Sony DVP-NS725P DVD Player

The picture quality of Sony DVPNS725P is better then SONY DVP-NS425P in 480i & 480p mode. No distortion or blurring is found even w/o the progressive scan, just a little gritty. Once you turn on progression scan the picture clears up. Sony DVPNS725P has only a 10% difference in sharpness/clarity/color/hue/contrast between 480p progressive scan & 480i non-progressive scan mode. However, I believe that the unit's 12 Bit Video DAC with 108Mhz processor, regardless of 480i to 480p mode is why you see such little difference. The vertical lines simply double using the same picture quality in 480i mode improving video clarity overall.

What makes the 12 Bit Video DAC with 108mhz so important? None if you have a 19"-32" flat screen (tube style) TV. However, this bit of power shines best with tubeless, monitors that are 42" and larger are used. It will help reduce that frame by frame look of artifacts that move back and forth from a stationary position. Such items include plants, flowers and underwater scenes. For example, if you have a 42"+ TV with a 10 bit Video DAC with 54mhz dvd player rent Finding Nemo, watch the selection (the screen that gives you the option to play the movie) screen. Watch the plant(s) moving back and forth in the lower, left of center. Does the plant(s) lag or move frame by frame? If so this is because of how the dvd processes analog into digital and vise versa. What also will be a factor is the type of component/s-video/regular cables you are using as well. But if you do see it you now have an understanding of what I mean.

Equipment:
TV: Sony Grand WEGA 42" KF42WE610
Video Monster 3 Cable: 1-Meter Coax Cable, 1 Meter Monster Video 3 component Cable

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!
Component/Coax wires do affect the quality of your home video experience. The best DVD player connected to the best Plasma/LCD/DLP/LCOS TV will have negative effects on picture quality if you are not using the best grade of Component/DVI/Coax cable. Yes, you will have to shell out more money for theses accessories (in my opinion Monster Cable has proven itself in my house). However, this is the only way to achieve your large screen TV's maximum video performance. It appears that it's not only necessary but simply required! I get mad every time I read negative reviews on this DVD player or my TV when they never invested in high-grade video cables or, their TV is only 480i compatible & not 480p compatible (they can't properly use the DVD player's progressive scan feature). Please check your manual to verify 480p compatibility for your TV, as some are only 480i compatible while others are only 780p to 1080i compatible!!!

Here is a tip to improve picture quality for analog cable/antenna viewers who are experiencing snowy, grainy pictures:
Purchase a A/C powered, 2 port, coaxial, Electroline Drop Amp from Ebay. Here is the basic concept of how it works:
take the main coax cable wire that leads from outside of your house to the inside of your house, connect it to your Electroline Drop Amp marked "RF IN". Then connect your coax cable (Monster Video 3 Coax cable highly recommended) that is connected to your TV to the drop amp marked "out1, out2, etc. Then cut a 2', 4' or 6' piece of coax cable (if you have some pre-made, fine) attach a RG60 or RG59 connecter (found at Walmart) to each end then attach one end to the specially made Electroline Drop Amp marked "PWR" then place the other end of the coax cable (RG60 recommended because the copper has a slightly thicker gauge) into the specially designed plug, then place it into a socket or power strip. Use some wire to ground the Drop Amp, the screw will be to the right side of the drop amp. After you complete this and you have place the plug into the socket you should enjoy a whole new viewing experience. For those who have snowy or grainy pictures this will, I repeat will improve TV reception.

UPDATE 5-15-04
HTS 5000 using the Sony DVP NS725P DVD Player
Finding Nemo as an example:
Overall the picture quality is improved slightly
Picture is not white washed (I didn't notice it was white wash until I used the HTS 5000)
Corel swaying back and forth in the Menu screen of Finding Nemo no longer freezes for 1 second then sways again as if you ran out of memory. This was annoying but this was the only move I noticed this.
More responsive starting a new dvd

Features
12 Bit Video DAC with 108Mhz Processing with NSV
Dolby? Digital and dts? Decoding Compatible
MP3/CD-R/CD-RW Playback*
DVD-RW/-R (Video Mode) DVD+RW/+R Playback
Precision Drive™ 2 System with Dynamic Tilt Compensation
Precision Cinema Progressive™ (480P) Output

General Features
DVD/CD Text
Precision Cinema Progressive™ Technology - Other DVD players detect image changes at the scan line level-Sony's Precision Cinema Progressive (PCP) system detects them at the pixel level. The picture is more faithful to the source-whether film or video-because separate, optimized algorithms are used to handle the differing pixel behavior. Separate algorithms are also used to process the moving and still parts of an image, resulting in sharp backgrounds with moving objects that are free from motion artifacts.

Precision Drive™ 2 System - Past generations of Precision Drive were only able to compensate for warped discs by moving the entire optical block, which took more time and limited the amount of correction possible. Sony's new Precision Drive™ 2 system simplifies the process by moving the lens-instead of the entire optical block-for faster and more accurate error correction.

DVD-RW/-R (Video Mode) DVD+RW/+R Playback

MP3 Playback - Playing MP3 Music on a Sony DVD player is easy. Just insert an MP3 encoded disc and press MENU. A blue screen pops up to display your folders. Scroll down the list using the remote or front panel cursor control to select the folder you want. The green files screen pops up to show the files in the selected folder. Select the file you want to hear and you're done. Finding music couldn't be easier.

12 Bit Video DAC with 108Mhz processing w/NSV
192 kHz 24 Bit Digital to Analog Converter
Dolby? Digital and dts? Optical/Coaxial Output
Multi-Disc Resume- 6 Discs
TV Virtual Surround - 4 Surround Modes
Block Noise Reduction
Digital Video Enhancer
Digital Video EQ
Custom Picture Mode
Title and Chapter Viewer
Advanced SmoothScan™ and SmoothSlow modes
Instant Replay and Instant Search
Full 3-2 Reverse Conversion
Inputs and Outputs
Component Video Output
S-Video Output
Composite Video Output
Analog Audio Output
Optical Digital and Coaxial Digital Output
Convenience Features
Quick Set-Up
Custom Parental Control- 40 Discs

Summary:
If you own a 32" to a 19" TV the SONY DVP-NS425P is more then adequate. However if you have a TV larger then 32" you need this DVD player along with high-grade component/dvi/coax cable to produce the clarity/color/contrast/hue necessary for a great theater quality picture.