[foggy]

I haven't been able to find any relatively recent user experiences of this combo DVD player/digital amp here or anywhere on the web.  They seem to be still available at fairly solid prices (< $600).  Does anyone here use this unit (or the S700ES), and what are your thoughts?

I'm primarily interested in the sound quality of the digital amps in a 2 channel setup, and any anomolies at all.  I saw a couple of postings by early purchasers who experienced excessive hiss (similar to the problem of the first full-size ES digital-amp  receivers), and I wouldn't want to get caught by something like that.

I'm going to see if Oade still has them, if so the unit will have the 5 year ES warranty (a big selling point).

[Feisal K]

foggy,

Agoraquest is the Sony fan site and chances are someone there would have looked at it

[Brad]

I've had the '700 for about a year now.
I'm very happy with both the sound and DVD picture quality.
Digital in sounds good.  My phono stage sounds very good into one of the analog ports.

I have had the hiss issue a couple of times, but a power cycle took care of it - I wasn't annoyed enough to send it back to Oade, who is a terrific seller, btw.

The remote is only passable
You can't read the front panel unless you're within a couple of feet.

[foggy]

Thanks for the response Brad.  With the hiss issue, I take it you mean that turning the unit off and on fixed the hiss.  Is it something that still happens?  I'm wondering if it was a break-in issue (I know I'm reaching a bit, but I want to like this unit!).  How would you rate the build quality?

I did a couple of searches at Agoraquest, usable info was nil.

[Brad]

I don't think the hiss is a break-in issue.
Turning it off/back has resolved it on the times it has happened.

I'd say the build quality is good, especially for a mass-market item.
It has moved twice with me now and is still in really good condition (must be closer to 18 months old)