Philips DVP-642 Video Quality

[Jhigh2000]

Since there are a lot of DVP642 owners in the this forum, I would like to as how does the video quality of commercially pressed dvd on the DVP-642 compare to higher-end, more expensive DVD players? I've read a few comments on Amazon that suggest that while still a great player, the video quality of the DVP-642 is not as vibrant with component output as higher end players from Yamaha and Sony.

[DereX888]

"high end, expensive"?
man, you've been brainwashed by commercials, advertisements and salespeople

I tell you short story from 2-3 years ago.
I got as a gift one really expensive 'high end' as you call it Piece Of Shit (as I call it) with picture quality nothing better than cheap Apex I bought at the same time. Except for mini-joystick (kind of) built-in to the remote, this PoS was not only "as good as shitty Apex" picture quality-wise, but it also didnt play half of the formats Apex did!
Don't make such mistake. Buying player with i.e. 'sony" logo on it will set you up immediately extra $50 or more - just for the brand. What else - manufacturer like Sony obviously have no interest in supporting any formats they consider "nonstandard" and relate with online piracy (xvid, divx, svcd, even vcd)... why? Because Sony is a major shareholder of few entertainment, movie-making, cash-cow companies Even till today most of sony model don't support playback of i.e. SVCDs

Don't look at the brand nor price; especially prices are mostly 'out of sync' with quality nowadays, if anything theyre only 'in sync' with brand name and its market popularity
Look at the features. Be smart.


PS
I have dvp642/37. As a 'secondary' player in your bedroom it will be great, but as a main player and if you really need mpeg-4 support buy i.e. RJ-1500DVX II, its of better quality (I have it too, comparing dvp624 to rj1500 is like divx to dvd )

[halcali]

i had the dvp-642 and while it's great about playing every format you can find.... the dvd video quality is dissappointing. i have a dlp projector and i was comparing the 642 to an inexpensive (but good video quality) daewoo. i knew the dvp-642 looked off, but i could not figure out why at first. what i eventually picked up on was a 'pitting' effect in the picture compared to the daewoo. where monochromatic areas, like the sky or a plain wall, would look normal on the daewoo, with the 642 their would have a pitting effect, the texture of an orange or acne... it's not good.

i actually was about to post looking for an alternative to the dvp 642 that has good picture quality. how good is the RJ-1500DVX II on dvd playback quality? what other (affordable) players give you the dvp 642 format variety with good dvd video quality?

[trase80]

i actually was about to post looking for an alternative to the dvp 642 that has good picture quality. how good is the RJ-1500DVX II on dvd playback quality? what other (affordable) players give you the dvp 642 format variety with good dvd video quality?

hey,thats exactly what i wanted to know and was going to ask. Although the dvp642 has many qualities, it also has many cons. So I was wondering if there was a dvd player that had all the pros from dvp642 and none of the cons.

[halcali]

well the 1500dvx apparently has the same chip as the 642, but the 800dvx sold at newegg uses the mediatek chip which supposedly has better dvd quality. but i am not certain on that.

[lifeisfun]

Mediatek picture quallity is not as good as Vibrato's

[hoppy12]

I don't understand why everyone says that the 642 has a degraded picture quality. I bought the 642 for 70 bucks and also have "high end" dvd player which I have payed 400 bucks for. I don't see a difference. I have to say the the 642 has had less problems than my Sony. Having gone through many players, the 642 was the first low end player I bought and I've never been happier with a player.

[chas0039]

It seems as though the 642 has no complaints from those with standard TVs and smaller HD. I have no complaints up to 32 inches and only very minor degradation on my 34 inch HD. Viewers with better screens seem to notice problems. For the money and the features, I will buy another. I looked high and low to find a player thay would play + and - and RW and had optical as well as coax output. This was it.