The DVP-NS57P is the budget model in Sony's range of DVD players, and as you would expect for a unit in this price range, it lacks a lot of high-end features. If you're looking for a DVD player that masters the basic functions well, rather than a unit that offers a lot of bells and whistles, we can recommend the DVP-NS57P.

This DVD player comes in a choice of colors, either a black finish as model number DVP-NS57P/B or an eye-catching silver as model number DVP-NS57P/S. The color aside, both models offer identical features and are priced the same. The unit offers 480p progressive scan output when hooked up to a suitably equipped digital or HD-ready TV. If you haven't upgraded your TV yet, the player also provides composite and S-video outputs for connection to just about any analog TV as well.

Whether you're watching a DVD movie or home recorded content this DVD player delivers solid video and audio quality. It is compatible with DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW format discs including Dual Layer DVD-R and DVD+R. As well as regular music CDs, audio fans can access MP3 and WMA files burned to CD-R and CD-RW, and the DVP-NS57P creates digital slideshows from JPEG picture discs.

Playback options on this unit include fast and slow play with audio, custom parental controls to prevent young ones from accessing adult content, and a multi-disc resume feature for up to six different titles. One of the features that impressed us the most was Sony's Precision Drive 3 mechanism. This enables the DVP-NS57P to read discs that have become warped, scratched or otherwise damaged. We found that discs that other players either struggled to read or could only display with heavy pixelation flaws played seamlessly on the DVP-NS57P. Coupled with the inexpensive list price, this makes the DVP-NS57P an ideal unit for locating in a child's room. Rather than have Junior's hands all over your high-end player, better to restrict him to this unit, on which he can watch all those discs he's scratched over the years.

The DVD player can route Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 channel surround sound signals to a compatible A/V receiver. The Sony DVP-NS57P is a solid budget priced DVD player that offers Sony picture quality at an affordable price.

Pros: Inexpensive, progressive scan output, good disc compatibility
Cons: Offers only basic features

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor