Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I was pleased with the product. I bought it to try DVD and Dolby digital a couple years ago, then to move it to the bedroom or in the office. Today I have the infamous c:13:00 / No disk problem that plagued too many sony DVD player. I will not recommand to buy a DVD by Sony. I'm still waiting for an answer from Sony.

Strengths:
Small and convenient

Weaknesses:
Doesn't work!

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Sony Store (Michigan

Summary:
It was great until the sound stopped working - I have no output to the speakers all of a sudden after 1.5 years of casual use. Now all I can do is plug headphones in when I want to watch a movie. I don't know enough to diagnose it as a blown amplifier, shorted circuit or what - I just know there isn't any output to the speakers. I'm pretty mad, and probabaly won't purchase much from sony for awhile.

Strengths:
Small. No need for 8 boxes stacked up all requiring power and space.

Weaknesses:
Piece-o-junk internals. No CD-R support (lame). Product is probabaly not worth it even though it's cheap for what you're getting.

Price Paid:  $500.00

Summary:
this system is adequate for playing dvds in a smaller room, where separate components and larger speakers are unwanted. for music, though, it is simply unacceptable. the speakers sound very thin, and the subwoofer is boomy. in addition, the dialogue on some movies is hard to hear. some movies attenuate the center channel, so that effects are more prominent, but i've never been annoyed by it on my main system, so the s300 may do some other signal processing that is making it worse. on the plus size, the dvd picture is very decent, esp if you use the s-video, and the component is small and not bad-looking. i just wish i'd waited until the newer models, which i'm told fixed many of these problems, and also play cdr, etc.

Strengths:
compact, all-in one, inexpensive, good picture

Weaknesses:
sound

Summary:
This review is actually for the new 2001 5 disc changer model DAV-C700. For those of you who's been complaining about the sound quality of the DAVS300, this is a major improvement when playing CD or listening to the radio. The 5 disc changer model has a total power of 350 watts, up from 180 watts in the DAVS300. The design of the DAV-C700 also looks better, and it can also play CDR/CDRW discs as well. This model can play multi-channel Super Audio CD (SACD) as well, but at this stage I don't think anyone care due to limited selection.

The remote control has been redesigned as well. Instead of the flip up remote, all buttons are now on top. However, this change makes the buttons so small that makes it sometimes hard to use. Labels for the buttons are also too small to read.

I have sold my DAVS300 and purchased this one, and I'm really glad of the upgrade. I think other people who owns the DAVS300 or planning to buy one should look at this model or the single disc model DAV-S500 and compare the sound quality.

Strengths:
Improved sound quantity. CDR/CDRW compatible. Easy to set up. Picture quality.

Weaknesses:
Buttons on remote too small.

Similar Products Used:
DAVS300

Price Paid:  $700.00 from local shop

Summary:
This is a convenience DVD kit. It does everything fine and does nothing wrong. It is meant to be an independent unit that is why there are only a few outputs for upgrading. The unit is quite easy to use and the DVD picture it provides is crisp-clear up to the point of being warm, without any trace of being digitalized. The sound is adequate; the amplifier does a fine job in separating the channels. This is a true Dolby Digital machine and no surrogate! The power and somewhat lack of mid-range frequencies are its only weaknesses. Don't get me wrong the speakers go loud enough to provoke complaints from other rooms. I only wish the bass were a bit more controlled, less inertia and boom. Overall this is a sleek system. If you want to get it louder, get an active sub.

Strengths:
Complete set, a lot of features for the money, clear warm and crisp image, lovely layout, excellent build and ease of use. Decent sound for a normal listening room.

Weaknesses:
Sound could be a bit better, Radio and CD should only be considered as "bonus" features.

Similar Products Used:
none