Pleasant Surprise

Author's Rating:

Pros: Excellent value

Cons: Remote buttons - Could have been larger functions Flawlessly

The Bottom Line: 
Santa's and Philips Best kept Secret Philips DVD724AT Excellent value, Loaded with Features , Easy to use, and a Owners Manual that actually is comprehensive for the consumer.

Author's Review
I'm currently budgeting for a high end DVD Player/Recorder.
However, I've been impatiently waiting for these recordable models to ease up in cost.

In the interim we decided to buy a budget DVD player to take advantage of our TV's HDTV capabilities. I've always admired how well my brothers High End Philips products performed. His Philips Cd player Sounds very open pristine and transparent, as if their were no associated electronics involved (Just the Musicians playing live). This led me to the look into the Philips lower line DVD Players and see how well they perform. Should be interesting!

So when comparing the Philips-DVD-724AT to the other models it offered many features the compitition did not have, at least for a mere $139 dollars anyway. If you make your own CDR's, CDR-W's as I do. The Mp3, Jpeg, and Mpeg playback on this model you will love. It has progressive Scan for those who cannot afford to throw out their older television technolgy, but want to be ready for HDTV when the time is appropriate.

Coveat other players might perform better for the price, however, none of them offered Progressive scan and all the other features I mentioned too! Total package Ladies and Gentleman this is where the 724 Shines!

The front panel Facia appearance is attractive. Brushed aluminum finish look with a Deep blue smoke panel LED Disply. They were smart to continue the smoke panel the entire width of the front facia, has more appeal.

Owners Manual Documentation is Excellent and very comprehensive atta Boy Philips! Connecting to you existing theater system is a breeze. Philips offers three options for connection: Traditional Coaxle cable, S-Video or Fiber optic's to set up the audio and video.


Folks my associated audio system at least the basic front end, I probably have $15,000 invested. Have not tallied up the surround sound and decoders and additional Amp's and the 50" plasma HDTV (OUCH!).

Back to the Philips DVD:
Never would have imagined we could get so much outright performance from a budget DVD unit. To put some perspective on the issue, granted the Philips 724 will not outperform a 2 to 5 grand model recordable DVD Player. The average Joe could careless, thats enough money in savings to go on a nice family vacation. I bought this player keeping in mind it would be replaced, when I decide on the right Recordable model and then give the Philips-724AT to my Mother.

Plans do change, I will be keeping the Philips-DVD-724AT in my bedroom to enjoy this little Gem! I love it. Every now and then in a life time a product you purchase just cathes your eye and intrigue's you, its been years for me.

Normally I write a review with all the associated Jargon relating to Technical info. associated to a particular piece of equipment I'm testing. Writing this on pure fun emotion, good things do come in small packages and Philips 724AT just put the Candy canes on the Tree!

Merry Christmas
P.S. If your Philips DVD724AT is missing under the Christmas tree. Give Santa a call he's enjoying at his house too!