Sony DVP-NS305 Review

Overall Rating

Easy to install, easy to use, good quality pictures and sound

None for my needs

I am no electronics buff. I love what consumer electronics do for me in terms of entertainment and an easy life, and I'm pretty good at setting them up and using them when I've got them, but I've never had the urge to find out what all those letters, numbers and symbols mean in terms of performance, function and capability. Some I am familiar with, but lots I'm not. Which left me at a bit of a disadvantage when I went out to buy a DVD player. There were literally scores of the things to choose from, at widely differing prices, and as I strolled along the aisle in Comet staring at those information cards that tell you the spec each player I just got more and more confused. There were three things I wanted from my player: 1. It would play DVDs 2. It had a good picture quality 3. It had a good sound quality As every player in the shop matched all three of my criteria, my choice was not made any easier. So in the end I plumped for one that was 'entry level' and was neither the cheapest nor the most expensive. And one that I liked the look of. That one was the Sony DVP NS305, and as I left the shop I had no idea whether or not I'd made the right decision. I still don't know if I could have got more spec for my money, if I could have got one that does things I've never even heard of, or if I could have got one better built. I don't care. I like my Sony DVP NS305 very much and it does everything I require of it very well. The NS305 is classed as an 'entry level' player, which I think means it's suitable for people like me who are new to DVDs and are not looking for the most sophisticated on the market, or one that encompasses the latest capabilities like recording. It is a sleek, slim affair in a nice aluminium shade of silver. It is not fussy looking, but has enough buttons on the unit to get it to function if you can't find your remote control. The remote control itself is also pretty sleek looking and is very easy to operate with all buttons clearly marked. Everything you need to do, including setting up, can be done via the remote whilst looking at the on-screen graphical instructions and menus. Setting up the player was a doddle, just a mater of a plug and a scart-to-scart link (scart lead not supplied, so do budget for one) and then switching it on and following the instructions to set the clock after I'd tuned in my TV to the DVD station. Playing DVDs is a synch. Pop 'em in the slot and they start to play themselves, presenting you with a menu in seconds. Picking what you want from the menu is again very simple by using the arrow buttons on your remote, and then you're away. In terms of basic playing, it's no different than a VCR in terms of buttons needing to be pressed. My Sony NS305 does more than just play, however. Like video players, it allows me to forward, pause, freeze and search, but unlike a typical video player it does it with much more aplomb and a much higher quality picture. It also - if the film you're watching is capable - lets you change the angle from which you are viewing. The picture quality of my player is superb. I haven't got the best TV around, but my DVD player doesn't let that stop it producing glorious crystal-clear pictures. Sound-wise it's brilliant too, being Dolby Digital 5.1 and also simulating surround sound. It is compatible with Digital Theatre System surround sound should I ever have the money and inclination to require it. The Sony NS305 is a Region 2 player, so plays Region 2 and multi-region/region free DVDs. It also allows playback of both PAL and NTSC discs (region 2) on PAL TVs. Playback wise, my machine will play DVDs, CDs, VCDs, CDRs and CDRWs. It has a 10 bit Video V/A Converter, meaning it converts MPEG2 8-bit resolution to reduce obvious signs of digitizing, rendering the film closer to the original movie master. (I have copied that bit straight from the bumpf, in case you're thinking I lied to you about not being an electronics buff). To quote from the bumpf again, it has 24 bit audio sampling which converts the software audio signals, which differs from source to source, into the highest quality. In the case of Audio CD, this results in improved dynamic range and audio quality. So there you are. It supports multiple language options, i.e. it allows playback of audio DVD tracks in various languages. And it supports multiple language subtitles, meaning you can access up to 32 different language subtitles. I guess really my Sony NS305 is a pretty standard DVD player, and that is all that I need. It does everything I want it to and does it well, and looks rather fetching underneath my telly. I'm really pleased with my choice and would recommend it to anyone. I would also recommend that you get it from Comet, especially online at the price of £119.89 with FREE delivery, as I've since seen it elsewhere at various electrical sites at up to £50 dearer.

Members' Comments onsandrabarber.'s Review

• Ainsley. on 2nd Dec 2002

  Helpful review

• Brillo. on 3rd Dec 2002

  I've seen this review on a few different sights. Either this person thinks that everyone in the world should hear about this DVD player or they work for Sony. That's just my two cents.

• sandrabarber. on 3rd Dec 2002

  I'm the writer and yes the review has appeared on ciao and dooyoo, two other consumer opinion sites. (I do not work for Sony but I do like writing).

• Marc. on 2nd Jan 2003

  I am looking to buy a dvd and have been doing lots of research. I saw your comment about it being a region 2 dvd player and that it plays multi-region/region free dvd's. How is this possible as region 2 means that it should only play dvds from europe not from places like usa. Could you explain?

• sandrabarber. on 6th Jan 2003

  Region Free and Multi-Region DVDs are chipped to play on any DVD machine, regardless of that machine's regional encoding. These DVDs are quite easy to get hold of now, especially on the internet (CD-wow.com have quite a few). Sandra (review writer)

• Al. on 8th Jan 2003

  You say in your review that the player plays PAL and NTFS DVDs on a PAL tv, well I have a Sony TV, which is PAL, and this DVD player (only recently) and you forgot to mention that when you are playing NTFS DVDs on a PAL tv, they are in black and white, which is very frustrating.

• Kevin. on 16th May 2003

  To play NTFS DVDs on a Sony TV, you need to make sure you're using SCART socket 1. That should give you colour.

• DEENO. on 26th May 2003

  Hi sandrabarber,
  
  I quite like your review on the product; much better than the other 2 lined, time wasting, say nothing jargon that was written about this particular DVD. I am a person who is planning to buy his first DVD and your review surely touched on a couple of points that I was hoping to find in a review.