"art + technology", very nice/beautiful design. There are no products that have similar look. Video progressive scan output.

SACD playback was a big disappointment.

Looking for DVD player that can output a progressive scan video, I considered both PIONEER-Elite-37 and SONY DVP-9000ES (about $500 more expensive). I finally bought the SONY because it can playback SACD and it is much better looking DVD for me. While the progressive scan mode gives me a beautiful picture just like the demo I saw at local store, the standard video output won't give any difference comparing to my old $300 DVD. Also, playing SACD only can output analog signal thru A/V connector not thru an optical output as a digital signal. I was so disappointed when reading the manual which says something like "Note: SACD is not output digital" ... So
* if you don't have a HDTV ready TV stay away from this DVD to save money.
Or if you like this DVD because it has SACD - forget it. Stick with DTS CD which gives you much better sound.
* If you are looking for just a progressive scan DVD player it is worthy to take a look at PIONEER-Elite-37 before buying this one you may like the PIONEER-Elite-37 better.
* If you are looking for a progressive scan DVD player and willing to pay little more for the "artistic design". This one is for you.

value rating: 3.5/5
overall rating: 4.5/5

Similar Products Used:

PIONEER ELITE series

Audio quality, SACD, Build

Lack of base management, stereo only, and small buttons

I got it for Christmas and still love the sound, looks, and performance of the unit.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 300, Sony 560, Panasonic A7, JVC 723 GD

Most of the below reviews mainly deal with the DVD part
of this unit...which is understandable. I am very interested in hearing more about the audio sound quality
on both CD and SACD...I am interested in purchasing one
of these..but would like more owner feedback on the
units sound quality vs. other high-end players..Thanks

Everything covered in other reviews.

Yada Yada Yada

Is it just my player or does it sometimes have a dropout of audio when it is swithing layers in the middle of a movie? I have found this on "The Eagles" When Hell Feezes Over on Chapter 14 "I can't tell you why" right before the vocals begin, only on the DTS track. I have tried two seperate DVDs and the problem continues. Also for a second on Private Ryan and Perfect Storm Audio also drops out.

Called Sony said they have had calls on the issue, wonder if this is normal or what? Upgrading from a cheaper Toshiba that worked like a champ.

Similar Products Used:

None?

Everything. It looks great and sounds even better.

Takes a lot of time to really set up right, need to email people on this site for how to do it. But damn it looks good when its right.

I have this thing hooked up to the 65" sony HDTV solely for movies. I watch a lot of movies and am blown away every single time I put one in. I havn't noticed any shadowing flaws (to respond to the guy below me), only fantastic picture quality. Anamorphic discs naturally look the best, Gladiator, the new 2001, Matrix and Titan AE... its simply like being in the theater, except I have a comfy couch and fridge full of beer. Actually I think Titan AE looks even better than the theater.

Took me a while to tweak it to get the colors and sharpness just right. I'm using it for progressive scan on my Sony (480p) and have the optical audio out going into my Onkyo. The sound is simply amazing compared to other DVD players I have heard, I have no idea how it does it (I bought it for picture quality, what a bonus!) but it makes all my DVDs sound richer and fuller. Now I'm looking to upgrade amps and speakers just to keep up with it. I'm running Tara Labs Video HT cables into my tv, component. I have noticed reds struggle a little bit when they're isolated against black on the screen. However I think that's my wires or a setting somewhere on the DVD player or TV. The Video HT cables are amazing, but I'm shooting for the Tara Labs RSC cables this fall at twice the price. Plus there's so many settings on this thing, if anyone here knows how to tweak the reds please let me know. I never used a SACD nor have I ever even seen one.

Anyway, this thing rocks. It looks cool too with the angry blue glowing light over the DVD tray that says "I'm bad ass. Don't #$&! with me or I'll vaporize you. Fool."

Similar Products Used:

Nothing this good.

CD/DVD/SACD & progressive scan

No CD-R playback, Audio only button sometimes is hard to turn on & off

Not wanting to buy a SACD transport until the whole DVD-Audio 24/96 to 192 verus SACD issue got solved in the audio market, the Sony 9000ES offers many likable features. Maybe not as good as the Sony 777ES or the top of the line Sony SCD-1 in DAC quality, but the Sony 9000ES does play SACD well for most listeners & it plays DVD-Video discs. I even put in a DVD-Audio disc & it played, but I am not sure if I got the full effect. I will send my Sony 9000ES for a mode DAC that is coming out in the market. The Sony 9000ES does NOT play CD-R, at least mine didn't with a CD-R burned from a Pioneer Elite PDR-19W. Did Sony create the 9000ES to get people like me that were not willing to take the SACD route by offering DVD-Video playback? Maybe so & I am well pleased. I have about 17 SACD's so far & I like Chesky the best with their hybrid CD/SACD's. I think Sony & Columbia should of done the same thing to make their discs more versatile. I still haven't figured out when to press the Video off or Audio only button. It seems to work best when the tray is open, but will not switch in pause mode & I am not sure about stop mode. Transport is used as follows: Audio out via Synergistc Research Phase II Looking Glass active shield to a Krell 300i integrated amp via Synergistic Research Phase II Bi-wires to NHT VT-2 speakers. Its part of a portable multi media audio system which can be seen at http://home.ix.netcom.com/~philox with my other main Martin Logan HT system. A good buy with or without SACD. JD3

Great build quality, audio & video performance

It has weaknesses?

I was considering the Toshiba sd6200 as it had the good features and was very reasonably priced for what you get. After having sold myself on the Toshiba I went to buy one and came across the Sony. The sony was over twice the price but had way better build quality and seemed much more like a piece that would stay in my rack for years to come. I knew the 6200 was good having seen and listened to it but was concerned with it's flimsy build quality. Having previously owned an ES cd player I had high hopes, but because the sony wasn't hooked up to audition at my local shop I had to go on what the salesmam said. So I took the Sony on the condition that if it didn't perform to my expectations once I got it home I could return it no questions asked. What did I think? Holy *&!@ is this thing incredible. Playing through an Integra 7.1 and B&W 600's the detail in the audio is amazing! I'm now re-listening to all of my old cd's on it just because i'm hearing details that just weren't there before. The video off feature is a great touch, progressive video quality is fantastic through my Panasonic HD 32". As of yet I haven't had the chance to listen to any SACD's but can't wait to try one. Surround performance is also awesome, my dvd's now have life detail, and imaging that they never seemed to have before. Because of this piece I am enjoying my home theater as much again as when I first set it up and stopped using just a TV. Anyone considering this unit should have no concerns whatsoever about it's performance or value. Well worth the additional cost over the 6200. Overall a fantastic pece based upon its performance,quality, and features. I encourage anyone looking for a quality dvd player to have a look at the 9000ES.

If you own a high end Hitachi television specifically a HD-television do not buy the Sony 9000ES. I bought the 9000ES for the audio sound quality, progressive mode and all around quality the same reason I bought the best television on the market short of the plasma screen televisions. When I hooked everything up I had come to find out that the 9000ES in progressive mode is not compatible with Hitachi HDTV sets. The signal from the DVD player to the television picture turns black when any action scenes occur. A major disappointment as you can imagine. The solution find another television with the ability to decode the signal or buy another DVD player without a progressive mode.

Extraordinary value, construction quality, SACD, Picture,
sheer beauty!

Slow to turn on. programming with remote is cumbersome.

I purchased this as a replacement for my Sony DVP-S7000. Until now, there has not been anything on the market which peaked my interest enough to consider buying. I have to
admit, the S7000 is quite a tough act to follow. Although it was one of the very first DVD players on the market, it was built to last, and produces a stunning picture. The only downside for the S7000, in my mind was it's bland looking
design. The S9000ES changes that. It is without doubt, the most beautiful DVD player that I have ever seen. The shining blue
beacon at the top and the function buttons shining through the transluscent front strip make for some enjoyable eye candy.
Anyway, I did run into a problem in setting it up and have yet to find a resolution. It seems my Pioneer Elite 510HD will not accept the progressive signal. Whenever I set the switch on the Sony to progressive, my picture turns to black and white. On the bright side, the Pioneer already has a very impressive line double built in, so the picture with the interlace setting seems at least as good, if not better then what I was getting on the S7000. What really makes this player a huge value though is the SACD feature. After playing the sampler disk, I can safely say that you probably cannot find anything, and I do mean anything, on the market in the form of a CD player, or transport+unsampling DAC+digital cable combination, which will even approach the sound quality of the 9000ES in the below $1,500 price range.
I really think Sony could get away charging $5,000 for this player, but chose not to do so. Sony is a like an 800 lb guerilla in the audio/video industry. They can design a benchmark product of such high quality and performance, and offer it at such a mind boggling low price as to literally blow away the competition. The 9000ES is such a product.

Similar Products Used:

Sony dvp-S7000

SACD, Color

Smoothness of video during complicated scenes

I traded in my DV-S9 (US model DV-09) which was the Pioneer's flagship DVD from three years ago. I was in fact thinking of selling my whole AV system which I spent about $4K (AV amp, AV speakers and the DVD player) three years ago and get one of the cheapie all in one systems from Pioneer or Sony. I probably watched less than 30 DVD's over the last 3 years. Then I came across this player and liked it.

However, comparing with the DV-S9, I have to agree with another reviewer here that the S9000ES is not better in interlace mode. The Sony has a more saturated color but it is not better or worse, it is just a different rendering of color from the DV-S9 and a subjective preference. However, when comparing complicated scenes like war scenes in Gladiator, the difference in video smoothness is obvious. If there are more educated reviewers here, correct me if I am wrong. But I think the smoothness of complicated scenes has nothing to do with Interlace or Progressive video. Now, if there is something I can do about this on the settings of the S9000ES, please let me know.

So, my advice is if you are looking for a good DVD player but are not using progressive scan TV, go for the Pioneer DV-S9 (DV-09) in the second hand market which I think probably still is the best DVD player out there and good value for what it is worth, except I have not seen the Pioneer X-10.

For people like me who are itchy to try SACD, then this may be an excuse for you to get this toy.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DV-S9