DVP-NS999ES Video and Audio Features
Key Video Features
- 108MHz/14-bit Video D/A Converter
- Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion De-interlacer with 3-2 Pulldown Processing
- Progressive Scan Output
Video Setup
The Sony DVP-NS999ES is packed full of an assortment of options for setting up and calibrating the video and audio quality of this player. Depending on a particular Home Theater set-up and the amount of calibration you wish to do, these features can be extremely useful. If your happy with right out of the box performance, they can simply be set to standard. But if your like the folks at Audiolics and always look for a way to improve your systems performance, this DVD player is ideal. For the purpose of this this review, the DVD player was connected to, Reference System 2 , which sports a Sony KP-57WV600 Wide Screen HDTV Monitor. This Monitor was previously calibrated with another DVD player, using the Avia Guide to Home Theater and an Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) Certified Technician. In combination with this DVD, color filters and a key eye, this TV was calibrated for correct color, contrast, hue, and brightness, so that it produces the best possible video image with DVD's. The set up was done using all the service menu items found within the TV. But since this TV has known problems with red push up to 40 IRE and blue push thereafter, so it is not possible to fully calibrate and correct the color accurately without accessing the service menu. Service menu access is not recommended for common folks like us, so another method of adjustment is required. In this particular system, it is beneficial to also use the set up items found in the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD Player as it will create a whole new set of parameters to adjust and calibrate to the TV.
But suppose you don't have an AVIA DVD or you don't want to go through the time it takes to calibrate your TV before using your equipment. Well the Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD Player also has a list of pre-programmed video controls with preset levels for contrast, color, hue, brightness and so forth. These can be used to select the image that meets your taste or what looks best to you.
Video Control: You can either choose from the following Video Control settings or create your own under the Memory setting::
- Standard: displays a standard picture
- Dynamic 1: produces a bold dynamic picture by increasing the picture contrast and the color intensity
- Dynamic 2: produces a more dynamic picture than Dynamic 1 by further increasing the picture contrast and the color intensity
- Cinema 1: enhances details in dark areas by increasing the black level
- Cinema 2: white colors become brighter and black colors become richer, and the color contrast is increased
- Memory: allows you to individually adjust and store the following settings: Digital Video Enhancer, Block Noise Reduction, Luminance Noise Reduction, Chroma Noise Reduction, Chroma Delay, AV Alignment, picture, brightness, color, hue, and gamma
The user has the ability to change to any of these preset settings in order to produce the best possible image for the Monitor and the lighting conditions of the room. What ever the Home Theater Setup, this player offers enormous flexibility to accommodate.
Key Audio Features
- 192kHz/24-bit Audio D/A Converter
- 2-Channel and Multi-Channel SACD Playback
- Direct Stream Digital (DSD) Encoding
- MP3 Playback
Audio Setup
Once again, Sony created something for everyone, and every set up environment. Between the choices of Audio filter, dynamic range, and digital out, the list below speaks for itself.
- Audio ATT (attenuation): You can select On or Off. When On is selected, the unit lowers the level of the analog audio outputs to prevent distortion.
- Audio Dynamic Range Control (DVD only): You can select Standard, TV Mode (compresses the dynamic range for late night listening), and Wide Range (no compression for the highest dynamic range).
- Audio Filter: selects the digital filter to reduce noise above 22.05 kHz (for sources with a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz), 24 kHz (for sources with a sampling frequency of 48 kHz), or 48 kHz (for sources with a sampling frequency above 96 kHz). The Audio Filter can be set to Sharp or Slow. Sharp provides a wide frequency range and spatial feeling. Slow provides smooth and warm sound.
- Down Mix (DVD only): This functions switches the mixing method, so "Dolby Surround" sounds ideal when used with a Pro Logic/Dolby Digital/DTS receiver, and "Normal" sounds ideal when used with a normal stereo.
- Digital Out: You can select if audio signals are passed through the digital outputs. You can choose On or Off. When the digital outputs are turned On, you can adjust the Dolby Digital, and DTS settings.
- Dolby Digital: You can select D-PCM (outputs PCM only) or Dolby Digital (outputs a Dolby Digital signal when available).
- DTS: You can select D-PCM (outputs PCM only) or DTS (outputs a DTS signal when available).
- 48 kHz/96 kHz PCM (DVD only): selects the sampling frequency and word length of the audio signal to be output via the digital outputs. You can select 48 kHz/16-bit or 96 kHz/24-bit. When set to 48 kHz/16-bit, the audio signals are always converted to 48 kHz/16-bit. When set to 96 kHz/24-bit, all types of signals, including 96 kHz/24-bit, are output in their original format. However, if the signal is encrypted for copyright protection purposes, the signal is only output as 48 kHz/16-bit.
