940AT - Great after firmware upgrade!
Jan 29 '00 (Updated Mar 24 '00)
This multi format player will play Audio and Video disks created on your PC.
My first DVD player was the Philips DVD825 and it was great. The 825 did not have component out, and the menus were a bit course and low res, but it operated flawlessly. I loved the fact that I could create my own movies on disk both CD-RW which is great for testing layout, and the CD-R for low cost long term storage.
When the 940 came out in 2000, I upgraded and while the picture is better with the component out, and I can still play my CD-R and CD-RW disks, this player was released with a problem during the layer switch on some movies. - See side note below.
On some movies the layer switch is unnoticeable, on some a brief pause, but on some the player locks up completely until you return to the chapter menu.
UPDATE: Philips has finally made an upgrade available. Most players out there are firmware rev 3.8 and the upgrade takes you to 5.55 which fixes the layer switch problem. As of March 2000, Philips is asking for players to be taken to a service center because they are having trouble with the upgrade disks. I downloaded my upgrade from an "unauthorized" source on the net and it works great! Now Philips needs to make these downloads available on their site.
Side Note:
The first long or multi format DVDs were flippers, 1/2 of the content on one side 1/2 on the other. Now they make Dual Layer disks and the player changes focus to read the second layer through the first. This is called RSDL (reverse spiral, dual layer)
Feature Summary
Discrete dual laser pickup
DVD/video CD/audio CD/CD-R/DVD-R playback
Provides the best possible picture and sound with both DVD and CD formatted discs. One is optimized for DVD playback while the other is dedicated to CD playback. Laser life is also maximized in this configuration
Feature upgradable
Philips is still having problems producing the disks, but this still looks promising.
Provides the ability to upgrade features via a special DVD upgrade disc. Backgrounds, search speeds and modes, audio processing, display parameters, interactivity, titles, CD Text, languages, screen savers, video processing may be upgraded. Specific feature upgrades to be determined.
80 disc parental approval system
A unique parental control system that, when activated, pemits play of only pre-authorized discs unless a special used defined PIN code is entered. The player will remember up to 80 disc pre-authorizations allowing unrestricted playback of these discs.
Video
Component video output
YUV 3 jack output connection that provides maximum signal quality and enhanced color accuracy. Better performance than S-Video connection. Requires TV with compatible component video input.
10Bit video and 24Bit audio DAC
Highest quality video. Digital to analogue converter converts the digital video information in 10 bit format versus 8 or 9 bit. Highest quality audio. Digital to analogue converter converts the digital audio information in 24 bit format versus 16 or 20 bit.
Perfect still picture
Perfect still picture quality in pause, freeze frame or slow frame advance modes. Jitter free picture.
Audio
DTS sound compatibility
Digital Theater Sound offers loss less compressed multi channel (5.1) sound. Able to read the DTS signal and pass through to outboard DTS decoder (processor or receiver).
Virtual 3D surround
TruSurround 3D sound using technology creates virtual surround effect with 2-speaker systems or stereo headphones
Connections
2x Composite Video
SVideo
Component Video
2x audio connectors
Coax Digital Output
Optical Digital Output
IEC958 for CDDA/LPCM
IEC1937 for MPEG1/2, AC-3 DTS
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Epinions.com ID:
chris_weaver
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Member: Chris Weaver
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 4 members
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