Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony DVP-S550D DVD Player

OK. I'll be honest - I was scared as all heck to buy a DVDplayer because it seemed that no matter which one you might buy, itwould have lip synch problems, or not be able to read 2-layer discs correctly, or yadda... yadda...

I have researched DVD players since December, and it came down to 2 players - the Sony 550 and the Toshiba 3109 (now the 2200 for year 2000). Until last week I was pretty much sold on the 3109 (three friends of mine have the 3109 - rave about it and have never had a problem), but after seeing them in the flesh - I bought the Sony.

Why?

1. The Sony looks much more solid. The 3109 (2200) doesn't look cheap mind you, but the plastic definately looks and feels like plastic - and the disc tray seems awfully flimsy to me.

2. The remote. OK, OK - I know the remote gripe you've been hearing non-stop. BUT! Toshiba has listened and has redesigned the remote for the 2200 - much better, has a "joystick" but it still has that "flip-cover" and it is honestly way too big for the limited functionality - plus you NEED the remote to do most functions (ie: go through the DVD menu selections). The Sony has an unbelievable remote with a jog wheel. It's big - but it can run the TV, reciever, and unit. AND you don't need the remote to do things - you can sit on your floor, pop in the DVD, go through the options and everything.

3. The digital filter chip. The gist I've gotten is that the Sony 530 and the Toshiba units have the same video quality, but the Sony 550D renders images noticeably better and has a digital filter chip. Mind you, most people might not notice, but when you've got a 32 Wega on the way....! The guy comparing the 3109 and the 550D a couple of reviews down isn't the only one saying that the 550D renders images better - I've heard it from a couple of people!

4. The lip-synch problem is no longer. If you're buying the 550D now - there are no problems. I've watched the Matrix, Ronin, and Aliens so far - not one skip, studder, pause, or audio synch problem on any of them.

Here's how I honestly look at it.

If you're concerned about money, want a really kick-butt player, and are only hooking it up to your average TV - go with the Toshiba. Like I said, I have 3 friends who have it - and love it (get the newer 2200 though for the better remote).

If money isn't as big of a concern, you love movies, and you're more concerned about a better picture and some more functionality - than the 550D is the way to go!

I don't regret getting the 550D in the least! It looks and sounds AMAZING!

After hours of research online, I decided to trade in my JVC XV511 DVD player for this one. Of course, I read about the lip-sync issue, but I also found out that Sony has corrected the problem with a firmware update, and models currently at the store already have this update. It was evident from reviews that apart from the lip-sync issue, the player was blowing everyone away. Now, I have to add my voice to that chorus -- this product is amazing. Though the JVC had a great picture, the Sony's is absolutely stunning. With a component video connection, I see no flicker in fine edge detail, and the colors are so rich they leap off the screen. Setting up the 5.1 speaker output was easy, with an intuitive graphical interface. The remote is similarly intuitive, although it took me a few minutes to get used to the navigation button and jog wheel. The player feels solid, discs load very quickly, regular CDs sound excellent, and Sony has packed in a dozen small bonuses (like being able to save a favorite frame as the player's default display when not playing) -- all of which leaves me very satisfied, even amazed. With the lip-sync issue now resolved, and unless you want to spend twice as much money, you can't do better than this player.

No lip sync troubles, best picture of any DVD player I have auditioned so far. I tested 13th Floor, Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies and Titanic. Go DVD and when you are forced (and I mean FORCED) to endure VHS, you will think you need glasses while watching the tape. This is an outstanding player, no lip sync issues whatsoever, in fact it seemed better in that respect than the $800 Mitsubishi unit I almost bought. The sales guy steered to me to the Sony unit, said after seeing them every day, he bought the Sony. So did I. The clarity is exceptional, features are full and easy to use. Cinema sound does a passable job of simulating surround, at least until I hook up my surround speakers. The remote is well designed with the most important buttons placed in easy finger reach and made larger than the less frequently used buttons. Most of the features are available at the front panel, and the display is easy to see form across the room. On screen displays can be utilized in wide screne movies without interfereing with the picture. Still frame and frame save is a cool feature. The unit is well laid out and near perfect. You would have to spend several hundred dollars more on others units to achieve the 550's picture and sound quality. Highly recommended

The Sony DVD-S550 is a great buy for first and second time DVD player buyers alike. It offers a tremendous combination of features and performance at a very reasonable price. I had a year and a half old Panasonic DVD player that decided to stop working and I realize now that it really did me a favor. Seeing and hearing movies on this Sony has really opened my eyes and ears to all that DVDs can offer. I mention ears because as amazing as the video quality is, the sound quality is what really blows me away (and you don't need a humongous sound system to appreciate it). You will not be disappointed by this product! It provides very near the quality level of the Sony Reference DVD-S7700 (at half the price) and features (inc. a jog dial remote) that put it over the Sony DVD-S530 (at least in my book).

I received my Sony DVD player model S550D with a power source malfunctionig, as a result of Amazon excellent service the deffective player was substituted with a new one and all shipping expenses picked by Amazon. I could barely use the new Sony DVD player for three weeks when it experimented the same power source failure, as a result I am returning the second Sony DVD player and I do not plan on buying any Sony DVD player again. I had been a Sony fan all my life before these events.