The BEST value in a DVD player!
Written: Mar 22 '01 (Updated May 08 '01)
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Pros: Reliable name brand with all the most used features and then some.
Cons: Some technophiles may want more 'fancy' features.
The Bottom Line: You can get more features, but most people will never use them. This is a GREAT value! Especially if you are a movie lover and not a gadget lover.
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| glake's Full Review: Sony DVP-S360D DVD Player |
Sony's DVP-S360 is their lowest cost DVD player. At $299.00 list price and often on sale for $249.00, I think it's the best value out there. That doesn't mean it's for everyone. Some people may feel the need to have multiple disks, a video equalizer, graphical gamma adjustment and a back-lit remote, but I can't see the $1500 list for their top model for me.
All of the things you'd want a DVD player for are here. You get a crystal clear picture with a choice of Composite Video, S-Video Output, Optical Digital or Coaxial Digital Outputs. And the Analog Stereo Outputs support Dolby Digital and DTS digital to give you superb sound. You can scan at four different fast forward and four different reverse speeds, plus several slow motion speeds in each direction, a freeze frame and a single frame advance and reverse. Unlike a VCR , all of these speeds, including freeze frame, still show a perfectly clear picture. And the chapter advance buttons allow you to skip to any major sequence in the film even faster than the fastest fast forward. And that's not counting the fact that most DVD's have a scene selection menu built in.
The remote control has everything on it you need while watching a DVD, including a TV volume control, but it is NOT a 'universal' controller so I still use a separate remote for my VCR and my TV. On the other hand, it's small enough to be comfortable while still having all the buttons you need. And it's laid out in a pretty user friendly pattern so that the main navigation button, which are the most used, are right under your thumb when you pick it up. It's easy to use without even looking at the remote.
I've only used it for DVD's but it will also play Audio CD's, Video CD's (they are almost history), and CD text displays. It has parental controls that allow you to 'lock out' up to 50 disks to keep the kids from playing them. There are odd features like repeat and shuffle which I guess make sense if you use this for Audio CD's but would be a little strange on a movie! And there are things only a techie would care about, like an on-screen bit rate indicator.
The resume play feature is nice sometimes. If you stop the film to go do something else, you can restart it exactly where you left off, but this won't work if you remove the DVD or turn the unit completely off so it's value is limited.
Set up was easy, only a couple of connector to go to your TV or VCR and a power cord. And a couple more if you hook the sound output to your stereo, which I recommend doing for the best possible sound.
I've had this unit for several months now and I've had no problems with it. It has a good reputation and is highly rated here in Epinions. As a matter of fact, I choose this model by checking Epinions first, after my earlier DVD died. See my Oritron review for information on the WORST value in a DVD player. Besides overheating and other problem, my previous player would not play many Disney DVD's due to heavy 'copy protection' used by that company. With this unit I can honestly say that there is no problem with these film. There isn't even any of the picture degradation often blamed of copy protection' schemes.
Overall this is a winner!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250.00
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Epinions.com ID:
glake
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: George
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Reviews written: 128
Trusted by: 123 members
About Me:
I like ALL kinds of movies and books but prefer to review the odd ones.
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