New tech; Philips 580M

[Slamman]

You guys have likely run across a few DVD players the size of portables or external PC ones that are stand-alones, and in most cases are VERY cheap off-brands...however,

I just picked up a Philips 580M, and having no need for a DVD player, there is one factor that drove me to check it out.... full 6 channel JAck-pack for surround options... That means all the digital surround is handled on the unit's compact mini-board. It has a flashy mirrored front finish and looks like it needs to connect to a PC, not so. Has component, S video and composite video as well as coax and TosLink digital optical outs.

 

It was enough for me to tackle it with budding interest. First problem was mismatched AC someone had connected. I tried a Iomega Zip adapter that I thought was 12 volts, it was the right amperage.

 

WRONG!!!

I heard a pop and snap when I plugged it in. Turns out that adapter was the right polarity but 24 volts of power! ARGH!

 

I even thought I saw smoke emitting!

 

I had to dismantle it as the light for standby and on was the only appearence of life. The drive is somewhat unique. designed like in-dash CD and Pioneer CD units for PC as well as the familiar SONY PS3 DVD where the disc is inserted in a slot and taken into the mech. This one had a bent entrance area, it was later observed...having the drive removed, I noted the connect was IDE ... a familar convention to some other DVD players, like APEX.

I opted to try a number of DVD drives for my PC builds... Two Pioneer and one Samsung/Toshiba M522. These would work at reading a CD but not DVDs terribly well, however, the full displays came ALIVE, proving the defection was the DVD drive area and not the base of the unit...rather, the module of it.

 

I noted that testing DVD drives for PCs in this contraption would be a good way to determine if the optical is weak, etc. Most often a CD reads over DVD because the laser has problems leading to it's demise.

 

Another point of interest in this project is that a $3 APPLE DVD Rom worked flawlessly with it, garnering DTS/DD audio switching via remote on the fly, it's fantastic I think. Not all the DVD digital formats are supported, but decoders used to come at a premium, whereas all you need is six channel amp or amped speakers.

 

The downside is the OEM drive fits nicely, but a PC IDE drive has to reside topside.

I am curious why they go to the trouble, when adapting various laptop drives for similar causes is always an option, one that HAS been used by a number of companies. Why combine familiar IDE interface with a particularily proprietary disc drive???