One of the most exciting components for videophiles and audiophiles alike has to be the stunning DVP-S9000ES. It's the only video product to join Sony's ES Series, the elevated standard in audio — and now video — reproduction.
One key to this player's exceptional picture purity is selectable progressive-scan video output. Standard NTSC video sources split up each frame of video into two separate interlaced fields. Progressive scanning, on the other hand, presents each frame in its entirety. Watching DVD movies in progressive mode, you'll notice enhanced smoothness, and crisp, rock-steady text when the credits roll — it's a more filmlike viewing experience.
As more DVD players offer this technology, it's important to understand that all progressive-scan players are not created equal. We've looked at several and the DVP-S9000ES is definitely one of the best-engineered. Sony's Precision Cinema Detection fully achieves progressive's potential through the use of powerful digital processing:
- separate algorithms for video- and film-based DVDs
- full 3:2 reverse conversion for film-based DVDs
- a dedicated microprocessor for motion detecting
Ordinary TVs can't handle the higher scan rate of progressive-scan video. To really see what this player can do, connect it to an HDTV-ready TV like Sony's Hi-Scan™ models. (Or you can select interlaced video output for a great picture with standard TVs).
As extraordinary for music as it is for movies, the DVP-S9000ES also plays ultra-high resolution stereo Super Audio CDs. Even if you don't own any SACDs yet, Sony's advanced electronics and stable, anti-resonant drive will reveal more music on all your CDs.
Finally, operating the '9000ES is a real pleasure. When listening to music, SACD/CD Text scrolls across the player's display, so you don't have to turn on your TV just to listen. Of course, if you prefer to switch off the display, you can do that, too. The remote control is simply the best DVD player remote we've yet seen. Bravo, Sony!
In its January 2001 issue, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater selected the '9000ES for an Editor's Choice award. The glowing review concluded: "The Sony DVP-S9000ES is a very special product that provides superb DVD-Video interlaced, DVD-Video progressive, and SACD performance. It is very much worth the price of admission, even for those interested in only one of those applications."
Details:
- plays DVD-Video discs, stereo SACDs, and CDs
- 54MHz/12-bit video D/A converter
- selectable interlaced/progressive-scan component video output
(progressive scan requires a compatible TV)
- Precision Cinema Detection de-interlacer with 3-2 pulldown processing
- Motion Adaptive Noise Reduction
- optical and coaxial digital outputs for Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM
- selectable PCM digital output (48kHz or 96kHz)
- 2 sets of A/V outputs (2 composite video, 2 S-video, and 1 480i/480p component video)
- "DVD Navigator" remote with jog/shuttle dial and glow-in-the-dark buttons
- 96kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter
- audio signal-to-noise ratio 115 dB
- SACD frequency response (-3dB) 2-100,000 Hz
- 16-15/16"W x 4-15/16"H x 18-1/8"D
