Price Paid:  $150.00 from best buy

Summary:
This is the deal that I brag about! Wanted to test the sacd waters without spending a lot of $. Reasoned that if it flopped I'd still have a decent dvd player. What a steal! SACD sounds so clear and full, although I can't compare this player to any others. Good dvd playback(but no progressive scan), great SACD performance, and even surprisingly good CD sound. I was told that Sony slashed the price of these to help push SACD software sales. Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that I got in the SACD game for very cheap. The replacement for this model from Sony is twice the price, so maybe they got wise to it.

Strengths:
SACD at a ridiculous price. pretty good as a DVD player, and better than expected CD sound.

Weaknesses:
I only found one at best buy!

Similar Products Used:
1st SACD player, NAD 541i for cd. (I couldn't tell it apart from the Sony without looking). Denon cd players, (ehhh..) Other Sony dvd players.

Price Paid:  $87.00 from best buy

Summary:
for $87 i love this player. I bought it as an entry level sacd player, but I find myself using it more as a DVD player in the bedroom. The player plays Cds better than I thought, and sacd better than the dvp-nc650.

Strengths:
sound quality for $87 price

Weaknesses:
none yet

Similar Products Used:
sony DVP-nc650 proscan

Price Paid:  $180.00 from Crutchfield

Summary:
Two Thumbs Up -Quiet operation -Smooth Tray -nice sound after 2 or 3 days burn in -handles scratched disks effortlessly -There are a full set of controls on the front of the player that make the remote a convenience rather than a necesity -Build quality is satisfactory -Has Super Audio CD if you care Forget about the cheaper players, start with this one.

Strengths:
Nicely balanced player

Weaknesses:
no complaints

Similar Products Used:
pioneer 353k //nice picture/bad sound/noisy other cheaper players //don't bother

Price Paid:  $149.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
As far as I am concerned, this player and its 5 disc brother - the DVP-NS650V - are the best kept secret in audio!!! I had never been impressed with Sonys audio products before - and I have owned(and still do) a few. To get to the point here - I bought this player based on the recommendation of a prominent speaker builder in the high-end SET community.(No - I am currently not using an SET set-up, though I find the remarks of its' proponents intriguing...) I bought this player for $149 at Best Buy; took it home, hooked it up and was astonished at what I heard. This player on standard CDs goes head to head with my current $1K player and in some regards, may even surpass it(inner detail). The Sony produces a very smooth, non-digital sounding presentation - yet there is gobs of detail. Acoustic instrument timbre seems to be pretty close to "spot on". Vocals are natural and immediate. On SACDs - WOW!!! On some recordings it literally is as though you are there at the performance! I am well aware that much of a components sound is dependent on system synergy, so I will qualify this by saying it works extremely well in MY system. I will add this however - I was so impressed with the sound of this player that I went right back to BB and bought this players 5 disc carousel brother - the DVP-NS650V($199)!!! This is now in my bedroom system and also sounds fantastic. All that I said of the 500V also pertains to the 650V. I suspect that the internals are similar if not identical. Either of these players are a steal at their price if you are looking for smooth, non-fatiguing, sound. I can't wait for more SACDs to become available!!! The system that I auditioned the 500V in : Jolida JD302B 50w/ch tube integrated ACI Sapphire III on 25" stands Alpha-Core Goertz MI II speaker cable(excellent!) Kimber PBJ interconnects Rega Planet CD player Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CD player

Strengths:
Outstanding sound quality for the price!

Weaknesses:
Cheap construction(?)

Price Paid:  $17995.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Great unit for the money. Excellent dvd picture quality, better than my TechnicsA-10n. SACD playback outstanding for such a low cost unit. Regular CD'S sound ery good also. Bass reproduction on SACD varies greatly between software. Overall an excellent value

Strengths:
Picture quality, SACD playback, cost.

Weaknesses:
NO ZOOM FEATURE!!!

Similar Products Used:
Technics A10-N, Toshiba 1200,Panasonic A-320,Denon CD players.