Pros: Supports DVD-MP3, DivX, Xvid, NTSC/PAL, region free.
Cons: The remote is pretty bad, MP3 playback menu could be better.
The Bottom Line: A great player that supports almost everything you can thow at it. (At least until the NEXT DVD player you need.) However the remote could use some improvement.
Seems like every time I turn around there is a new DVD player that has more "must have" features than the last.
First I HAD to have a DVD player that was "region free" and played MP3 files. Then I HAD to have one that did all that and also played both NTSC and PAL encoded discs. Now my DVD player HAS to be "Progressive Scan" and be able to play DivX files! What next?!
Well, at least every time I buy a new player, they get cheaper and cheaper! The Phillips 642 only set me back about $70 including shipping. (I have heard that these are now available locally at Walmart and Target as well.)
So what's the big deal about DivX support? Simply put, DivX is to video what MP3 is to music. In other words, because of the video compression that DivX allows, you can place about 6 movies on a single DVD-R disc!
So far this player has been able to handle any file I throw at it -- MPEGs, AVIs (DivX and XviD), MP3's, VCDs, and of course DVDs.
Most DivX/XviD AVI files play fine, no matter what the source. However, maybe 2 out of a hundred haven't played correctly initially; but I was able to "fix" them by re-converting them with one of the many conversion tools available on the net. (I have found www.videohelp.com to be very useful in this!)
As far as subtitles for AVI files go, the player is SUPPOSED to work with them; however, I have not yet been able to do so. (I have a work around that involves converting them to MPEG files then imbedding the subtitles into the video stream with VobSub running while converting back to AVI, but it is kind of a pain.)
That being said, just before I went to ePinions to write this review I did a bit of research online and discovered that the subtitle files need to be in .SUB format and not .SRT format for the player to use them. (.SRT's seem to be most common in the BitTorrent world.) I will attempt this and update the review with my findings.
Here's a list of what makes this a great player:
1) DivX/XviD support!
2) Progressive Scan
3) NTSC/PAL
4) Region free (Look around on the web for the code)
5) Easy firmware updates (downloadable from Phillips)
6) Supports DVD-R's full of MP3 files (Most players only support playback on CD-R's)
7) Hookup was pretty straight forward, just like the last two DVD players I own.
The player does annoy me in certain ways: (Most of these are minor issues.)
1) It doesn't match the rest of my "black n' boxy" 90's looking A/V system. Sorry, I've never cared for this new silver "ultra thin" look of A/V equipment.
2) The remote that comes with it is pretty terrible, and fairly easy to hit the wrong button. No obvious "eject" on the remote, you have to hold the "stop" button to eject discs. This is the only reason I gave this player 4 stars instead of 5.
3) When not using the player a super bright red light is ON in standby mode. I wish this was a bit more subdued.
4) As usual with these DVD MP3 players, I am less than thrilled with the MP3 playback menu system.
5) Won't play WMA (video), MOV or RM file types (Unless you convert them.) It supposedly plays WMA audio, but that feature is untested by me (I'll stick with MP3's).
6) Only 8X FF.
Overall this is a GREAT player, however the next time I find myself needing to change DVD players again I will seriously consider hooking a PC into my A/V system. That way I will be sure that EVERYTHING will play!
Measures 17.1 x 1.7 x 9.3 inches (W x H x D); Plays DVD-Video, video CD, audio CD, JPEG image CD, and CDs loaded with MP3, MPEG-4, or DivX 3.11/4.x/5....More at Amazon Marketplace
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