Philips 642 : Quick Review

[Capt.Video]

A much more detailed review will follow.

Okay, this is the first ever settop DVD player Ive had that was Divx certified, Philips 642. I just bought it at WalMart for $57.

I brought it home and unpacked it. The first thing I tried was a CD-R with a Divx video and it played fine right from the start.

Next I try a DVD+R with several Divx files, and it loads the index (alibit somewhat slow) and I can select the video that I want to watch. Plays perfect! Video and audio in perfect sync, color is RICH, no blox, no problems!

Next, I try a DVD+R with MPEG2 files, it does exactly as the Divx DVD did, loads index, select, plays files PERFECTLY!


Files tested thus far:
Divx5 640X480 with MP2 (Home Theater Profile)
MPEG2 480X480 with MP2 (Original Tivo file!)

Pros:
-Index on disk with multiple files
-Auto plays video if disk only has 1 file
-Perfect A/V sync
-Color is RICH
-FF/FR with Divx and MPEG works perfect
-No need to create DVD-Video disk anymore

Cons:
-Index is a bit slow, but not a problem.
-Long file names not supported

HTH,
Andrew

[handyguy]

You might want to read other user reviews, they have hacks & fun stuff you can use:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

[Capt.Video]

Just a quick update, I had problems with it loosing A/V sync after FF or FR. After updating the firmware to 1109, I have no more sync problems.

[whitejremiah]

i get a fair amount of pixiliation even with retail dvd's on mine, though (my tv is anciant, and im gonna be replacing after xmas some time) ive been told that this goes away when connected with an s-video or better connection.....

[Capt.Video]

Strange. I was watching DVDs on it last night, they looked crystal clear, super sharp, rich colors. Mine is a 2 year old or more 25" analog Philips TV.

Andrew

[DereX888]

Your review is about 2-2.5 years too late! :O
I had 4 of them at one moment (not that i imply they were that good or anything), but thats not the point, its just I would think they don't make them anymore? And if they do, it must be one of the longest in-production models out there...

As one of the long time users I can say that their picture quality degrades with the time, and their dvd-rom isn't as good as i.e. cheap Apexes had (some), no doubt.
So if your player is recently bought than the other poster's, or its just had been used more, that would be the explanation.

EDIT:
The worst CON you should have mention is its chipset, which is simply outdated by today's standard.
Try playing vbr divx or xvid file containing AC3 sound and you'll see its inadequate processing power in its full extent.
And other important PRO would be that it plays full dvd-resolution divxes (720x480) reagrdless is it WS or FS and correctly displaying aspect ratios, something not all divx players do.

[ntngod]

its just I would think they don't make them anymore? And if they do, it must be one of the longest in-production models out there...

They still make them, it seems. They're still in Sunday ads a fair amount.

My early-ish model (circa March 2004) still works fine, but its drive has always been on the loud side.

It's only ever been hooked up to a 27-in bedroom TV, so that can hide a lot of PQ deficencies...

[Capt.Video]

WalMart didnt have them 2 weeks ago. A week ago, when I got mine, they had 20 of them. Manf. date on mine was mid 05.

It was new to me! Didnt realize they were made for so long! Maybe the new ones wont have the cap problem in the power supply. Maybe.

[Capt.Video]

After my daughter gets home from school today, were gonna watch the 1937 version of King Kong as jacked from TCM and processed to D1 Divx MP3. This thing is sweet!

[handyguy]

MIne doesn't play .subs but does play most .SRT....

[Capt.Video]

Update: Just use AutoGK to convert videos to watch on set top. Sigh.

[rad1701]

I just got one of these players too. It seems slow to load up (sometimes almost a minute) most any DVD disc - even standard movies on DVD I have rented or bought. It also seems to have a little trouble reading some of my DVD-R's. Whether they are standard DVD discs or just DIVX files. I'm wondering if older firmware might read some of these discs better?

[Ai Haibara]

You might just have a bad unit, and exchanging it might help in that case. I don't think the firmware updates (or downgrades) would have an effect on how quickly the 642 registers discs.

[derspiess]

I bought one of these yesterday. Been wanting one for a while but kept looking around for the best price (plus trying to think of a way to sneak another DVD player in the house without the wife noticing). Circuit City had them on sale (clearance??) & I got mine for $53 & change out the door.
I had a DVD with all sorts of divx & xvid files on it & there was only one xvid file that would not play-- it played everything else almost flawlessly. I'm not really a videophile so I can tolerate a hiccup here & there, plus part of the reason I got this was to supplement my MediaMVP, which is really only suitable for smaller divx files.

The 642 seems to definitely be one of the most talked-about players, if not necessarily the best or most reliable (I bought it with the expectation of the PSU dying on me within a year ). I'm mostly happy to have a player that plays most mpeg4 stuff I throw at it, and the picture quality looks great. I like the aesthetics of the hardware as well. DVD-MP3 capability is even more icing on the cake.

Not having an eject button on the remote is weird, but otherwise I like it a lot more than the ugly, huge, flat remote my Magnavox player has (though, oddly, my older Magnavox had a remote almost identical to the 642's).

I'll have to test it out a bit more before I put a review in the list, but so far I'd give it an 8 or 9. Hard to do much better, function-wise, at this price point.

edit: forgot to ask a stupid question: Is the DivX codec on the player upgradable, or is it hardware that can't be flashed?

[DereX888]

/.../
Not having an eject button on the remote is weird, /.../

just press n hold STOP button for ~2sec, it works as both eject and close tray

[pchan]

/.../
Not having an eject button on the remote is weird, /.../

just press n hold STOP button for ~2sec, it works as both eject and close tray

Thanks...... that works...

[derspiess]

/.../
Not having an eject button on the remote is weird, /.../

just press n hold STOP button for ~2sec, it works as both eject and close tray

Read something about that a few minutes ago & tried it just now-- thanks. It's probably in the manual but that's often the last place I look

[handyguy]

There are tons of things you can do with it, just look at the comment section for dvd players, left column of the page.

[DereX888]

/.../
Not having an eject button on the remote is weird, /.../

just press n hold STOP button for ~2sec, it works as both eject and close tray

Read something about that a few minutes ago & tried it just now-- thanks. It's probably in the manual but that's often the last place I look

Your welcome.
No one read manuals, hehe
But actually no, it is not in the manual, at least not in the 2 diferent versions of manuals for this model I had (I read them when Im in the bathroom, and have nothin else, hahaha).
Its just common that the stop button is also eject button if pressed twice quickly, or press'n'hold.
It worked for various models of VCRs and CD and DVD players I had, so I always try that if there is no separate eject button on remote.

[chas0039]

One little problem to be aware of. This unit will occasionally switch out of progressive mode after it is shut off for a while. The menu says it is still progressive but if you switch in and out, you will see the quality return.

Philips says this is supposed to happen (lame).

[Theo_dore]

Hey,
Has anyone had any luck with Mpeg 4 on the dvp642?
I can get DivX and it variants to play fine, but though the manual touts Mpeg 4 simple and advance profile, I can't seem to any functionality with it--just sputters and freezes to one degree or another.

I've tried Quicktime and FFMpeg for encoding.

Is it an issue with Mpeg 4's AAC audio maybe?

[ntngod]

Hey,
Has anyone had any luck with Mpeg 4 on the dvp642?
....
Is it an issue with Mpeg 4's AAC audio maybe?

I've gotten MP4 files with MP3 audio to play O.K. - the 642 can't handle AAC audio.

[Trident5]

If you mean MP4 as in Nero Digital no it wont play just as it is but it can be fixed..

below is a guide to fix that:

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=276352&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

[DereX888]

well, 'standard' MP4 (as in MPEG-4 without any codec-specific enhancements) should play on this player, as well as on any other standalone capable of mp4 playback.
But please, people, use your brains at least once in a blue moon!
Obviously not every .AVI contains MPEG-4 video, and it is clearly written in your player's manual as to what audio it plays! (in AVI container: MP3 & AC3 only, iirc).
There is no need to ask for every single other audio codec/format.
NO, it won't play MP4-video AVIs with audio in AAC, ACP, AIFF, AU, ... and so on, ...up to ZYX (or was it .zox)!
MP3 or AC3 ONLY. GOT IT?

same goes for video - MPEG-4 .avi only, no freaking quicktimes, QT versions of mp4, Nero Digital versions of mp4, ogg, matroska, etc etc etc.
They all are non-standard MPEG-4s, 'extended' MPEG-4s, or a standard MPEG-4s but in a non-standard container (or theyre not mp4 at all).

Is it so hard to read all those 2 or 3 lines of info in your manual?


PS
If you need some true 'everything-in-one' standalone player, something to play any kind of codecs and files, there is only one device capable of doing it:
A COMPUTER.

[ntngod]

Actually, the 642 manual I have didn't say anything about that; I have an early (Mar. 2004) 642, though.

The original firmware didn't even handle the .MP4 container; it wasn't added until the second firmware release, I believe.

I know there's some 2004-vintage threads I participated in where we figured out how to create 642-compatible MP4 files (after that capability was added through firmware).
Philips never did add AAC support to the 642, even though the ESS can do it...


Of course, my 642 had the really crappy loader that Philips quickly phased out (and no heatsink on the ESS chip, either (!) - another thing Philips wisely changed in subsequent revs of the 642); it's finally giving up the ghost (grinding loudly) so I bought the new* Mediatek-based Philips 5140 to replace it (Divx Ultra certified, blah, blah)

* - new to the US, at least. I believe its been out in Europe for a while...

[DereX888]

Long ago I replaced all of my dvp 642 (except for one) with other players, and for divx I chose RJTech 800 and 1500. Since then I had no problems with any usual divx/xvid gripes (mostly GMC comes to mind). I just don't understand why anyone is still buying DVP-642 if they can buy i.e. RJ-800 for same or less :O

As for AAC etc I couldn't care less (or any other crap). I dont listen to castrated music almost at all, only occasionally I make some mp3 CDR for trip playback in the car, or load some new album to my phone if I really need it 'on the go'...

Didnt they replace DivX Ultra with DivX6?
I really hope someone/something (market itself, preferably) would put that stupid divx networks company out of its misery...

[whitejremiah]

as far as divx6 vs divx ultra...basically they are one in the same...divx 6 is the codec, ultra is their certification for devices that are able to play back divx with menus (if they have any) intact.....does kinda bother me though, that they didn't have this support in the first place.....on the other hand though, making a divx file with menus is really kinda a pain in the neck anyhow (at least making dvd style menus)

[handyguy]

Now they have a 5140. $55 at walmart, shipping was $67 for me, what on earth? 5960 is with USB & hdmi, $79 at circuit city.