Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD Player Review

DVP-NS999ES First Impressions and Resolution

When Sony revealed their new flagship DVD / SACD Player for $999, audio and videophiles alike began dreaming of owning such a machine. Sony's High End ES line of products continue to display superb quality with reasonable pricing. The new Sony DVP-NS999ES player is no exception as it is one of the foremost DVD Players on the market today in its price range.

First Impressions

Upon unpacking the unit and carefully examining its build quality, I connected it to Audioholic's Reference System 2 , gladly replacing the Panasonic DVD-A310. I decided to begin my visual study of the player's performance with one of my favorite Concert DVD's, Eric Clapton's, " One More Car One More Rider. " Almost immediately into viewing this Masterpiece DVD, I noticed the stunning detail and visual clarity presented by this player. A few minutes into it I started seeing bright flashes that appeared rapidly in certain dark areas of the stage. I watched intently to determine what was the cause. I repeated scenes to see if it was random, or occurring in the same area at the same time. I've watched this DVD dozens of times before on other players, so I figured it couldn't be the DVD. The odd thing is that the flashes occurred in the same areas at the same time during play each time I repeated scenes. Still puzzled, I moved closer to the TV Monitor (57" Sony KP-57WV600) to try and figure out what this was. It was then that I noticed to my utter surprise and amazement, that I was witnessing, for the very first time, reflections from flash photography bouncing off metallic objects on the stage during the concert. This blew me away! I've watched this DVD on multiple players and was unable to recognize this occurrence. It was not until the progressive scan image produced from the Sony DVP-NS999ES, that I even noticed the result of flash photography coming from the audience. From that point, I knew I was in for a real treat when I got to some other high quality videos.

Resolution

Before putting the unit though a number of DVD's, I thought it would be a good idea to use the Avia Guide to Home Theater DVD and check out a few of the digital calibration images. I started with some Resolution images at 100 TVL and 200 TVL such as the one in this picture.

There are a multitude of calibration images found on the Avia DVD which can be used to calibrate a TV Monitor, check the resolution or chroma delay of a DVD Player or compare component video cables. For the purpose of analyzing this DVD player, I used 100 TVL and 200 TVL images and compared the resolution between this player and other players. With the Sony DVP-NS999ES, both vertical and horizontal lines, and circles were solid with no jitter, indicating that the player is fully capable of creating high resolution images up to the maximum limit of 540 lines or 540/80 = 6.75 MHz. Some players, especially interlaced players, have a hard time producing higher resolution lines to this degree. When viewing these images through them, it is easy to notice that the lines near the 480+ mark begin to jitter or move rapidly, making the end look like a clam shell that is opening and closing rapidly. This was not the case with the Sony DVP-NS999ES. The entire calibration lines were solid with no jitters all the way out to the very end which is the theoretical limit for DVD.

DVP-NS999ES Features

Practical Features

There are several useful, practical, and interesting features found in the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD/SACD Player. The best example can be seen when you take out a DVD Movie during play. You can put in a totally different DVD movie, run through the DVD setup, begin playing that movie, stop it, take it out, and put back the original movie. When doing so, the Sony DVP-NS999ES remembers exactly where you left off and maintains the video and audio set up (such as wide screen format and DTS settings for example). You can then go back to the second DVD and the Sony will remember where you were with that one as well. I think this is simply remarkable and extremely practical. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a movie or DVD concert and didn't finish it. I then would take that DVD out, put in a CD or another DVD and have to go through the set up all over. Now, when I return to a DVD, I don't have to go through the DVD set up menu. Genius feature and hats off to Sony for including it in this player!

Another practical feature can be seen with DVD's. The DVD Player is capable of placing a graphic on the TV Monitor when the DVD is in stop mode. The graphic can either be one generated by the player, a picture you manually store, or one found in the actual DVD (if supported by the DVD), like the cover graphic for example. Very clever Sony!

Other Key Practical Features Include:

• Screen Saver: The screen saver image appears when you leave the player in pause or stop mode for 15 minutes, or when you play back a CD, SACD or MP3 CD for more than 15 minutes. The screen saver can be turned On or Off.
• Background: You can select the background color in stop mode, or while playing a CD, SACD or an MP3. You can choose Jacket Picture (shows the DVD jacket picture if supported by the DVD), Picture Memory (a favorite picture that you manually store using the Picture Memory button on the remote), Graphics (shows a preset graphic), Blue (background color is blue), or Black (background color is black).
• DVD/SACD/CD Text: When playing a DVD, SACD or CD encoded with text, this unit will display the text information.
• MP3 Playback: This unit will play MP3 files recorded onto CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW discs using the ISO 9660 level 1/level 2, or Joliet formats.æ
• PBC (Playback Control) Playback: PBC playback allows you to play Video CDs interactively by following the menu on the TV screen.
• Angle Viewer: If various angles for a scene are recorded on a DVD, you can display the angles at the same time. The player can display up to 9 different angles at once.
• Strobe Play: When playing a DVD or Video CD, you can display 9 consecutive moving pictures on the screen. The pictures can also be paused.
• Picture Navigation: You can divide the screen into 9 subscreens and find the desired scene quickly.
• Title/Chapter and Track Viewer: This feature allows you to view pictures of the disc's titles, chapters or tracks on a single screen divided into 9 sections and start playback from the chosen title, chapter or track.
• Multi-disc Resume: The player stores the point where you stopped the disc for up to 300 discs and resumes playback from the stored location the next time you insert the same disc. The resume playback point is cleared for a disc when you change the play mode or you change the settings on the Setup Display while the disc is playing. Note: This feature does not work for audio CDs, SACDs or MP3 CDs.
• Instant Replay: The Instant Replay function is useful when you want to review a scene or dialogue that you missed. With a single press of the Replay button, the player will go back 10 seconds and begin playing again.
• Bookmark: Up to 9 bookmarks per disc for a total of 300 discs can be stored in memory.
• Disc Memo: You can label a disc if no text is recorded on the disc. You can put a title up to 20 characters in length on each disc.
• Program Play: Up to 99 titles, chapters and tracks can be programmed and played in any order.
• Shuffle Play: When playing a DVD, you can play the titles or chapters in random order. When playing a Video CD, SACD or an audio CD, you can play the tracks in random order. In addition, you can play the titles/chapters or tracks in Program Play in random order.
• Repeat Play: "A-B Repeat" allows you to select any portion of a title, chapter, or track and play that portion repeatedly. When playing a DVD, you can repeat the current title, current chapter, or the entire disc. When playing a Video CD, SACD or an audio CD, you can repeat the current track or the entire disc. When playing an MP3 disc, you can repeat the current album, current track or the entire disc.æIn addition, you can repeat Program Play and Shuffle Play.
• Scan Search: When playing a DVD, SACD or an audio CD, there are three fast-play speeds available in the playback direction. When playing a DVD, there are three fast-play speeds available in the reverse direction. When playing an SACD or audio CD, there are two fast-play speeds available in the reverse direction.
• Slow Motion: When playing a DVD or Video CD, you may move forward through the program being played in one of two slow motion speeds. When playing a DVD, you may move backward through the program being played in one of two slow motion speeds.
• Display Dimmer: You can set the display to Bright, Dark, Auto Dark, Auto Off, or Off. When set to Auto Dark, if you do not operate the player or remote for a short while, the front panel display becomes dark. When set to Auto Off, if you do not operate the player or remote for a short while, the front panel display turns off.
• Parental Control: This unit allows you to set two kinds of playback restrictions for DVDs using Parental Control and Custom Parental Control. Parental Control allows you to restrict playback according to a predetermined level. You can select a parental control rating from 0-8, which is protected by a 4-digit password. Using the same registered password, Custom Parental Control allows you to set playback restrictions for a specific disc. You can set the same Custom Parental Control password for up to 300 discs.
• Child Lock: You can lock the disc tray to prevent a child from opening it.

DVP-NS999ES Video and Audio Features

Key Video Features

• 108MHz/14-bit Video D/A Converter
• Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion De-interlacer with 3-2 Pulldown Processing
• Progressive Scan Output

Video Setup

The Sony DVP-NS999ES is packed full of an assortment of options for setting up and calibrating the video and audio quality of this player. Depending on a particular Home Theater set-up and the amount of calibration you wish to do, these features can be extremely useful. If your happy with right out of the box performance, they can simply be set to standard. But if your like the folks at Audiolics and always look for a way to improve your systems performance, this DVD player is ideal. For the purpose of this this review, the DVD player was connected to, Reference System 2 , which sports a Sony KP-57WV600 Wide Screen HDTV Monitor. This Monitor was previously calibrated with another DVD player, using the Avia Guide to Home Theater and an Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) Certified Technician. In combination with this DVD, color filters and a key eye, this TV was calibrated for correct color, contrast, hue, and brightness, so that it produces the best possible video image with DVD's. The set up was done using all the service menu items found within the TV. But since this TV has known problems with red push up to 40 IRE and blue push thereafter, so it is not possible to fully calibrate and correct the color accurately without accessing the service menu. Service menu access is not recommended for common folks like us, so another method of adjustment is required. In this particular system, it is beneficial to also use the set up items found in the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD Player as it will create a whole new set of parameters to adjust and calibrate to the TV.

But suppose you don't have an AVIA DVD or you don't want to go through the time it takes to calibrate your TV before using your equipment. Well the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD Player also has a list of pre-programmed video controls with preset levels for contrast, color, hue, brightness and so forth. These can be used to select the image that meets your taste or what looks best to you.

Video Control: You can either choose from the following Video Control settings or create your own under the Memory setting::

• Standard: displays a standard picture
• Dynamic 1: produces a bold dynamic picture by increasing the picture contrast and the color intensity
• Dynamic 2: produces a more dynamic picture than Dynamic 1 by further increasing the picture contrast and the color intensity
• Cinema 1: enhances details in dark areas by increasing the black level
• Cinema 2: white colors become brighter and black colors become richer, and the color contrast is increased
• Memory: allows you to individually adjust and store the following settings: Digital Video Enhancer, Block Noise Reduction, Luminance Noise Reduction, Chroma Noise Reduction, Chroma Delay, AV Alignment, picture, brightness, color, hue, and gamma

The user has the ability to change to any of these preset settings in order to produce the best possible image for the Monitor and the lighting conditions of the room. What ever the Home Theater Setup, this player offers enormous flexibility to accommodate.

Key Audio Features

• 192kHz/24-bit Audio D/A Converter
• 2-Channel and Multi-Channel SACD Playback
• Direct Stream Digital (DSD) Encoding
• MP3 Playback

Audio Setup

Once again, Sony created something for everyone, and every set up environment. Between the choices of Audio filter, dynamic range, and digital out, the list below speaks for itself.

• Audio ATT (attenuation): You can select On or Off. When On is selected, the unit lowers the level of the analog audio outputs to prevent distortion.
• Audio Dynamic Range Control (DVD only): You can select Standard, TV Mode (compresses the dynamic range for late night listening), and Wide Range (no compression for the highest dynamic range).
• Audio Filter: selects the digital filter to reduce noise above 22.05 kHz (for sources with a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz), 24 kHz (for sources with a sampling frequency of 48 kHz), or 48 kHz (for sources with a sampling frequency above 96 kHz). The Audio Filter can be set to Sharp or Slow. Sharp provides a wide frequency range and spatial feeling. Slow provides smooth and warm sound.
• Down Mix (DVD only): This functions switches the mixing method, so "Dolby Surround" sounds ideal when used with a Pro Logic/Dolby Digital/DTS receiver, and "Normal" sounds ideal when used with a normal stereo.
• Digital Out: You can select if audio signals are passed through the digital outputs. You can choose On or Off. When the digital outputs are turned On, you can adjust the Dolby Digital, and DTS settings.
• Dolby Digital: You can select D-PCM (outputs PCM only) or Dolby Digital (outputs a Dolby Digital signal when available).
• DTS: You can select D-PCM (outputs PCM only) or DTS (outputs a DTS signal when available).
• 48 kHz/96 kHz PCM (DVD only): selects the sampling frequency and word length of the audio signal to be output via the digital outputs. You can select 48 kHz/16-bit or 96 kHz/24-bit. When set to 48 kHz/16-bit, the audio signals are always converted to 48 kHz/16-bit. When set to 96 kHz/24-bit, all types of signals, including 96 kHz/24-bit, are output in their original format. However, if the signal is encrypted for copyright protection purposes, the signal is only output as 48 kHz/16-bit.

DVP-NS999ES Video Performance and Build Quality

Chroma Upsampling Error - Not in this player?

I've seen a number of sites that describe this problem in detail and list many DVD players that show signs of a "Chroma Bug." I've also seen a number of AV Forum discussions regarding the same issue, some of which claim that the Sony DVP-NS999ES player also has the problem. In no way am I trying to do a disservice to sites that have accurately documented this problem with other players, but from what I've seen, with the DVD's we used to evaluate, the Sony DVP-NS999ES does not appear to have a Chroma Bug. To verify this, I viewed key parts of several DVD's where this bug is usually 'obvious' on players with this problem, such as Toy Story and others, in addition to the Avia Guide to Home Theater DVD. Using the Avia DVD, I displayed actual Chroma Delay graphics and without question, I saw no signs of the Chroma delay or distortions with this player.

Now this problem does exist with other players, some of which are from Sony, but I think there are times where it may be misinterpreted by viewers who are not certain what to look for. There are other problem that can occur in Home Theater set up which may appear to be a Chroma Bug, but it may not be from the DVD Player. For example, if there is a substantial impedance mismatch between the player and the monitor, it is possible to get ghosting that may appear to some as the Chroma Bug. Also, if the cables themselves are not made well and have bad solder joints or there are inconsistencies between the three cables, there can be an actual chroma delay that is a result of a cable problem. For more information on the component video cables used to connect your DVD player, check out Audiohoilc's Component Video Cable - The Definitive Guide article.

What ever the case may be, we did not see a Chroma Bug with this player, so it seems Sony resolved the issue with this release or at least nullified it to the point that it isn't visible for us normal folks ;) in most home theater environments.

Precision Progressive Scan

The DVP-NS999ES features Sony's proprietary Precision Cinema Progressive System, which incorporates Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion technology. This helps balance DVD-video elements and reduce/remove distortion found in some original formats, thus ensuring the best possible picture quality.

Additional elements of the Precision Cinema Progressive system include the Super Sub Alias Filter, which improves signal-to-noise and frequency response resulting in crisp, clean images. In addition, the players Noise Shaped Video» (NSV1) feature uses the sigma delta modulation technique to reduce video noise for added picture quality. These features ensure that the DVP-NS999ES produces breath taking DVD video playback.

Build Quality

DVD players can be vulnerable to vibrations in the disc or optical pickup. Vibrations can occur during play of a loud, deep base movie, or other external sources. Sony implemented a frame and beam construction to provide rigidity and an anti-resonant design by implementing vertical and horizontal beams.

Further ensuring optimized performance and design, the model's spindle, motor and optical pick-up base are bolted to a sub-chassis.

The base unit is mounted on the subchassis called the mechanical deck. This is a self-contained box formed of Sony's Buck Molding Compound, which resists vibration and resonance.

The Precision Drive» 2 with Dynamic Tilt Compensation is Sony's second generation optical pick-up, which provides fast access and steady tracking by applying a high responsive serve tilt to the pick-up in order to compensate for some imperfections found in some discs.

A word of caution though. The loading tray has four low profile guides to help the user align the DVD/CD. Since the profile of these guides are so low, it is possible to load the DVD/CD slightly off axis and it can result in potentially jamming the unit. Just be careful when loading a DVD. Fumbling around in a dark room may not be the best idea when loading another DVD into the player.

DVP-NS999ES Video and Audio Evaluations

DVD Video Playback

In an effort to evaluate the picture quality of the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD/SACD player, we watched key scenes from several DVD movies.

1. Ice Age - What startled me most about watching this movie is being able to see the detail in the background snow. There were times that I swear I was able to see snow flakes in the snow piles. This DVD player revealed the snow piles glistening with amazing clarity.
2. The Lord of The Rings - Remarkable detail can be seen in this movie from beginning to end. There is a specific scene toward the beginning of the movie where Gandalf and Frodo are crossing a stone bridge. What's interesting about this scene is when the camera moves, the spaces/gaps in the stones appear to jitter on most DVD players. With the Sony DVP-NS999ES, these spaces were perfectly still as the camera moved. Remarkable imaging can be seen throughout this movie on this player.
3. Eric Clapton's One More Car One More Rider - As indicated earlier, for the first time, I was able to see flash photography coming from the audience very distinctly. In addition, the level of detail visible such as Eric Clapton's shirt, the painting on his Fender Stratocaster, and the stage, gave the feeling that Eric was playing in my Family Room.

SACD Playback

In an effort to evaluate the SACD quality of the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD/SACD player, we listened to several two channel SACD's .

1. Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue ; This SACD has some of the most dynamic music I've heard. The vocal range of Patricia Barber coupled with the stylistic music and the top rate recording, allow this SACD to stand out on any system under scrutiny. This SACD came to life using the "Bright" mode on the DVD player.
2. Rebecca Pigeon - The Raven; Another masterpiece recording that is alive with sound on this player.

CD Playback

In an effort to evaluate the CD quality of the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD/SACD player, we listened to several two channel CD's . CD's are probably the hardest format to evaluate a CD player with. The reason is many CD's are grossly over compressed during mastering, or they have been boosted in certain frequencies to make it appeal to the masses. For this reason, Audioholic's tries to use CD's that have been recorded and mixed well. By learning the sound quality of the CD's listed below on multiple systems, it is possible to distinguish supple differences between components within a system.

Note: For more information on format abuse, take a look at our article Current Trends in the Recording Format Arena

CD Reference List

1. John Scofield & Pat Metheny - I Can See Your House From Here
2. Bob James - Ivory Coast
3. Jewel - Spirit
4. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
5. Holly Cole - Don't Smoke In Bed
6. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

Upon listening to key songs from all of the CD's listed above, it became obvious that the DAC's used in this player were top notch. Sony did not just stop at video when creating this machine. The player is also fully capable of producing pristine sound from two channel CD's.

DVP-NS999ES Remote Control and Conclusion

The Remote Control

Conclusion

All things considered, the Sony DVP-NS999ES player rocks in every way possible, (except maybe for the remote control). It provides full resolution images, accurate color, amazing detail and superb fidelity. If you are considering, or already have, a wide screen HDTV and want one of the best possible video images available from a progressive scan DVD player for a reasonable price, then the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD / SACD player is a great choice. Without hesitation, add it to your must have list, and certainly take it for a test drive for yourself if you can.

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

• — Excellent
• — Very Good
• — Good
• — Fair
• — Poor

Metric	Rating
Standard Definition Video Performance
High Definition Audio Performance
Analogue Audio Performance
Bass Management
Build Quality
Ergonomics & Usability
Ease of Setup
Features
Remote Control
Performance
Value