A very nice, if limited, package
Written: Jul 29 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great appearance, nice clear sound, intuitive use, space saving design, adequate subwoofer
Cons: Awful remote, no menus while operating, lack of inputs, not sure looks justify price premium
The Bottom Line: For the price, a great looking system with some limitations. Criticism of the subwoofer is overdone; the remote could not be damned enough. A solid system with knockout looks.
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| rsung's Full Review: Sony DAV-C900 Theater System |
There's really no mistaking this unit: the brushed metal stands, the long rectangular prisms for speakers, the garish remote. Yep, it's the top-shelf HTIB from Sony, the DAV-C990.
With the recent generous rebates offered, I know many people dove into the deep end of Sony's home theater pool. Deducting the rebate, I was able to get this system for $518 from an online retailer. I had only very recently purchased the SonicBlue HT-2030 (a 400 watt progressive DVD/VHS combo), but it wasn't really much of a looker. The C990, on the other hand, continually draws looks and comments.
That said, the sound leaves a little to be desired. The main speakers produce lively, clear sound, but could be characterized as a little tinny, even compared to the much less expensive HT-2030. Moreover, while the gripes about the Sony passive subwoofer may be a little overstated, there's no doubt it doesn't pack a huge wallop. Overall, I'd couldn't, in clear conscious, say the system sounds terrific, but if you're watching a movie, it's more than capable. If you're a true audiophile that owns a vast collection of SACD's and you're looking to reproduce the data as faithfully as possible...well, you're probably not shopping for Home Theaters in a Box anyway.
Operationally, the unit draws mixed reviews. Set-up is, predictably, a snap. I would be nice if the wire was a little longer, especially to the subwoofer. Normal operation is a breeze, and can be picked up by anyone that knows how to operate any basic electronic components.
That's not to say everything is peachy keen. The disc loader is rather slow. More frustrating, the unit must be stopped in order to exchange a disc. That also means you can't be listening to another source (i.e., tuner, aux inputs) while changing a disc. The unit is silent, and for a rather long time, due to the speed of the disc loading mechanism.
While the on-screen displays are easy to use and quite nice, getting to them can be a chore. Simple things like DVD set-up, where you can choose type of output or play mode, must be called up while the disc is stopped. This means if you want to make any changes or call up menus, you need to stop the DVD or CD playing, a pain to be sure. Many features are also disabled unless not playing, and I'll frequently be told I'm not permitted to do something or other while the unit is in operation.
The worse aspect of the unit is easily the confused and neon blue remote. It is beyond me how Sony could produce such a great looking system, and then include a remote that looks like this one does. Ergonomically, the buttons are small, labeled in tiny font, and strewn all over this blue POS willy-nilly. The one plus is that it controls my Sony TV competently, but I'm really hunting for pros here.
Another limiting factor is the lack of inputs. THere are three inputs, two analog and one digital. However, if you use the digital input, it renders the Video 2 slot useless, so there are, de facto, only two. That means, if you want to run the satellite box, your PS2, and one other component, you're looking at purchasing a game controller, as I will have to.
While it might seem that I have more things to gripe about than like, I have a positive overall impression of the unit. It looks great, sounds good playing 90% of material, and is easy to use. The niggling gripes really prevent it from being a superior unit. That said, I'm not sure it was worth the premium I paid over the HT-2030. Yes, it does perform better, but blindfolding me, I'd be hard-pressed to tell much difference. If you're paying the money to match the decor of your living quarters, then by all means. However, if you aren't interested in looks, there are probably other choices.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rsung
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Member: Michael Sung
Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 4 members
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