Price Paid:  $800.00 from M&P

Summary:
I Used the 717 for almost 2 years now, and i have to admit that i'm really impressed by it's Picture Quality.
Hooked via RGB Scart to my Philips Matchline 33PT9101 100Hz TV, it gives an outstandingly vivid and lifelike picture with any source material.
Using both The Avia, and the Video Basics Test DVD's proves beyond any doubt the Outstanding Picture Quality of this Player (and my TV as well).
Primary Colors and Subtle Hues are portrayed with accuracy,
Resolution is Excellent, The Full Grayscale from 100% White to 100% Black is displayed without any problems, motion is excellent, and theres certainly NO Lip Sync Problem.
Layer Transition takes around 1-2 Sec which is not outstanding, but not bad either.
As a DVD some shortcomings i found include the omission of a Resume function if you press Stop, A Very Basic Menu, and some jerky action if you try to go back some seconds in a film.
Sound with DTS, and DD Material is Very Good as well, but i was quite disappointed with the sound Quality of the 717 as a CD Player.
With CD's the Sound is a bit Soft, With Colored Midrange, Bloated Bass, and seriously compressed Dynamic Range.
Comparing the CD sound with my aging (But Still Excellent if used as CD transport Only) Marantz CD63SE reveals all these shortcomings.
I've Tested Both Players from their Analog and Digital Outputs (Feeding My Yamaha DSP-AX1's Onboard Burr-Brown DACs Using the outstanding AudioQuest VideoPro Pure Silver Cables), and the overall sound of the 717 is similar either way. The Marantz digitally feeding the Yamaha sounds truly superior.
Full 5 Marks for The Picture, 3 Marks for CD Sound

Strengths:
Outstanding Picture Quality for Both PAL and NTSC Discs (Via RGB - Selector Set to PAL), No Digital Picture Artifacts,Good Build Quality, Good DTS, and Dolby Digital Sound with Movies.

Weaknesses:
Undynamic and Colored Sound with CD's, No Resume Function when Pressing Stop, Very Basic Menu

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer DV-626, DV-737

Price Paid:  $450.00 from Internet auction

Summary:
I bought this unit to replace my DV-505, mostly to get DTS and also because the DV-505 was very slow on layershifts. I must say, that I have had no problems with the DV-717 whatsoever. I use it in connection with a Sony DB940 reciver and a Sony CX29 television via S-VHS. It does the job very well and I have not noticed any problems with lip-sync or DVD's it could not play. The menu is a bit strange and parts of it will only work with a DVD inserted (you will have to push the stop button with a DVD inserted, then you can access the menu). It was the same thing with my DV-505, and may actually be the same on other players, I don't know, however it is a small thing. I think the remote is a bit clumsy, but it is workning very well and easy to use, especially compared to the one belonging to the DV-505.

I don't use the unit as a CD player, but I have tested it with several CD's, also CDR's and it worked out fine. However I think the sound is a bit dark though, and I prefer my Sony DB930. In Denmark the DV-717 has a retailprice of approximately 850 $ should you be able to find it in a store. (It is quite an old model by now) Retail price has been up as high as 1100 $, my value rating is in comparison with the price I paid. For 1100 $ you can hardly call it a bargain.

I see no reason not to buy this product and can highly recommend it.

Strengths:
Good looking, reliable, nice clear picture, good sound.

Weaknesses:
The menu could be better, remote is to big for my taste, but very well workning none the less.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer DV-505

Price Paid:  $611.00

Summary:
It's a great product, and I havent got anything bad to put my finger on. The model is a couple of years old now, so there might be better models available, but not at this price I think. Doesn't match the rest of my system, but what the heck. I love it. Only downside was that I had to replace my first model, because of problems to read certain DVD's. U571 was my first DVD it wouldn't finish. Picture froze at 44 min. Switched the copy for a new one, and had the same problem. Also had problems with two new DVD's. Removed the dust and some fingerprints on them, and they worked ok, but I still would imagine it should read them anyway. The new model I just recieved works excellent.

Weaknesses:
Picture froze on certain DVD's. Some had some scratches, others didn't....had to replace it.

Price Paid:  $600.00 from one on one

Summary:
The player got serious Lips Sync problems wich draws even more on the Rating, Totally unacceptable.
There is an upgrade for those who want it wich i think is worth it for this dvd player. But still, totally unacceptable to release a product with it.

Read review below...

Strengths:
read review below

Weaknesses:
Lip sync

Price Paid:  $600.00 from one on one

Summary:
Audio on this player will virtually "tight up" about any speaker
and will give it a Really Defined Sound with a Strong Stage and
Clear Image wich is all Excellent for HomeTheater.

But, this aint no "musical experience", it aint got that "life" in it
and is virtually a bad replacement for a "lively" CD player in regards of music-

Picture is all i wanted, not seriously better than other
DVD players in this class but its up there on the top and
what more could you ask for? The best? doesnt exist :)

Disc Navigation, OSD and Menus aint up to par and feel of the
rest of the player wich draws back on the Overall Rating.
The Remote is good enough and got BackLit and a Jog and does the job just fine.

-

Gold Finish stands out and you are willing to
replace better equipment for looks alone to match it :)


I WOULD RATE THIS PLAYER A FOUR IN VALUE IF IT HAD THAT MUSICAL TOUCH AND A HIGHER OUTPUT-
BUT I DONT BELIEVE THERE IS SUCH A PLAYER TO BE RATED A 5, MAYBE IN AN ADVERTISEMENT :)

Strengths:
-DVD Picture and Sound
-Outputs
-DTS
-Gold finish
-CDR Compatible

Weaknesses:
-Musically lifeless-Overdefined for music looses character
-Disc Navigation
-Low Analog Output