Sony DVPCX995V 400-Disc DVD Mega Changer/Player (2009 Model)
Excellent solution to a burgeoning media library
I've been using this unit about a week.  Thus far, I've found it an excellent value.  I won't spend any time on the features, as you can read them here or elsewhere.  I'll simply summarize my experiences to date.    Kudos:    1. 400 DVDs in one unit!  This is an amazing number of media in one player.  I don't foresee putting many audio CDs in it, as its real value is in holding a potential 3.6TB of video data (9GB Dual-Layer DVDs x 400).  I think I have just under 400 DVDs, and we are now more renters than buyers, so this will work well for us.    2. Video quality at 480p component output.  Excellent.  Interestingly better than the HDMI output, IMO.  This is probably due to the quality of processing occurring within the player itself.    3. HDMI - The idea however of porting all data, video AND audio over one pipe, and fully digital at that, is a big improvement over the standard minimum of 5 cables.     Gripes:    1. HDMI - initially I found it unreasonably sharp and displaying artifacts on my DLP set.  Tweaking the video settings on the DLP solved most of this.  This brings up a choice: do you allow the DVD to upscale, via the HDMI - or - allow the DLP to do so, via the component inputs?  It depends on the quality of the upscaling electronics.  It appears the DLP set has the winning hand in my setup.  Thus HDMI, while nice, renders an inferior video experience to component output.  Additionally, it should be noted that there is an output setting for HDMI that needs to be tweaked.  My DLP set is 720p native and this is what I needed to set the HDMI out on the DVD player.  1080i is another option and it will work, but it causes my DLP to do unnecessary work, taking an upscaled 480p image and converting it to 1080i, before downscaling it to 720p.  It seems logically superior to me to allow 1 upscale from 480p to 720p and be done with it.    2. Navigation is a little slow.  It works, but it isn't up to the sorts of speeds that media mavens expect.    3. The remote control.  A jog dial on the remote would be nice, as would backlighting of the buttons.  The need to move a small switch between \\"DVD\\" and \\"Explorer\\" is somewhat irritating.  These features should have their own buttons, not shared.    4. Odd size of the unit in the back.  It takes a lot of work to squeeze 400 DVDs in one unit.  I understand this.  However, in order to accomplish this, it appears engineers placed some of the drive mechanism hanging out the rear left.  I haven't attempted to place the unit in an entertainment center, but am almost certain that when I do, I'll have to notch out the back of the enclosure so that the Sony will fit.  Be aware you may have to do likewise.    5. Adding jacket photos.  Laborious process that could be enhanced by a more automated feature, perhaps auto-picking an image from the primary video stream.    6. Likewise slow manual process of cataloging the discs.  While some discs auto-populate the data, in my experience this is only 1 disc in 10.  I'd like to see a more intelligent algorithm that scans the disc for title and adds that.  Then you can go back and add details if you wish.  In most cases, I'd skip it.  The title is enough.    All in all, a fine unit, particularly for the price ($300, free super saver shipping).