Sony DAV-S400 5.1 ch Home Cinema System

Sony does not advertise the fact that this unit does not have SCART or S-video output. This means that the quality of the image is inferior to even the most basic of dedicated DVD players - the quality is little better than a Playstation. What a shame because otherwise this is excellent for the money - so don't waste yours, spend a little extra and get the DAV-S500, as I did, which is simply superb.Sony, however, should be applauded for the inclusion of SACD. I am hoping the DAV series will sell truckloads so that the SACD format takes off and many more titles will become available. The quality compared to CD is astonishing, and music in full surround is a revelation.

This is the Sony 'Entry level' for home cinema. I bought one having listned to it, a superb home cinema kit with all the Sony quality you would expect. Prices are coming down though, I would by this as a multi region player version for about another £40. You can then by DVD's on the net, from Canada say, for 50% of what you may pay for a similar title in the UK. Worth considering, wish I had! Ok, no SVHS or scart but picture quality is still very good, you would see more improvement on a 100hz TV than with a different output on a normal TV, so don't get hung up on it. It gets five stars for what it is, a superb bit of kit for £300, if I paid more for it then maybe less stars!

...If you're familiar with Sony kit, you'll know that it's unusual to find something of this value. The DAVS400 is the little brother to Sony's pricier DAVS550, yet is still competently styled. It looks much like the company's older DAVS500 system, but has slightly slimmer speakers.The feature's count is respectable too, the Sony supporting DVD-Video, SACD (Stereo and Multichannel) and MP3 CD. Unfortunately it only has Pro Logic I surround processing, alongside a whole host of DSP modes & "Cinema EX" modes - patented by Sony (which are best left alone). It also supports decoding of DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks. And also has provisions for connecting external audio sources via Stereo analogue inputs. And can even loop Video feeds if you want it to.It's a shame then, that the system's performance doesn't live up to it's Specification. But lets start with the positives...The surround sound for DVD Video and SACD is brilliant, the speakers providing a respectable depth & accuracy to the sound that almost rivals Sony's pricier DAVS550 setup. With The Fellowship of The Ring the subwoofer copes marvellously well, delving deeper than you'd expect than something of it's 'Passive' nature (Passive meaning a subwoofer that doesn't have its own power supply). And Stereo CD copes equally well, although there's no provision for Pro Logic II music mode with CD, which is deeply frustrating.However, switch to the Analogue stereo inputs and engage Pro Logic I surround sound, and it becomes clear why Pro Logic II was developed in the first place. Surround placement is sluggish & innaccurate and action is hard to follow. I'd even go so far as to say it'd be preferable to watch VHS or Terrestrial TV in Stereo, at it makes the action much easier to follow at times.Onto the picture, and this is where the DAVS400 really trips up. The system only has provisions for Composite Video outputs, which is - by a long long way - the worst method for picture transport. There's a lot of tizzing and jagged edges with almost all material, and the famous composite video 'dots' plague areas of detail, whereby the picture is smothered in interference dots. However, it's still an improvement on VHS, and if you haven't spend the last few weeks with a stand alone DVD player then you're unlikely to find need to complain.So why only three stars? Well, as good as it is, the Sony delivers a video performance which can be easily outdone by a stand alone DVD player costing £80. If you consider that it leaves £220 for an audio system (and there's plenty of them around for that money) that could also outperform the Sony, it doesn't leave the DAVS400 in the best position for marketplace domination. Unless you really can't afford to pay extra and must have a sony system, I'd advise you to opt for the similarly priced Pioneer DSC303, or the far superior Sony DAVS550.

I bought this earlier this week, and it is absolutely brilliant. The set-up process is extremely easy, once you get your head round it.I was going to buy the DAVS550, but partly due to impatience, and partly because I found it so much cheaper for effectively the same kit, I went for this one.I "Christened" the system with Star Wars Episode II, and could not have been happier. The sound is perfect and the picture is superb (even without a scart).I am absolutely certain you will not get a better system...