(***UPDATE: A year later and it is still working. Other reviewers state that this is not the case for them, and I'm sorry that is so. It really is a great little DVD player.)
I had a DVD player that wouldn't play burned DVDs, nor would it play mp3s, so I bought this after reading the rave reviews.
This unit works so well (and fast!) that I want to buy one for each member of my family. No other unit works as well as this one for under $100.
>>>> Something other than what all the other reviewers are saying:
- Plays my Verbatim DVD-R 8x, Memorex CD-R 52x, Maxell CD-R 40x discs, Princo, TYuden and a no-name brand DVD-R (all white with a small white star at spindle.) Note: The discs I have were burned on Sony DRU-530A and DRU-810 burners with MANY hours on them.
- Remote must be pointed AT the unit in order for it to "see it." Pro: keeps interference with other Philips unit to a minimum. Con: you have to point it at the unit, so if you are used to the really sensitive / receptive remotes this might bug you.
- Loads DVDs and CDs quite fast (compared to my JVC, Toshiba and no-name brand.)
- It would be nice of Philips to have a screen saver for when you play mp3s. Menu may burn into TV / monitor if you don't turn off the TV.
- They did, however, design the "Philips DVD" idle screen (for when the mp3s are not playing) so that it doesn't burn into your TV / monitor.
- Being a single disc unit, this thing goes from "OFF" to playing a DVD in under 20 seconds. Nice for those of us that have carousel DVD/CD players, which take years to turn on and open.
- (other than having to point the remote virtually AT the unit) the response time for the command is pretty fast. I didn't notice any lag time.
- Buttons (on the unit and the remote) feel sturdy and should last the life of the player.
- Thankfully, the front panel doesn't light up like a Christmas tree - a player for those of us that don't care to read by the glow of a bunch of unnecessary lights and indicators on the unit, but would rather just have it play the disc.
- Great diagrams / drawings in the manual. Anyone could hook it up according to the pictures and easy to follow instructions.
- mp3s load in a respectable amount of time. Not lightening quick, but doesn't take all day either. It's just right.
- Comes with one remote, two batteries, one set of RCA cables, and is packed in a non-Styrofoam box. The box is built to be shipped, and is a better design than others I have come across. What I'm saying is, the box has some room designed into it for getting crushed during shipping; whereas the Styrofoam-type boxes usually just transfer the damage to the unit. In short: good shipping box for those worried about a piece of electronics getting shipped.
- The instructions are in English, French and Spanish
| Brand Name | PHILIPS |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 6 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 17.1 x 9.8 x 1.7 inches |
| Item model number | DVP642 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Silver |
| Built In Decoders | Divx, Region Conversion, PAL to NTSC NTSC to PAL |
| Special Features | Surround Sound |
