Product Review
  • Sony DAV-FX500 XM-Ready Five-Disc DVD System 2
  • Sony DAV-FX500 XM-Ready Five-Disc DVD System 3
  • Sony DAV-FX500 XM-Ready Five-Disc DVD System 1
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Sony DAV-FX500 XM-Ready Five-Disc DVD System

Mid priced home theater kit.
The Good

Fantastic sound quality with clear audio channel differentiation. The DAV-FX500 packs a huge number of premium features that you would only expect in much higher priced kits. The automatic sound calibration is a lifesaver to anyone uncomfortable with setting their own levels.

The Bad

The speaker wire is a little thin but so far it is holding up well. If you want to use XM radio you will have to buy the antennae separately, it is the one thing not included in this package.

Full StarFull StarFull StarFull StarHalf Star The Verdict

Sony not only raised the bar with the DAV-FX500, they made the competition look like toy systems. The astonishing number of features only adds value to what is already a top performing system.

Editors Pick

Sony Wins on Style and Performance

Amazing number of features at a price that can’t be beat.

Simply put: Wow. There is nothing else I could have asked for in a home theater package, especially not in this price range. Home theater kits are a dime a dozen nowadays, and finding the right one, something you would be comfortable giving to your mom for a birthday present, is tough. When you do find a kit you enjoy there are often trade offs you make between price and quality. I’m amazed to report that there are no trade offs with the Sony DAV-FX500.

Home theater packages need to be evaluated not only by their performance, but also on their overall package, setup, ease of use and features. Basically on everything that would make you want to buy a kit rather than separate components.

Some highlights from the Sony kit include 2 sets of speaker stands for the satellite speakers, one tall, one short (no more having to buy stands separately) nad HDTV connectors. It is a rarity to find HDTV components in a mid-priced system. Perhaps, most impressive is the inclusion of an auto calibrating routine and calibrating microphone. This was a shocker, you usually have to break the $1000 price point before manufactures add auto calibrating features to their home theater packages.

After getting over my initial shock at all of the features it was time to test the system. I do not have an XM subscription so I was unable to test the satellite radio functions, but everything else was top notch. It is important to note that if you do plan on using satellite radio you will have to purchase the antennae separately, it doesn’t come with this kit.

Sound quality was great, everything sounded sharp with clear differentiation between all of the audio channels. There was no noticeable noise or distortion at any volume level, and the speakers were packing enough power to work well in a large living room.

The Sony home theater package is something special, and at under $500 it should be at the top of anyone’s list if they are in the market for something both powerful and new.

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