Good Sound for movies; multiple input options
By Friendly Sparrowon
** In the Box **? DVD Player? Five speakers? One sub woofer? FM wire antenna? Stereo 3.5mm to RCA converter cable? Remote Control? One AAA battery for remote? User Manual? Warranty Leaflet** Build & Finish **? The player does not look premium, but not looks sub-standard either? The speakers & sub woofer have good looks and finish. Its black in colour and finish is somewhere between glossy and matt? There is cloth mesh protection for the speakers? The subwoofer is exposed and is at the backside of the woofer box; I understand that exposed speakers produce good effects? The remote control has poor finish? The speakers have got slots at the back to hang on wall** Connectivity **? Audio - Stereo audio input via Bluetooth - Stereo audio input via Aux In using two RCA phonoplugs - Stereo FM input - Stereo audio input via 3.5mm Audio In - Mono audio input via Microphone In - Dolby/ DTS audio input via Optical Audio In - Dolby/ DTS audio input via HDMI ARC? Video - 1080p video & Dolby/ DTS audio out via HDMI ARC - 576i video out via Composite Video Out? Others - USB port for playing video, audio & pictures - Speakers & sub-woofer ports** Installation **? Installing ths system is a simple process? The speaker jacks are simple push-in ports. The jacks & ports are colour coded; so there is no chance of a speaker going into the wrong port? The speakers are also labelled as Center, Front Left, Left Rear, etc. So, no confusion at all? The two rear speakers have around 10 meters of cable length and the side speakers have around 2 meters. This length is sufficient enough for a 40 inch TV experience. If TV is larger and you sit farther away, you may need to buy additional cable? I bought 4mm cable clips to run the wire neatly to rear speakers? The speakers can be hanged on walls? If your TV supports HD content, you need to buy HDMI cable to send 1080p/ 720p video to TV. If not, buy an RCA cable and will send 576i video** Performance **? On the DVD Player, there are only four buttons, Power On/Off, Source, Play/ Pause and Eject DVD. All other functions can be performed only using remote? When turned on, the system scans for available inputs in an order and locks on to the available one? The default volume when the system is turned on is 18, which is pleasant for the ears (Many Philips systems have default volume too high which turns on with a bang and we have to run for the remote to mute it)? There is the Standby function which gets activated when the system is idle and remembers the last input used? On the remote, Home button takes you the Setup screen of the home theatre (will be displayed on TV screen). All the setting can be done here? There is a small LCD display on the DVD Player; the source is displayed here when it is changed using remote. The display size is too small such that many information displayed there does not fit in well, and it scrolls to show it in full. Some information displayed is very difficult to understand? The LCD display is less prominent that it is not annoying or distracting for the eyes? The sound reproduction is excellent, have good bass and is not annoying. There are pre-set audio equalisers and Movie mode is very well balanced for watching movies. You really feel the vibrations and the movie experience is superb. There are other pre-sets like Music, Gaming, News, etc.? Stereo audio also generates a nice surround effect (audio from Bluetooth, Aux In, 3.5mm Audio In & FM). Surround Sound can be disabled via the remote and the rear speakers will turn off? If the audio and video does not sync well, Audio Sync feature helps to delay audio to match the video? USB plays almost all popular formats; but not MKV? DVD player plays 1080p videos? Standard definition video is up-scaled via HDMI out and looks better than from normal DVD players? Video subtitles plays well; I did not try any language other than English so far? Connecting to Bluetooth is very simple; and can be done only via the remote. Volume can be controlled from the Bluetooth source device? More than 40 FM stations can be stored and stations can be changed using remote? Supports HDMI-ARC. The same HDMI cable that sends audio & video to TV can receive audio back from TV (if TV supports HDMI ARC) to hear it through 5.1 speakers? Supports HDMI-CEC; you can use your TV remote for the basic functions of this sound system like Increase/ Decrease Volume, Turn On/ Off, etc. (most smart TVs support HDMI CEC)? Audio files that support Karaoke functions well when used along with Microphone In** I don't like these **? Even though the User Manual says and HDMI cable is in the box, this does not come with a cable. I understood from the seller that it's an error in the User Manual. It does not sense logical for a 5.1 music system not to include a HDMI cable or a 5.1 RCA cable; instead it packs a stereo cable in the box? If the home theatre is turned on while watching TV (from any source other than this system), the TV source automatically changes to Philips DVD. This happens due to the HDMI CEC thing. This is very annoying and I could not find a solution for this so far? The remote buttons are too hard and is small as well. Need two to three clicks to get it work? If the remote is damaged, many functions like Bluetooth, Surround Sound toggle, USB video control, Pre-set Equalisers, Home Theatre Setup Functions, FM tuning, Audio Syncing, etc. could not be reached? The Setup screen graphics is too basic and is not very pleasant. This one coupled with the poor performing remote make this a worse experience? The LCD display is too small to accommodate the information displayed which makes it very difficult to know which source is selected** Value for Money **? This has met all my expectations: Bluetooth, Optical Audio Input, HDMI ARC, Dolby/ DTS, FM, etc.? The sound reproduction is superb, especially for movies? The remote is not up to the mark? I consider the home theatre value for money for Rs.10,890/- which I paid? However, I decided to return this product due to incompatibility issues with my TV (Samsung UA40EH5300)** Reasons for Return **? I have many input options - Airtel HD Set Top Box with Dolby audio, connected to TV HDMI - Google Chromecast with 5.1 audio from Netflix, connected to TV HDMI - Video from laptop via TV HDMI - Movies with 5.1 audio played on TV USB (I prefer playing videos on TV USB than home theatre USB since my TV supports almost all formats)? I have the above devices permanently connected (except laptop). My TV doesn't have HDMI out, but has an Optical Out. So, my only option is to input the 5.1 audio from TV to Philips system via Optical Cable? To my disappointment, I discovered that my TV does not send 5.1 audio via Optical Out if the source of that audio is external to TV (meaning, any audio coming into the TV via HDMI is external audio). Only those videos played from TV USB and TV smart apps will send 5.1 audio via Optical Out. I later understood that this is true with most Smart TVs? I watch a lot of HD movies from Airtel Set Top Box as well as on Netflix using Chromecast. I will have to watch all these on stereo audio due to the above issue. Hence I decided to return the product.
Go for it under 10K.
By Augustine A.on
Worth every pennyPros: Clear and groundshaking vocals and bass, HDMI ARC works well , Balanced and perfect quality of sound , Bluetooth hassle free workingCons: Remote bit laggy , interface needs some improvement.Overall a best product.