Sony HT-DDW740 Theater System

I bought the system in January 2003, based almost entirely upon its looks, its simplicity, and the reputation of the Sony brand. The picture was crisp and the sound quality exceeded my expectations. However, from day one, I found that only one out of three DVDs would play without freezing, skipping, or otherwise malfunctioning. I rationalized this as being a sign of its extreme "sensitivity," which I actually thought was a good thing at first. But as time passed, I observed that even brand new DVDs, which weren't scratched or dirty in the least, were frequently unreadable by the player. More often than not, I would have to sit hunched over my computer, watching a DVD on a tiny screen because the Sony couldn't handle it. This evolved from an annoyance to a major headache, but I maintained a staunch loyalty to the Sony system until it became clear, yesterday, that the 70% failure rate was creeping up to 100%. So after only two and a half years of use, I have had to purchase a new DVD player (which wasn't easy, given the necessity of finding one that was compatible with this system). True, it wasn't a huge expenditure to replace it, but consumers should be aware that this particular component is flawed. At the very least, purchasing the 3-year maintenance agreement is a good idea. You'll almost certainly need it.