Sony DVP-NS70H HDMI Single Disc DVD Player

• Precision Drive 3 System - simplifies the process of dealing with warped discs, by moving the lens instead of the entire optical block - for faster, and more accurate error correction
• Precision Cinema Progressive Technology - detects image changes at the pixel level, and optimizes the picture using special algorithms. Resulting in sharp backgrounds with moving objects that are virtually free from motion artifacts
• 720p/1080i Upscaling of video and delivery through an HDMI connection
• MP3 Playback
• DVD-RW (Video Mode /VR mode w/CPRM), DVD-R, DVD+RW, & DVD+R Playback

Having been through the Oppo 971H and the Samsung HD941 upscaling DVD players and coming away disappointed, I came at this one a little jaded thinking upscaling technology is just marketing hype. Well this player proves it's not. From the instant I first turned it on I knew it was something special. The colors it produced over HDMI (720P) were stunning on my Sharp projector. The difference between normal 480p and 720p was significant with the upscaled resolution showing more clarity and depth. Normally fuzzy background images came into focus. There are many websites that swear upscaling technology is just not possible since the DVD's native picture is only 480p and "you can't make something out of nothing". Maybe true but you sure can sharpen up what is there and that's where this player shines.

The sound it produces is another wonderful feature. Crisp clear highs and booming lows with everything in between is what you can expect from this unit. Sony was even thoughtful enough to provide both optical and coaxial audio outputs.

Others have expressed a picture shrinkage issue with this player. They make it seem like every player has it, not true. I've read the complete forum they mentioned and several folks have said they do not have such an issue. I hate to see this great player get a bad rap because of what may be a player/display incompatibility for some folks.

I knocked a star off because Sony absolutley needs to include an HDMI cable with this. C'mon, would you buy a car and then feel good about having to pay more to get the key?

This is a great player at a great price, give it a shot you won't be disappointed.

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I've been shopping for months for a decent DVD player with HDTV upconversion. This is the first such player that didn't disappoint me right out of the box.

I would give the player itself 5 stars, but I'm knocking one off because the package doesn't come with an HDMI cable included. You have to buy one separately, which is an unnecessary nuisance that can add from about $20 to over $100 (depending on the cable brand) to your purchase. And if you forgo the HDMI connection, you cannot get the player's 1080i upconversion for HDTV thereby leaving little reason to purchase this item, whose other features can be found in many standard players for about half the price.

But that IMHO is a minor inconvenience in light of this player's performance and overall price. The device has an MSRP of about $170, and with coupons I got mine for $115 at Circuit City which is quite low for an upconverting player, particularly one from Sony.

So far I haven't had to endure any of the problems that have plagued other such players I've purchased and subsequently returned. For the first time in my experiences, the 1080i upconverted picture resolution is genuinely better and richer through the HDMI connection than what's available via the component video alternative. The player has a comprehensive menu of onscreen settings and a fairly clear manual that will guide you through them. The remote is designed more intuitively than most others I've used (although the buttons are a bit on the small side) and interacts with the player flawlessly even at fairly sharp angles. Along with the usual backwards-forwards scan/skip options, this player also provides an instant replay and advance feature for shorter hops back and forth. Scans at multiple speeds are relatively smooth, not choppy like many others I've seen. The menu and the remote offer numerous picture and sound adjustment options, but the standard settings have worked just fine for me.

I'm not the most high-tech person in the world, yet I think I am pretty demanding when it comes to picture and sound quality. This small but solid player delivers the goods, especially when its price is compared to others on the market. I know Sony DVD players have amassed countless Amazon reviewer complaints that they often fall apart and break down quickly. But that hasn't been my own personal experience, and I hope that trend continues for me with this one. After all too many failed purchases in this area, I think that at last I may have found a winner.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DVP-NS70H HDMI Single Disc DVD Player Here

First of all I must clarify what some people are saying about having an inch above/below the picture when watching DVDs at 720p/1080i. The issue is NOT with the player. 16:9 TVs have a 1.7777:1 ratio (16 divided by 9). If you read the BACK of your "Widescreen enhanced DVDs" you will notice they are 1.85:1 what is 16:8.648. So the bars you are seeing are there BECAUSE they MUST be there. The issue is on the TV. Some people will not see the problem with their High-Definition sets because of OVERSCAN. The Sony is perfect in this aspect and it is sending what is supposed to be seen. For more information on overscan read this article.

Back to the player.

If you have an HDTV set, try to find the native resolution of the set (for example most EDTV plasmas are 480p). In this case the best signal to be sent to the TV is 480p. If you are using a projector or a DLP TV with a 1280x720 resolution (720p) set the player to use 720p. If you have a native 1920x1080 display (like the Sony Ruby) set it to 1080i (note that 720p MAY look better in some 1080p displays).

The picture in this player is very nice and extremely decent when using the HDMI connector. No noise or artifacts that I could notice. A great improvement in picture when comparing it to my old Pioneer 480p player. Giving its price I would say it is a bargain! The remote is ok (some buttons are too small for me I guess) and their menus are not as good/easy as the pioneer (plus it has less control over the picture). But still a very capable player.

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I've been enjoying this new DVD player for a few days on my new Bravia 26" LCD TV. The picture is breathtaking, I was stunned to see the improvement in picture quality the upscaling feature and HDMI connection made it has breathed new life into my DVD collection and made me fall in love with my TV all over again. Unlike some previous posts, I have had no issues at all with any image shift problems, but perhaps that's because I am using a Sony TV also. I highly recommend this player.

I have tested the DVP-NS70H (with an HDMI cable and upsampling to 720p) against a Sony DVP-NS575P DVD player (with a component video cable and 480p), using a Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 LCD TV to examine the results. A good-quality DVD movie appears to have more vivid color and less noise with the DVP-NS70H than with the DVP-NS575P. A lower-quality DVD, such as an annual release of a TV series, does not demonstrate the differences between the two DVD players.

I do not know whether the HDMI cable or the upsampling is responsible for the improvement, but I suspect that HDMI may contribute to the improvement because HDMI bypasses the TV's A/D convertors. If you purchase the DVP-NS70H for an HDMI-compatible TV, do yourself a favor and buy an HDMI cable from Amazon for less than $20, which is a lot less than the $80 to $100 that you will pay at your favorite electronics retailer.

I am very pleased with this product.