DVP-NS715P

Price Paid: $400 Canadian

Purchase at: SONY STORE

Strengths
Excellent Video and Audio Quality.
Excellent Menu browsing.
MP3 Browser on TV's screen with full name of song (scroll) on the front display as well.
Very Fast loading / access time.
2 SVideo, 2 Video + 2 Audio, 1 Coax, 1 Optical
All languages available for menu (I didn't count all but I think there is one full page of languages with codes printed for the ones not preset) - Ask me if you're looking for a specific language.

Weakness
No Major weaknesses at the present time.
No backlit remote (if someone cares for that)
Only available in Silver with Black Remote.
I couldn't find the Zoom yet (although it may exist - not sure)

Comments/Review
Well,
After a long wait the NS715P is here.
I needed a good DVD player for my new 51HW40.
I had the JVC XV502SL for about 2 weeks. Video quality is excellent on the JVC but there were a few things that I didn’t like.
I just purchased the NS715P yesterday at the Sony Store in Toronto - Eaton Centre.
Retails for 399.99.
After a few hours of testing I am very pleased with it. I haven’t finished testing the player yet so this review may be incomplete. I am only reporting things that I have reviewed.
I will be posting some pictures over the weekend. It is very similar to NS700.
Here are some of the details:
1 - Component
2 - S Video
2 - RCA (Video + Audio)
1 - Coaxial
1 - Optical
1 Switch for Progressive / Interlaced / Selectable

Overall the player is nicely built. Remote control is good. The intensity of the front display lights can be changed. The player also has sound feedback that can be turned on or off. It can also resume play on up to 40 discs. It also has custom parental control and the option to lock the disc.

DVD Video
One new feature available is Digital Video Enhancer (DVD-V, DVD-RW, VCD)
Options are:
OFF
1: enhances the outline
2: enhances the outline more than 1
3: enhances the outline more than 2
SOFT: softens the image (DVD-V and DVD-RW only)

Picture settings
You can adjust the video signals of the DVD / Video CD from the player.
Here are the options:
STANDARD – displays a standard picture
DYNAMIC 1 – produces a bold dynamic picture by increasing the picture contrast & color intensity
DYNAMIC 2 – further than previous
CINEMA 1 – enhances details in dark areas by increasing the black level
CINEMA 2 – White colors – brighter, black colors – richer, and color contrast is increased
MEMORY – allows you to adjust the picture in more detail (picture, brightness, color, hue)

MP3 Audio.
I found the quality of the sound as excellent and can be played from CD-Rom, CD-R, CD-RW single session or multi sessions.
The player can play mp3 audio tracks recorded in the following sampling frequencies: 32KHz, 44.1 KHz, and 48 KHz.
By pressing menu on the remote the TV Screen will display all the folders as albums. You can select an album by moving up and down using the arrows.
By pressing enter the list of tracks is displayed and again you can select the track by moving up and down on the list. Press enter on any track to start playing. Front display will also list the full name of the song by scrolling if too long.
Another nice feature is the Program Play.
It allows you to play the contents of a disc in the order that you want by arranging the orders of the titles, chapters, or tracks. (up to 99)
It also has shuffle and random play.

I will be posting as I go along with the player.
I can only compare this to the JVC at the present time, and after only a few hours of test I can say that they are very close on video quality. I haven’t tested all the video and picture options yet. JVC's picture was a little softer.
I may have to adjust with AVIA again.
Sony’s menu is a lot better and the MP3 browser is very nice. Sony’s remote is nicely designed and easy to use.
If you have any questions or you want me to perform some other tests please feel free to ask.

Hope this helps

Corry

Added: June 14th 2002
Reviewer: Corry
Score:
Hits: 5923