Philips DVP642 DivX-Certified Progressive-Scan DVD Player
BAD (dry) Sound even with optical digital out
If you are planning to use this DVD player with your expensive home theater system, please reconsider your decision. I have the player connected to my receiver via optical cable. The sound output from the player (playing DVDs, Divx files, and Audio CDs) produced by the receiver is very dry and sounds like mono, not stereo or surround. Low bass. This is so disgraceful to my home theater system. It was producing much clearer, warmer, and richer sound quality with my previous JVC DVD player. The sound from the analog output from my computer to the receiver is unbelievably better than from DVP642. Even my wife can also notice the difference without me telling. It is that bad!!!    If you just want to watch DivX files with this player, it is for you. If you expect the sound quality, think again.  I'm not an audiophile, but trust me on this.    P.S. I bought a no name China-made DVD player back home in Thailand two years ago. It seems that this DVP642 is just the rebranded version of the China player. UI is the same, same screensaver. Oh yeah, same sound quality, too.