Currently own RCA5201P (first time buyer) DVD player and have not had any glitches, lip-sync,lock-up, chapter skipping issues like some other models (Toshiba A120, I think, Sony DVP-530, Panasonic?) that reviewers have submitted. I'm looking to upgrade my Kenwood VR209 (bought for low price w/digital) DD reciever with Denon's Ultra THX, DD, DTS capable AVR-5700. Would like to buy Denon D-500 DVD player, but to pricey! If you have the same setup, please submit your review. Likes, dislikes, etc.
By the way, I'm surprised the RCA5201P was never reviewed. It is a cheap machine, but a great buy for first time DVD buyers. But for its price it is very dependable. I watched at least 2 movies a night straight for the first two months (I work nights) and have no issues whatsoever. The picture quality is great, digital decoding is pheonemenal. Now, I'm just looking to upgrade for DTS. Watched/listened to Eagles DTS DVD "When Hells Freezes Over" and sounds good on my current setup and read rave reviews when played on DTS.

Appreciate your time.

Also, GREAT SITE!!!

The sound and picture on my unit were very good. Unfortunately, it suffers from a lip-sync problem that seems to be symptomatic of the Sony 550, 530, and 330 players. For that reason I strongly recommend that you do not purchase this player until Sony has fixed the problem (or at least _acknowledged_ it!).

Lip-synch problem with Pulp Fiction. Just bought my unit 3 days ago from Good Guys. Does anyone know if models beyond a certain serial number range have been "fixed"?...I'm thinking about returning my unit for problem free unit (if it exists). Thanks.

I got this just over a month ago. So far I think that both the picture and sound are great. It is my first DVD player so I can't compare it to much else. I only give four stars because of the lip sync problem that I have noticed occasionaly with my Austin Powers DVD. However I do not have any regrets in my purchase.

I must say that I bought this one the day it hit the market. I have experienced the lip sync problem a few times(which is very minimal when you compare to the amount of movies I watch, usually 100+ amonth). After about 3 months of constant use, I finally upgraded to a sony strde 835 receiver, and to tell you the truth have not experienced the problem since in probably 35 movies. Has anyone ever had the problem using DTS? Maybe it is the players decoder? I have watched probaly 30 DTS discs and never encountered the problem on any of them. Since buying the new receiver the player has definitely jumped from a 3 to a big enthusiastic fiver!! Great price, good features, and hey, for some reason I am a sucker for sony (how do they do it to me?)

I returned this player the other day. I played many discs over a months time. Great picture! Great sound as well. Even rentals from Hollywood Video that were scratched and finger print covered played fine! Why did I return it? While watching 'A Simple Plan', the dialog went out of sync. Occured in the scene where the farmer on the snow mobile is talking to Billy Bob's character. I know it was the player because it went back in sync when I skipped backward and reveiwed the scene. Instead of getting another, I am waiting on the Panasonic DVD A 320. The Pan has a DTS decoder that the Sony lacks. But, I may try the 530 again if the 320 is not well received. In all other respects the Sony was superb!

Great player, nice menus, easy setup. IMAGE/AUDIO SYNC PROBLEMS.
I've only owned this player for a week; I contacted Sony and they *are* aware of the problems w/ the 530 & 550 models. I was told to "call back in a month." No other details yet.

Too bad, thought this was gonna be the only "budget" player w/o problems. I may just return it now, wait a month, buy it again.... =)

Paid $341 at ABC Warehouse.

2 stars because of the problems.

I've had the player for over a month and bought it based on the favorable Sound & Vision review. I am generally very happy with it (paid $379 at Best Buy with the 5 free disks and 8 free rentals offer). The video quality, sound, and features are excellent for the price.
Now to nitpick: I have watched around 30 DVDs and have only seen the lip synch problem once. It appeared during the King Crimson "Deja VROOM" DVD -- when I had the stereo cranked! Could the lip synch bug have something to do with sensitivity to external vibrations? Strange that the only time I encountered the lip synch problem was also the only time I played the DVD audio really loud. In any case, I started the chapter over and it was fine. Not significant enough for me to return the unit.

Another oddity -- when the "dark" display setting is selected, the unit emits an incredibly annoying ringing sound! I noticed this while sitting close to the unit listening with headphones. Oh well, leaving it on "bright" or "off" works fine -- no ringing. Again, not significant enough for me to return the unit. To me this is acceptable from a budget player, especially in light of its performance.

I went to Circuit City and picked up a floor model for $300 + $24.75 sales tax. The sales associate was very cool and easy to work with and he ended up knocking off $49 after talking to his manager. Original price is $399 with the floor model being priced at $349 plus the fact I had a 30 day money back return and the full warranty, I decided to go for it as I really had nothing to lose.
I took it home and played several movies and everything seemed fine. However, I did notice the lip-sync problem on The Avengers vol. 1 disc. The problem seemed very intermittant, but it still bothered me when it happened. Just before my 30 days to return the DVD player were up, I decided that I would buy a new DVD player. I actually, after reading several posts about the lip-sync problem not being apparent in the newer models, ended up order a brand new unit from One Call. I paid $334, delivered via Fed Ex Economy (took only two days to arrive). I returned the floor model back to Circuit City for a full refund.

After hooking up this unit, using it for over one month now and playing about 15 movies on it I have noticed the lip-sync problem only once. In anycase, I'm still very pleased with this unit, it has a superb playback picture, and very nice controls. It can also play my home made AudioCDs and VCDs without any problems. Overall, I give it a 4 for quality and a 5 for value. I have recommeded this unit to several friends who have also purchased this unit and are also quite happy with it.

This is a GREAT DVD player. I have had it for little over a month now. I had the Toshiba 2109 and returned it for this one, I am very glad I did. The picture quality on the Sony absolutly blows away the the Toshiba. The Toshiba had a horrible time dealing with vertical and diagonal lines. Everything on the Sony looks smooth. The sound, I must admit, was a bit better on the Toshiba, at least in playing CD's. They sounded much richer, but I have a CD player to do that :). Ah, the dreaded lip-sync problem. Yes, I have noticed it on the Sony, I hate to say. It has only occured about 3 times, and only on one of them was I able to reproduce it over and over again (in God's and Monsters) Other than that I have not noticed it at all. So it has not been a big issue with me.
Buy the Sony, it is an excellent player at a good price.

Mark Bergem