DVD Benchmark - Product Review - Sony DVP-S7700 DVD Player - November, 2000 Staff
Background
Sony is probably the biggest consumer electronic company on the planet. Overall we found their DVD players to be well rounded.
Anyway, here are our test results:
Video
The overall video quality of this DVD player is good. In terms of video quality, Sony took a step backwards from the DVP-S7000, which we believe is superior.
The CAV outputs are properly labeled Y'Pb'Pr'. They are also dual labeled with B-Y and R-Y. They use the inferior RCA connectors.
Black and White Levels
Format Black White Comments CAV 7.5 99.3 Black is dead on and white is only a hair below. YC 6.9 99.3 Black is slightly lower than the CAV output, but still close. White is identical. Color Bars
CAV
The Y portion of the CAV output is just slightly lower than SMPTE and EIA 770.1.
The Pb portion of the CAV outputs match MII levels. The Pr portion of the CAV outputs match MII levels.
Component Analog Video Data
YC
The Y portion of the YC output is very close to SMPTE 170M. It is up a little higher at Magenta.
The Chroma level out of the YC output is a little high. The Chroma phase is perfect.
Composite/YC Data
Video Frequency Response
The YC and CAV outputs do not match each other. They follow similarly traits, but there is a difference between them. The YC output is actually better at 5 MHz than the CAV. The YC output will appear sharper because of its peaked frequency response from 2 MHz and beyond.
There is more ringing on the Avia sharpness pattern with this player than with the Sony S-7000. It's not as bad as the Pioneers and Toshibas though.Video Frequency Response
Pixel Cropping
Location Pixels Comments Top 0 Excellent Bottom 0 Excellent Left 5 Good Right 8 OK Signal-To-Noise Ratio
Format Output SNR (dB) Comments CAV Y -56.2 OK - The Y SNR is low on the CAV outputs, but the two color channels are good. CAV Pb -71.3 Very Good CAV Pr -70.0 Very Good YC C-AM -66.0 Very Good - This is where most players fall. YC C-PM -65.1 Very Good Component Channel Timing
Channel Timing (ns) Comments 'Pb' to Y 30.8 OK - There is smearing on color fringing that is evident. This is a big step backwards compared to the DVP-S7000. 'Pr' to Y 27.2 OK 'Pb' to 'Pr' 3.6 Good Audio
Audio Frequency Response
The audio frequency response of the DVP-S7700 was excellent, with one of the flattest responses of the bunch. The high frequency curve did result in slightly lower output at 20 kHz than some other models, but also maintained a flat response higher than any other, without any premature dips or peaks. Of course, if it were ideal, there would be no deviation at all, but given the limitations of 44.1 kHz sampling rates, this is truly top-notch.
Audio Frequency Response
Harmonic Distortion + Noise FFT
The distortion spectrum of the DVP-S7700 was really quite nice. Not quite like the Meridian 800, but not too far off either. There was a little energy at 12 kHz that looks like it might be a harmonic peaking above the noise floor, but at –115 dB, which most would consider negligible. The highest harmonic, at 3 kHz (the 3rd) was at – 98 dB, followed by the 2nd, 4th, and 5th. Higher order distortion, on the whole, was minimal.
Distortion Spectrum
Wide-Band noise spectrum FFT (Wall AC)
The noise spectrum was reasonably good. There was a peak at 50 kHz, at -98 dB, which was probably a main contributor to throwing off the dynamic range measurement (see below), and the 60 Hz power line frequency component was at –106 dB, with what looked like harmonic components at 120 Hz and 240 Hz.
Noise Floor (Wall)
Wide-Band noise spectrum FFT (Lab grade AC)
The use of a regenerated AC supply resulted in pretty similar results except in the lowering of the 60 Hz component in the noise floor.
Noise Floor (Lab)
Low-Level DAC LinearityLow-Level DAC linearity from the S7700 was absolutely superb, and stayed within ± 1 dB of ideal down to –107 dB, without any suspicious dips or curves along the way.
DAC Linearity
Dynamic Range
The dynamic range was 93.6 dB. We think that the actual performance as it relates to listening material is slightly better, and that the reading was thrown a bit by the peak in the noise floor at 50 kHz.
Inter-Modulation Distortion
IM tested out at -114.5 dB. Looks just fine.
Functionality
Note: A green check in the boxes below means that feature worked OK. A red X means it is unsatisfactory.
Avia
Test Results Comments Subpicture Slide Show Video Essentials
Test Results Comments Blacker-Than-Black Stress Test WHQL
Subpicture Palette (DCS)
Test Results Comments Still Bob Weave Default Palette Color Index
Test Results Comments Still Bob Weave Custom Palette Color Index
Test Results Comments Still Bob Weave Branching
Test Results Comments Seamless Branching This player is below average; it takes 3 clock sweeps to branch. Multiple Angles This player is slow at changing angles; it takes between 2.5 and 3 seconds. Menu
Test Results Comments Loops Ends Field/Frame Freeze
Test Results Comments Weave Bob 16x9 Menu
Test Results Comments Letterbox Widescreen Cropping
Test Results Comments 352x240 720x480 704x480 352x480 Layer Break
This player takes about 1 second to change layers.
Test (DVD) Results Comments "Cruel Intentions" "Ghostbusters" "Friend" VCD "Saving Private Ryan" (DTS) "The Abyss" Chesky Super Audio 96/24 No 96/24 digital out Physical Response
This player is on the faster end of the scale. We gave it a 7 in overall response.
Test Results Comments Setup Transcode CD-R Error Correction/Concealment
Pierre Vareny
Its CD error correction falls in the upper middle. It is able to read up to and including chapter 33, which represents a 1.50mm gap.
Scratch the Dog
Its DVD error correction does not appear to be as good as its predecessor (the 7000). The player only shows the FBI warning and the New Line logo. It never makes it to the menu.
Usability
We did not conduct a usability study on this DVD player.
- Staff -
DVD Benchmark Explanatory Articles Part 3 - Functionality Part 4 - Usability Part 5 - Progressive Scan
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