Excellent Styling, excellent slow/fast playback operation, good quality audio and video outputs

Cumbersome menu system, no zoom, limited disk format support, cannot turn off certain annoying features.

Being relatively new to the DVD world, I've been annoyed enough about the restrictions imposed by the DVD OS software on what I can and cannot do, that I got to know every feature of the two DVD players I tested in frustration before deciding on the Sony. I tested the Sony first and it did not let me fast forward through initial disclaimer and warning screens and prevented access to a few setup menus at various times. The thought that Sony's association with movie studios might make them overly protective of DVD contents on the expense of DVD operation convenience (as evidenced by their latest MP3 players) crossed my mind. However, the Hitachi imposed similar restrictions and it eased my aggravation level.

Apart from that, the styling is superb with chrome accents over a silver case with an elegant purplish-blue light during playback (however, all lights and display can be dimmed or turned off). Playback options include a host of fast/slow forward and reverse speeds which work as expected (i.e. when switching playback modes from reverse to pause to forward, etc, all modes start with the same frame left by the previous mode [unlike the Hitachi 305U]). The audio quality is excellent with an adjustable attenuation control and a host of virtual 3D speaker simulations (simulates 4 or more speakers with just two front speakers). This is especially useful with headphones and it does make a huge difference in making one feel like being in a large area. However, when used with large front speakers, Hitachi's virtual speaker simulation was significantly more effective and noticeable than Sony's. But none of them matched the built in SRS system built into a Sony XBR TV. But then again, when the rest of the household is awake, the Sony DVD allows one to downmix the Dolby Surround into two channels, feed them into a Dolby surround receiver and blast the front and rear speakers quite nicely with lots of deep base (much more than the Hitachi).

Another great feature that the Sony has is the built in memory. It allows the user to save settings for 200 discs including bookmarks, titles and some audio/video settings. It also allows a frame to be saved semi-permanently into memory for later recall. However, I found access to the saved bookmarks and picture cumbersome.

One feature that I prefer on the Hitachi over the Sony is the ability to turn off DVD operation feedback symbols from being displayed on the TV. When I press Play/pause, etc, I would rather not have to see the play/pause symbols appear on the TV. Furthermore, the Hitachi supported many direct access buttons on the remote which reduced the navigation one has to do to get to change a given configuration setting. The Sony has an extensive graphical menu system which maybe fine initially when a user is learning, but gets tedious after a while since there are no alternative quick access to many useful functions.

Overall, I could care less about having a built in decoder in the DVD player since I prefer that to be in the A/V receiver. This way, there are less analog cables in the system. However, I still decided to keep the Sony which has the DTS and Dolby Digital decoders built in since I could not find a player with equivalent quality, features and styling without the decoders. For me, Sony’s styling, accurate forward/reverse playback control and audio quality alone justified the 2.5 times the price of the Hitachi and giving up a no-nonsense menu system and a zoom feature.

I would recommend the Sony DVP-S570D ($499) to anyone who desires the utmost control on DVD playback, good styling and excellent audio/video quality and settings. For those who just want to press the play button and are not picky on the audio quality, they would have several less expensive choices in the market such as the Hitachi DVP-305U ($199).

Similar Products Used:

Hitachi 305U

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RELIABLE NAME, PICTURE QUALITY

NONE

The picture quality is excelllent. Sound is also very good.
Have watched a number of dvd's w/o any freezing or other
problems I've read about. I am very happy with this purchase. I can't wait to hook it to my new 55" HD Mits.
arriving this weekend! Actually had gotten this model by
mistake.Bought lesser model, but salesman brought out this
model not realizing what he had done. I didn't realize
until later that day. Always love a mistake that favors the
consumer!!

Similar Products Used:

NONE

Appearance, I believe, is the only strength of this product.

Doesn't read lots of dvds, hangs all the time and finally broke down after being used 3-4 times a week for 8 months. I think it also overheating.

As you may have guessed I didn't like it very much. It sure does look nice, but that's about it. The sound and video quality are very average. I rent lots of different movies and music videos and about 35% of dvds could not be read due to C-00-13 error, which is the disk is dirty. After a thorough cleaning of the disk and several attempts get it going, the player starts telling you there's no disk, even though the disk is there of course. The disks were playing fine on a toshiba dvd-player at the store. And finally, the player died on me in the middle of a movie 2 days ago. Now it doesn't play anything. I am pretty damn disappointed in this player and I don't think I'll ever go for another sharp looking Sony product with crapy functionality. So, if you are on the market for a dvd player, buy Panasonic, which reads everything including CDRs and has a lot longer life span.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba, Panasonic.

Looks cool! Picture is pretty good (for my older TV). Features are also good.

13:00 and NO DISC error!

I have to say that I am very disapointed with this product. I have owned it for a little over a year and have had it in for repairs once so far do to the dreaded "NO DISC" syndrome. Fortunately the player was still under warrenty and cost me nothing to fix (Although, I was without entertainment for 2 and half weeks). According to Sony this product tends to blow resistor chips on a regular basis...or at least thats what they told me at the shop. 2 months after getting it back from the shop I started to get "13:00 errors" on DVD's I had just purchased and removed from the case.

I also find this DVD Player to be very touchy. It will either freeze or skip at the first sign of dirt, a scratch or imperfection.

For the money you will spend on this player I suggest something else.

Picture quality good
built in decorder good

picture freezes
goes back a chapter

I have it around two months, first dvd player return after 2 weeks.when watching chicken run it would go back a chapter then play,also some movies would freeze halfway through the movie.Exchange for a new player while watching "scary movie" today it went back a chapter and then played.Tried the movie at the same scene it just frooze for about 15 seconds.Returning the machine,going to try the Panasonic rv80,or i will wait till April for the new players.

Outstanding picture quality ( better than my old Sony DVP-7000. Perfect slow motion, fast forward and reverse. Very effective Picture modes. Great CD sound. Very useful TV mode for those who doesn't have 5.1 decoder. DVE (Digital Video Enhancer) works like magic. Looks like a Audiophile product

Built-In DD and DTS processors are so-so. Can't use TV mode with DTS. You must stop the disc everytime you want to make adjustement for audio.

It's been 3 months since I purchased this dvd player and I can be more happy. The picture is absolutely fabulous with this unit on my regular 27'' tv. A very good one though. I don't even own a tv with component video output and I can't imagine a better quality picture. Plus, you can use the various Picture modes for better suit your taste or depending the type of movie. There are NORMAL, CUSTOM, DYNAMIC 1, DYNAMIC 2, CINEMA 1, CINEMA 2. I just love those presets because they add considerably to the picture quality whitout having to adjust it by myself. The DVE ( Digital Video Enhancer) is a big plus because it put the ice on the cake... With it you can obtain a far better picture resolution whitout sacrifing picture quality. I put BLADE on this baby at CINEMA 2 and with the DVE to 3 (it goes 1 to 3) and my jaws were dropping... I cannot believe the level of detail and resolution obtained with this unit and the color balance, black level, sharpness, contrast were all perfect. On the audio side, It doesn't disappoint either. The sound is crystal clear. I found particulary useful the TV MODE. With it, it boost the lower frequencies as well the higher ones. It's a sort of Dialog Normalisation killer.. With it movies that are recorded not very loud get the most benefit. The Saint kick ass on this mode because it widens the soundstage and boost the lower frequencies in the music. It makes also the highs clearer and the dialog stronger. On the manual they stated that this mode is best suited for those who just have TV sound but let me tell you this : It greatly enhanced DD experience. To bad, not DTS... grrr! But, in the same time it will not boost the lower frequencies from big action flicks. Those moments of high bass energy like in Golden Eye, Event Horizon, Air Force One, etc do not benifit from this mode. The only downside to this player is that the internal 5.1 decoders ( DD and DTS) seem to perform poorly compared to my ONKYO DD receiver. Sure you can't expect miracle for a product costing 610$ CAN, performing like a CD player, a dvd player , a DD decoder and a DTS decoder... The Onkyo unit cost me 1200 $ Can alone... For that I will excuse the so-so 5.1 decoding. It better to use a receiver instead with DD and DTS capability. But for those who doesn't have it, it may be just perfect. So in conclusion, this baby rocks ! 5 Stars all around. Better than my Sony DVP-S7000 at half the price..

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP-S7000, some Toshiba units

Performance, Look/Quality Build,

none yet

The Sony DVP-S570D performs as well as it looks and that is saying alot because it is the best looking DVD player I have ever seen. I bought the Pioneer DV333 first because I heard a lot of good things about it. It did not do that well because I have to return mine in 2-3 weeks. Maybe it's just my bad luck but over all, I am more please with the new Sony DVP-S570D I got now. Unlike the Pioneer, you won't feel like it's going to fall apart if you touch it too hard.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DV333

NONE

ALL

I hated this player. The remote is annoying and hard to use.
The On Screen Display gives way too much info. It takes
up half the screen. All I wanted was the elapsed time info!
Way Overpriced..NO Progessive Scan..and it costs $450 ?
Give me a break! I bought the new JVC XV 723 with Progessive scan and a Jog Shuttle on Remote.
Plays much better, remote is great..On Screen Display
give basic info without interefering with picture!

Similar Products Used:

JVC XV-723

Build quality,picture,features,style.

None

"Stands out among the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
When I first seen this DVD player I thought WOW great stylin!!But of course stylin dont mean nothing compared with QUALITY@PERFORMANCE. However my mind was put at ease after i hooked the player up and tested it out.Stunning picture quality that rivals DVD players costing twice as much.The features are also more of what you would expect to find on a more expensive player.Sony always had the ability to "Stand-Out" among the "Me-To" brands,but with this player Sony takes us a GIANT leap above the other DVD players out there!!! I strongly recommend this player to anyone looking for a "Hi-End" DVD player at a "Mid-Fi" price!!!! 3 cheers to SONY!!!!! :)

Similar Products Used:

Rotel,Carver,Nak.