Has anyone got their hands on the new Sony DVPNS52?

[bythebeach]

Getting prices on the LG DF8900P and Pioneer 676a today from my local Megamart, the Sales Lady said there was a new DivX-friendly Sony DVPNS52 model, just out, for around $180...making my choice even harder!
Has anyone bought this model?..or seen revues from the UK or elsewhere?

Sony DVD PLAYER CDR/RW MP3 PLAYBACK DVPNS52
Media Compatibility

* CD-R: Yes
* CD-RW: Yes
* DVD+R: Yes
* DVD+RW: Yes
* DVD+R Dual Layer: Yes
* DVD-R: Yes (Video Mode)
* DVD-RW: Yes
* DVD-RW (VR Mode): Yes
* DVD-RW (VR Mode w/CPRM): Yes
* DivX: Yes: CD-R/-RW/ DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW
* Super VCD: Yes
* MP3: Yes: CD-R/-RW/ DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW
* JPEG: Yes: CD-R/-RW/ DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW Kodak

Video

* Playback Standard: PAL/NTSC
* Progressive Scan: PAL/NTSC
* Video Format: DVD/VCD
* D/A Converter: 12bit/108Mhz Video DAC

Audio

* TV Virtual Surround: Standard/Dynamic/Wide/Night/Dynamic Theatre
* D/A Converter: 192kHz/24bit Audio DAC
* Audio Formats: MP3/CD/DVD

Interfaces

* Composite Video Output: x 1
* S-Video Output: x 1
* Component Video Output: x 1
* Analogue Audio 2 Channel Output: x 1
* Coaxial Digital Output: x 1
* Optical Digital Output: x 1

General

* Dimensions (WxHxD): 430 x 43 x 237.2mm
* Weight: 1.92kgs
* Colour: Silver
* Warranty: 12 Months

Have researched the LG and Pioneer to the nth degree but any advice about the Sony would be appreciated.

[Arctic]

Bought this player today and am EXTREMELY impressed with its functionality and clarity both visually and audio wise, HOWEVER the Divx function at the moment to me seems like a load of BS i got 1 file to work out of approx 30 and even then it wasnt great, whereas my lg plays them all

and also theres no mpg support like the LG has :S

Has anyone got any info on the specific version of divx this player will play and also the specifics that the file needs to be compatible with the player, the manual is a joke in this regard with less than half a page on it saying it must be mpg layer 3, no more than something by something tall and wide and thats it.

im thinking that the player might not like the packet bitstream method that the files are encoded in, otherwise im at a loss to know how divx certified this to play anything cos i sure canT!

any help appreciated thanx!

[jokiin]

Divx certification doesn't imply that the player will play anything, only that it will play Divx encoded material, anything else is a bonus.

[Arctic]

The divx badge does imply that it will play divx encoded material, which it doesnt seem to hence im asking the specifics of the divx encode, ie size, compression media etc.

I didnt say that i expected it to play mpeg etc, im disappointed it doesnt, but i expect it to play divx avi and xvid files properly which conform to the less than 2gb file size and the dimensions specified, which these files do.

Edit, I ran the divx test disk through mentioned in one of the stickys, all ran perfectly bar a few audio formats even the 3/2.1 audio is exceptional very good quality, however the disk only covers upto divx 5. i think this is where the problem lies, the files i tried im pretty sure are encoded with 6, does anyone know where i can get a ver 6 test disc from?? thanx!

Once i sort this out id be more than happy to write a review on this player, thanx again for any help!

[andw]

I don't think too many players play divx6 as yet without any issues at all.
see http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread.php?t=119613
With divx certification, you may be lucky and see a firmware update to support it, but don't hold your breath.
Supposedly, Current DivX® Certified devices will playback DivX 6 files, but will not offer full support for the advanced media features of the DivX Media Format. Devices that offer full support for the DivX Media Format are expected to reach retail shelves in late 2005. http://www.divx.com/divx/whatsnew.php

[jokiin]

DivX certification actually means that the player will play correctly encoded DivX format files using set parameters defined by DivX Networks, if you have files that do not play it is likely that the files themselves do not fall within these specifications. You can download DivX6 sample files from www.divx.com be aware though that currently only basic playback is offered by many players of DivX6 files, next generation players will need to support all of the functions of DivX6 to gain certification. DivX6 has not been available for very long, it would seem unusual to have so many files already encoded in this format.

[Arctic]

Yea youve got a point there jok11n, thanx both of you for your replies and suggestions ill try and run through the divx 6 file and report back.

Im hoping if it needs it the sony will get the update seeing that it is really new to the aust market and im sure there will be a heap of complaints, i was lucky to get my hands on this player for 160 as all the others in the store were sold i got the unused but opened display model wasnt even plugged in near a tv :D

On a side note, is it possible then to convert divx6 to divx 5 easily??

Thanx heaps for the replies