Rating: 
Summary: So Far So Good
Review: After looking for the right DVD player for quite a while, I finally decided for SONY's DVP-NS400D. It was enough written about how easy and intuitive the initial setup routine is. Actually, it's so simple, that you will hardly need 10 minutes to get familiar with all the setting possibilities and variations, but still, a very large number of parameters can be set up and controlled. The picture is absolutely clean (I never needed the built in picture improving tools), the still picture frame doesn't show any noise and the entire visual field matches the highest standard. The sound is really very good and the decoded 5.1 signal turns the room into the real cinema. Being quite sensitive for the audio quality, I have highly appreciated the functionality of finetuning the parameters and location of the speakers, which finally led to my full satisfaction.
For those, who are looking for DVD player with built in decoder, clear picture, good sound and nice design, this one could be the right choice. If I had to make the choice once again, I would go for the same player.
Rating:
Summary: Valuable player for reasonable price
Review: After looking for the right DVD player for quite a while, I finally decided for SONY's DVP-NS400D. It was enough written about how easy and intuitive the initial setup routine is. Actually, it's so simple, that you will hardly need 10 minutes to get familiar with all the setting possibilities and variations, but still, a very large number of parameters can be set up and controlled. The picture is absolutely clean (I never needed the built in picture improving tools), the still picture frame doesn't show any noise and the entire visual field matches the highest standard. The sound is really very good and the decoded 5.1 signal turns the room into the real cinema. Being quite sensitive for the audio quality, I have highly appreciated the functionality of finetuning the parameters and location of the speakers, which finally led to my full satisfaction.
For those, who are looking for DVD player with built in decoder, clear picture, good sound and nice design, this one could be the right choice. If I had to make the choice once again, I would go for the same player.
Rating:
Summary: What more could one ask for?
Review: I bought this Sony for its reputation and I can honestly say: The reputation is well deserved! Also compatibility with other equipment was a decisive factor in choosing this particular model and I am fully satisfied in every aspect.
I can't imagine what features [another] DVD player could have that this one doesn't have.
The picture quality is great but what is really fantastic, is the fact that it is so easy to operate. If you are like me and you hate reading complicated manuals you will love this one. The controls are simple and anyone can understand them within minutes.
I use this DVD player in conjunction with a Sony TV set, which makes operation even simpler. One control (almost) does it all.
At this price level one can't beat the value.
Rating: 
Summary: Great, but you pay for useless "features"
Review: I have used DVD players since the first month they came out, and unlike the VHS market where you have to decide whether you want 2, 4, or 6 heads, Hifi stereo, and flying erase heads, a DVD is a DVD. Yes, you can pay for "Virtual 3D" and "DVE" but do you want to? The Sony DVP-NS400D is a wonderful DVD player, and I have yet to find any serious faults with it. Scanning is smooth and the controls are easy to use, and the menus, while not as visually attractive as they could be, are easy to see and navigate. As with most DVD players these days, this model has DTS output... But personally, these "features" are more marketing gimicks than anything else. ...if the added capabilities of the NS400D really do appeal to you, or if you the Sony brand name means a lot to you, this is a fine piece of equipment.
Rating: 
Summary: what a peice of junk
Review: I just bought this thing and went to use it for the first time and i'm getting a 13:00 code which is dirty dvd. i tried many disks and still the same. my toshiba was in perfect working order but did not play cdr/cdrw or video cds, so i upgraded. What a huge dissapointment. Sony is usually so good about their stuff.
Rating:
Summary: So Far So Good
Review: I just got the player today so I can't attest to its durability, but we watched a Blockbuster DVD tonight and it played perfectly. I put on a couple of CDRWs that wouldn't play on my previous CD or DVD players. Both said, "No Disc." They play on the Sony. The on-screen display is pretty cool too. With the TV on, you press DISPLAY and all the stuff pops up. All you need are the up, down, right, left and OK buttons to make selections.
I needed the on board Dolby Digital decoder, btw. My amp has 6 channel inputs. No decoders.
So - I'm happy with it. I'll get back to you if I have reliability issues.
Rating:
Summary: Another thing about this DVD player
Review: I just got this and it's great. My favorite feature is the Precision Scan. My old Sony DVD player would not read some of my Video CDs, but this one, thanks to Precision Scan, can read them perfectly. If you're looking for a great DVD player that will not only play CDs and DVDs, but Video CDs, this is the one.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Bang for your Buck.
Review: I own three other DVD players and am familiar with a friend's, and none of them have performed for me quite so well as this one. Its sheer number of options in almost all aspects of DVD (and CD music) enetertainment along with flexibility in terms of control and viewing make this a great deal all on its own. Having had so much experience with other players, I had soon put this one through its paces.The remote control is large and solid, its weight comfortable to the hand and reassuring of the quality that went into its making. The buttons are intelligently placed rather than just shoved on where they would fit and the are all of high quality and comfortable to press. After only two days of use I can already find most of the options without having to search for them, which is good since there is no sort of backlighting or glow in the dark plastic. Advancing to different tracks on the DVD is very fast, no slow down when trying to access the next scene like I have sometimes seen with cheaper players. The rewind and forward buttons are part of the flexibility I previously mentioned. There is the option to SCAN the disc with multiple speeds x3 as well as a push and release SEARCH for when you just want to scan back a few seconds. This way you aren't bothered pressing the SCAN button then rushing to press the PLAY to stop it. Just press and release when done. I won't go into all the features, but it includes everything you'd expect a DVD player to have. Slow motion with multiple stepped speeds similar to the SCAN in both forward and reverse. Angles and subtitles and audio options along with shuffle, repeat, and programmed playback for listening to CDs. Time and chapter searches, noise reduction (for DVDs that tend to pixilate) and a picture sharperner/softener. The only oddly lacking feature would be the absence of a zoom button. A nice feature that my previous DVDs didn't have is the automatic saving of settings for the DVD you're viewing. The player will save your settings for up to 50 DVDs automatically. Once you get past 50 it just overwrites the oldest one saved so that any you watch on a regular basis will always be set how you like. This way you don't have to mess with menu and audio/picture options everytime you sit down to watch a movie. There is also a 9 screen splitscreen option that you can use to speed up searches during playback, view scenes from each chapter if the DVD doesn't offer this on the menu, and view all the different angles available at once. Audio options are many and varied, allowing not only for the selection of the number of speakers and types (front, back, center, subwoofer) but also for the size of the speakers and the distance of each from the viewer for optimal sound performance. In addition to this there are various sound setups for theater quality sound in a variety of styles. There's even an option to make your music CDs sound like you're in the best seats at a concert hall in Venice. There is even a setting for viewing DVDs at night which will keep you from having to constantly adjust the volume during the loud scenes. There is also a DTS converter of some sort, I haven't figured out the logistics of it yet... but apparently you can achieve DTS sound without the need of a receiver that will supply such. There are also S-Video hookups for ultimate screen performance as well as YPR connections for an even better picture and more accurate colors. There is only one thing I can really find against the player. The menus are big and rather ugly. The saving grace here is they are very easy to manipulate to do what you want quickly and get them off of your screen. All in all this is a great DVD player, and I am very glad that the folks I talked to got me to buy this one instead of the one I had in mind. I haven't even begun to touch on all of the other keen things this player can do, but if you're not convinced by now... well, there's nothing I can do but invite you over to see this thing in action in person. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Product
Review: I received this DVD player as a Christmas gift, and after 2 months of use, I am still completely satisfied with this product... I don't know much about the technical aspects ... but I do know that the picture and sound quality is excellent, even though I don't have any fancy dolby surround system hooked up to my tv... the menu is easy to understand and the remote control is easy to use, although I wish the remote control had "channel" keys... it has volume keys, but no channel key... that's no biggie though... also, i haven't had any problems playing rental DVD's... all in all, it's a great product...
Rating:
Summary: Best DVD player with built-in dolby decoder for 200$
Review: I recently purchased this dvd player after doing quite a bit of
research. My budget was approx. 200 $. I wanted a player that
has built in dolby digital 5.1 decoder so that I can hook it
to my Yamaha receiver (4 years old) and still enjoy latest
Dolby Digital effects.
I must say that it works beautifully on my flat screen TAU panasonic TV and Yamaha receiver + Energy speakers and sub.
Picture and sound effects are crystal clear.
We saw "Shrek" and I was blown away by the picture and color details as well as sound effects.
I had seen the same movie on VCR and must say that I was quite
impressed by the added viewing/listening pleasure offered by
this DVD player.
DVD player has long feature lists. I have not used even 20% of
what you can do with it.
I love "resume from current location" feature.
(i.e. it remembers the location where you stopped your CD/DVD
and resumes from there)
Another feature I like is the way you can set up 5 speakers plus
a subwoofer using test tones thro' DVD menu. You can adjust gains
for individual speakers to match your room acoustics.
Remote is very functional. I can control on-off for my TV as well
as volume for my receiver.
Moreover, most of the functions you tend to play with (such
as choosing audio tracks on DVD, subtitles, surround effects
) have separate buttons on remote (instead of access
thro' on screen menu)
There are no real negatives in this DVD player
from my perspective (especially if you consider the price
at which you get it)
I highly recommend it!
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