Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony DVP-NS330 Multi-region DVD Player

My DVD collection increased substantially over Christmas and having recently purchased a DVD rewriter (also Sony), I thought it was about time to get a proper DVD player instead of using my modified Xbox.

Having looked around the local shops, there wasn't really much choice and most DVD players are around the £100 mark these days for a decent one. Good old Amazon had the amazing NS330 cheaper than everybody else, but also multiregion. I have no idea whether a software or hardware hack has been used, but its effective. It plays every DVD I've thrown at it (region 1, region 0, PAL, NTSC, bootleg etc). It even plays problematic DVDs which jump about in other players of mine. It is also a very capable CD player and is as good as my dedicated Sony hi-fi system. I have not tested out the MP3 capabilities yet, though I'm sure its just as good at that.

You should change the settings in the menu as soon as you get it. The screen is set to 4:3 pan and scan to begin with and will display all DVDs in fullscreen (sides cut off). For people with a regular 4:3 TV, you should switch it to 4:3 letterbox mode and for those with a widescreen TV, you should switch it to 16:9 widescreen.

The remote is also really good and operates my Sony TV (are we detecting a pattern here yet?) as well. Its suppsoed to be able to work with a number of brands but I haven't tested this.

To people complaining about having a black and white picture with region 1 and NTSC DVDs, you NEED to use a proper scart lead. It doesn't have to be a flashy £20 lead, just one with ALL 21 pins intact. Running it through RGB scart will solve the colour problem since the colour is rebuilt with the TV. The lead that comes with the NS330 will only work with PAL DVDs, I haven't even bothered opening mine since the quality won't even compare to a proper scart lead.

My only gripe with the NS330 is its lack of weight. My first DVD player was huge and weighed about as much as a high quality amplifier would. Thats not to say it isn't built well, I just would have preferred something with a bit more heft to it. A version in black would have been nice too, though the silver is not without it's charm.

This DVD player is quite possibly the best I have ever owned (have been using DVDs since 1996/1997) and its going to take a lot to top this. Hope this was useful!

What a super machine. Sony have produced a quality entry level DVD player at a price reserved for lesser brands. It has all I require in a player in this price range. It is simple to operate with the default settings okay for my TV, but if need to tweak around with the sound and picture settings all the menus are there, also if you really need to freeze a frame or zoom you can do. I personally just like to watch the film. The sound quality is good playing through my digital TV and the picture crisp. If you're not looking to break the bank get this DVD player. IT'S CHEAP, IT'S QUALITY AND IT'S A SONY.

The fundamental problem with the NS330 was that is was not multiregion and it could not be made so simply by pressing a combination of buttons on the remote. Without splashing out £30 on a modification, you were stuck with region 2.

Now Amazon have pre-modified these players, the only reason for not buying them has gone away.

Most high street outlets are charging £100 for these players, unmodified, so this is a genuine bargain. And comparing with the others DVD players at the £80 price point, there is no contest.

Its a Sony. Its multi-region. Its bargain priced.

Too good to be true... a Sony multi-region DVD player for so cheap! Well, that's what I intially thought anyway. Serves me right for not trusting the good folks at amazon.co.uk.

Delivered for free and in time for Christmas usage, the DVP-NS330 is probably one of the best entry level DVD players your hard earned cash could be spent on at the moment. As with most Sony products, the player comes with cool, crisp lines and the unmistakable Sony style. The build quality is good, although it does feel a little light when you first remove it from the packaging. The mechanism is quiet and efficient, and the LCD display is bright enough to be seen even through the smoked glass doors on my multimedia furniture. The remote control is a little ugly (although easy to use and well laid out), but with the 330 model it is silver, which is a bonus as last time I bought a Sony DVD player the remote was black and did not match! My worries about the player's ability to cope with darker shades and blacks were unfounded; the picture is sharp and the sound clear (although I would definately recommend using a high quality OFC gold plated scart lead, and not the RCA leads supplied with the unit).

Another bonus of this unit from Amazon, is that it also copes very well with my RCE discs, a nasty little invention certain film corporations add to their discs in order to combat mutli-region players. My advice to you is ask no questions. Hover your mouse over the add to basket macro and buy. A Sony multi-region player for less than £80, slim-line good looks and excellent performance to boot, which you could set up and be watching discs from any region within 5 minutes. A bargain, for which I owe Amazon (and of course Sony!) my gratitude! Enjoy!

Im not the biggest no-it-all of the DVD world only owning an Xbox. I bought one of these for my girlfriend a few weeks ago with a few DVDs and after spending quite a bit of time over there i can say im very impressed. Before giving it to her i did try it out on my 32' TV and it was amazing quality, so obviously on her 17' the quality was even better aswell. She has an old TV and it was surprising how much the quality could improve on films by buying a DVD player. This may only be an entry level DVD player but there are so many options that my girlfriend still hasnt worked them all out yet (one of those who likes to play around instead of using a manual). Unless your a hardcore film fan who stocks up on TV + Hifi equpiment magazines weekly than im surprised you could see this DVD player being anything than a little less than perfection, i couldn't see you wanting anything more than what this DVD player offers.
-Picture is amazing,
-plenty of options,
-multi region,
-a great entry-level price,
-Sony brand and quality
-and very stylish