CONS
- Display on device is very weak. Its hardly visible unless close up. Usually thats not an issue.
- Playing USB videos: Select a file to play and start, stop, select another and then it will play a random file. There seems to be no pattern to the random file selection. Not a problem if the file you select first is the one you want to play.
- Remote: First time I have ever had a remote which interferes with the operations of other equipment, but this one does. My STB changes channels when I turn the Soniq on with remote. It also influences other functions depending on button press. I used to be TV serviceman without any other product doing this, so I consider it a serious fault.
- If video file .mp4 and fps not 25 seems to be unable to read video.
- Some USB files are problematic with subtitle control, whereas on PC no problem exists.
- Network - if no network exists and 'Test Connection' is pressed the unit locks up.
- Unlike some other makes it wont read reliably NTFS disk, although FAT32 is most common format.
PROS
- Playback on DVD and Blu ray is superb. DVD is much better than all DVD players I have used before.
For example our Panasonic Home Theatre DVD player with a standard DVD. Compare same DVD in Soniq and its similar the difference between playing DVD and Blu ray on soniq. Standard DVD on soniq has much better resolution, colours, contrast and no flickering. - .mkv .avi no problems with excellent audio video sync.
- Blu ray: cant fault the picture, or any menu operations for Blu ray playback.
- USB expemplary in its ability to set perspective correctly according to source. EG some video files had perspective incorrect, but the Soniq sorted them out so they were either perfect, or not excessively distorted.
- Fast load on Blu ray.
- If you need component output, this player has it as well as the norm; HDMI and composite only.
- Multizone standard - this is an important aspect to consider on blu ray purchase.
- JBHifi who distribute are exceptional in support. They seem to stand behind their goods.
To summarise. if you want a player that is low cost and performs well apart from reliable .mp4 this model should be ok. I would expect that my STB remote control problem is an exceptional case.
Kind regards,
Alistair.
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