Stylish, Versatile DVD Player/Receiver
Sharp's SD-PX2 combines surround sound and a DVD player.
I'm a great believer in separate home theater components, and the $390 SD-PX2 won't change my mind. But if you're on a budget and all you want to do is watch DVDs with surround sound, this combo product won't disappoint.
The Sharp SD-PX2 combines a 35-watts-per-channel surround-sound receiver with a DVD player that can handle CD, Super Audio CD, DVD-Audio, CD-R, and CD-RW. At 4.5 inches wide, it's designed either for wall mounting or as a stand-alone box, and it has a jazzy yet tasteful appearance. Unfortunately, the unit stands upright, and discs tend to tumble out when you go to remove them.
Video images looked a bit grainy, and getting the color saturation right took some fiddling. You can choose between component, S-Video, or composite connections.
On the audio side, the SD-PX2 filled a decent-size media room with music, but if you prefer things on the loud side, this might not be the unit for you--it will definitely have trouble powering speakers with low sensitivity ratings.
Music playback lacked airiness and detail in the high frequencies--and sound quality got worse as I switched from DVD-Audio (the unit's strong suit) to SACD to CD. The CD sound was barely acceptable to me. Less-fussy listeners, however, are unlikely to notice these shortcomings, even when playing CDs.
Despite its weaknesses, the SD-PX2 is a solid and versatile product for people who are building their first home theater and don't want to buy separate components.
Ramon G. McLeod
