- Audio Home System Type: Vertical set
- Blu Ray Playback: No
- Blu Ray Recording: No
- Blu-ray Playback: No
- Blu-ray Recording: No
- Built-In Modem: No
- Built-in Modem: no
- CD: Integrated
- CD Player: Single-Player
- CD Player / Recorder: CD Player
- CD-R/Rw Recording: no
- Cassette Deck: No
- Cassette Decks: No
- Compact Flash Card: No
- DAB: No
- DAB Broadcast: no
- DAT: no
- DSR/DAB: DSR
- DVD Audio Playback: No
- DVD Player / Recorder: DVD Player
- DVD Player Function: DVD Player
- DVD Recording: no
- DVD+R Recording: No
- DVD+RW Recording: No
- DVD-Audio: no
- DVD-R Recording: No
- DVD-RAM Recording: No
- DVD-RW Recording: No
- DVI Interface: No
- Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB): No
- Digital Sound Processor: no
- Digital Tuner: no
- Digital Tuning: no
- Digital sound processor: no
- DivX Playback: No
- Dolby / DTS: Dolby Digital
- Dolby Pro Logic Decoder Type: Dolby Digital
- Ethernet: No
- Firewire IEEE-1394 Interface: No
- Graphic Equaliser: Built-in
- HD-DVD Playback: No
- HD-DVD Recording: No
- HDMI Interface: No
- Home Theatre System (Digital Dolby and DVD Player): Yes
- Internet Ability: no
- Loudspeaker Connection: No
- Loudspeakers: with Speaker-System (3 Boxes and More)
- MD Player / Recorder: No
- MD-Product: no
- MP3 Docking: No
- MP3 Playback: No
- MP3 Player: no
- MP3 Recording: No
- Memory Stick: No
- Multimedia Card: No
- Number of Discs: 1
- Number of Output Channels: 5 + Subwoofer (5.1)
- Number of Speakers: 6
- PCMCIA Interface: No
- Progressive Scan: No
- RDS: No
- RDS/EON: Yes
- RMS Wattage: 35
- Remote Control: CD Only
- Secure Digital Card: No
- Server function: no
- Single / Multi Block: Single Block
- Single/Multi Block: Single Block
- Single/Multi Box: Single Box
- Smart Media Card: No
- Super Audio CD: Yes
- Super Audio CD Playback: Yes
- Super Audio CD-Player: yes
- Super Video CD / Video CD Playback: No
- System Set Up: Monobloc 1
- Table / Portable: Table
- Table/Portable: Table
- Type of Memory Card: no
- Video Cassette Player / Recorder: No
- Videorecorder: No
- Wattage: 40
- Width (mm): 355
- Wireless Music System: No
- Wireless Speakers: No
- Year of Introduction: 2002
- Year of introduction: 2002
- xD-Picture Card: No
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Technical Details
Product details
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
178 of 180 people found the following review helpful
Sony does not advertise the fact that this unit does not have SCART or S-video output. This means that the quality of the image is inferior to even the most basic of dedicated DVD players - the quality is little better than a Playstation. What a shame because otherwise this is excellent for the money - so don't waste yours, spend a little extra and get the DAV-S500, as I did, which is simply superb.
Sony, however, should be applauded for the inclusion of SACD. I am hoping the DAV series will sell truckloads so that the SACD format takes off and many more titles will become available. The quality compared to CD is astonishing, and music in full surround is a revelation.
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
...If you're familiar with Sony kit, you'll know that it's unusual to find something of this value. The DAVS400 is the little brother to Sony's pricier DAVS550, yet is still competently styled. It looks much like the company's older DAVS500 system, but has slightly slimmer speakers.
The feature's count is respectable too, the Sony supporting DVD-Video, SACD (Stereo and Multichannel) and MP3 CD. Unfortunately it only has Pro Logic I surround processing, alongside a whole host of DSP modes & "Cinema EX" modes - patented by Sony (which are best left alone). It also supports decoding of DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks. And also has provisions for connecting external audio sources via Stereo analogue inputs. And can even loop Video feeds if you want it to.
It's a shame then, that the system's performance doesn't live up to it's Specification. But lets start with the positives...
The surround sound for DVD Video and SACD is brilliant, the speakers providing a respectable depth & accuracy to the sound that almost rivals Sony's pricier DAVS550 setup. With The Fellowship of The Ring the subwoofer copes marvellously well, delving deeper than you'd expect than something of it's 'Passive' nature (Passive meaning a subwoofer that doesn't have its own power supply). And Stereo CD copes equally well, although there's no provision for Pro Logic II music mode with CD, which is deeply frustrating.
The feature's count is respectable too, the Sony supporting DVD-Video, SACD (Stereo and Multichannel) and MP3 CD. Unfortunately it only has Pro Logic I surround processing, alongside a whole host of DSP modes & "Cinema EX" modes - patented by Sony (which are best left alone). It also supports decoding of DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks. And also has provisions for connecting external audio sources via Stereo analogue inputs. And can even loop Video feeds if you want it to.
It's a shame then, that the system's performance doesn't live up to it's Specification. But lets start with the positives...
The surround sound for DVD Video and SACD is brilliant, the speakers providing a respectable depth & accuracy to the sound that almost rivals Sony's pricier DAVS550 setup. With The Fellowship of The Ring the subwoofer copes marvellously well, delving deeper than you'd expect than something of it's 'Passive' nature (Passive meaning a subwoofer that doesn't have its own power supply). And Stereo CD copes equally well, although there's no provision for Pro Logic II music mode with CD, which is deeply frustrating.
However, switch to the Analogue stereo inputs and engage Pro Logic I surround sound, and it becomes clear why Pro Logic II was developed in the first place. Surround placement is sluggish & innaccurate and action is hard to follow. I'd even go so far as to say it'd be preferable to watch VHS or Terrestrial TV in Stereo, at it makes the action much easier to follow at times.
Onto the picture, and this is where the DAVS400 really trips up. The system only has provisions for Composite Video outputs, which is - by a long long way - the worst method for picture transport. There's a lot of tizzing and jagged edges with almost all material, and the famous composite video 'dots' plague areas of detail, whereby the picture is smothered in interference dots. However, it's still an improvement on VHS, and if you haven't spend the last few weeks with a stand alone DVD player then you're unlikely to find need to complain.
So why only three stars? Well, as good as it is, the Sony delivers a video performance which can be easily outdone by a stand alone DVD player costing £80. If you consider that it leaves £220 for an audio system (and there's plenty of them around for that money) that could also outperform the Sony, it doesn't leave the DAVS400 in the best position for marketplace domination. Unless you really can't afford to pay extra and must have a sony system, I'd advise you to opt for the similarly priced Pioneer DSC303, or the far superior Sony DAVS550.
81 of 87 people found the following review helpful
well what can i say? sony has done it again with an absolute up to the minute piece of digital gadgetry, the whole design of the unit and speaker system is brilliant, the sound quality and features are amazing for the price. However, there is a major flaw with this compact AV system and that is the lack of scart or even s-vhs out!! the only way to connect this system to your TV is with a simple composite out! A system of this price should have at least an s-vhs out! i've seen basic budget DVD player with s-vhs out but oh no sony decided to save a few pounds. having said that the picture quality is still pretty good and should be fine for someone trying to get into the home cinema scene!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
exccellent
The unit is very much a nice package if you look around at what else you can buy.The downsides if any would be the fact that it dosen't have a scart or s-video output but look... Read more
Published on 14 July 2003
Fantastic!!!
I bought this earlier this week, and it is absolutely brilliant. The set-up process is extremely easy, once you get your head round it. Read more
Published on 4 April 2003 by "reverendbrotherdill"
Entry level
This is the Sony 'Entry level' for home cinema. I bought one having listned to it, a superb home cinema kit with all the Sony quality you would expect. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2002 by D. Rees
outstanding
I bought this system over a year ago and have been recommending it ever since. The sound quality is execeptional for in the house and I even got rid of my stereo because it has an... Read more
Published on 24 July 2002
Another winner from Sony
I have just bought this and the sound is just superb.It is simple to set up with colour coded speaker connections and brings DVD to life. Read more
Published on 28 April 2002
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