Sony DVP-NS400D Black DVD Player

On the back there are two SCART sockets, always nice to see on any DVD player. Another area where this player scores over the simpler Sony offerings is in the inclusion of a Digital Dolby decoder offering surround sound via a full set of analogue outputs. The big advantage here is that if you've already invested in an AV amplifier without a built-in decoder you can add DVD and Dolby Digital in one go. If you don't already have the required amplifier then it's a less impressive feature as just about every modern AV amplifier has an integrated decoder apart from some budget models so, if and when you add surround sound to your system, you'll be duplicating the decoder. There's also a virtual mode which attempts to replicate the surround sound effect with a standard set of stereo speakers. Like most such systems its effectiveness is somewhat limited--there's just no substitute for the real thing. The remote control is sensibly organised and has nice big buttons for the main features. Picture quality is superb, Sony once again delivers an excellent result on screen. It has rich colours and a crisp image. It has a notably smooth scan and slow-motion too and there's a terrific "show me that again" button which plays back the last 10 seconds.

The usefulness of the surround sound decoder is debatable, but there is no doubting the quality of the player itself with some nice control features to lift it above the crowd.--Miles Berkeley

Ease of operation is a focus of the DVP-NS400D. Sony's Magic Pad provides a clear Graphical User Interface whilst playing. At the same time the player's Picture Navigation system makes operation child's play: from angle selection to strobe playback, this intuitive on-screen multi picture overview allows users to master the player's operating system in minutes and then get the most from their new DVD-Video. As well as controlling the DVD player the DVP-NS400D's remote commander can be programmed to control many brands of TV and Home Cinema receiver.

The core feature of the DVP-NS400D is Sony's new Precision Drive2 System - which includes new High Speed Stepping motor and the Dynamic Tilt Compensation mechanism that provides faster and more accurate tracking of playback of DVD's. Compatible with any kind of DVD-Video disc, Precision Drive2 compensates for disc warp and other disc imperfections.

To provide reliable, high picture quality, the new players integrate Block Noise Reduction technology, a new circuit that filters the borders of the component blocks, significantly reducing on-screen block noise artifacts. With respect to exciting sound quality, TV Virtual Surround sound - digital sound created from discrete multi channel source - optimises the surround sound quality of your TV set's existing speakers to provide an enhanced surround sound effect without multi-channel speakers. A Centre Level Up facility provides clear dialogue, even during fast action sequences, while dynamic, wide, night and standard sound settings are also available. This feature also works with Stereo (2ch) equipment.