Fantastic Purchase

I purchased this Yamaha DVD player based on the reviews here at Epinions. My old DVD player was a top-of-the-line Panasonic unit built in 1998, which I bought from a friend in 2001. Unbeknownst to me, this unit had a defect in which the read assy would get out of whack, causing the picture to pixelate and the unit to freeze. Had the warranty card been filed I probably would have been able to have my unit repaired; however, I feel that for $30 and 5 years of service, I go my money's worth.

Another good friend of mine recommended the Sony DVP-NC675P Multi-disc DVD Player as a replacement. He was very pleased with his since it has a 5-disc capacity and can play DVDs, CDs, MP3s, and is compatible with all of the newest hi-fi equipment. I purchased one from Best Buy as a Web special and tried it for the weekend. The immediate problem with the Sony is that it is too deep and would not allow the door of my entertainment center to close. I also did not like the agonizingly long amount of time it took to load a CD for viewing. I describe that duration as long enough to make a sandwich and pour a glass of beer. Sorry, but that didn't cut it with me. I returned to the unit to Best Buy in exchange for the Yamaha DV-5750. The best part is that the prices were equal, meaning that either the Sony is underpriced or the Yamaha is overpriced. I tend to think it is the former.

Now, the Yamaha is not as top of the line as the Sony, as the Best Buy salespeople informed me. Something along the lines that if I were some super techno video dork that I would notice problems with picture clarity, pixel rate, and a bunch of other nonsense if I bought an expensive TV. When I asked if this DVD player would be a problem with my 27" RCA that I've owned since 1992, the answer was a resounding, "Yes". When I asked if the unit would work with a flat panel TV when I can afford to upgrade next year, the answer was once again, "Yes". OK, no problem.

The Yamaha is compact and fits my entertainment center perfectly. It is packed well, and someday I am going to read the instruction manual. Right now, I do not have all of the needed surround sound setup, high definition TV, or other requirement components to make a home theatre system. Right away, I noticed that colors and screen clarity with this unit were so sharp that it almost hurts to watch. The unit doesn't skip, it's loading speed is MUCH quicker than that of the aforementioned Sony, and it is easy to operate. As of the writing of this review (6/27/2006), I have owned this unit for 3 months, and I am extremely satisfied with the purchase. I punched one of the buttons while fumbling with the remote in the dark one night, and some very interesting menu options popped up. The player can be locked, colors and sounds can be adjusted, and a myriad of other options await. I cannot wait to upgrade my home system to match this unit. I did consider purchasing an LG unit; however, the reviews were not very receptive, which led me to the Yamaha. I contemplated another Panasonic, yet those units seem to be plagued with quality issues. Very sad considering how long Panasonic has been in the electronics business.

Unless you are going to use a DVD player to watch movie marathons and as a jukebox of CDs, then this is the perfect unit for the price. I think I paid $149 for this unit.

**Update 7/10/2006**

After viewing another movie this weekend, I discovered that when the 'Stop' button on the remote is held long enough (about 2 - 3 seconds), that will cause the DVD tray to eject. I really should read the owner's manual!