Similar offers
Postage & Packaging: £3.00
Postage & Packaging: £3.00
Quote-start

Not quite what you'd expect from Sony

Quote-end

2 Sep 25th, 2006 

12 Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful

Advantages:
Good - looking, easy to get started

Disadvantages:
Sensitive to scratches, manual confusing, large remote

Recommendable No:

Detailed rating:

Picture Playback

Sound Level

Range of Features

Durability

Value for Money

sarahdfly

sarahdfly

About me:

My name is Sarah, I'm 22 years old and from York. I run my own online business from home. I'm pre...

Member since:22.08.2005

Reviews:3

I got this player donated by a friend who upgraded to a DVD recorder. It was in nearly new condition so I feel I can review 'as new'.

Being Sony, I expected a lot from this player. I was a little disappointed. Yes, it plays DVDs and CDs as you'd expect. However, it's rather sensitive and the manual might as well be in some African tribal language!

But first, the good qualities:
Well, it's really easy to get started. Simply plug into your TV and the mains and you're ready to go. There's no clock to set, no compatibility with TV to find...just plug and go.
The buttons on the player itself are self-explanatory and easy to operate. Disc eject is smooth and quiet.
As with most things Sony, this player looks smart. Silver and sleek, it looks rather more impressive than it is. The usual quality of Sony design is here - just a shame they spent more money on the exterior than the interior.
There are also some extra functions that you'd expect with a top-range player. For example, you can lock the disc drawer so your 2-year-old can't stuff toast in it.

The disadvantages don't make for good reading.
Firstly, the remote is huge. Also, it's black. If you have a smart silver player, you expect a smart silver remote but, instead, you get a black box like thing that looks as though it belongs to a rather old television. That said, you won' t lose it in a hurry, and it does work without being pointed directly at the player.
Secondly, the most annoying thing about this player - it's super-sensitive to dirt/scratches/fingerprints on DVDs. Basically, you hit a dirty spot and it restarts the disc. NOT much fun, especially when you're in the middle of a film and you have to find where you were. I've had rental discs where I've had to do this in excess of TEN TIMES in one film. Sometimes, instead of restarting, the picture will simply freeze and you can try all you like to get it moving again - it won't.
The other major disadvantage is the instruction manual. It's complicated, uses a lot of terminology, and doesn't have a 'for dummies' section that most manuals now have. I've been trying for the last two months to figure out why my sound is too quiet (have to turn up the TV volume a lot to hear a film) but I just can't negotiate the manual and the hundred-and-one multi-step menus. I'm certainly no technophobe and I generally know my stuff, but this manual just frustrated me completely until I want to use it as firelighters!

So, in summary, this player does what it needs to do as long as you have new/as new DVDs with no fingerprints, and you know something about the technology to get by without needing the manual.
To be honest, you can get better players for the same money. Usually, I'd advise to go for a top name like Sony, but, in this case, the name is far better than the product itself.

Would I buy this if mine broke? No. There are others on the market that give better value for money. The sensitivity of this player just makes it annoying and frequently disrupts your viewing. 

How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines

exceptional

very helpful

helpful

somewhat helpful

not helpful

off topic

Products you might be interested in »

Sony DVPNS718HB.CEK

Sony DVPNS718HB.CEK

With DivX Playback - DVD-RW Player - DVD-R Player - DVD+R Player - with DVD+RW Playback

Rate it now

Buy now for only £ 54.97

Philips DVP3360

Philips DVP3360

With DivX Playback - DVD-RW Player - DVD-R Player - DVD+R Player - with DVD+RW Playback

Rate it now

Buy now for only £ 39.99

Sony DVPPR30B.CEK

Sony DVPPR30B.CEK

With DivX Playback, Without DivX Playback - DVD-RW Player - DVD-R Player - DVD+R Player - with DVD+RW Playback

User reviews (1)

Buy now for only £ 38.20

Philips DVP3350

Philips DVP3350

With DivX Playback - DVD-RW Player - DVD-R Player - DVD+R Player - with DVD+RW Playback

User reviews (1)

Buy now for only £ 39.90

Sony DVPNS318B.CEK

Sony DVPNS318B.CEK

With DivX Playback - DVD-RW Player - DVD-R Player - DVD+R Player - with DVD+RW Playback

Rate it now

Buy now for only £ 39.00

Toshiba SD-290

Toshiba SD-290

With DivX Playback - DVD-RW Player - DVD-R Player - DVD+R Player - with DVD+RW Playback

User reviews (1)

Buy now for only £ 29.50

Comments about this review »

tigswade 25.09.2006 16:57

I see why your friend upgraded so readily! Very useful review.

darren1982 25.09.2006 13:34

Good review! God 10 times on 1 movie? That would drive me banana's... Darren

n13roy 25.09.2006 13:09

We had a similar model to this a few Years ago, and it was a nightmare, totally unreliable, I was glad to see the back of it in the end, and I will never buy Sony equipment again. Nice easy to read and Helpful review there too........Roy......

Similar offers for Sony DVP-NS 305 »

1 to 2 out of 2 similar offers for Sony DVP-NS 305
Remote Control sony dvp-ns305

Remote Control sony dvp-ns305

No Setup - Just put your batteries in and off you go. Our remote controls are generic ... more

replacements 100% guaranteed money back if not
entirely satisfied. Put-Batteries-In-And-Go (This
remote has been made for this Tv / Dvd / Freeview
box etc, only,so no setup required, no codes to
put in) Specifically manufactured in our factory
for this make/model. Every remote control is
tested before it is dispatched. Our remotes are
NOT universal - so you do not need to set them up
or put codes into them, just put your batteries in
and off you go. Each remote is generically made
for the specific DVD / TV / Freeview.


Postage & Packaging:  £3.00
Availability:  Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days......
 Visit Shop  >
amazon marketplace electronics
Remote Control sony dvp-ns305

Remote Control sony dvp-ns305

No Setup - Just put your batteries in and off you go. Our remote controls are generic ... more

replacements 100% guaranteed money back if not
entirely satisfied. Put-Batteries-In-And-Go (This
remote has been made for this Tv / Dvd / Freeview
box etc, only,so no setup required, no codes to
put in) Specifically manufactured in our factory
for this make/model. Every remote control is
tested before it is dispatched. Our remotes are
NOT universal - so you do not need to set them up
or put codes into them, just put your batteries in
and off you go. Each remote is generically made
for the specific DVD / TV / Freeview.


Postage & Packaging:  £3.00
Availability:  Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days......
 Visit Shop  >
amazon electronics



More reviews »

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by sandrabarber

Advantages: Good picture, good sound, easy to use
Disadvantages: None for me

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by sandrabarber sandrabarber 29.11.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Sony DVP-NS 305

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by shazahmed

Advantages: Thin,light,fantastic playback
Disadvantages: Cant be controlled without remote

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by shazahmed shazahmed 11.06.2003 (11.06.2003) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Sony DVP-NS 305

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by ronmanager

Advantages: Very cheap for a Sony DVD Player
Disadvantages: Too sensitive on older marked or dirty DVDs

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by ronmanager ronmanager 13.10.2003 (13.10.2003) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Sony DVP-NS 305

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by csujamie

Advantages: Easy to Use
Disadvantages: Difficult to use without remote control

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by csujamie csujamie 29.05.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Sony DVP-NS 305

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by car90909

Advantages: price
Disadvantages: can't find any

Sony DVP-NS 305 - review by car90909 car90909 26.04.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Sony DVP-NS 305



Are you the manufacturer / provider of Sony DVP-NS 305? Click here