Price Paid:  $50.00 from Friend

Summary:
I bought this from a friend for only $50 and I am having similar problems as some of the other people have had. I have upgraded to 9.25 and there is no difference. Half of my DVDs or not playing at all. Makes a lot of noise when it doesn't load. I also notice today that some of my VCD's are not playing right. Sometimes it has that line going up and down makes you want to hit it so it would stop but it never works. Even when I fast forward the movie the line is still going at the same speed so it must be a technical problem not the CD itself. If anyone has any ideas besides throw it away let me know something.

Strengths:
plays CD-R's & CD-RW

Weaknesses:
cannot play MP3 files

Price Paid:  $150.00 from Sears

Summary:
My player is a Philips-Magnavox DVD825

To check your version number
Boot the DVD player with no disc in so it says "Insert Disc" keep pressing down until you see the version number mine before the update was "6.25 990416 P5" and now is "9.25 000310 P5". I heard of other versions 9.23 000124 P5 / 9.21 991102 P5 / 8.00 990702 P5 / 6.x / 5.x

1. Check your version number and make sure it isn't 9.25 000310 or higher
2. Record files at root of a CD-R ISSO9660 format DAO
3. Boot the DVD player with no disc in so it says "Insert Disc"
4. Open the tray and insert the CD-R (DO NOT PRESS PLAY)
5. It will take about 5 minutes to update and will open the tray when done
6. Remove the CD-R and close it using the tray (DON'T PRESS CLOSE)
7. Check your version number should be now 9.25 000310

Those are the instructions I was told to use, but I used Joliet by mistake and my player didn't do anything for 20 minutes so I turned it off and then back on and the update went fine and then I did the last step.

http://server33.hypermart.net/dvd-vcd/firmware.htm
http://world.altavista.com/
Spanish to English

I've never had any problem with my player at all even on 6.25. The only difference I've noticed on 9.25 is if you put an mp3 CD in it'd spin forever saying reading CD and now it just ejects it.

Strengths:
Plays DVD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD, DVD. DTS / DD / Optical

Weaknesses:
No component outputs / Not progessive scan

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Best Buys

Summary:
Since I have upgraded the firmware to 9.22(via Philips 1-800 number @ Philips.com) it seems to have started skipping. I was told this was a needed upgrade for newer movies, but wish I hadn't done it. The overall product cannot be beat for the money. My friends have taken their Sony's back due to trouble. So far (2yrs) so good.

Strengths:
Excellent picture. Controls are trouble free.

Weaknesses:
None.

Price Paid:  $220.00

Summary:
I have had no probelms with this DVD Player as described by others who have used it. The earlier units were defective but newer ones are trouble free. When DVD Players were first released all brands were full of defects (Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba..) The first DVD Player that I purchased was from Sony and I wasnt happy with it. It cost more than the Philips and it had less features. So I returned it and got this one. This player is unique because it has dual lasers. One for DVDs and the other for CDs. This is also good because if you have one laser for both Cds and DVDs then it will wear out quicker. Overall this is a great player for the price. I've had this player for more than a year and it has given me no problems whatsoever. Highly Recommended!!!!

Strengths:
Great Picture/Audio Quality, Great Price!!

Weaknesses:
NONE

Price Paid:  $250.00 from amazon.com

Summary:
I hate this player. It pauses on just about every movie I've watched on it. The FF features stink. It's either fast, or slide show effect (8x or something). It's nothing to be desired, look elsewhere. I'm looking now for a new one just because I find it so frusterating to see the pauses in the movies layer change. Very disappointed. I got it in May as my first stand alone player, now I'm fully ready to move on.

Strengths:
Style is cool

Weaknesses:
Functionality on box, remote small, FF features, overall features, pauses on layer change

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 1200, computer DVD players, proscan