DVP-NS755V Bad sound?

[Adam]

Hi All,
I just picked one of these up at Circuit City (open box $149!) to replace my ancient Magnavox DVD player which won't play half the DVD's out now...anyway, to my ears, the sound is...well, not good.
I've only played DVD movies and regular CD's so far, but on both, particularly the CD's, the sound, while very smooth, is a bit muted in the vocal range and there seems to be a mild, but annoying bump in the lower mids, making the sound warm, but muddy. Do I have a defective unit, or does this deck require burn-in time, I've read about? I think I've set it up correctly, tho the manual was in french! I found an english manual pdf on the web. hmmm, any help?

THANKS!

Regards,
Adam:rolleyes:

[Steve Hoffman]

Wow, that doesn't sound too good. But, since you left your personal profile BLANK, I don't know what your components are. Maybe this unit is neutral and that is what your system really sounds like. Who knows?

:) :confused:

[Adam]

Hey Steve,
Thanks for the reply. I updated my profile. BTW, I don't think I told you, but probably like many here on this site, I've been an admirer of your work for some time. I'm a film editor here in Los Angeles, and have done my share of sound and music editing and mixing. I stumbled on some of your DCC remasters, probably 12 years ago and was so impressed I actually checked to see who you were, which I've never done before or since. Keep up the good work. As I write this, I'm burning some CD's of my MFSL 1/2 speed master Beatle collection. Even home made on my computer, they sound so much better than the CDs. Have you heard anything about remastering the Beatles? Again, thanks for the great work and the great web site.

Regards,
Adam

[Adam]

Oh, and in response to your comments, almost forgot...It's possible I'm hearing a more neutral source, but I don't think that's it. I've listened to the same material from several CD players, High & Low end, a Rega Turntable with a decent Grado cartridge, a fairly good Reel to Reel and DAT through my sound system and while there are differences depending on the machine, this new unit has a completely different sound as I described above. Strangely, I watched a movie tonite, 25th Hour, and it sounded terrific. I think I need to play a little bit more with it before passing judgement.

[AudioEnz]

Adam,
I've found that most DVD players are pretty mediocre with CDs - something like the bottom of the range NAD 521i will comfortably see off DVD players at two or three times its price.

I'm unfamiliar with your model, but just because it plays SACDs doesn't mean it'll play CDs very well (or even SACDs very well, for that matter!)

[Steve Hoffman]

Adam,

Let us know after you give it more of a test.

And welcome, by the way!

[Adam]

OK, so here it is so far. I got away from surround sound as AC-3 was coming in and have only been using my Adcom stereo amp and M&K speakers for my music and movies. That said, it has sounded fine with my laserdiscs, cd's and ok on my old cheap DVD player. Now, feeding this new Sony thru the same set up from the stereo outs on back, I'm getting some weird stuff happening. Mainly it goes like this: When there's a hard, loud dynamic hit, like an explosion or cymbal crash, the sound level drops dramatically, as if there were a limiter somewhere in the system. Then it slowly comes back. I'm thinking there's a setting somewhere I'm missing, or it's not decoding the DTS or Dolby Digital properly. Any ideas, anybody?

BTW, I just purchased a used surround setup, an Adcom GTP-830 surround tuner/processor and a Parasound HCA-855 5chx85wpc amplifier. So, when I set that up, I'll probably be able to tell if it's the decoding. Hmm, I wonder, maybe there isn't a decoder at all in this Sony...but then would it play anything at all analog? THANKS

[RDK]

Hey Adam,
Ray here from the ol' Blue Note and Organissimo boards! Welcome aboard!
I have the Sony DVP-NS500V, which i think is the same unit except that it's the single-disc model (yours is the changer, right?). I really only use it for DVDs and SACDs and haven't had any problems with how it sounds. There *is* a limiter on board, at least for DVD playback, but i didn't think it would affect CD or SACD playback. The setting is buried in the setup menu, but it should be noted somewhere in the manual. If you have trouble finding it drop me a PM and i'll look it up for you tomorrow.