No question, the image quality is excellent and the design a nice change. But that was in my eyes already.
Here are my criticisms why it only 2 stars is from me:
- The idea of the upward to öffenenden flap is really good, but the implementation is then but only half-heartedly. The DVD must be pressed with some force on the shaft and removed again, not just material friendly.
- The USB port is located at the side. When using a USB stick then come to the device width again at least 10-12 cm of space added. And so is the player no longer so far away in the required footprint of standard players. Why the USB connector is not over? Then the compact design would also make sense.
- Apart from VOB files and dvix ignores all other video formats with me. WMV or AVI / MOV from camera - nil.
- If more than one video files available on a USB stick will be played in colorful diced order. Whether alphabetically or numerically numbered. Probehalber times ripped a DVD to USB stick, no difference. The individual VOB parts are sometimes properly and sometimes from back to front reproduced (VOB 4-3-2-1).
- With USB works for me just fast forward eiwandfrei. Pressing the rewind on the FB is immediately switched to maximum speed (32x), 2-fold but is displayed. For DVD playback, it works flawlessly.
- The zoom function with USB stick perfectly, the display (small blue rectangle on a large white rectangle) appears at the bottom right and disappears after a few seconds. In DVD playback chaos. The window scrolls with the image shifting, up almost a third of the screen and then remains constant appears to movie end. Annoying.
- My biggest gripe is the sound quality. I have never heard such a thing as this lousy player. Perhaps through the built-in TV speakers it might not be so noticeable. But through a stereo system then the great frustration. Thin bass that tinny mids and highs. Space an alien concept for Philips. On playback of music DVDs or even music CDs you should not think only.
I realize that one should not make too high expectations in this price range. But the sound is just too bad. In addition, Philips makes strong advertising, vibrant audio playback and stuff.
Anyone looking for a simple to use DVD player with very good picture quality and can live with my opinion, poor sound quality and some software quirks might be well served.
Otherwise, no recommendation from me.