Sony DVP-S500D

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Sony DVP-S500D
This player is a very good DVD player! I have looked at Panasonic and compared it to the Sony. Here's the real flaw in both players.
Panasonic can't handle CDR (wich is very important), they only have one optical layer (wich doesn't plays as nice as the Sony who has 2, one for DVD and one for CD).
Sony: They missed the DTS output (that is if the DTS really is going to be a hit) and the design could be better.

I bought the Sony after 2 months of speculations, I am really proud that my money was well spent!

Reason for not giving the player a ten is the DTS output (I think it's not going to break through tough)

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30170

Sony DVP-S500D
I had the opportunity to take home three DVD players before purchasing and the Sony 500 performed the best. I compared it with the Panasonic A310 and a Toshiba DVD player. The Sony responded to commands faster than the other two players. The Panasonic had the slowest response out of all three, when I pressed a command, I would try 2 and three times thinking that the Panasonic didn't receive it. Also the smooth scan forward and reverse was "smoother" on the 500 than the other players. The video performance on all three players were pretty close. The Sony and Panasonic being the best. The Panasonic image tending to be "overly sharp" for my taste. The Sony player has a sharp image but not "overly sharp" like the Panasonic. The only downfall in my opinion is lack of a DTS output. It's not a problem for me because I also plan on purchasing the Sony 7700 when it's released in December. The Sony 500 will move to my second HT. I purchased my player locally from Datavision for $450. I'm sure you can find better prices through mail order.
Reason for not giving the player a ten is the lack of DTS output.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30172

Sony DVP-S500D
I own a Sony C600D (5 Disc Carousel) and would like to press for a reply from the S500D owners 3 questions: 1) Do you have 'Test Mode' for adjusting speaker volume/balance and do you hear this TONE using "optical" or "Coaxial"; does it matter which one you use? I am using 'optical' on the C600D and get no tone. Tech support says it MAY work with coaxial???? 2) Do you get an error message at all, and when (over heating, etc). I have had "E:26:05" appear at random times, indicating some internal malfunction, which is not in itself described in specific form. 3) Have you contacted Tech support and received "reasonable' answers or solutions from them, or mediocre dribble?

Posting elsewhere on this product has been lame todate as I have encountered only one other person who owns the C600D so far.
Thank you for any feedback.... If you wish to pass on any information to my email address I am at rjdsr@hotmail.com
Ray

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Sony DVP-S500D
Traded in Zenith DVD2000 on Sony DVP-S500D after having Zenith for 1 day. 16x9 Mode on Sony w/ Component video out produces a spectatular picture. Best all- around value in a DVD player. To all you Panasonic people - DTS is going nowhere !!!!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30175

Sony DVP-S500D
I've Had this player for one month now and I'm extremely pleased with it. Tons of features, and it complements my Sony GA8ES AC3-ready receiver perfectly. Lots of AC3 audio options including levels, distance from speakers and balance in the rear. It also automatically finds the Dolby Digital track - a feature other players need since Columbia & Paramount discs apparantly default to Pro Logic. Great remote with jog/shuttle, and I like the fact that it controls the amp's volume level. This player plays CD's better than my previous single-disc unit. DVDs look excellent, with good smooth graduations in the backgrounds. So far, I can honestly say I've seen *no* picture problems such as pixexation or artifacts. I decided on this unit over the comparable Panasonic because: 1) I have no use for DTS since I don't want to buy an external decoder 2) It sounds better when playing audio CD's (it replaced my CD player) 3) I have a Sony receiver so I figured they'd mix well 4) I prefered the remote and 5) I honestly thought the picture looked a tad better than the Panasonic in my tests (especially downconverting 16:9 titles to 4:3). You won't go wrong with this player!

Overall Rating: 10
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30176

Sony DVP-S500D
I did a bit of research and decided that because I needed the AC-3 decoder this was the player for me. I've gotten the unit, used it a bit, and am amazed at the quality. A shortcoming was the manual, which featured a hookup diagram that was virtually undecipherable, and I've put together loads of systems. However, after I ignored the manual, and followed the input/output jack indications on the back of the Sony, it was no problem. GREAT video and awesome sound at a damn good price.

Overall Rating: 9
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Sony DVP-S500D
It was DOA... The brand new unit we purchased started freezing in between frames, sometimes for minutes at a time, then playing again, at random.

I've been nervous about replacing it with another DVD player since...

Overall Rating: 1
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Sony DVP-S500D
Video quality is quite good. I use s-video output into a Mitsubishi 35705 tv.
Audio CD and super audio DVD (eg. from Chesky) sound quite good; at least as good as my old, heavily modified (and recently dead - mechanically) onkyo cd player.
The shuttle wheel operation isn't logical to me; I'm still not used to it. Other than that, ergonomically the man-machine interface (remote and front panel) are good.
I would unhesitatingly recommend the machine.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Sony DVP-S500D
Got the Sony 500 after trying the Panasonic 310, which had a great picture but wasn't as good playing CD's or serving as a transport for an external DAC. By contrast, the Sony picture is *slightly* softer (but not by much), and the audio is much better, particularly on 96/24 DVD's. What's surprising is that even downsampled audio sounds great. Even with downsampling, the Chesky 96/24 DVD beats out the XRCD and HDCD recordings.

So for about $550 or so you get a first-rate DVD player with DD built-in, a pretty good CD player, an excellent 96/24 player, and a pretty good CD transport. Movies look and sound great with the built-in DD decoder, and the unit works just fine with a 2-channel audiophile setup, delivering sound much better than any theatre. Until I got the Sony I didn't realize how good the soundtracks are on DVD's ... excellent sound quality on many of them.

Overall Rating: 9
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30181

Sony DVP-S500D
This player is the best buy in terms of its video quality. It is not built like a tank, but it delivers the goods. I have had it for 4 months and it has chewed through every video I've thrown at it and produced awesome pictures and sound. It surprised me in its ability to play music CD's as well as it does and I use it instead of my Marantz. I can't wait until I can get my hands on the 7700 from Sony. Buy it, you'll be glad. The bass management and setup menus are great and the remote is easy to use and is fast. I give it a 10.

Overall Rating: 10
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30183

Sony DVP-S500D
Wonderful picture. S-video and component video outputs. Digital AC-3 output. Quite nice built-in AC-3 decoder.

Big Pro: I can turn off the bloody LED's! It comes very close to fiting in with my Carver equipment (Bob, I'm waiting for you, my friend...)

Big Con: What's the deal with the jog/shuttle wheel? Give me Fast Forward, Fast Reverse, Play and Stop. ( "When I was a boy, we didn't have Jog/Shuttle Wheels. We had to watch our porn *straight thru*, and if you wanted to see something again, well there went your rhythm, by gum!)

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Sony DVP-S500D
Excellent design and the best remote in this class. I like the LCD display. Picture quality is great except that it didn't have DTS output. I had to return the unit I bought since it had a problem where the picture suddenly goes to pause mode. If you are not looking for a DTS but need built in Dolby Digital decoder, this is the one.

Overall Rating: 9
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30185

Sony DVP-S500D
Another satisfied customer, glad I chose this one, no DTS but there arent much DTS DVD's out anyway.

Overall Rating: 9
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30186

Sony DVP-S500D
I have had this player since August. I now have 65 dvd's and each and every one plays perfectly. I originally used the onboard decoder and was quite pleased with it until I got a AC-3 reciever. Now I think the built in decoder lacks a bit of punch, but overall this is probably the best player on the market.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30187

Sony DVP-S500D
Bought the Sony DVP-S500D player a month ago and have been very happy with both the video and audio quality of the player. Played more than 20 DVD's over the last month, and it handled all of them flawlessly. It also plays CD's better than my old Sony CD changer. My only complaint is the lack of DTS output, and I think that the jog shuttle interface takes a while to get used to.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30190

Sony DVP-S500D
Extremely happy with the unit. Well made, good construction. Not the top of the line unit, but very well made.

No problems at all. Been using the on board decoder - great flexibility and control.

Marten

Overall Rating: 9
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Sony DVP-S500D
It would be a perfect 10 if it was code and macrovision free...

Overall Rating: 8
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=30192

Sony DVP-S500D
Excellent audio and video.
Specifications refer to the DVP-S500D as being able to play PAL DVDs. This is not true. PAL is in Area II or Region II. and as such is not compatible with this equipment. When I inserted a PAL DVD, it rejected it based on region differences.
My decision to purchase this model was prompted by many factors, one of which is the ability to play DVDs from Hungary, where the PAL system is in use.
I feel deceived by the Sony specification that made me believe I can view what actually I cannot.

Dr. Geza Papp-Vid
ve6bmq@home.com

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Sony DVP-S500D
i have had it for more then year and a half.
Great and fine quality sound and picture.
Before i'd purchased it i thought it is the best DVD player
available on the market. But now it's not that "nice" as i
thought.

Today's dvd players are much more sophistisated
and more futuristic.

But still that is a quite vell running DVD

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Sony DVP-S500D
This dvd player is the worst thing that has ever happened to me
!!!!
DO not buy it
Sony lies!!!

Overall Rating: No Vote
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