Everything - beautiful sound, beautiful picture, beautiful price

none can I find (if it included DVD-A and picture scaling it would be nearly perfect).

This may be the finest DVD player ever made. I am almost certain of it. From the mildly overpriced H1000 to the absurd ripoff from Meridian, this outshines them all. Does it play CDs as well as my Krell unit? No. But it's closer than I'd care to admit. The SACD sounds terrific. I've only used the sampler as yet, but I've ordered a few more. Even my Chesky and Classic 24/96 DADs sound better on this unit than my previous (SD9100). It isn't cheap. But it'd be worth the price on the DVD quality alone. Add to that an excellent CD player and even better sound from SACD and you have one great new unit. I do wish it supported DVD-A, however.

BTW - I read some conflicting reviews here regarding CDRs. I just played a few that I usually keep in my office. It took about 5 seconds to load, but it played perfectly. Another point for the s9000es. This one's a keeper.

Similar Products Used:

Owned Toshiba SD9100. Demoed Panasonic H1000, Tosh 9200, Meridian 800. Demoed s9000es in same room as SCD777ES - little or no discernable difference on SACD playback.

Amazing build quality for a mass-market product.

none

Excellent sound on CD's. Some SACD's superb, but limited software.
Picture quality excellent, the best I have seen.
Sony must be building this at a loss!
I have not yet figured out why you would use the filter to soften the sound, it did not appear to make a difference on my setup, or to my ears. The blue light is a little too powerfull, but can be attenuated, or completely shut off.
Good remote, but I found the jog shuttle awkward to use.
The CD sound is much better that my previous players (Phillips, Rega). I hope to evaluate SACD more comprehensively, if it survives.

Similar Products Used:

777ES

SACD, Progressive scan, CD, audio direct

???

Just love this DVP for music and video. Agree with many points said by previous reviewers. The CD transport is great. A must audition.

Phenomenal Video and SACD audio

This really isn't a review as I don't own this product yet. I hope to buy it soon and have had a loaner at my house for a couple of days to try. I am basically writing in response to a post made by rich on 12/24. He commented on the unit not working with his Pioneer Elite 510 RPTV.

I don't know whether this is a correct answer but I have seen this problem occur with mine when using it with a progressive scan DVD.

If a progressive signal is input into the Pioneer, it defaults into "Full" mode. This is glossed over in the owners manual. What it really means is that non-anamorphic letterbox and conventional 4:3 progressive signals will not be watchable on this set. I was wondering if you tried playing an anamorphically recorded DVD with the progressive scan on. This should play correctly.

Hope this helps

Nick

Similar Products Used:

Sony S7000

Video quality, Sony reliability, SA Compatible

No SA digital output (who cares!)

Not so much of a review, more of a warning against an outfit called AAA who run a website called www.cameras-on-sale.com that I was unfortunate to come across. I called to check price/place an order for this model, and I was insulted by the rudest "salesperson" I have ever encountered. Caveat emptor -- and tons of it.
I promptly placed my order with Oade Brothers who were extremely pleasant and helpful. I'm looking forward to comparing the unit against the 5109.

Similar Products Used:

DVP-S7700, Tosh SD-5109

sounds like a great player

none that i know of personally

i am wondering from the other reports in here that a few of you guys in the unites states all ready have it. all well ive put my money down at my local high end place and its been about 2 1/2 weeks so far with all they are saying it should be comming any day now......give it to me allready .
well any way guys if you have one and bought it in the states please let me know where to get it over the net.
today is 12/4/00 and still waiting for my prepaid player.

thanks guys

Similar Products Used:

dvp7000 sony

sound quality, picture quality, value

looks, operation

If it weren't for the looks and the small buttons, I'd say Sony hit a home run with this unit. The SACD playback is fabulous, the CD playback is axcellent, the DVD video is the best I have ever seen...bar none! The SCD-1/777es may have a small edge in airiness (perhaps due to the 50kHz lowpass which cannot be defeated on this model) but this unit's sound will floor you. The transport (while not the static laser employed in the other two units) is much faster and more responsive than the SCD-1. CD playback is simply great. My Linn has the edge, but not by much! *NOTE* this unit needs 100-200 hours of breakin before things really open up. Also, the video/digital out bypass switch must be turned on to reveal the terrific inner detail this player is capable of. This shuts down all video processing and external digital pathways to silence the noise floor and open things up -- very smart feature. This unit represents a killer value for anyone who needs it to play any one of its formats. To get all three, all great, at this price is miraculous.

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just about all of them

Video/Audio performance, build quality, on-board DACs, plays SACDs

none

I've been anxiously waiting this player to come out since reading about it over 3 months ago and even pre-ordered it. I knew the store had a limited shipment coming in and wouldn't have any for display/demo anyway. I've owned Sony's two previous "reference" players and had high expectations for the S9000ES. Was I disappointed? Let down in any way? Unequivocally not! It has far exceeded my expectations. Even standard CDs have more detail and resolution than I had previously experienced. As for SACD playback, it is simply amazing. I can't wait for more titles to be released in this format. The audio direct and video off features of this unit really bring out even more detail in the music. The video side is outstanding as well, even right out the box. After re-calibration of my HDTV (Pioneer PRO-710), it just kept getting better! I doubt I will even need to use the built in color controls; I can't imagine the picture quality improving. If you're having any doubts as to whether it's worth the price or if you should consider another brand, all I can say is don't...you will not be disappointed.

Similar Products Used:

Sony S7000, S7700

Beauty, brains, features...did I mention the beautiful part? A must have addition to any home theater, and it is priced right in between ungodly prices that drive guy's wives to drink, and the low end prices that drive men to never reveal what DVD player they own.

I'm loooking, but haven't found one yet. Remote light could be more useful. And SACD through ANALOG connection seems an odd choice. But it may be a proprietary format issue.

It's hard to be impartial here. If looks could kill...this machine would be on America's Most Wanted. Every detail of this DVD/CD/SACD players is very well thought out. At first glance the price tag almost made me swallow my tongue. But after hearing, and seeing just what this unit could do, I happily plunked down the money to take it home...and to have bragging rights.

Older CD's I have sound more crisp and vibrant. Deep basses and clear high's permeate the room. DVD quality is near film quality. Of course I am using a Sony WEGA XBR400. The remote is a dream to use, not many of remote jog wheels, and for this price, that feature was a must. There is a light on the remote, in addition to the glow in the dark buttons. But it only lights up a few buttons...kind of odd if you ask me.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba SD 3109

Sound is accurate,open and spacious. Excellent build quality!

none

This unit has impressed me from the minute I pulled it out of the box. At 27 lbs, it is one of the better built DVD players I have yet to see. When I saw the full copper back panel and a fine woven metal mesh lining the ventilation slits I knew that I had gotten a serious piece of equipment and not an essembly line tin can!
The sound did not impress me, it shocked me! It has an openness and an air that I fell in love with immediately. This along with the accuracy inherantly given to digital has forced me to watch everyone of my DVDs again - I love it that much! I would recommend this unit to anyone!
I have not yet had a chance to truly test the analog side of the unit, but as of this writing I find it is equally as impressive!

Amplification: Bryston 4b ST
Processor: Yamaha DSP A1
Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio 100/CC450/Servo 15/Studio 20