This is my third DVD player - I've been through two other players from different manufacturers - both very early models.

I'm very happy with my choice of the Sony 600.

Since I would be replacing my CD player, I wanted to get a carousel so that I could cue up several audio CDs as well as play movies. I also wanted an onboard digital decoder, since I cheaped out on the receiver a couple of years ago and didn't get the decoder there. I wanted Sony to match the rest of my equipment - one shared remote control, etc...

Turns out that I keep the carousel completely full of rented movies all the time. Its more handy than keeping them in the envelopes!
(Disclosure: I work for NetFlix.com - but I subscribe to (and pay for) the NetFlix unlimited rental service just like anyone else.)

The most important thing: its inexcusable to buy a DVD player and not use the 5.1 digital audio. This player doesn't do DTS, but then of the 150+ movies I've rented, I've only noticed two that had DTS, while many of the had Dolby 5.1. Usually, the 5.1 sound is just such an improvement over ProLogic that its like watching a different movie!

I'm undecided on whether my player has the lip-sync problem. A very few movies I've watched seem to have pretty bad sync, but I've reviewed some of them on other players (non Sony) and it seems to be actually in the movie itself. I don't think my player has the old firmware - if it does, its barely noticable. But I am convinced by accounts that anything on the market today has the problem nailed.

The other important factor: the Sony user interface is the best of all the players I've tried. No surprise there. It's not like there's a lot to a player, but Sony just gets it right.
- If you stop the movie by mistake instead of pausing, it restarts in the same place when you hit play.
- High speed FF and rewind solve the problem of finding a particular place.
- Automatic selection of the "best" audio is winning. Much better than having to select 5.1 manually.
- The setup screens are pretty easy to use.




Recommended: Yes