Sony DVP-NS70H HDMI Single Disc DVD Player
Best HDTV-upconverting DVD player I've seen so far
I've been shopping for months for a decent DVD player with HDTV upconversion. This is the first such player that didn't disappoint me right out of the box.    I would give the player itself 5 stars, but I'm knocking one off because the package doesn't come with an HDMI cable included. You have to buy one separately, which is an unnecessary nuisance that can add from about $20 to over $100 (depending on the cable brand) to your purchase. And if you forgo the HDMI connection, you cannot get the player's 1080i upconversion for HDTV - thereby leaving little reason to purchase this item, whose other features can be found in many standard players for about half the price.    But that IMHO is a minor inconvenience in light of this player's performance and overall price. The device has an MSRP of about $170, and with coupons I got mine for $115 at Circuit City - which is quite low for an upconverting player, particularly one from Sony.    So far I haven't had to endure any of the problems that have plagued other such players I've purchased and subsequently returned. For the first time in my experiences, the 1080i upconverted picture resolution is genuinely better and richer through the HDMI connection than what's available via the component video alternative. The player has a comprehensive menu of onscreen settings and a fairly clear manual that will guide you through them. The remote is designed more intuitively than most others I've used (although the buttons are a bit on the small side)  and interacts with the player flawlessly even at fairly sharp angles. Along with the usual backwards-forwards scan/skip options, this player also provides an instant replay and advance feature for shorter hops back and forth. Scans at multiple speeds are relatively smooth, not choppy like many others I've seen. The menu and the remote offer numerous picture and sound adjustment options, but the standard settings have worked just fine for me.    I'm not the most high-tech person in the world, yet I think I am pretty demanding when it comes to picture and sound quality. This small but solid player delivers the goods, especially when its price is compared to others on the market. I know Sony DVD players have amassed countless Amazon reviewer complaints that they often fall apart and break down quickly. But that hasn't been my own personal experience, and I hope that trend continues for me with this one. After all too many failed purchases in this area, I think that at last I may have found a winner.