured. Other specs were almost the same, except that contrast ratio for Ambi was 8000:1 dynamic, while non-Ambi had 5000:1.
So did the round end in a draw? Not quite – just before the bell, Ambilight weighed in with a sneaky jab to non-Ambi's chin, in the process exposing a USB input at its rear. Point to Ambi.
Non-ambilight
Round three: Performance
One cool thing about Ambilight is that it changes according to the colour on the screen and gets warmer and cooler in proportion to the hues of the image. Anyway, it's seemed pretty much a one-sided match so far, with the non-Ambi PFL7422 at the losing end.
It was when I ran the test discs (as I always do) that the Ambi exposed a chink in its armor. The picture was not as clear as in the non-Ambi. Artifacts hung around as if they were at a house party, and jaggie lines too made guest appearances here and there. Noise was an issue in both TVs; I remember facing this problem even earlier while reviewing the non-Ambi.
Black levels and color were decent in both, so this set of punches by both contestants went astray. But in an exciting twist, non-Ambi sent Ambi spiraling to the floor with what I choose to call the brightness/contrast punch: an area where even an untrained eye can see minor differences. I was surprised as I expected the Ambi to kill the non-Ambi in contrast, of course with the ambilight on.
Round four: price
The Ambi costs a bit more, at Rs 1,29,990 MRP. It is cheaper in the gray market and at retailers like Vijay Sales, and so is the non-Ambilight, which costs Rs 1,19,990 MRP. So this round didn't prove decisive; both performers are quite impressive compared to other brands.
At the end of the day, who's the winner? It was a tough fight, but I think the non-Ambi, the PFL7422 , comes out on top – if only because I care more about video quality than anything else. Ultimately it's your eyes that have to take such a subjective decision, so why don’t you see for yourself before you reach a conclusion?
BTW, CINEOS for philips is actually a "category" if you will which depicts that the product is the BEST IN CLASS that philips makes.
