I purchased this player from J&R Music World (www.jandr.com) for $399 after they price matched the Supreme Video offer (www.supremevideo.com). The player was in stock and was shipped the next day. (Purchased on 04/06/99 and received on 04/08/99).
While I've only had the player for 24 hours, it seems to be working great. The picture and sound of this player is at least as good as my friend's Sony S7000. I have not yet noticed either the lip-sync or red-line problems reported online. For the price I think people will have a hard time finding a better value (i.e. great features and quality for the price).

Clarity, ease of use, outputs for anything you want to go into, on board decoding, picture quality

very infrequent lipsync problems, fixed with pause or stop and restart

I've had this player since it came out, so I must be running an "older" firmware, but I only experience the lipsync problem once in a great while. This is fixed by picking up my remote, hitting "pause" and then "play" and the problem is gone. Those of you who feel this needs to get the player one star, well, you suck. The picture quality is great, sharpness and color clarity are amazing. Are there better players? Sure. For the price? I don't know, I haven't even THOUGHT about replacing it since I got it, I have no need to.

The unit sports composite, S-video, and component outputs for video, and RCA, digital coax, and optical TOSlink for sound. The on-board DAC is not bad, though I prefer playing CDs in an actual CD player built for audio (NAD 515.) DVDs play well in the DVD player, CDs in the CD player - this is not a difficult concept.

I currently have this unit linked to my NAD T761 receiver via S-video and optical TOSlink. Movies look and sound just great.

My system:

Speakers - Tannoy (through Nordost Flatline Gold)
DVD - Sony DVP-S550D
CD - NAD 515
Receiver - NAD T761
Interconnects - Monster (and it STILL sounds good)

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JVC, Pioneer, other mass market Circuit City crap

Component and digital outputs. Many other buttons and features that I don't use too much.

Lip Synch problems. Poor customer service.

The unit does work - most of the time, however the unit has the lip synch problem, though I did not notice it until the meager 1 year warranty expired. The firmware in my unit is 1.8. I ran around in circles with various people from Sony. They refused to fix a problem that existed in the unit when I purchased it, because the warranty had expired. So basically, I am paying for a problem that existed when I purchased the unit. I consider this sub-standard for a $500 piece of supposedly high-end gear. I am an unhappy customer and I will avoid Sony products in the future since they don't seem to care about customer satisfaction. I even told them that I was going to communicate my dissatisfaction on this bulletin board and they still didn't care. Buyer Beware.

Good picture, sound. Nice remote. Solid construction.

lip sync problem. Intermitent shutoff problem. No backlight on remote.

Well, let me just say that it's a good unit when it works. I've seen the lip sync problem a few times, but even more annoying is the problem of it shutting off after about 15 minutes of play. It's driving me mad and for a 1 year old high quality unit it's unacceptable. I thought you paid more for Sony 'quality'?? I have to tap on the front of this player to get it to come on again after this shutoff problem. If I leave it on all the time, it's not an issue. Very wierd. Too bad it's not as good quality wise as my 20 yr old Sony Beta VCR.

If it worked, I'd give it a high rating ... but I paid a lot of money for a DVD player I now have to replace.

Next time, I'll be sure to visit this forum before dumping that much $$ on any AV equipment. You just can't trust even the big names like SONY any more.

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none

Great picture, sound, overall quality

no cd-r support, easily fixable lip-sync problem

I got this for X-mas of 2000 and it was a floor model at the Wiz. Like most others I had a lip-sync problem that was fixed within a week and gave me no other problems.(I'll accept one manufacturing error) The picture is super clear, as is the sound. Is compatible with everything but cd-r discs but works with cd-rw's. More than worth the money and goes great with a sony trinitron TV.

Good picture, sound and features

Lip sync problems, No disc and C13 errors and picture freezing.

I noticed infrequent lip sync problems after about 3 mths of usage, but being a fool I sat on it. I have had it for 1.5 yrs now and have recently been plagued with frequent lip syncing, C13 and No disc found errors. Picture also freezes up quite frequently. Did not expect this from a Sony product, I have been a lifelong Sony and JVC fan. Called Sony Customer Service yesterday and they said that the problem is fixable and I have to mail the DVD player to Pennsylvania service center. They gave me a base estimate of $200 not including shipping charges. Charges might be higher depending on the actual problem. I am so disappointed that local stores cannot fix this problem. Well, I am going go shopping again, looks like. Thanks for hearing my rants!

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None

Supperior video and great audio sound.

Slight pause during Layer change on some dvds. Enter button on remote is a tad flimsy.

I purchased this DVD player for my parents and set it up for them. It was fairly easy to setup and has worked flawlessly for over a year. The picture is wonderful out of the S-Video cable and we use the 5.1 output to the Dolby Receiver. The sound setup took a little tweaking to get it right, but since then has been maintenance free. The enter button on the remote is a little flimsy, changes options on you suddenly, but its not a big deal. Other than that this dvd player has been great.

buit in decoder

sony

found legacy built in decoder model to put in bedroom with old pro logic 5.1 input receiver, works great so far.

I have a Sony 560 but this works for 330,360,530,550,560,570

I posted the following earlier for sony 560:
============================================
Like others, I started having problems with playing DVDs 6 months ago when it switches from layer 0 to layer 1 (usually happens at the later part of the movie -- picture freezes up and then it jumps to the next chapter or it just dies). You then have to start playing the DVD again from the beginning, depending on your luck, you may be able to get pass the problems and finish up the movie. This problem has been getting worst and nothing I could do to fix the problem. Last week, I used a DVD lens cleaner disc -- the one with the brush -- to clean the SONY 560 and guess what...... it stopped playing music CD and gave me "NO DISC" error every time I put a music CD in it. I was disappointed and I was SO ready to throw this thing out of the window. Then I thought to myself "It was playing music CD ok until I cleaned it with the cleaner disc. Maybe the brush pushed the lens too much while it was cleaning the lens and caused the laser coupler out of focus. The reason why the player gives out "NO DISC" or "C13:00" errors is because it couldn't identify what's being played -- meaning it couldn't "SEE" -- just like a person with vision problems trying to read without proper glasses". I went on the internet (where else ) to search for articles related to Sony lens adjustment, and sure enough I found a web page which teaches you how to get to the secret "Diagnostic Mode" and how to perform an "Auto Adjustment". I did it and guess what...... IT IS WORKING AGAIN!!!!!!!!!. Now the SONY 560 plays music CD and DVD like the way it was. You could try this if you have the same problem with you Sony 560.....I bet the Sony Authorized Service Dealer out there won't like this message very much because they no longer can charge people $100++ for something that this 5 mins to perform. Enjoy...

The Sony 330, 360, 530, 550, 560 and 570 players have the ability to automatically calibrate the playback functions of DVDs and CDs.
If you are willing to accept any risks involved in the execution of this procedure, the instructions follow.
Before you start, have ready at least two dual layer DVDs (RSDL) and two single layer DVDs.
The reason that I recommend having two of each type disc is that the player might produce an error message on one of the discs due to some imperfection and you will have another to fall back on the second disc.
You can also run the audio CD calibration if you want.
The calibration procedure for a SACD disc will be skipped. The apparent ability of Sony DVD players to play Super Audio Compact Discs is an undocumented feature and I have not heard of anyone reporting on this feature. If you desire this procedure please see the service manual.
For complete details, you need a service manual, available from the manufacture.


PLEASE NOTE:
SERVICE MODE WARNING: Without proper documentation and training, you can probably do quite a good job of messing up your equipment, perhaps even damaging it. Don't mess around with the service mode adjustments unless you know what you're doing and have the service manual to guide you. Your results with these procedures may vary and can NOT be guaranteed to work on your particular model or set. USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK.

ORDERING THE SERVICE MANUAL:
Sony Electronics Inc.
World Repair Parts Center
8281 N.W. 107th
Terrace Kansas City, MO 64153 USA
(800) 488-7669 (USA Only) -or- (800) 345-7669
(816) 891-7550
(816) 891-2580 (Fax)
44-1-71-911-8700 (UK)

HOW TO PERFORM THE CALIBRATION
Make sure that the DVD player is turned OFF and in the stand-by mode with the little red LED glowing above the on/off button.
To enter the service mode/test mode, press Title, Clear, and Power on the remote.
This will produce the following menu:
Test Mode Menu
0. Syscon Diagnosis
1. Drive Auto Adjustment
2. Drive Manual Operation
3. Mecha Aging
4. Emergency History
5. Version Information
6. Video Level Adjustment

Exit: POWER Key
What each item does;
Syscon Diagnosis = Leave this for service technicians.
Drive Auto Adjustment = Automatically calibrates DVDs and CDs.
Drive Manual Operation = Manually calibrates DVDs and CDs with prompts for permission to skip, execute and/or proceed after each adjustment is made or skipped. Offers a fascinating look at all of the many adjustments made, but this method is time consuming.
Mecha Aging = Allows auto repeat mode for testing purposes.
Emergency History = Shows the number of hours on your machine.
Version Information = Shows firmware version.
Video Level Adjustment = Test pattern.
Press #1 (Drive Auto Adjustment) on the remote and the following menu will appear:
Drive Auto Adjustment
0. All
1. DVD-SL
2. CD
3. DVD-DL
4. SACD

Exit: RETURN
Press #1 (DVD-SL) on the remote and insert a Single Layer DVD when the drawer opens.
Even though you may be interested in calibrating only a dual-layer DVD, do not skip the single-layer calibration procedure. For some reason, the player prefers to first calibrate a single-layer DVD before proceeding to a dual-layer disc. Error messages may result if the single-layer calibration procedure is not performed first.
Press the enter key and the machine will begin to calibrate all of the playback features. When calibration is completed, follow the onscreen instructions to return to the above menu.
When the Drive Auto Adjustment menu returns, press #3 (DVD-DL) on the remote and insert a Dual Layer DVD when the drawer opens. Follow the instructions as noted above.
When calibration is completed, follow the onscreen instructions to exit from the Test Mode Menu. Now you can turn the player back on and try your dual layer discs to see if the layer change has improved.
If you have any concerns about trying this service mode calibration, leave it for an authorized service facility.

Crystal clear picture, lots of tweaks, onboard decoder

Very rarely a lip sync problem, no cd-r playback

I bought this in 1999 when it came out for $400 (you can get it much cheaper now). Overall it is a very good machine with great features. I have only seen the lip sync problem three times in two years of movie viewing and I have never seen any other errors. I like to play my music in a CD player so I don't mind that it does't play the cd-rs. I have no regrets with this purchase.

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