Offered they don’t seem to be priced too excessive, the PUS8804s may simply have what it takes to make sure that critical AV followers have choices except for OLED too
Philips PUS8804 4K TV – A primary have a look at Philips’ 2019 LCD 4K TV
In the end a number of TV manufacturers are beginning to take sound critically once more. Now not is there an industry-wide shrug of the shoulders with regards to attempting to get highly effective sound out of thin screens.
The most recent TV to rediscover the significance of sound for having fun with a contemporary movie or TV drama is the Philips PUS8804.
Unveiled at a current product launch occasion in Amsterdam, the Philips PUS8804 sequence sits one rung from the highest of Philips’ 2019 LCD TV vary, slightly below the Georg Jensen-designed and nanocell technology-boasting PUS9104.
Associated: Philips pronounces 4K OLED804 and OLED854 TVs
A Philips 65PUS8804
Whereas the PUS8804 is clearly positioned as a extra mainstream proposition to the 9104, total it nonetheless appears extra fascinating. Partly as a result of it helps the Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR format – the PUS9104 apparently doesn’t – but additionally as a result of it has an enormous previous soundbar hooked up to the underside fringe of its in any other case smooth, Ambilight-emphasised bodywork.
This soundbar runs the complete width of every of the 50, 55 and 65-inch PUS8804 fashions, and provides a great two to a few inches to the peak of every sett. In different phrases, it appears like a critical little bit of audio package. The design stays elegant, although, because of the best way its premium-looking gray Kvadrat speaker material enhances the two-tone metallic end of the primary display screen body.
Hidden behind the speaker material are two potent forward-facing drivers. These are joined by a newly designed set of rear bass/decrease mid-range drivers. What’s extra, this complete audio system has been designed at the side of the speaker genii at British audio model Bowers & Wilkins.
Associated: Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR – Every part that you must know
The rear drivers have to take a seat in a decoupled enclosure, in order that they don’t disrupt the LCD image
In truth, the PUS8804s’ sound is designed to at the least equal that of Philips’ first TV collaboration with B&W, 2018’s extremely rated 903 OLED vary. Though that’s to not say that all the things is strictly the identical.
As an illustration, since LEDs can’t deal with vibrations in the identical manner that OLED cells can, the rear-mounted low-frequency element has needed to be decoupled from the primary chassis. It’s additionally needed to be moved decrease on the PUS8804s’ rear, because of LCD’s much less strong panel construction.
This has meant that B&W has needed to work more durable to “carry’ the sound, in order that it seems to be coming from the on-screen motion moderately than under the image.
An indication of a 55-inch PUS8804’s sound means that B&W has completed a fairly nice job of fixing all of the “good sound from an LCD TV” puzzles.
A 65PUS8804 on the Philips product unveiling occasion
For starters, the size of the sound stage was big. An indication clip from (inevitably!) The Biggest Showman on 4K Blu-ray revealed sound that powers ahead into the room on account of the front-facing drivers. And the sound stage radiated far past the display screen left, proper and even prime edges.
This sense of top normally – though not all the time – helped dialogue seem like coming from the on-screen motion moderately than the speaker bar. Nonetheless, the addition of a top element to the sound additionally served the PUS8804s’ new Dolby Atmos sound characteristic.
Peak channels are key to a convincing Dolby Atmos expertise. So it was nice to listen to that regardless of not having any precise up-firing drivers, the PUS8804 appeared capable of ship not only a substantial sense of verticality, however even some left-to-right results placement on the higher extremities of this sound wall.
Fairly how Philips/B&W have achieved this from the out there audio system is difficult to fathom – however straightforward to like.
Associated: What’s Dolby Atmos? All that you must know
One PUS8804 foot says ‘Philips’, the opposite…
The motion is underpinned by a great degree of bass, which appears to tuck into the underside of the mid-range with none bagginess or distortion. Element ranges are impressively excessive, in the meantime, revealing loads of sensitivity to take a seat alongside that room-filling grunt. As well as, trebles attain excessive with out changing into shrill or skinny.
Philips/B&W have been feeling assured sufficient in regards to the 55PUS8804’s sound to additionally demo it taking part in CD music. This sounded at the least as spectacular because the Dolby Atmos The Biggest Showman exercise.
The size and presence of the stereo music playback was outstanding, as was its dynamic vary. Trebles and vocals soared with out sounding strained, and there was a pure and detailed direct tone that held good all through your entire demo. All in all, there actually was a way of hi-fi in regards to the 55PUS8804’s music efficiency.
Sadly, it wasn’t potential to get the identical detailed demonstrations of a PUS8804’s image high quality at Philips’ product occasion. There have been, nonetheless, a number of PUS8804s working in numerous corners of the Philips showcase. These enabled me to place collectively at the least a couple of early image high quality ideas. Though you need to keep in mind, after all, that Philips can be tweaking the PUS8804’s footage proper up till the units launch in a couple of months.
Let’s get the dangerous information out of the best way first. There gave the impression to be some variations between the black ranges and colors of the 55-inch and 65-inch PUS8804s, with the 65-inch trying barely superior to the 55-inch – the black ranges, particularly.
The speaker cowl options bigger than standard “pores”, to assist the sound escape extra simply
That is probably right down to the 55PUS8804 apparently utilizing an IPS-type LCD panel, whereas the 65-inch makes use of a VA panel. IPS panels commerce black degree for a wider viewing angle, whereas VA panels prioritise black degree over viewing angles. As standard, I discovered myself warming extra to the VA strategy.
In any other case, the images appeared broadly consistent with these of the PUS7304 units – which is an effective factor, largely.
As an illustration, element ranges appeared extraordinarily excessive, even by 4K TV requirements. This utilized to each upscaled HD and native 4K content material.
Colors regarded vibrant and nicely outlined, but additionally pure and nuanced, particularly on the 65-inch mannequin. Additionally, there was much less color clipping within the brightest elements of the image than we noticed on 2018 Philips LCD TVs.
Vibrant pictures, in the meantime, loved a robust sense of depth and three-dimensionality. And whereas I wouldn’t say distinction and brightness appeared flat-out wonderful by right now’s premium LCD TV requirements – particularly on the 55-inch – the general affect was nonetheless promising.
Rounding out the PUS8804’s doubtlessly substantial charms are Android TV Pie smarts, plus built-in Google Assistant and Works With Alexa voice management assist.
First impressions
As with all new TVs proven at Philips’ current Amsterdam product launch, the PUS8804s undoubtedly made an impression. So relaxation assured that we’ll be doing our greatest to assessment one as quickly as a unit turns into out there.
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