This is not a review of this particular product, please see comments.

Ditto...

This comments relates to all the difficulties/successes people are having playing CD-Rs and CD-R/Ws.

I own a less expensive Sony DVP-S530D DVD player.

Yes, the manual clearly states that it will not play CD-Rs.

Yes, it will play CD-Rs with limited degree of success. Clearly, the key is to get the correct media. I have personally had success with CD-R/Ws, but not CD-Rs (as of yet.) Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to play a CD-R/W in my Clarion car CD player though, so I am stuck making a CD that will play in either, but not both.

With regard to media: It is difficult to predict which will play in the DVD player successfully. Some will, some won't.

The visible reflectivity of the disc is irrelevant to playback. The CD only needs to reflect light in the 780nm wavelength, not the entire visible spectrum. The color is only somewhat more relevant: Gold and silver-colored CD-Rs are more difficult to burn, but maintain greater data integrity. Green and Blue discs are sometimes more successful because the laser power needed to burn a playable disc is less, but the CD may degrade in quality sooner, rendering it unplayable.

Andy McFadden has compiled an excellent, comprehensive, frequently updated FAQ on CD-Rs/CDRWs, with many links to other relevant information regarding testing, etc. This may be found at http://www.fadden.com/cdrfaq/faq.html

Similar Products Used:

None

I don't actually own this DVD player but ran into this page because I want to buy a DVD, and sony is pretty good at building DVD's.

I have tip for all the people who are complaining that their cd-r doesn't play. Well It can be done.
I will tell you how (apart from the fact that I never would play audio on DVD).

I read in a magazine that you need to use cd-r's specially for audio because the reflection of these cd's is better.
Also try not to burn your audio at top speed but just use 1 or 2 speed. You would be surprised what the effect of a CD-R is on your sony DVD player if you take a little more time and buy a better quality (audio)cd-r.
Again did not test this myself but it worked on all sony DVD's that the editors of this test could find in the shop.

I hope this works for you.

full-featured, multi-disc player, so far not plauged with the lip-synch problem

doesn't pass 96kHz via the optical/coax connection

I just purchased this player to replace my original Sony 300. I wanted to upgrade to get DTS capability and to take advantage of the features of the newer players.

I looked over MANY reviews on this site trying to find a player that had the fewest number of reported problems. Units from the early part this years Sony line-up are known for their lip-synch problem. New firmware seems to have solved the problem for some. So far I have not seen the lip-synch problem reported on this unit-and after running through The Matrix, Mission Impossible, Sarah McLachlan's Mirrorball, and Tremors (all in a day and a half).

The picture is very sharp and the colors are great. The blacks are incredibly dark.

I can't complain about the noisy changer - its quieter than some I have owned and louder than others. But hey, I play the discs more often than I spin the carousel anyway.

The on-screen menus have really improved, but the manual doesn't do a very good job of explaining the various settings.

Based on reviews here and elsewhere (dvdfile.com) this player should be a good buy - it has been for me so far.

The only reason I don't give this player five stars is because I have not had it long enough to factor in longevity/reliability.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVPS300

PICTURE IS GREAT EASY TO USE

DOES NOT HAVE ANY CD PLAYER FEATURES

CANT SPEAK ON THE SOUND QUALITY OF THE DVD PLAYER BECAUSE I IT WITH THE TAE9000ES PREPRO

Similar Products Used:

DVP 550

Build quality, nice display, can execute most functions from either the remote or the front panel. More than enough video/audio output formats,

As strictly a dvd player, none... other than i need the manual for it

Bought the player used, am completely satisfied with it after going through a bad Sony and an even worse Panasonic. Hooked to my 27" Trinitron, picture is spectacular. Sound through my integrated amp pushing Bose Interaudio floor speakers is fantastic. With this player, I've never had lipsync problems or any of the other noted problems. I do get a half-second pause on a few DVDs, but my take is that is normal, and even so a small price to pay for such a nice player. Re: remotes that aren't backlit or have a goofy jog dial, get over it I say. I used mine a week with the lights on, and now just know where to push, and can operate that jog dial/button very easily.

If you're looking for a very well featured multidisc DVD player, I'd recommend this player any day.

For any of you who have the manual for this and have a Paypal account, I'd be willing to spend a little bit for a copy of the manual. Sony's website proved of no use in my search for one.

Cheers,
Bryan

Similar Products Used:

DVP-C550D, Panasonic single-disc

Great features, excellent quality

Just a note about CD-Rs. I know of one brand of CD-R that works just fine for these units: the Princo White Surface. You can order them at http://www.caloptic.com/wispcdr.html

Will NOT play CD-Rs

Be warned-according to Sony the only DVD player that will play CD-Rs is their $1000 model 7700. If you want to play CD-Rs, don't buy this machine.

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Many

Multiple discs simultaneously, Excellent picture

This is definitely well worth the purchase. I have seen a number of reviews saying that they can't play CD-R. I don't have any CD-R music, so I don't worry about it. Besides I also have a single CD player, (bought before) so it does not matter to me.

Overall, very satisfied with the product given that I can play both DTS and AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1) and get sounds out of it. Would recommend to others.

Audio and Video quality are excellent. Consistent playback, built in DD/DTS decoders

A few nitpicks w/remote...(no 'Disc Skip' button)

I have used this product for about a year and have been very satisfied. Video quality is fantastic, as is audio. Stay away from the built-in simulated surround sound functions, as they are pretty useless. Video EQ settings are cute, and somewhat functional, but a videophile would probably leave them off. Build quality seems solid overall. Take care with the tray loading mechanism, it is quite delicate! I dropped a CD onto it accidentally from about 3-4 ft. up and it bailed...had to take it in for service. Have had no problems since. Moral: Be gentle when loading/switching discs!
My main gripe about the remote is there is no 'Disc Skip' button, but rather 5 separate buttons for each disc spot. This is fine, unless you want to program your receiver remote to be able to switch discs with it. Otherwise remote is fine and functional.
For audiophiles interested in 24 bit/96kHz audio DVD's, be aware that this is one of many consumer DVD players that will not output 96kHz-sampled audio. It will output at best 24 bit/48kHz, i.e. any 96kHz material will be rounded down to 48k on all digital outputs. I'd say 95% of listeners can't tell the difference between 48k/96k-sampled material anyway, but it is something to consider for folks interested in high-res digital audio.

My system:

-Sony DVP-650D using S-video & digital audio outs
-Panasonic 27" Superflat Television
-Panasonic stereo VCR
-Denon AVR-2800 DD/DTS Receiver using preouts to a Halfer P3000 Power Amp (mains only)
-PSB Stratus Silver Mains
-PSB Stratus C5 Center
-PSB Century 500i Surrounds
-PSB Subsonic 3i Powered Sub

Many usuable features, picture and sound

Will not read CD-R discs, Jog wheel pretty much sucks

I've been using this model for a little over a month, and so far it has been great. I really like the vast array of feautures that this model has and the onscreen menus are pretty easy to use. The video quality is as good as any I have seen and the Dolby Digital and DTS sound great too. I like that fact that it will automatically select the audio format that has the most channels when playing a DVD. The ability to play video cds is nice too, even though they are pretty crappy. The price was right too, at under $400 from Lets Go Digital (www.lgdsuperstore.com) although their shipping was quite high.

I think having a built in Dolby Digital decoder is really not necessary, as most people who would be able to use it, already have a decoder. The jog wheel on the remote is a little hard to get used to but not a big deal. The only other gripe I have about this player is its inability to read CD-R discs. I didn't really research this too much before buying because I just assumed that it would read them because the model it replaced (DVP-C600D) would and I had never seen a sony that wouldn't read them. Not that big of a deal, since I mainly bought this for DVDs and not CDs.