Rating: 
Summary: Great value on a mid level player.
Review: Purchased this unit at the beginning of 2004 as my first DVD player. I went with the 725 over the less expensive but functionally similar 525 because of the higher end DA converter in the 725. Compared to other brands the Sony also appeared to be a better value as there was nothing really close to this price range that offered a DA converter that was similar in performance. As you can see I put a lot of emphasis on the DA converter, but I understand that it is the heart of the DVD and was really the only major diference between the 725 and the 525.Cant say how much difference the better DA converter is as I was not able to make a side by side comparison. But the price difference wasnt that great so I went for the 725. What I can say is that the picture output form this player is superior to my old high end VCR. I didnt think there would be that dramatic of a difference between a mid level DVD and my old high end VHS but the difference was apparent immediatly. This unit has a full size chasis and has a very low overall height. Fits into my system easily as I used this to replace my CD player as well. The remote is well laid out and easy to use. It is a universal remote that will run the DVD as well as your TV. Only down side is that the buttons are not backlit so you cannot see them very well in low light conditions. I have watched at least one to two movies a week and play more CDs since I have owned this and it has never let me down. No jams or skips ever. Only had to clean one DVD that wouldnt play...but it was a rental DVD that was dirty and probably wouldnt have played on any machine. Plays CDs as faithfully as my old Yamaha untit did...but lacks the display size needed to show all of the track info (i.e. Title, time, remaining time, etc.) so you have to use the remore and strain your eyes to see the one line dislay. The set up menu is logical and easy to use. Initial set up will take about half an hour to get it to your liking but the standard settings are pretty good to start with. Overall a great enrty into DVD players.
Rating:
Summary: Great value on a mid level player.
Review: Purchased this unit at the beginning of 2004 as my first DVD player. I went with the 725 over the less expensive but functionally similar 525 because of the higher end DA converter in the 725. Compared to other brands the Sony also appeared to be a better value as there was nothing really close to this price range that offered a DA converter that was similar in performance. As you can see I put a lot of emphasis on the DA converter, but I understand that it is the heart of the DVD and was really the only major diference between the 725 and the 525. Cant say how much difference the better DA converter is as I was not able to make a side by side comparison. But the price difference wasnt that great so I went for the 725. What I can say is that the picture output form this player is superior to my old high end VCR. I didnt think there would be that dramatic of a difference between a mid level DVD and my old high end VHS but the difference was apparent immediatly. This unit has a full size chasis and has a very low overall height. Fits into my system easily as I used this to replace my CD player as well. The remote is well laid out and easy to use. It is a universal remote that will run the DVD as well as your TV. Only down side is that the buttons are not backlit so you cannot see them very well in low light conditions. I have watched at least one to two movies a week and play more CDs since I have owned this and it has never let me down. No jams or skips ever. Only had to clean one DVD that wouldnt play...but it was a rental DVD that was dirty and probably wouldnt have played on any machine. Plays CDs as faithfully as my old Yamaha untit did...but lacks the display size needed to show all of the track info (i.e. Title, time, remaining time, etc.) so you have to use the remore and strain your eyes to see the one line dislay. The set up menu is logical and easy to use. Initial set up will take about half an hour to get it to your liking but the standard settings are pretty good to start with. Overall a great enrty into DVD players.
Rating: 
Summary: Unacceptable!
Review: Stay away from this horrible offering from Sony. I purchased this based on the performance of my older sony dvd player (which is still working like a charm),but their quality has come way down. I once belonged to the cult of followers that outfitted their entire home theater components with Sony, but after my last a/v receiver and this dvd player, I have been set free.
This unit dazzled me at first with its high contrast picture and vibrant detail. Within days of constant use(mp3 playback, music dvds, movies, and tv shows on dvd), the image became highly grainy and noisy. Flesh tones took on a disturbing painted look and no matter what I did to my 42" rear projection Sony TV as far as adjustments, I could not get it to look right. DVD layer changes led to 2-3sec jumps ahead cutting out parts of the movie. Inexcusable! DVDs from my home collection of over 200(all in pristine condition) started to show problems with skipping, freezing, block artifacts, etc. Theses same DVDs put in my old player, which I still have in another room, worked flawlessly. I was shocked and maddened by this outcome. I had this unit for 17 days and really wanted it to be "the one". Sadly, it is not! In all fairness, I do not own an HDTV, so the image quality in progressive mode may be better, but disc performance will be the same. Fortunately, I did alot of research before I bought this unit and went to get my 2nd choice yesterday(the Pioneer dv-563a) and I am totally blown away by its performance. Layer changes are not even noticable and the image is so film-like, it makes me smile just thinking about it. I gave it the 12hr workout and it was flawless. Unlike this unit, it can play jpeg cd-r, zoom the image of moving or static sources, random play mp3 files, the front display can be turned off, AND it can play SACD and dvd-a discs. At $150, you will not be disaapointed.*image/picture quality based on interlaced mode, not progressive, which is also part of both of these units.
Rating: 
Summary: I Don't Understand The Negative Comments?
Review: The DVPN725P is a great DVD player! I haven't had one problem, and neither have 2 friends who have this same model. The best thing about this Sony is that it is very consumer friendly and easy to use, with a remote that is simple and equally easy to use. I'm sure there are always a few in a product run that have problems or are defective. But the one I have does everything I tell it do, and does it well. Certainly a recommendation from me for the Sony DVPNS725P.
Rating:
Summary: The whole is only as good as the sum of it's parts
Review: The picture quality of Sony DVPNS725P is better then SONY DVP-NS425P in 480i & 480p mode. No distortion or blurring is found even w/o the progressive scan, just a little gritty. Once you turn on progression scan the picture clears up. Sony DVPNS725P has only a 10% difference in sharpness/clarity/color/hue/contrast between 480p progressive scan & 480i non-progressive scan mode. However, I believe that the unit's 12 Bit Video DAC with 108Mhz processor, regardless of 480i to 480p mode is why you see such little difference. The vertical lines simply double using the same picture quality in 480i mode improving video clarity overall. Equipment:
TV: Sony Grand WEGA 42" KF42WE610
Video Monster 3 Cable: 1-Meter Coax Cable, 1 Meter Monster Video 3 component Cable WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!
Component/Coax wires do affect the quality of your home video experience. The best DVD player connected to the best Plasma/LCD/DLP/LCOS TV will have negative effects on picture quality if you are not using the best grade of Component/DVI/Coax cable. Yes, you will have to shell out more money for theses accessories (in my opinion Monster Cable has proven itself in my house). However, this is the only way to achieve your large screen TV's maximum video performance. It appears that it's not only necessary but simply required! I get mad every time I read negative reviews on this DVD player or my TV when they never invested in high-grade video cables or, their TV is only 480i compatible & not 480p compatible (they can't properly use the DVD player's progressive scan feature). Please check your manual to verify 480p compatibility for your TV, as some are only 480i compatible while others are only 780p to 1080i compatible!!! Here is a tip to improve picture quality for analog cable/antenna viewers:
Use a A/C powered, 2 port, coaxial, Electroline Drop Amp to improve analog cable
reception. The 18 gauged Satellite coax cable runs from the cable co. to the Electroline Drop Amp in my house. The 1 Meter Monster Video 3 coax cable (gray colored wire) will run from the Electroline Drop Amp to the TV thus improving picture quality. Summary:
If you own a 32" to a 19" TV the SONY DVP-NS425P is more then adequate. However if you have a TV larger then 32" you need this DVD player along with high-grade component/dvi/coax cable to produce the clarity/color/contrast/hue necessary for a great theater quality picture.
Rating:
Summary: The whole is only as good as the sum of it's parts
Review: The picture quality of Sony DVPNS725P is better then SONY DVP-NS425P in 480i & 480p mode. No distortion or blurring is found even w/o the progressive scan, just a little gritty. Once you turn on progression scan the picture clears up. Sony DVPNS725P has only a 10% difference in sharpness/clarity/color/hue/contrast between 480p progressive scan & 480i non-progressive scan mode. However, I believe that the unit's 12 Bit Video DAC with 108Mhz processor, regardless of 480i to 480p mode is why you see such little difference. The vertical lines simply double using the same picture quality in 480i mode improving video clarity overall. Equipment:
TV: Sony Grand WEGA 42" KF42WE610
Video Monster 3 Cable: 1-Meter Coax Cable, 1 Meter Monster Video 3 component Cable WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!
Component/Coax wires do affect the quality of your home video experience. The best DVD player connected to the best Plasma/LCD/DLP/LCOS TV will have negative effects on picture quality if you are not using the best grade of Component/DVI/Coax cable. Yes, you will have to shell out more money for theses accessories (in my opinion Monster Cable has proven itself in my house). However, this is the only way to achieve your large screen TV's maximum video performance. It appears that it's not only necessary but simply required! I get mad every time I read negative reviews on this DVD player or my TV when they never invested in high-grade video cables or, their TV is only 480i compatible & not 480p compatible (they can't properly use the DVD player's progressive scan feature). Please check your manual to verify 480p compatibility for your TV, as some are only 480i compatible while others are only 780p to 1080i compatible!!! Here is a tip to improve picture quality for analog cable/antenna viewers:
Use a A/C powered, 2 port, coaxial, Electroline Drop Amp to improve analog cable
reception. The 18 gauged Satellite coax cable runs from the cable co. to the Electroline Drop Amp in my house. The 1 Meter Monster Video 3 coax cable (gray colored wire) will run from the Electroline Drop Amp to the TV thus improving picture quality. Summary:
If you own a 32" to a 19" TV the SONY DVP-NS425P is more then adequate. However if you have a TV larger then 32" you need this DVD player along with high-grade component/dvi/coax cable to produce the clarity/color/contrast/hue necessary for a great theater quality picture.
Rating:
Summary: Inexpensive. Easy to Use. And Looks Good Too.
Review: The Sony DVP-NS725P is a sleek, easy to use DVD player that is well suited to consumers who want a player that offers options and design that are a cut above the basics, but still at a reasonable price. The player offers three options for connecting to your television or monitor: composite, s-video, and component video. The cables are included for the simple composite video and audio hook-up, but you will need to purchase cables separately if you intend to use the s-video or component video connections. If you have an HDTV, you will want to use the component video connections to take full advantage of your television's potential. Once the player is connected, set-up is a cinch. With the player and your television turned on, "Quick Setup" will appear on the screen; just follow the instructions. The remote control is easy to figure out, and the instruction manual is clear if you should have any questions. My one gripe about the remote is that the volume button is small and poorly located. There are playback controls on the front of the player, also. They are separate buttons, not one (cheap) frustrating dial, which is nice. The display is large and easy to read. I don't have an HDTV, so I cannot comment on the progressive scan feature, but the player has progressive scan capabilities with video and film modes for those who have HDTV's. In addition to DVD's, it will play music and audio CD's. I'm not a videophile, as you might deduce from the fact that I don't own the latest in television technology. But I have been quite pleased with the picture quality and ease of operation that I've gotten from the Sony DVP-NS725P. I didn't expect as much for such a reasonable price. I think that consumers looking for a good basic DVD player will be happy with this one. And you videophiles out there might find it a good choice for your supplemental television sets.
Rating:
Summary: Great DVD Player
Review: Two years ago, I got a DVD Player. One of the super cheap ones that you used to read about people being trampled whenever put on sale. I loved it, primarily because it was not a VCR. Soon after that, I invested in a DVD ROM for my computer. The quality of the DVD on a computer was drastically better both in audio and video. But a 21" monitor just doesn't compare to a television - plus, after watching a movie at night and just wanting to get to sleep, turning off a computer is just too much. Might sound silly but actually try it a couple times. You'll agree. Each had their benifits, but this Sony DVD player bests both. It's sharpness and color was as good as the computer out of the box. However, there are four settings to tweak the color - so all of the sudden, the movie has the same tints, brightness, etc, as in a theatre. Furthermore, there is a setting to improve image quality: it's off by default, but can be adjusted to smooth the picture or increase sharpness, just like the gausian blur or edge enhance filters in photo editing software. I have not noticed a delay during layer switching - something that was painful on the old settop player. The audio out of the box is equivalant to the old settop box, and inferior to the computer just because of the computer's better speakers. However, this Sony player offers a number of virtual atmosphers. It features the normal 2 channel unedited mode as well as type Sony calls "TVS Wide", which simulates multiple channels just like at a theatre. It still lacks huge bass (I don't have a subwoofer connected so your results may vary) but it is better. Also, there is a nighttime version of each method - it keeps things like dialoug at normal volume, but reduces the volume of loud events, like explosions. TVSWide Night is a delight to use. This Sony player actually lets you go frame-by-frame. This is possible with nearly every player, but with both the computer and the old DVD player, it was too difficult. WinDVD (software I used on my computer) didn't have a button I could find to do it, and the old player did, but it showed the distracting interlacing lines. Because of this player's picture smoothing, they disappear. Also, if you eject or turn off this player whilest playing, it automatically saves the position in the movie. It saves up to 6 movies, if I remember correctly. EG, put on a movie, eject it part way through, watch 6 more, the original movie's position is forgotten. But watch part of it, 4 more, and then return, it remembers. This was possible with the computer but wasn't automatic - and didn't exist on the old player at all. Even the extraneous details of the player as a player have settings. For instance, the front panel lights and display - the brightness of them is settable. So at night, you can have the movie playing with no LEDs at all. The remote is fairly nice. The most commonly used buttons - play, pause and stop, lie directly under your thumb. The navigation buttons are below, so you can simply roll your thumb down. The chapter controls, fast forward and reverse, and frame-by-frame controls are all an upward twist of the thumb away. But the subtitle, audio, angle buttons are all out of reach without repostioning your hand, as are are the menu buttons and the player's setting buttons. Its usable, and better than most remotes, but isn't going to win any awards. I don't have a Dolby stereo so I can't speak towards the multi-channel quality of sound. The one negative I've found is that I tried playing a video CD and it wasn't recognized. The manual does say it will play Video CDs. Overall, I'm very pleased with this player. It has replaced DVD player and relieved my computer of DVD playing responsibilities. It's not the cheapest DVD player (nor the most expensive by a _long_ shot) but it's very feature-filled, and the fine-tuned picture and audio settings alone make this worthwhile.
Rating: 
Summary: does a terrible job with TV show DVDs
Review: When I am playing non-film content, i.e. TV Shows or hybrid content (interlaced + film), the video on the screen will flicker between most quick scene changes. I noticed it alot on "The Shield - Seasons 1 and 2" and on DVDs burned from Tivo content.
I know its not a bad player because I have 2 of these each bought at different times and they both have this exact same problem. I have a feeling that it has a hard time with interlaced content, since all hollywood movies (film, 24fps) plays just perfect.
I could not find any settings on the player to help alleviate the problem. I am using the S-Video output. I have since switched to the new Philips 642 and this DVD player plays everything great, even divx discs.
Rating:
Summary: Sony DVD affordable and high quality
Review: When I began shopping for a new DVD player to replace my old Sony (which cannot play CDR or MP3), I could not believe how cheap all the choices were. The salesman told me that the pricing has dropped a lot on DVD players since a few years ago when I paid $299 plus tax. I use this unit with a Yamaha home receiver. I run two wires from the back of the DVD to the Yamaha: an s-video (for video) and optical (for audio). My television is an older Sony Trinitron and receives an s-video signal from the Yamaha. After setting the unit for DTS sound I sampled Saving Private Ryan, then The Two Towers, then Pinocchio. Great results all around! From sound to picture I could not be happier with this unit. Vibrant colors, thunderous home theater sound, tons of features, and an easy to use remote and user interface. I wish the MP3 playback mode could shuffle all tracks and folders; only audio CD's can be shuffled. It is amazing how affordable this technology is. The unit is also very thin and stylish, and the front display has a "dark" setting which lessens distractions in the eye of the viewer.
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