Sony DVP-NC650V Multiple DVD Players Reviews

Price Paid:  $325.00 from online

Summary:
Ok, I've had this unit for a yr. and a half, bought it because I wanted a "glimps" of what SACD was about and at the time the closest price player was like $1000. higher. I have had no problems with the player. DVD picture is very good, I cannot comment on DVD audio because I use the digital out to another processer. Red book CD sound is so-so at best (compared to higher end players, and the SACD section (5.1 and stereo)sounds very good. So good, in fact, that I am upgrading to the ES line. Anyone interested in this unit can contact me via e-mail.

Strengths:
SACD sound, DVD picture lots 'o features

Weaknesses:
red book cd sound

Price Paid:  $299.00 from SoundTrack

Summary:
This piece of equipment is what got me interested in A/V. The You have not enjoyed recorded music until you've heard a Super Audio CD. The DVD player has been wonderful - no trouble whatsoever. The SACD portion of this blew my socks off. You actually can hear the "location" of each instrumentalist. In several of my Louis Armstrong CD's, he's standing between my center and front right channels... The thing to remember is that quality is contingent on the Producer of each album - kind of like a DJ. He remixes the original recordings to place each soundwave. Pretty cool. Definitely worth picking up.

Strengths:
Super Audio CD - Incredible. Absolutely beautiful recordings available.

Weaknesses:
Not a progressive scan DVD player.

Price Paid:  $299.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
(4/2003) Will start with the very BAD news: After 16 months of light use, the front display of this player sizzled, flashed, and died! The only working lights on the front of the player are not helpful to see which disk and which track/chapter is playing. After the burning smell cleared and my heart started again, I found that the On Screen Display through the TV still worked though. Otherwise the player would have been nearly unusable. Note that other reviewers have had problems with front panel lights on this model! Now to the Great stuff about this player. SACD is the greatest leap forward in sound quality since CDs replaced those awful audio cassettes. The new releases that are originally mixed for 5.1 SACD (Beck, Sea Change) and those recordings that are CAREFULLY remastered and mixed for 5.1, (Pink Floyd, DSOTM) are the most powerful, encompassing sound experiences ever available to regular consumers. The clarity of the SACD is ABSOLUTELY NOT HYPE!! The soundstage is truly 3 dimensional; you can hear the pick on the string, the stick on the skin, see the bass drum kick, and nuance that you never heard in the original recording jumps out at you and knocks you out! And SACDs are much more available now than just a few months ago. If there ever was a war between the SACD and DVD-Audio formats, SACD has won handily. The DVD movie performance of this player is not disappointing either. The real strength of this player is the price though. I have not seen a 5-disc carousel CD/DVD/VCD/SACD player for anywhere near this price. I think this model has been discontinued, but I still see it around. If you can get it for less than $200 new, don't hesitate.

Strengths:
Feature set is yet unmatched at this price level.

Weaknesses:
Display burned out after 15 months of light use. 12 month warranty!

Similar Products Used:
None.

Price Paid:  $275.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Before I get into this review, let me share the component that I have matched with this receiver. · AV Amplifier: Onkyo TXDS797 THX certified · DVD/CD/SACD Player: Sony DVP NC650V and Pioneer Elite DVC-36 (5 CD/DVD changer) · Speakers: Wharfedale Pacific Center Channel, Wharfedale Pacific PI-40 Front Left/Right, and Wharfedale Pacific PI-10 rear surround channel. · Subwoofer: Infinity HPS-1000 (1000 watts) Cable: All Monster Cable When I played SADE’s “Is It A Crime?” and “Jezabel” this thing conveyed the music with great detail and emotion. They are very convincing and would convince you that the singer is right in front of you singing. This is a wonderful bargain for the price. The sound quality for music is good. With a good SACD playback at this price, there is not much to complain about. The home theater performance is fantastic. I played the movie Pearl Harbor and planes fly bys were realistic and the dialogues were clear. Picture quality is very good but the Pioneer Elite DVC-36 is better in the picture area. The sound stage was wide and dynamic. This DVD player fits my needs perfectly. For music, this is better than the Pioneer Elite DVC-36 but the Pioneer Elite is better for movies.

Strengths:
Great value. Sound Quality and Good DVD player....many gadgets to play with.

Weaknesses:
none at this price.....ok..maybe SACD still limited in application

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Elite DVC-36, Harman Kardon Changers, Marantz, Denon, Sony-ES

Price Paid:  $235.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I bought this DVD Changer to replace the shoddy player that comes packaged with the PlayStation 2. That DVD player was just OK. Recently, after purchasing a Sony Trinitron 27 inch TV, it gave me nothing but headaches. Each and every time the DVD reached a point where the scene in the movie was dark (including opening and closing credits) the screen would flicker and sometimes go completely blank. It was passable for a beginning DVD collector, but after a while, my frustration got the best of me, and I realized it needed to be upgraded. This unit is a very good one. I am hesitant to give many reviews 5 out of 5, but this DVD player is simply excellent. Sony deserves the 5/5. I think I have tried to watch all 40+ movies that I own just to see how they look (and sound) on this machine. With the capability to watch any 5 given DVD's at a time, I am in heaven!! The setup for this Changer is a snap. There is a quick setup option to get things running right out of the box, and you can tinker with the other settings easily later on with the supplied remote. The sound is also remarkable for 235 bucks. Overall, I am extremely satisfied.

Strengths:
Picture and sound quality are excellent. The best DVD player I have seen or used to date. Setup is VERY quick and easy.

Weaknesses:
None that I have found yet; I think Sony did a great job with this machine.

Similar Products Used:
PlayStation 2 DVD Player, the Sony DVP-S330, and a Toshiba.