Rating: 
Summary: Highly Overrated
Review: 1. To call the remote control unit finicky would be an understatement of note. The buttons are extremely poorly arranged and many are almost too small to press. Furthermore, the buttons are slow to respond requiring a second or third press (you may think you are pressing a button but in fact unless pressed extremely hard, your key-press is not being registered by the unit). Considering that 90 - 100 % of the time the unit will most likely be operated via remote, this is a major drawback and is reason alone to give this system a miss. The range (when used at angles) at which the unit will accept infra-red signal from the remote is also the poorest I have experienced in a remote-controlled appliance. 2. The audio has exceptional clarity with very low levels of distortion but the DVD audio is flat, empty and lacks volume. There is virtually no way to distinguish between the many sound fields which can be selected as they all sound very much the same. In fact the DVD audio on this system could be termed a complete failure. The system fails to deliver a surround sound effect on any settings irrespective of the speaker system layout out and setup being 100% correct. The DVD audio has none of the rich, full cinema sound found in comparable systems. 3. DVD operational features are missing. There is no zoom feature on this system which should be standard on DVD systems. Also, the back/forward scan has only two speeds. The first speed is too slow and the second is too fast to move to the required scene. 4. Upon closing the DVD tray after watching the third DVD, the front panel on the tray came loose. Further inspection showed that this wedge was stuck on with a form of double-sided adhesive tape. This is unacceptable build quality on the part of SONY which I have never before experienced with home entertainment equipment. At this point I returned the system for a refund.
Rating: 
Summary: Great starter system
Review: I first bought this about 2 1/2 years, my first HTS (Home theater system). Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, SACD, plays vcd's. Only 280 watts, and does not have a Coaxial digital input, Which I found out I need to hear TV shows in Dolby Digital 5.1, becuase my cable provider only has a Coaxial Digital out on it's box. If you have Direct TV then you are set. Also the speaker wires are proprietary, so you cannot upgrade them and you are limited to how far you can run the speaker wires. In case you need to string them in diffrent ways to hide them and place them in a optimal position. I have had no problems with system, sound is good. But needs more power. The only reason I am upgrading my system is to have more power and attach my Progressive Scan DVD player to a new HTS. I recommend this for starters. Great little system Vernon
San Diego
Rating:
Summary: Great starter system
Review: I first bought this about 2 1/2 years, my first HTS (Home theater system). Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, SACD, plays vcd's. Only 280 watts, and does not have a Coaxial digital input, Which I found out I need to hear TV shows in Dolby Digital 5.1, becuase my cable provider only has a Coaxial Digital out on it's box. If you have Direct TV then you are set. Also the speaker wires are proprietary, so you cannot upgrade them and you are limited to how far you can run the speaker wires. In case you need to string them in diffrent ways to hide them and place them in a optimal position. I have had no problems with system, sound is good. But needs more power. The only reason I am upgrading my system is to have more power and attach my Progressive Scan DVD player to a new HTS. I recommend this for starters. Great little system Vernon
San Diego
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Compact Home Cinema Ever (DAVS500)
Review: I own this Jewel that has DTS (Digital Theater Sound) and as usual DD5.1. I own it for 2 years now and I am so happy with it, it entertains me like I am in a theater. Delivers a pure sound and over 250 watts all 5 satallite speakers with a booster woofer. The Remote Control has everything in it even the open/close button. Well, i have nothing more to say other than if you're looking for a pure stylish good looking home cinema, then get Sony DAVS500 or DAVS800 and enjoy your movies and DVD's. You won't get disappointed or unpleased. If You want to have a stronger sound booster in watts over 300 then get Sony DAVS800 for bigger rooms like a basement or a hall.
Rating:
Summary: Exactly What I need
Review: Look...
1.I did need a good quality Home Theater
2.Dolby Digital, 5.1Ch
3.For a little room (5 meters square )
4.Low price ( If you compare about the DVD+AMPLIFIER+SPEAKERS )
5.VCD Functions to play my home videos ( burned in a PC )
6.Strong volume but not enough to have problems with the neighborhood ( and my wife )
7.With an In-plug for the VCR. Then I compared the price for a Home Theater like Sony 875 with multi IN/OUT's, Speakers system with 500w or more...but it was near four times more expensive...then I return to the list above and finally my taste and my wallet were satisfied.
The DAVS500 is excellent for a little room and for a DVD/VCR system...that's all...if you want to play music you are wrong with this equipment.
The sound for a DVD is a Sony sound..clear and perfect, but if you wanna play CDMusic you will understand that Sony doens't want you have a sound-video system in one, It look like the system switches the sound quality if you play a DVD or a CD...Wanna play music??, buy a sound system
Wanna play a DVD Movie???...It's perfect with this machine.
Rating:
Summary: Hey, it has a DVD player! 1 good thing, yeah!
Review: Oh man, this system makes me sick, because the {store} said it would do just about everything it doesn't. Have a gander... 1.Dolby DIGITAL Sound: OK, my DVDs are in DD! But wait...nothing else is!?! Manual to the rescue: The DVD player is DD, but only the DVD player. Digital components (XBOX, DTV, etc.) are not. I'd expect more from SONY, even the {generic brands} decode everything! 2. Digital and DTS Sound: On MOST DVDs, but SOME of them will not work in Digital or DTS (same basic thing, BTW). Choose your discs wisely, my son. Just because it SAYS DD on the box, it may not be on the stereo. 3. TV Hookups: If you have a Digital source passing through the TV inputs, it will not have digital sound. Even if you hook it up DIRECTLY to the stereo inputs...No dice. 4. Vast Array Of Inputs: If "2" is vast, but it's not to me.
Rating:
Summary: Hey, it has a DVD player! 1 good thing, yeah!
Review: Oh man, this system makes me sick, because the {store} said it would do just about everything it doesn't. Have a gander... 1.Dolby DIGITAL Sound: OK, my DVDs are in DD! But wait...nothing else is!?! Manual to the rescue: The DVD player is DD, but only the DVD player. Digital components (XBOX, DTV, etc.) are not. I'd expect more from SONY, even the {generic brands} decode everything! 2. Digital and DTS Sound: On MOST DVDs, but SOME of them will not work in Digital or DTS (same basic thing, BTW). Choose your discs wisely, my son. Just because it SAYS DD on the box, it may not be on the stereo. 3. TV Hookups: If you have a Digital source passing through the TV inputs, it will not have digital sound. Even if you hook it up DIRECTLY to the stereo inputs...No dice. 4. Vast Array Of Inputs: If "2" is vast, but it's not to me.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Sound!!!!
Review: This home theater really makes you feel like you're in the real movie theater, only without having to leave the house! The Dolby 5.1 sound rumbled through the whole house (even got the dog excited).
You'll need to pick up extra cables to hook it up to your satellite system or VCR, and if you have both, get splitters to hook up the TV's audio out to go through the DVD as well (there are only enough ins & outs for two components). Also, if you are mounting your speakers, you'll need two pairs of mounting brackets.
The only reason I rated this a 4 instead of 5 was the extra running around I had to do to get the cables and ordering the brackets. Otherwise the system itself sounds great!!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Sound!!!!
Review: This home theater really makes you feel like you're in the real movie theater, only without having to leave the house! The Dolby 5.1 sound rumbled through the whole house (even got the dog excited).
You'll need to pick up extra cables to hook it up to your satellite system or VCR, and if you have both, get splitters to hook up the TV's audio out to go through the DVD as well (there are only enough ins & outs for two components). Also, if you are mounting your speakers, you'll need two pairs of mounting brackets.
The only reason I rated this a 4 instead of 5 was the extra running around I had to do to get the cables and ordering the brackets. Otherwise the system itself sounds great!!
Rating:
Summary: Great Mid-level Unit With Outstanding Sound & Quality!
Review: This is great sounding system. If you have a large living room installation, it isn't right for you, however. Get the next system up from Sony with the powered sub-woofer. That said, if you are going to be using this system in an average size den or entertainment room (like, say 12'x15' or 15'x15') or bedroom, it is perfect! The system has worked flawlessly for me. Installation was the easiest I have ever done, thanks to Sony's making all connections color-coded. The remote is easy to use and the DVD player has presented no problems. I had a speaker that didn't sound right to me, I call Sony Support, and they sent me a replacement speaker and a call tag for the suspect one, all by next day air!!
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