Sanyo DCS-DAV821 Theater System

Note: This system is sold under the Sanyo brand name in some parts of the world.

This system is a compact little unit with quite a lot of features. However, the number and diversity of features makes for an overloaded user interface, that is not always intuitive. I chose it for the best sound (to me) in its price range, as many units in this price range have only two-way speakers.

So sound quality is one of the better parts. There are three ways to adjust it:
- PASS (Pure active sorround system): Artifically enlarge the distance between the speakers to give a more spacial impression (settings: Hi, Medium, Low, Off); appears to work mainly on the basis of delaying different frequency parts to do its trick and I do not use it;
- Bass expander setting (Hi, Medium, Low, Off) which does the obvious in an effective way without distortion;
- Sound mode selection (Pop, Classic, Jazz, Action, Comedy, Special Effects - the latter three for use with DVDs) which acts much like a pre-set equalizer; the settings are noticeably different.

So if you are into fine-tuning your sound environment this is not the system for you, but if you do not want to fiddle around too much you can find a setting appropriate for your taste and preference. These features reveal the first user interface problem: Pressing one of the buttons first reveals the current setting and cycles through the settings on each subsequent push. Depending on the time delay the system is either in "presentation" or in "advancing" mode. So if you cycle through the settings but want to listen to each one for a few seconds you end up with having to press the appropriate button once or twice.

The most annoying user interface problem however is the following: While listening to the tuner or an external music source and opening the CD tray the unit will automatically switch to the CD/DVD function and nothing is to be heard. If you switch back to the tuner or the external input function it closes the tray automatically. So you can only change CDs in silence. Together with the rather slow tray and the 4 seconds for opening + 6 seconds until the CD starts playing this is quite inconvenient if you want continous music for a party - not possible. Fortunately the CD function remembers the last position so resuming is easy.

The remote control is enormously cluttered - including double functions of keys (with the help of a shift-button). There are too many functions to manage and the remote provides almost all of them (some functions can only be used on the main unit). The manufacturer did not provide batteries for the remote (economy pushed too far in my opinion), so bring your own pair of AAs.

Now for the good sides: The unit is fairly compact and the back end is not too ugly to be exposed (many units have intolerable back ends), although a plastic fan housing protudes from the back. The unit so far has read all the different CDs I have thrown at it without complaining (although it is fairly easy to insert the CD in a way it gets stuck in the tray and will no play at all. Correcting the problem is simply a matter of opening the tray and repositioning the CD - no further harm done.)

The DVD capability is OK and offers all the normal options of DVD players via the remote (only). Bookmarks are possible and parental locks (either on content, on MPAA ratings) are possible. The CD tray can be locked with a very simple code (only protects against very small children).

The connections
There is one optical output, two auxiliary inputs (one at the front), three TV outputs (SCART, video, S-VHS), AM and FM antenna, subwoofer and speakers. The speaker connectors use a proprietory connector with four cables (3 channels + ground), so extending the range of the speaker is a non-standard procedure. Unfortunately, the speaker cables are fairly short (roughly 2 meters/6 feet).