Customer Reviews

Philips DCD778 Under the Counter 8.5-Inch LCD TV with Built In DVD Player and iPod Docking

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

After researching various types and styles of LCDs for the kitchen, I'm so glad I choose this one. All the components (dvd, cable, radio, iPod)work well. The screen clarity is great. It turned out to be perfect for under the cabinet which separates the cooking area from the dining area. When I'm cooking I can turn the screen around and watch tv. When the kids are at the table, we turn it the other way. We love the widescreen especially when watching dvds. The dock accomodates everyone's iPod (from the nano to the 80G iPod). It's easy to operate and it looks great in the kitchen. When it's not in use, we just fold the screen up.

NOTE: We don't have a massive kitchen so the screen size is perfect. BUT if you have a fairly large kitchen and dining area, you may want to opt for a full-size LCD to mount on a wall. That was my original plan but I realized it'd overwhelm our kitchen and we wouldn't have the ability to move it around like we can with this one.

The DCD778 has performed adequately. The most important thing you should know is that the dock in this unit is NOT compatible with the new 3G iPod Nano (w/video) or new iPod Classic (also w/video). Apple apparently has changed the output port configuration and video will not be passed to the LCD screen of this unit. Apple's solution is to purchase a $50 cable and pump in the video into the composite and audio ports on the back. Not a very elegant solution.
Installation was mostly problem free although the template could have been more descriptive (just assume the outline of the unit is accurate, and align such that it will stick out as much as you desire from the cabinet per this outline) and my cabinet extends 0.75" below the attachment surface, so I ultimately didn't need any spacers - unfortunately I guessed it did and had to essentially install it twice. They could have easily told you that spacers are not required unless the cabinet front extends more than 0.75" below the attachment surface. You would think they would have you measure this distance and then either set the spacers accordingly or not use them at all as in my case.
I found the user guide is pretty accurate and well written - had no problem programming over the air both analog (NTSC) and digital (ATSC) channels. Appreciate the easy way you can skip channels after the programming because it will find channels outside your viewing area, that will be mostly snow - but can easily be marked to skip them. The video is adequate but it's not high def, and other reviewers comments about it's quality are pretty accurate. Not really their fault, but would have scored the unit one star higher had an iPod nano 3G had worked and would have given it 5 stars if the video had been better.
And to the person who couldn't find the DVD player I understand perfectly. It wasn't until I put it into DVD mode and hit the eject button that it became apparent that it was well hidden behind the display - which drops down. And to the person who complained about the red push, the unit does have picture adjustments for brightness, contrast, tint, and color using the remote. I found a decent picture with all the setting about mid range.

Even if mine had worked properly (it didn't) I probably would have still sent it back.

1) Video from the latest iPod models will not display on the LCD screen.
2) The unit protrudes too far from the cabinet if you leave room for the cable connection. My cabinets are standard 12 inches deep and the TV protrudes more than two inches. If your cabinets are deeper this won't be a problem for you.
3) Cheap plastic look and feel. For almost $400 it should be sturdier.

Mine was also defective - one of the speakers didn't work. However, it's very easy to return to Amazon so I would give Amazon 5 stars for customer service.

Bought this little Philips TV as a replacement for a 19 yr old GE Spacemaker 5" color tv. While that old one was good, it finally just died. The DCD778 was one of the few undercabinet models still available, and Amazon's price and guarantee was the best deal. Screen size of 8.5" is a big improvement, and picture clarity is at least as good as the prior TV (which was good for such a little screen). We do occasionally see some of the interference bands one other reviewer saw so heavily, but that does appear to be caused by an electromagnetic field from the FiOS converter box. Mounting the convertor box 15" away under the next cabinet reduced the interference such that it is not annoying, and mounting them both under the cabinets minimized the loss of space underneath or on the kitchen countertop. The swivel screen feature is just as good as the lazy susan bearing mounting I built for the prior TV, and eliminated the problems I had with the input coax cable hanging up on things as the TV swiveled. It's been operating for a month, and all indications are that it was worth the money.

I checked all specs on all brands, makes and models, this rocks the casbah. Plays pretty much all formats commonly used and with dvd capability laid in there you are good for many years to come. Will still have value in 10+ years. I got it and 2 hours later after painstaking programming it is incredible. By 2009 all ntsc broadcasts are done and this will accept atsc broadcasts in the post 2009 world. Sounds great too. The only thing you need extra is external antenna or just jack into your cable feed. This even plays picture cds and movies. Buy the Phillips DCD778 under the counter lcd tv yes for near $400 but worth every penny.......

I installed this unit in our kitchen about a month ago and the whole family has really enjoyed it. TV, DVD, Radio all work great. We do not use the iPod dock. One caution ... it is a very tight fit under standard cabinets. You have to connect all your inputs prior to mounting because there is no room behind the unit afterwards.

UGH! We purchased this item in December, and it was defective. We had to go through Philips directly to get a replacement, and it has been a NIGHTMARE.

First you have to call Philips and get a case# assigned to you. Then, AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE, you have to FedEx the unit back to them in Arkansas (and get insurance on it, too). Then you don't hear back from them, and have to call constantly to track them down. Don't even bother trying to fax them because their fax number never picks up.

They received my defective unit on Jan. 21st--I have the FedEx tracking number to prove it--but they still haven't updated their records to reflect that. They said it takes 10 full business days to hit their records, and then another 5 to 10 business days after that for me to get my replacement unit. Meanwhile, I have nothing from them in writing that says they will replace my unit in that time frame...I have to "trust them" that it will show up on my case# eventually. In the meantime, I have endured the inconvenience and expense, and will not receive a replacement until a full month after I returned it.

I will never purchase another Philips product again!

In theory, this is a great product, but the digital tuner never worked for us. Phone support is non-existent for this model. They don't know anything about it. Philips told me to return it to a local service center. The first address they gave me (when I got there) told me they don't service Philips Electronics anymore. The second service center I went to did service Philips Electronics, but had no idea what this model was, and certainly didn't service it. Philips then told me to ship it to them directly (at my expense.) I just got a call from them telling me they can't fix it, they don't have any in stock, they have discontinued this model, and they can only refund my money. But they won't refund the sales tax I spent, or the shipping cost (initially to me, and then to the repair center.) They said they have no other models similar to replace it with either. Clearly, Philips has abandoned this product. You should too. Across the board, service has been horrible.

I bought this to use with a new 80 Gig IPod. It works for audio but does not work with the video so I cannot play downloaded movies or pictures. It also is extremely slow when loading a CD or DVD. After I load a disk, I could almost take a nap while waiting for the music or movie to start.
Not overly impressed!!!

The DVD player performed well, the radio and ipod were ok. The big problem was the LCD TV. The picture had faint wavy lines going through it and was snowy, I thought it was 1970 again and I was watching re-runs of I Love Lucy. I called up the Philips tech and told him that I had Direct TV which is digital and I could only receive a snowy analog picture. He told me that is the best picture I was going to get because I was using coaxial cable. I said I had 3 other TV's that worked fine with coaxial cable. He recomended I use composite cable hooked directly to a box. After he told me how to properly hook it up I thought what would be the point of spending almost $400 on an under the counter fold away LCD TV if I had to have a set top box sitting on top of my counter? Any way I tried hooking it up his way and I still had a snowy, wavy, analog picture. My 15 year old 9 inch Sony TV still has a perfect picture. I guess I should not have attempted to up grade to a new LCD Philips TV that thinks it is 1970. Don't get me wrong snowy TV's in 1970 were great as was my 8-track player (when it was not double tracking) but this is almost 40 years later. I guess I foolishly expected something better. Ahhh 1970 it was a great year, thank Philips for reminding me. Terry