clean, clear sound. Picture quality above average.

bright

I came across the DVP-S705D, (a region 3 version of the S725D, if I an not mistaken) in one of the retail outlets on offer after Sony introduced a new model, the DVP-S745D. The S745D could be had for the same price. I opted for the S705D simply because I believed for Sony to reduced the price of it DVD player, it has to cut cost by substituting with lower quality components. The reduced price of the Sony S705D (USD475) although painful to fork out was too tempting and after much hesitation, I flash out my credit card and carted it home, the only one left still boxed and unused. Right out of the box, the Sony sounded awful but break in quickly; and with successive listening, the Sony seems to get better and better.
The built quality is good for the price with generous output sockets all gold plated. It comes with two RCA video out, 2 pair of audio out, two S video out, a set of composite video out, an optical and co-axial digital out, and a set of 5.1 channel out.
The parts inside the casing are equally impressive; R-Core transformer, quality transport and audiophile grade components on critical areas all neatly laid out on separate circuit boards for the analogue stage, the power supply and the digital/sound processor/DAC circuits. In operation, the transport is very quiet.
The Sony comes with above average specification like a S/N ratio of 115db for CD with total harmonic distortion of only 0.002%. All these “goodies” mean nothing of course if it cannot “translate” into performance.
The Sony is my first and only DVD player. So I cannot comment much about its performance as a DVD player other than it seems very decent to me.
As a VCD player, I compared it with a USD150 VCD player. The Sony sounded better; picture wise is sharper, smoother with better contrast between the colors. You get what you pay.
Prior to that, I have also tried the Sony strictly as an audio CD player. I get different result with different setup. First a direct confrontation with a 5 years old tweaked Pioneer CD player of similar prices back then. The amplification is by Densen DM10, cables by MITs, while the speakers are locally made speakers. The general impression is that of a clean, lean sound with deep and well-controlled bass. I was impressed by its clarity but find it bright. Mind you! This Sony has lots and lots of function, video and audio alike. For critical 2 channels listening, the “digital out” should be set to “off” and “downmix” to “normal”. You can select either one of the two digital filters, “sharp” or “slow”. With “sharp”, the treble though not harsh is too stressing for long listening without fatigue. Vocal and instruments appear “shut-in” due to the over emphasizing of the treble. I suspect this mode was especially designed for movie in mind. With “slow”, the sound is warmer with a more balanced treble and mid range than before. Compared with the Pioneer, the Sony sounded brighter while music is presented in a more “mechanical” manner, sort of “cold”. The pioneer sounded fuller, warmer and more vibrant while conveying the emotion of the recordings with more conviction. Each nuance of the plucking of the guitar for example in Kari Bremm’s Norwegian Wood simply sounded more detailed with the Pioneer’s. These do not mean that the Sony is not good for audio. It is, really; sounding more like a competent CD player in the sub USD350 region. If it’s clarity you want, the Sony has it. If it’s transparency you want, the Sony also has it. For a DVD player to have the sound of an equivalent priced CD player you have to trade perhaps up to twice the price. Part of your money goes into the Video and sound processor circuit. After all, can a CD player play VCD and DVD movies? Does CD player has dts decoder with 6 channels output?
Next, changing to a cheaper and less analytical setup consisting of an NAD 306 amplifier, MIT cables and Tannoy 609 speakers, boy was I surprised this time around the way the Sony totally transforms the previously dull NAD/Tannoy combination. Everything seems more detailed and clearer. Music suddenly comes alive. Focus, separation and imaging improve substantially. It all boils down to system synergy. The NAD and the Tannoy combination being dulled and muddled just needed the clean/clear/lean/bright sounding Sony to bring it to life. So partner the Sony with the right equipment and you will be surprised how good it can be as a multi purpose player.
For the price I paid for the Sony, I will give it a five for performance and a five for value. If I were to pay more for it, say USD600 then I think it’s probably four for performance and four for value. Considering that CD is at its twilight years and if you have neither a DVD nor a VCD player, get this Sony, then wait and see the outcome of the format war (SACD against DVD Audio) before parting your hard earn money on the new format. This Sony might not be in the same league as similar price CD player but then you get to play DVD and VCD as well for the whole family.

Similar Products Used:

None

Very Good Picture Quality & Incredible Sound Performance

None so far......

Magnifico!!! It's awesome, I just bought it last week here in HK (Region3). All I can say is, this is a not just a good dvd player but a very well cd player too. The picture and sound really fantastic. NO LIP-SYNC PROBLEM!! That's why I disposed my Pioneer because of this lip-sync enigma.
The color rendition, black is really black! The best dvd player I ever had! You'll never regret buying this one!!Thumbs Up!!!

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A160, Panasonic A300, Pioneer 525

Sound (DTS and DD) and picture quality, tons of connection possibility i.e. 5.1Ch output, 2xComposite Audio out, Digital out(coaxial and optical), 2xS-Video out, 2xComposite Video out, Component Video out. Exceptional built quality (metal, NOT plastic) on the face panel (silver) featuring headphone out with volume control. Autopower off. Comfortable holding remote.

Not quite easy to use shuttle with limited slow speed. The remote button does not 'glow' bright enough in a dim HT environment. Does not play CD-R.

I saw it during a 'Clearance Sales' with 'Region Free' setting while on the way to get some DVD title for my PC-DVD. Prior to this, it had took me about a month, but still undecided to part my money with either the S705-D of the pioneer DV-626D. But with 'Region Free' at SGD 765.00 and local warranty, I made no hesitation and fish out my card for this Sony player.

My humble HT system before having this wonderful DVD player consist of the following:
Sony 29" Kirara Basso Trinitron Colour TV
Onkyo AV Receiver TX-SV727 (year 1995/96)
Pioneer CLD-2750K LD player (modified to play VCD
Sony SLV-X512MJ VCR
Main Speaker : Paradigm 9seMk3 Floor standing
Centre Speaker : Paradigm CC-150
Surround Speaker : Paradigm Micro

First thing out of its box is my like for its silver finishing as compare to either gold or black which is common in many AV components. Hooking up is uneventful. With 1 set of Audio and S-Video direct to my TV and another set of audio to the receiver. Power-up and was greeted by the Blue welcome screen showing the Sony DVD intro title.

Colour is rock solid, I mean black is true black in the opening scene of "The Matrix" (Trinity in a jam) and sharp (through out Saving Private Ryan). I heard of problem "The Matrix" with some players, but S705D play this with no problem at all, and did not observe any lip-sync problem with 6 titles viewed. The image is not 'soft' as I had noted as in reviews of other Sony model. Even my 60+ years old mom notice the different between the DVD and VCD version of "The Matrix". With just Dolby Pro-Logic-Theater mode as this time, I really have nothing to pick on the sound output from S705D. The sound track from "The Rock" just brought out the best of the Paradigm 9seMk3 and CC-150 (which I brought it for HT use), the solid deep bass was presented through-out the viewing. The train station scene from 'The Peacemaker' is crystal clear, as though you are one of the soldier formed up there. All this achieve with the player at factory default setting, thus I see no need to do any adjustment.

I must compliment Sony for a well-designed remote control with can control my TV (of course, it's a Sony) and also my AV receiver (only the volume, but good enough). The label is large and with most of the commonly used button made of luminious material which glow in the dim HT environment. I feel that it is more comfortable that that of Yamaha V795a AV receiver's remote, which is very thin and the label is tiny.

The SGD 765.00 price tag is a bit hard on my wallet, but I find it worth the every single cents, especially of the renowed label. At the time of purchase, major AV stores are selling the Pioneer DV626D at SGD 999.00 but I feel it has a very 'plastic look'. The package came with a set of composite audio cable and a S-video cable. And so my percieved Value rating stands at 5 with this couple with its strength I mentioned above. The reason I gave a Overall rating of 4 stars is due to it not able to play CD-R, both VCD or audio data. Thus my favourite music CD has to rotate between my home and car. I have not try CD-RW as I do not have a CD-burner, but I hope it works.

And in a review which I read after I brought the S705D, it quote "...the DVD-S705D was measurably and audibly better than the other DVD players...".

My advise to anyone wanting to get a DVD player, GET IT!

IT'S A SONY - THE BEST DVD PLAYER IN ITS CLASS

REMOTE IS LARGE , BUT IS A MINOR FEATURE COMPARED TO ALL THE GOODIES.

The picture quality is super,this player doesn't have any problems. I played a whole lot of discs with the Dvp-S705D, and no problems were found. All the major studio discs work fine including the smaller producers. The audio
features are just as good. DD 5.1 is clear through your high end audio system, through the TVs speakers and through DTS. It's all very fine, very natural and easy to listen to.

The Sony DVP-S705D DVD player showcases the standard features that all the new model Sony players have.
DVP-S550D holds it's own against all of the mid-range Sony players.I've seen. That's the best thing I can say about it.
The Sony DVP-S705D features what Sony is calling VES (Virtual Enhanced Surround), it's the virtual sound
system that a load of players are coming out with now. I like it and it comes with DNR (Digital Video NoiseReduction) and Video EQ (Equalizer). Like I said,they both are basically a tracking for DVD, you know, like with VHS, it allows you to fix any apparent problems with noise using the player instead of the television. It works okay, but I find that if a disc is bad, the disc is just bad.

The Best feature on this player,simultaneous angle play, whichis basically a strip of boxes that show all of the multiple angles of a scene (if this function is featured on your disc).It shows up on the far-left side of the screen, and you can choose which angle to showcase on your screen.
On this player is what Sony is calling "Strobe Play". It's seem a lot like a "scene select" on your typical disc, except you personally choose which scenes you can jump to, and they show up on your screen when you call them up.

The DVP-S705D is a tripped out player that offers a very superior picture and top notch sound with extras that will make you feel like your money was well spent. It also starts up super quick -- once the disc is put in, it jumps right
into playing it. It's one of the fastest players I've seen. The fast forward andreverse are very smooth and easy to stop as well. It's just a really good player to have. If the 7700 scares you price wise, then this is a good player to use
as a step down.I had a boat load of fun playing with it, and I know you will too.

This player is hooked to Yamaha RX795A,B&W 602-S2 Mains,B&W LCR6-S2 Center,B&W 601-S2 Rears and KEF Coda subwoofer. Cables used are tara labs (Main speakers and center speaker are biwired).

Its really a pity Sony has phased out this model in their current line up.If anyone could still find this model, please grab it, DVD players may not be build this way anymore. If you can not get this model, then grab a DVP-S7000 or DVP-S7700. These are like reference models, as to how a DVD has to be built.

I wish to say in the end - SONY LEADS AND OTHERS JUST FOLLOW AND BE A POOR SECOND OR THIRD.

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Tried out may a DVD player in the dealers showroom.

Very good picture quality, above average for audioCD, built in 5.1 decoder.

If built in decoder not required get DVP525. DVP7700 looks so sexy.

In terms of picture quality, there are not much to separate the 4 DVD players I have a chance to compare. However, the 725 sound better using the internal DAC and built quality. The tray and disc sound very quiet in use. If you need a decoder & not thinking of getting a AV receiver, connecting the Sony to stereo amps gives you 5.1 experience straight away.

One more thing. Using the Sony as a transport using external DAC of TagMcLaren av32r makes my wonder why I need to keep my Linn Karik for audioCD play back. This cost 4 times more than the Sony but not that much anymore using the same external processor DAC. I cannot see why we need to worried using DVD player as a universal player.

If you are absolutely against regions get a region 3 player.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DV717, Pioneer DV525.

Good Picture and Very Clean Digital Sound

Remote control is too big

This is an expensive DVD player for me but I have no regret of buying this product. I was truly amazed about the sound it delivers, it's pure and clean compared to the Panasonic,the picture quality is awesome, not perfect but close to perfection. This player is one of a kind on its class. I know this product was introduced in 1999 but I still prefer this against to the new model the DVP-S745D if Im not mistaken, would you believe they have the same price!
I wonder what's new with the new model that this dvd player doesnt have. You're going to love this player when you hear and see how it performs!!!

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A470, Panasonic A300