Does the Philips DVP-642 play DTS?

[Pring4]

I have been looking all over the internet and not found a conclusive answer.

I, like many others, recently got this Philips DVP 642 unit at CompUSA for $70. Granted, the picture quality is mediocre, but for a college student like me, $70 is well worth it.

But I when I tried playing two DVDs with DTS sound, I ran into a problem. Gladiator, when set to DTS, played the little DTS intro then went into the film. My Harmon/Kardon AVR110 picked up the optical digital signal as DTS and continued to play normally. When I popped in Road Trip and set that on DTS, when the DTS intro started the unit displayed a message on the screen that said "Cannot Decode DTS Signal." The odd part was that my receiver still picked up the signal as being DTS.

Neither the box nor the unit have the DTS logo on it, and I cannot find anywhere on the Philips website that says that it supports DTS. So what is the deal? Im thinking maybe that the DVD player outputs the digital DTS signal, but that it is not real DTS quality.

Can anyone shed any light on this?
Thanks...

[dun4cheap]

It works on mine, but my amp decodes the dts signal coming from the philips 642. Gladiator DTS plays great. So yes it will send the dts out but it does not decode it. Typically your amplifier does this. Hope that answers your questions.

ed

[Pring4]

Great, thanks a lot.

I always thought that all DVD players couldn't decode DTS anyway.

[dun4cheap]

My apex 5131 could decode dts, but then it had DTS listed on it. I prefer letting my amp do that, but as system become smaller and have less components I am sure it will be a central unit thing

[MechanicalMan]

Mine passed the signal with the only DVD I've tried, but it didn't work when I tried to play some cdr's with DTS tracks. My receiver wouldn't play the audio, and the Philips didn't give the "can't decode DTS" message that it gives whenever it detects DTS. Is there anything that I can do about this? I'd like to be able to use DTS with some of my MPEG4 stuff.

And has anyone else noticed that the 642 is now being advertised as having "Built-in Dolby Digital, DTS and simulated surround sound decoding?" That is yanked from bestbuy.com. Have they really added DTS decoding to these already? I feel kinda gypped, but I guess I don't really need it.

[Pring4]

I'm beginning to think that this really can't decode DTS. With Gladiator, even though my receiver did say it detected the DTS, the sound didn't sound as clear as it did with my old DTS-Certified JVC player.

Frankly, I'd love to return this and get the Philips DVP 720SA (http://www.shopgenie.co.uk/UK_listing/gen_1/J000075463.html). But unfortunately, it's a European model and I can't find a retailer that will ship to the States. It's rated high in the DVD Player lists here, and it plays DTS as well as SACDs.

[dun4cheap]

Well I don't believe the Philips 642 decodes the DTS, it simply passes it through. If the AMP is decodes DTS like my Pioneer amp when it detects it, the DTS light illuminates. So simply put the 642 passess it through if you select the audio track. I prefer the DTS over the AC3 and it is noticeable to my ears.

[ejp]

Mine passed the signal with the only DVD I've tried, but it didn't work when I tried to play some cdr's with DTS tracks. My receiver wouldn't play the audio, and the Philips didn't give the "can't decode DTS" message that it gives whenever it detects DTS. Is there anything that I can do about this? I'd like to be able to use DTS with some of my MPEG4 stuff.

hate to bring up an old topic, but this is similar to what i wanted to ask. i was gonna ask if it could play mpeg4 files with DTS audio through digital output. guess not, but is there any way to get around that or something?

[dun4cheap]

ejp,

In the settings of the dvd player, have it pass the audio out as pcm. Your amplifier should then pick it up.

[ejp]

oh, so i can still output it through digital output, but i still have to change that setting?

[dun4cheap]

Correct, you can hook it via the optical or rca digital out. Send the audio out as PCM Audio and your amplifier should be able to detect it and decode it if it support DTS/AC3/Pro Logic etc.

[ejp]

oh so i can do it through RCA also. do i still have to run it through my dts-enabled reciever? or can i run it directly to my tv instead?

[zod5000]

no you can do it through rca, you need to use the coaxial or optical output.

he may have been referring the to fact that it might be possible to substiture an rca cable for a coaxial cable. I've never tried it, but i've been told it works. but you still have to hook it up to the coaxial audio output on the dvd player and make sure you have the correspondiing ionput on the reciever.

i use the a coaxial cable to hook mine up (and an optical for the xbox)

[DereX888]

I have this player. It doesn't decode DTS, you have to connect opti or coax to your DTS decoder, which will be your pre-amp, amplifier or receiver (depending what sort of audio toys you have there).
With RCA connection you won't hear anything if you select DTS audio on your disc, this player only passes through DTS signal to your DTS decoder.

[hoppy12]

I have this player and yes it supports DTS. When playing DTS the volume is at an audibly different volume when compared to DD 5.1. This has been the case with all players that I have owned and is this case with the 642.

[ejp]

so my xvid with dts needs optical, just like a dvd with dts. ok, thanks.

[Dave RL]

I have the 642 and have had probles playing DTS tracks burned as files to either an ISO CD or DVD. It seems like the player recongnizes the files because the icon next to the file is a "DTS" icon. I have only the coax connected to my amp and have no problem playing regular DVD's with DTS sound (Lord of the Rings, etc...). Does anyone have any ideas what is wrong?

Also, on the same DVD I had burned MP3's and they play fine. The DTS's just sit there with the counter at "00:00:00"

Thanks in advance,

-Dave