Small, sweet, stylish Sony sound system. I love it!
Written: May 26 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: All-in one package, great price, good sound, nice features, Sony quality
Cons: Could be more powerful, remote, limited number of video in/out
The Bottom Line: Cheaper than separate components, but provides a nice easy to use setup with great sound for a great price.
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| eltonlin's Full Review: Sony DAV-S300 |
DAV-S300
One nice, neat, easy to use, yet high quality entertainment package.
To be brief, I'll provide a slimmed down review highlighting the good and bad points of this system- Consider it an 'at-a-glance' review.
Introduction
I recently moved into a one-bedroom and was looking to purchase a DVD/speaker/receiver set to complement the Wega I purchased (see review at http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-2E92-2BCDC9CE-399B13C0-prod5). Since I lived in a small place, I didn't need something booming with power, and I also needed something with a decent price because of the hit my wallet took w/ the Wega. So, after some research, I found this great Sony system, which had everything I needed in one small compact package. (and, it complements my wega perfectly!). Now, my findings on the system:
Pros.
o All in one package- compact, simple, great quality, economical, cheaper than buying components separately.
o Sleek design- slim package allows me to place it anywhere. Speakers are small and are inconspicuous. They blend in with any décor. The system also complements a Wega TV perfectly.
o Quick setup- easy to follow 'quick-start' guide and the fact that the system includes color coded speaker wires for each speaker (as well as indicators for positive and negative terminals!)
o Integration with TV- great surround sound output. I have the DAV-S300 configured to both receive cable directly, or indirectly via TV. Going through the TV allows for a more exaggerated surround sound effect due to the TV's built-in surround sound feature. Great TV shows and sports.
o Numerous sound modes (automatic, DTS, Dolby Digital, dolby pro-logic, artificial sound modes, other "hall" modes. All are pretty gimmicky. For my TV setup, I use Prologic. For my DVD, I use the automatic mode. ) Dolby Digital comes out clear. DTS is amazing. THX (with ToyStory and Dolby Digital is also aweinspiring.) Very crisp high and lows.
o Great features (16:9, 4:3, pan and scan, GUI based menu, GUI based speaker sound setup, FM TUNER, 2 Video inputs, digital input - for DirectTV, haven't attempted it with my PS2 yet). The DVD player also automatically detects whether the DVD is an anamorphic widescreen and adjusts playback accordingly. (You can override this however).
o Great sound (180 watts is plenty for the living room on my one bedroom apartment).
o Small speakers, small footprint. (purchased extra Sony stands for more complete look.)
Cons
o Speaker connectors , once broken, may be hard to replace.
o DVD display on the system can be hard to view from some angles,
o Remote works well with Sony TVs, but nothing else. Could also benefit from being illuminated.
o One button 'function' changes between all modes. Takes a while to switch modes, and isn't too friendly with other universal remotes with dedicated Video/DVD/Tuner buttons.
o No component video out, and only one s-video out.
o Small speakers. No two-way center speaker. Subwoofer could be tad bigger and provide more 'umph'.
o Less powerful than other similar systems.
o Though cheaper than components bought separately, there is very little flexibility with this system. Add a VCR and that's pretty much it.
Overall, a great package for those in dorms or small apartments that are also craving for space. Also great for those who don't want to spend lots of money on separate components, and want a nice easy to use setup that also provides some great sound for a great price.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
eltonlin
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Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 2 members
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