Video Asylum

Posted by sam9 on November 07, 2001 at 16:07:50

In Reply to: DVP-S900V posted by Gary_R on November 06, 2001 at 10:05:18:

I think it is basicly similar to the DVP-NS500V and DVP-NS650V with progressive scan added. I just recieved the 650 yesterday. Obviously, I can't comment on the PS aspect but I'll offer what I can on other parts.

The first is that once it is set up the human factors work well. By this I mean that it is pretty easy to use. Especially nice is that you can use the 5.1 outputs for everthing (SACD, CD, DVD in all of their various configurations). It won't play DVD-ROMs; I'm not sur about MP3 discs - but neither interest me. It also won't play DVD-A except for the DD or DTS tracks they include.

Since it has some base basic base management you don't need to worry about having all channels connected to full range speakers.

I found that all the different media I've tried so far sound better than the 3 year old player I had been using, provided I use the 5.1 inputs even for conventional two channel CDs. I suspect that partly, the Sony DAC is just better but also that there is benefit that the receiver applies no processing to the 5.1 input but just passes them to the amplifier. In fact, for 80% of the time now this makes my receiver just and amplifier with a gain control! If the Sony configuration becomes common it may have an impact on receiver design. Since the Sony also does has some DSP modes, I'm wondering why I want anything out of a reciever except an FM tuner, some passive switching and an amp section.

So far my niceset supprise has been not the SACDs but some 24/96 two- channel remasters from Classic Records. Decoded in the Sony and sent to the 5.1 inputs with no more processing these really shine. Given that the master tapes are pretty old, it is amazing how close they sound to SACDs.

I have not had a chance to watch a DVD with this unit yet but I tested a couple features out. One nice one is that it will auto select the track with the most channels. Which gets me where I want to be most of the time. That will often take care of the language setting too as the original usually has the most channels One exception is that in the case of a tie it picks Dolby over DTS. I wish one could change the preference.

Sorry I couldn't comment on the sound quality in comparrison to other units, but I haven't had the time to really do that right.