Sony DVP-CX985V 400 Disc Progressive DVD / SACD Player
Great if you know what you're dealing with.
Thanks to the dire warnings in reviews like these, I purchased this item with low expectations.  I chose a local retailer instead of an online one because I knew I might want to return it.  Got a floor model for $345, so I was satisfied with the price. <br /> <br />One reviewer mentioned that he avoided the Disc Explorer entirely by typing up a list and accessing discs by disc number only.  I took his advice, and after a cursory look at the Disc Explorer I haven't used it since.  Sony screwed up here, but the rest of the player is great. <br /> <br />(It's inexplicable why Sony designed the Disc Explorer the way they did.  It shows only 5 titles at a time, you can't page down and it doesn't load titles automatically from most discs.  It's really terrible.  WTF, Sony?) <br /> <br />If the remote had a jog dial so I could dial up a disc number, I'd be in heaven.  As it is, I use the  <br />+/- keys or press \\"Folder\\", then type in the disc number, enter, enter.  This works fine.  I'm happy with the disc-loading speed. <br /> <br />What I'm most thrilled with is that it plays all my DVD+R home movies perfectly.  Whew.  Didn't know whether they'd play when I bought it.  Having 20 years of my life on deck changes everything.  I can go to my kids' birthdays, Christmas of any year or specific vacation memories in seconds.  Without a player like this, most home video lies unwatched and even if you pop a tape in, you can't locate anything quickly.  With everything transferred to DVD and loaded in a jukebox, I can finally really use my home movies.  Same with my complete Monty Python and Seinfeld sets.  If you want to put on The Argument Sketch or The Contest, you can go right to it.  Oh, and children are incapable of putting DVDs back in their cases.  Problem solved. <br /> <br />One nightmare I read about but didn't have was scratched discs.  My player is fine in this regard. <br /> <br />My wife asked my why I bought it if it had so many annoying problems.  Here's the deal:<br /> <br />1.  This player costs $200 less than the Pioneer. <br />2.  This player is progressive scan. <br />3.  The Pioneer is much older. <br />4.  It does what it's supposed to do. <br /> <br />I can't comment on the picture or audio quality since I'm not a videophile or audiophile anymore.  I have the thing plugged directly into a 27\\" tv, not even stereo.  But I'm sure if I get a plasma tv and hook it into a surround system it'll be awesome. <br /> <br />My wife is happy it plays CDs.  She rarely listened to CDs before because it was too much trouble to find them and put them on the player.  Now, she can just dial up (on the player) what she wants and press Play. <br /> <br />Buy one and work around the shortcomings.  It'll change your life.   <br /> <br />Pros <br />1.  This player costs $200 less than the Pioneer. <br />2.  This player is progressive scan. <br />3.  The Pioneer is much older. <br />4.  It does what it's supposed to do. <br />5.  Plays DVD+Rs. <br /> <br />Cons <br />1.  Disc access interface.  Just avoid Sony's Disc Explorer and you'll be fine. <br />2.  Huge, but that's not a big problem for me. <br />