Having decided to buy a low-end Blu ray mainly as video media player via USB I checked out these two models.
Component video was a critical requirement, and it seemed from some tech specs Philips didnt have that. After emailing Philips asking confirmation they advised the product certainly did have component out, and still in doubt I phoned them up and they assured me I was wrong and that the product did indeed support this feature.
Next step was to visit JB Hifi to view their Soniq product first, as the specs are not well promulgated (unlike the Philips).
The Soniq I had read from others was an excellent product and the appearance was quite acceptable, and JB confirmed it would play all media formats eg mkv avi mp4. JB offered an improved price over their RR. But first I checked out the Philips (Dick Smith).
Dick Smith indeed advertise the Philips as having component. I decided that was the model I would buy, but on checking, it does not have component, nor do any of this model being distributed in NZ.
Philips have proven to me to be a unreliable supplier as my year old LCD TV is not now supported in NZ as Philips dont sell them so have no further interest. Added the unreliable component out information they have provided is indeed not satisfactory.

Having purchased the Soniq I can confirm that its a nice player and does play MOST of my files, but hiccups on some mp4: h264/avc which is a bit odd, as this is the most common video format.
Anyone else who has one of the soniq with similar 'unable play video' mp4 please confirm here.

I'll spend more time with the Soniq to see if this issue can be sorted as otherwise it seems good.
Cheers,
Alistair.