Good value but lacking audio input

Bought for use with Sony 32D3000 TV using HDMI. Disappointed to find I needed to connect a separate audio stereo lead from TV audio ->DZ230 or connect the SCART lead in order to get audio from TV via the DZ230 - then only 2ch stereo possible. Come on Sony.
Units lacks a PCM (optical or coax audio input and decoder) OK its a lower end cinema system but this should be clearer in the info. and it means the HDMI is only used for video from DZ230 to TV and not for audio from TV to DZ230. Inconvenient to say the least.
Only"audio" input apart from SCART is front panel 3.5mm jack and makes connecting audio devices UGLY.
Apart from that, video playback is OK at 720p, theatre sync function is useful but overhyped , sound is clear, good bass, little hiss. DVD unit is noisy but performs OK. Good value for money but short on audio input support.

well designed player let down by screen

Great looking player including remote & car adapter. Easily changed to Multi region which was my main reason for choosing this one. Video displayed on external TV is good, but internal screen has difficulty displaying text and subtitle captions clearly, the screen is a disappointment so overall just 3 stars.

Great Value

Well I bought the Sony 26S3000 LCD and put it through my 14 year old stereo. Bit of a waste really so went out looking for a reasonable budget surround sound system and decided on this.

I am a total biff when it comes to electronics but wired this up in 5 minutes (even when doing the 'man thing' and not opening the instructions). The connectivity is good and suffices for me - I play my TV, computer and an MP3 player through it with ease.

The sound is really good and I have not even played around with it at all yet.

I am really impressed with the value for money, the ease of actually getting it to work and the sound. Definitely recommended if you are after a good budget system.

Need Multi Region hack

This item would be perfect if it was Multi Region. If anyone can help email me please. amberlodge1@aol.com

Very disappointed

I have just spent 5 hours trying to get this unit to work. I could probably live with the slow EPG (and it is slow) and also the less than intuitive interface and poorly arranged remote.
The killer blow for me is that when powered up, it interferes with my local Multiplex 1 signal (I live in Kent) so I can't receive any of the BBC channels to either my TV's digital tuner via RF passthrough or into the unit itself for recording. I can still get a good signal to my TV if I don't go through the unit or if I do go via RF passthrough and the unit has no power.
As soon as power is supplied to the unit, the signal is lost to the TV (even when the unit is in standby).
Not the same issues as reported elsewhere here, but it seems to be indicative of the lack of quality control with this unit.
I'm just about to package it all up again for return.
A product to be avoided.

first impressions

I just received this today, courtesy of amazon.

It was very easy to setup with my philips flat screen tv, just a couple of cables, and up you go.

I lived in many countries, and therefore have an extensive collection of DVD from many regions. Thanks to the web, I was able to find very rapidly the code to key in on the remote control to have this unit enable for region 0, and all my DVD works fine...

I can see the difference with the upscaling factor, in terms of image quality... The sound quality 'sounds' great. I have tried multiple movies, like lord of the ring, and star wars, and the 'experience' is definitely better, visually and in terms of sound, than when using my old DVD player and my TC speakers..

A few comments:

* There is no HDMI cable in the box, but there is a SCART cable, and a couple of others, for example to connect the TV audio out to the device.
* The connection for external audios are conveniently located on the subwoofer, reducing the number of cables to connect to the main unit.
* The support for the main unit is too high to fit in my tv cabinet. It is easy to remove it, but there is no simple/lower replacement for it. The unit can just be put down like it is, at a small angle, but I would prefer to have a more stable support.
* Not sure yet about the fact that this system is supposed to 'mimic' a 5.1 system by projecting sounds to the wall behind the user, but it sounds good.
* The remote control power button is in fact only an 'off' button. Once the unit is in 'standby', it can only be 'waken up' by using the play button of the remote control. Strange but it works.

Very Disappointing

Having read the previous reviews I decided to buy this TV from John Lewis in order to get the 5 year warranty. However the warranty will not be needed as it will be returned tomorrow.
The picture is fine if you're viewing the TV from the same level and directly in from of the screen, but if you're a tiny bit below the screen, it's too dark, viewed from above or just off to one side and the image becomes washed out.
The sound is pathetic. It's as weak and tiny as an old AM radio, with no bass to be heard, and no sound control other than volume and balance (do you really need balance on a set this small).
Do not even consider this set.

If you have itunes but this... if you don't then get itunes then buy this!

Apple do it again. Another sleek, sexy, wonderful piece of kit.

One box, two leads (three if you don't have wirless internet), and tv really is what you want it to be!

Very very easy to set up (though at first iTunes didn't see the device, just go into itunes, prefrences and untick the look for Apple TV box, select OK, then go back and re-tick it - it then found it no problem).

As well as downloading EVERYTHING you have on itunes, not just your music, but any movies, podcasts, tv shows etc, you can also

Download any folders of photos - then bore I mean show all your friends a neat slide show on your telly with your fav music in the background (or even cooler have your photos floating around the screen as your screen saver on your telly!).

Watch trailers of movies - want to go to cinema but not sure what films are worth seeing... this will give you huge list to look at.

Surf and watch youtube videos - if you into youtube that is!

Best of all - once you synched up and downloaded to the internal harddrive (will I ever fill a whole 160Gb??) you could always unplug the box, take the box, power lead and telly lead to a mates house for an evening watching movies, listening to music, or showing your holiday snaps!

Yeah everything this box can do you can do on your computer... but just so nice lounging in front of proper tv and with a simple remote having all this at hand.

Go on you know you want one!

Dont listen to the recent reviews its a great system!!

Have had this system for a week now. The sound quality is amazing and the DVD does a great job of upscaling to 1080i!

The sub is too strong at times, really it is like nothing you would ever heard of before!

I have read a lot of bad reviews about this product but I think that the complexity of it is somewhat too high for some people, which is maybe why they are encountering problems. Philips do not released products as bad as some people say this one is!

It is very difficult to put together so if you're not very knowledgeable about these types of things get someone to help or get a professional in.

The rear speakers work fine and do a great job in presenting them sounds that you would have probably never heard without a system like this one.

There is only one real problem I have with this system and that is that the DVD system itself is very slow to operate at times and changing source can take some time.
Come on Philips bring out a hardware update!!!!

To summarize you can't expect perfection for a surround sound system that comes in at £500 but this is the closest you can get to it for this type of money!

This recorder does the business for me

This item needs some thought in setting up,but i found samsung customer care very helpful.I am very pleased with the quality of recording both on dvd and vcr with excellent playback.I am also enjoying the digital freeview tv.I have given a four star rating because i think the instruction manual could be improved,other than that i think this item is value for money.

Very Bad

I got this product for Christmas from my parents so i feel bad giving it 1 star.

This product is slow, not user friendly and records disc inconsistantly.

I record something and it works on my other dvd player then i repeat this with the same settings and it doesnt work on my other dvd player.

To add to my frustrations today it stopped working completly only 4 months after i was given it.

Extremely good buy

This LG portable dvd player is worth the money. For people on a slightly smaller budget, it offers great sound, great picture and lots of fun! The screen, although 7", is bigger than expected and has very good picture quality. The sound is great and the player also has 2 headphone jacks. It also offers divx compatibility. My only complaint is that there isn't a volume button on the remote, only on the player. But apart from that, it's a good buy. In short - Life's good