Product Description

The Sony DAV-S550 Home Cinema System provides an all-in-one solution for your home audio and video needs. In addition to MP3-CD and Dolby Pro Logic II playback, the players offer DVD-Video, Super Audio CD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, Video CD and FM/MW radio playback. Other significant enhancements over the previous generation of Sony home cinema systems include component output, a new slot-in disc-loading system, and increased speaker power, providing an amazing 400W.

The Sony DAV-S550 Home Cinema System retains the slim profile and simple, intuitive set-up and operation that distinguishes Sony DAV systems from other home entertainment products. Its super compact, fully digitised power amplifier also provides maximum space savings. An important consideration for the non-expert user is a simple installation and connection procedure. The compact receiver fits neatly under a TV while colour-coded wires enable non-specialists to install the speakers in just a few minutes. Advances in the operating system assure near silent operation and the new slim-line remote commander glows in the dark.

Keeping easy operation firmly in mind, the players employ a new on-screen graphical user interface (GUI), which enables easy and intuitive navigation using the player's remote commander. With this feature users can also quickly select their favourite album or track and easily manage their MP3 libraries.

The DAV-S550 operates as a high-end hi-fi system as well as a DVD player, and an important feature is multi-channel Super Audio CD playback. With its enhanced audio definition relative to CD clearly established, Super Audio CD playback significantly heightens the system's audio performance. The system plays back both stereo and multi-channel Super Audio CD recordings and enhanced amplifier and speaker performance ensures that the potential of this exciting new audio format is exploited.

With regard to home theatre operation, and to enable enjoyment of the latest DVD-Video releases, the system integrates Dolby Pro Logic II alongside Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, offering wide software compatibility today and tomorrow. The DAV-S550 is supplied with five micro satellite speakers and sub-woofer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28530 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: DAVS550
• Dimensions: 33.07 pounds

Features

• 05 X SPEAKERS
• 01 X SUBWOLFER
• 01 X HOME CINEMA SYSTEM
• 01 X REMOTE CONTROL
• 06 X WIRES FOR SPEAKERS & SUBWOLFER

What HiFi, June-03
Best for Value (5 stars).

Customer Reviews

Style and Performance of an equally high standard.
How things have progressed for the 'Home Cinema In A Box' system in recent years. Just over a year ago people were singing praises to the DAVS500 system, marvelled at it's ability to play SACD discs aswell as DVD-Video and CD.
What we have here is its descendent. The DAVS550 maintains many of the key features of its predecessor, aswell as improving the performance and styling. First and foremost it's equipped with Dolby Pro Logic II, which is Dolby's latest variation on the original Pro Logic theme. This aims to create a 5.1 soundfield from Stereo sources as opposed to the '4.0' soundfield provided by Pro Logic I.
Alongside this the DAVS550 also accommodates for Component Video Outputs which support Progressive Scan pictures with NTSC material (Region 1 discs basically). This is a video enhancing gizmo only usually found in high end DVD players, which thanks to sony has been put into a system where more people have the opportunity to make use of it.
The system is also gorgeous to look at, and is without doubt the most attractive of its kind, with curved steal casing for both the DVD deck and the speakers and a 'Glow in The Dark' flourescent Blue remote control. Alongside this there's two Analogue inputs for connection to devices such as a VCR or Digibox, and an Optical Digital input for top flight connection to a PS2 or a Sky+ set top box.
In use the DAVS550 takes the Home Cinema In A Box performance bars to new heights. Using Eric Clapton's 'Unplugged' peformances as a test disc, the Sony does unusually well with music. I say unusually as systems of its type usually lose a lot of midrange detail to the subwoofer and make music sound bland & flat - but not here, the speakers coping marvelously well. Engage Pro Logic II Music Mode and things go from Good to Better, the surround processing helping a great deal to realise much more detail on a disc.
With movies the Sony excells even moreso, providing accurate surround sound steering and plenty of grunt from the inconspicuous subwoofer.
The picture performance is less impressive. The Composite & S Video outputs are what most will be using to connect the sony up to their television sets, and in use these do disappoint, with large amounts of Grain & Noise visible, especially in Dark scenes. In The Fellowship of The Ring large mosaic blocks are visible in the scenes set inside Gollum's cave as the picture fades to black.
However if you're one of the minority of people that can access the sony's Component Video outputs then picture quality improves a great deal, with vibrant colour fidelity & no traces of noise. The deck providing levels of detail that stand alone DVD players of near equivalent price would be proud of, and that's before you engage the Progressive Scan video mode.
All in all this sony is a fine system. If you can't access the component video outputs no need to worry, as Component Video to Scart converter cables are available from Cable Specialists, and do work tremendously well. Aside from the little picture niggles then, this system is nigh on perfect.

Nice stylish all-in-one home cinema product
I've used the dav-s550 for a week now. I am satisfied with the sound the system produces, especially the clearness of the sattelite speakers. The subwoofer is a passive one; therefore quality of the lower tones is somewhate intermediate.
I'm pleased with the amount of features on the dav-s550; in addition to regular formats, both MP3 and SACD discs can be played.
The remote control is versatile, but is equipped with buttons just somewhat too small for easy operation. A pro is the ability to program the remote for your TV. I've successfully transformed it to the all-in-one remote for my receiver/DVD/TV.
The package comes with an extensive manual, which is easy to read.
The design of the system is quite nice, a sleek, rounded design made me choose for this set instead of a JVC set.

Strengths:
Good quality of sound through sattelite speakers.
Many functions; programmable remote control; stylish design.

Weaknesses:
somewhat underpowered subwoofer; small buttons on remote control.

A great new home theatre system
Just received my new sony DAV S550, my first home cinema system. Previously i was using a playstation 2 as my dvd...

This sony replaces the older style DAV range, and makes some big improvements. Firstly, the normally large and clunky speaker that comes with these types of systems is replaced with a really quite petite and stylish subwoofer, though it doesnt lack power, in fact it is very effective.

The five little speakers that come with this system are also really nicely designed, with a very solid and heavy, quality feel. The main unit also looks really cool, and the remote control glows in the dark, which im finding very handy.

This system will play everything you want... DVD's, CD's, Radio, etc, and it is remarkably easy to set up, even for the less technically minded.

Performance to my eye is great, and you really get an extra dimension when you hear the sound effects coming from all sides....

Its not the cheapest syatem on this type, but for someone who wants a really good system without buying separates and having twelve miles of cables in your living room, and who appreciates this sony design, you should definately consider it.