Sony DVP-NS725P DVD Player

The Sony DVP-NS725P is one of the more expensive DVD players that I've been trying out. I saw this baby for $130 at Best Buy, and it caught my eye with the sexy silver finish, the features, and of course... and most obviously, the incredible Sony quality that I expect from every Sony product I use. After buying it then again returning it, I used it in my home theater at home, and here's what I found with it:

-Price-
*The Sony DVP-NS725P is a bit pricier than the other lower-end DVD players that I've tested on the market. However, the few extra dollars spent maybe worth it. The lowest prices are around $110, but the quality and performance of this player makes it worth it. Sony has always had great quality products on the market, and the Sony DVP-NS725P is definitely a great example of their excellence. For the price, you get exactly what you'd expect from a high-quality Sony product.

-Features-
*The Sony DVP-NS725P has quite a few nice features. It reads off DVD, CD, CD-R/W, MP3, DVD-R/W, VCD, and SVCD. The newer players on the market read off these formats, and the Sony DVP-NS725P does it with no problems. I think that the MP3 feature is very nice to have since you can load up CDs or DVDs with a lot of MP3 files, and play them off your DVD player. Normal audio CDs can hold only 80 minutes of music, while the MP3 files can be much more plentiful on a disc giving hours of musical fun. The Sony DVP-NS725P also has four surround simulated sound modes and the Sony PCP Precision Cinema Progressive technology which improves the picture.

-Picture Quality-
*The Sony DVP-NS725P is a progressive scan player, and with the PCP technology, it gives out an incredible quality picture when using component video outputs. The image is very sharp, clear, vivid, and exactly what you would expect from a hi-fi, yes, hi-fi unit. If you're using an HDTV or plasma TV, prepare to be amazed with a very life-like picture. There is also a custom picture mode, so wow, this player does give you a lot of versatility over your picture, and does offer the sharpest and greatest picture that you can get at this price.

-Sound-
*The Sony DVP-NS725P has DTS and Dolby Digital out which allows the use of these digitial formats when using either TOSLINK or digital coaxial cables. However, unlike some players offered today, the Sony DVP-NS725P doesn't offer built-in DTS and Dolby Digital decoders which means that the receiver that you use must have them, so if you're player doesn't have DTS for example, then you're not going to be able to play DTS surround sound from DVDs. But the Sony DVP-NS725P definitely offers the tools with the DTS/DD-out and digital sound outputs which give you the best sound quality possible via an A/V receiver.

-Ease of Use-
*The Sony DVP-NS725P comes with a nicely laid out remote control. I've always been a fan of Sony's remote controls. Every feature is very easy to access from it, so don't expect any major problems from this baby. There's also a quick set-up feature on the player which allows for on-screen configuration, which is another thing that makes life a little easier.

-Inputs & Outputs-
*The Sony DVP-NS725P has all of the outputs that you'll need in order to get a great DVD-player set-up within your home theater system. It has a component video output which gives by far the best possible picture quality, S-video output which gives the secondary best picture quality, composite video which are the standard yellow, red, and white cables, and as for sound, you can use either TOSLINK via the optical output and a digital coaxial output which lets you use a digital RCA cable which both give out digital sound through DTS and Dolby Digital.

-The Verdict-
*For the price, you definitely get a great quality DVD player. The Sony DVP-NS725P is very sleek and sexy looking with its beautiful silver finish. The picture quality is just as hot as the player itself, especially when using component video cables, wow, the picture is just incredible. Also, another thing that I've always loved about Sony products is definitely their ease of use, the remote is very nicely laid out, good job on that one Sony. If you want a player that will handle beautifully, then the Sony DVP-NS725P is a great addition to any home theater system.