Sony - DVP-NS700H Up-Scaling DVD Player Review

Bottom-Line: At a retail price of approximately $50.00 the NexStar 3 is a little more expensive than some others on the market, but I believe it's worth it. 

I recently upgraded my standard satellite receiver to a Dish Network ViP722 HD-DVR that offers up to 55 hours of recorded HD programming.  Along with the HD-DVR I also acquired a Sony BRAVIA XRB 32-in LCD HDTV.  Two HD components were in place, but I needed a third, a DVD player capable of playing DVD at 1080p.  The expense of Blue-Ray keeps this technology out of reach; I needed another solution; it presented itself in the small Sony DVP -NS700H Up-scaling 1080p DVD player. 

The DVP -NS700H is a single-disc, standard DVD player that when connected with an HDMI cable up-scales the DVD's in your collection to 1080p when used with a compatible HDTV.  As an added bonus the unit can also play your CD's of all types, plus MP3 and JPEG files that have been burned onto CD-R's, CD-RW's, DVD's and other media. Dolby Digital surround sound decoding is built in, along with a DTS output. Other outputs include composite video, S-video, component video, HDMI, as well as coaxial and optical digital audio outputs.

The Unit

I was surprised by the small size of the DVP -NS700H.  The unit is only 7.75 inches deep, compared to almost 12 inches deep for the Sony DVD it replaces.  Nevertheless the unit contains all of the connections one would expect on a major DVD player.  Since I was connecting the player directly to the Sony BRAVIA HDTV via an HDMI cable, I by-passed routing the video through my A/V receiver.  And since the audio is also carried though the HDMI cable there was need to connect the Optical Audio out, but I did so anyway. 

Once connected and powered on I set-up the DVP -NS700H via the Sony BRAVIA, which it also Sync's with via BRAVIA Sync a technology that allows the two units to work together.  For example, when a DVD is placed in the DVP -NS700H the connected television turns on automatically if not already on, and switches that HDMI port.

Front controls are few, so most of the players operation can be carried out via the remote control.               

My Viewpoint

I am impressed with the Sony DVP -NS700H.  In addition to playing DVD's the unit is also capable, very capable, of playing DVD with remarkable clarity.  And did I mention the full Dolby Digital output?  Exceptional, especially when a full surround (5-1, 7-1) sound system is used.  Needless to say I couldn't be happier with the DVP -NS700H. 

For a list price of around $68.00 the up-scaling DVP -NS700H cannot be beat; who needs Blue-Ray?