Product Description

This Sony DVD Dream(TM) System canM-^Rt wait to show you what it can do. The unique slot-loading 5-disc changer can play just about anything you throw at itM-^Eincluding SACD! Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II make your music and movie soundtracks fly around you. The speaker system features a combined 500 watts of power between the 5 floor standing surround sound speakers. A 100-watt subwoofer rounds out the package.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #118996 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DAV-C990
• Dimensions: 70.00 pounds

Features

• DVD, CD, CD-R/RW, Super Audio CD, and MP3 playback
• 480P progressive scan output
• Composite, component, progressive component, S-video outputs
• Dolby Digital, dts and Dolby Pro-Logic II decoding
• Remote Commander remote control included

Customer Reviews

Dream? Almost.
I've owned this system for a couple months now, paired with a matching 42" Sony WEGA Plasma TV. I use it in my bedroom as a second home theater. I can say that while it's very stylish, it's a few features short of a "Dream System". I'm a life-long Sony loyalist and fan of their industrial design, but they always manage to blow something important in each of their products' core usage scenarios. For example:

1. The unit utterly fails to give priority to dts soundtracks on DVDs. You have to manually inspect and select dts before playing a movie.

2. There is only one optical sound input jack on the back. This means I can't connect my XBox and my Sony 301-DVD jukebox at the same time unless I forego digital sound on one of them -- ...

3. There is no S-Control jack on this unit, which means I can't interconnect it with my Sony Plasma TV and stash the amp in a drawer or cabinet.

4. Why would I want to hide it? The fan is too loud and distracting at low volumes. Since when do amplifiers need fans anyway? This system is ideal for bedrooms, but compounding this white noise with that of their Plasma TV's internal fan is simply unbearable. Consumer electronic companies should be forced to disclose whether their products have fans and what decibel levels they produce.

5. In Tuner mode, you can give the radio stations custom names but you can't do so for all the various inputs -- which most people use 100x more often. You also can't skip inputs like Video 2 that may not be in use. This problem's even worse on their Plasma TV's 6 input modes.

6. ... you cannot hot-swap discs in the changer while one is playing. This turns out to be more inconvenient than you'd think. The auto-resume feature helps out a little here. Also, it's too easy to eject a playing disc by mistake.

7. You can't put in 5 DVD movies (like a boxed set) and have them auto-play. This is more of a media/menu navigation problem, but even so -- it's just not very "Dream"-like. I get so sick of wading through previews and gratuitous menus before the feature actually starts. This would be easy to fix if Sony cared.

8. There are a plethora of useless Sound Field choices, but not a single one can play a regular 2-channel stereo music CD through the rear speakers as well as the front without applying a lame digital delay effect. ...

9. The clumsy remote control is not only uncomfortable to hold, but it includes some very obscure buttons (like Stereo/Mono, Name, Clear and Memory) and excludes some vital functions (like Wide Mode and Jump). Therefore it is unusable and must be replaced with a learning remote.

10. Even with a Sony Universal and/or Learning remote, some of the unit's functions will not respond and cannot be learned. I've heard that this is an AV1/AV2 problem, but if so, there is no apparent way to switch that mode on the unit.

11. The fast-forward and reverse functions only operate at 1x and 2x speed, and are often very sluggish and unpredictable. If you're searching for a scene or backing up to catch something you missed, this is like waiting for ketchup to come out of the bottle.

12. The remote forces you to cycle through the four main functions, which sucks if you hit a button by mistake. It would be better to have a single button for each.

Even with all of these problems, this product is a good value and it never fails to impress those who see and hear it.

Dream System? It may look the part, but Sony; Keep Dreaming!
Pros: Looks, ease of setup, picture quality, inputs, features, decent sound, Subwoofer, Styling, Plays SACD's, 5 disc DVD, DTS + Dobly, CDR+VCD readable,

Cons: Price, speakers, remote designed for looks, not for functionality, Sound Can Get Tinny During Music Or When You Need It Loud, bass too soft, need to put some lights on the remotes, lack of inputs, poor remote, limited expansion options, slow disc changer, limited amplifier controls

Summary: First of all, it only took 30 minutes to setup this system. The speaker wires are color-coded to the speaker and the receiver. Under the speaker stands states where each speaker should be stationed. The subwoofer can be stationed anywhere but I would suggest you place the sub somewhere close to your couch potato seat to get the full effect of the weak sub. The wiring should be long enough. The most differentiated feature of this system is obviously the standing surround speakers.

As for the system itself, the four aluminum polished-look tower speakers would be a complement to any living room. In addition, the receiver is relatively compact. In fact, it is smaller than my Toshiba and Sony VCR. It also has a silver look with glass LED and DVD tray opening. You have to give a pat in the back to the design department of Sony to fit 5 DVD changing ability into this compact box. The remote is one of the better looking remotes from Sony. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the indigo look. The remote can only control your TV and the system itself.

The coolest thing for this system is SACD. Who cares if you don't have or can't afford SACD. One day when you come across one, you can say, "heh, my DVD player is compatible of playing those discs." FYI, the cheapest SACD player from Sony is MSRP at $350! Even some DVD players cost less than that these days.

The biggest downside of this system is that it has only 2 inputs. The suggestion is hook up a quality VCR & you will gian 2-3 extra inputs from the VCR unit. Also by hooking up to the VCR, it will prevent your parents from playing with your PS2 or XBox.

Overall, I was pleased with my dream system despite the cons that I stated. It's a must try!!

Dream? Almost.
I've owned this system for a couple months now, paired with a matching 42" Sony WEGA Plasma TV. I use it in my bedroom as a second home theater. I can say that while it's very stylish, it's a few features short of a "Dream System". I'm a life-long Sony loyalist and fan of their industrial design, but they always manage to blow something important in each of their products' core usage scenarios. For example:

1. The unit utterly fails to give priority to dts soundtracks on DVDs. You have to manually inspect and select dts before playing a movie.

2. There is only one optical sound input jack on the back. This means I can't connect my XBox and my Sony 301-DVD jukebox at the same time unless I forego digital sound on one of them -- or buy an [$$$] Sony switcher box.

3. There is no S-Control jack on this unit, which means I can't interconnect it with my Sony Plasma TV and stash the amp in a drawer or cabinet.

4. Why would I want to hide it? The fan is too loud and distracting at low volumes. Since when do amplifiers need fans anyway? This system is ideal for bedrooms, but compounding this white noise with that of their Plasma TV's internal fan is simply unbearable. Consumer electronic companies should be forced to disclose whether their products have fans and what decibel levels they produce.

5. In Tuner mode, you can give the radio stations custom names but you can't do so for all the various inputs -- which most people use 100x more often. You also can't skip inputs like Video 2 that may not be in use. This problem's even worse on their Plasma TV's 6 input modes.

6. Contrary to what other reviews claim, you cannot hot-swap discs in the changer while one is playing. This turns out to be more inconvenient than you'd think. The auto-resume feature helps out a little here. Also, it's too easy to eject a playing disc by mistake.

7. You can't put in 5 DVD movies (like a boxed set) and have them auto-play. This is more of a media/menu navigation problem, but even so -- it's just not very "Dream"-like. I get so sick of wading through previews and gratuitous menus before the feature actually starts. This would be easy to fix if Sony cared.

8. There are a plethora of useless Sound Field choices, but not a single one can play a regular 2-channel stereo music CD through the rear speakers as well as the front without applying a [poor] digital delay effect. How hard could that be?! I want music at my head, not my feet.

9. The clumsy remote control is not only uncomfortable to hold, but it includes some very obscure buttons (like Stereo/Mono, Name, Clear and Memory) and excludes some vital functions (like Wide Mode and Jump). Therefore it is unusable and must be replaced with a learning remote.

10. Even with a Sony Universal and/or Learning remote, some of the unit's functions will not respond and cannot be learned. I've heard that this is an AV1/AV2 problem, but if so, there is no apparent way to switch that mode on the unit.

11. The fast-forward and reverse functions only operate at 1x and 2x speed, and are often very sluggish and unpredictable. If you're searching for a scene or backing up to catch something you missed, this is like waiting for ketchup to come out of the bottle.

12. The remote forces you to cycle through the four main functions, which ... if you hit a button by mistake. It would be better to have a single button for each.

Even with all of these problems, this product is a good value and it never fails to impress those who see and hear it.