Entered CNET Catalog: 03/16/2006
SKU: 0027242682962
Manufacturer: Sony Electronics, Inc.
Manufacturer description
The Sony DAV-FX500 DVD Dream System is a home theater system with integrated 5 DVD/CD changer incorporating the latest audio and video technologies. DAV-FX500 comes equipped with HDMI interface to ensure compatibility with the latest digital television. It has dedicated audio input for portable digital music players. Plus it is compatible with XM Connect & Play so you can listen to all the exciting stations available through XM Satalite Radio.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 03/16/2006
User opinions
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User Rating: 
9/10
you want boom for your buck?... this is the system
Pros: the bass is unbelievably powerful. don't worry, just crank it
Cons: the 5 disc changer is awkward, not user friendly at all
Let's get the cons out of the way... the five disc operation demands patience. You can figure it out the hard way or do what we all hate, read the manual.
Aside from that, I should have bought two or three. The system comes loaded. We have a number of game systems, and reciever has outputs to handle them all. Just with that is a home run for the system.
Then we tried several dvds with bass sounding scenes. Try Final Fantasy Advent Children or Baraka. We were blown away by the rich boom. Yeah... the bass is the grand slam.
Still undecided? What are you waiting for?
User Rating: 
4/10
Not what I expected
Pros: Nice upconversion on DVD
Cons: Weak Speakers
User Rating: 9/10
very good system works well
Pros: dvd is very clear pretty easy set up
Cons: it could be a liitle louder but other than that it' all godd.
User Rating: 9/10
GREAT SYSTEM TO HAVE!!!!
Pros: Auto Calibration, HDMI Output, Ipod Connector,
Cons: Speaker Wire, Remote Control
JAY 2 THA
User Rating: 9/10
Great product for Great Price
Pros: Easy to hook up, manage, setup
Cons: none so far.
User Rating: 
8/10
Great sounding system with tons of extras
Pros: Small speakers with a punch. Great features and decent price
Cons: Clip speaker wires to back of system. Unable to really upgrade the speaker wire without splicing. No speaker stands included for the surround speaker (although at least you get them for the front)
1)Speaker conection to the back is via a clip, so you can't really upgrade the wires.
2)Can't delete the inputs that you don't use i.e XM for me. You also have to scroll through them to get from one to the other. (no quick hit button)
3) The auto calibration, although a great tool, sets the volume levels too low for me. I like it REALLY LOUD. This can be fixed with a few of the custom settings.
4) Custom settings can not be adjusted while a movie or cd is playing. This is not a major draw back though.
5)Rear speaker stands not included. I just wish they would have included because I like for all my stuff to match and getting aftermarket stands just aint the same.
6) When using the remote for the TV controls it is automatic to switching back to standard functions after 15 seconds of non TV use.
7) The 5 disc changer can be confusing on adding new disc. You have to hit the eject button at a certain time to keep it from skipping to the next disc automaticly.
With all that being said. Those are all minor issues. Now for the good stuff.
1) Componet and HDMI connections.
2) External audio frontside connections i.e MP3 players.
3) Great sound for the size of speakers.
4) Very small center channel speaker for thinner TV's.
5) Dvd's will resume at last stop even if you happen to switch disks for some reason. It works great for me in watching TV seasons on DVD. I was amazed that it even picked up on a last stopping point once when I acually took the DVD out and later put it back in. Don't know how it knew though???
Just to let you know I looked at the other smaller systems such as the Bose 321 GS (No HDMI), Denon 2.1 (not loud enough, so didn't spend much time on that one), and the smaller 2.1 Sony Platinum Dream system (costed twice as much and gave a whole lot less in sound and features.) I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this system as long as you can get it under $500 after rebates and taxes.
User Rating: 8/10
Nice Startup System to have
Pros: Cheap! Easy to Setup! Great sound for the price!
Cons: The Speaker Wires were a little cheap would have like to have the option to get my own. No plug in for my Ipod
User Rating: 
7/10
A good system that could have been great!
Pros: Auto calibration, cool looking DVD/Receiver unit
Cons: Slightly underpowered, no HDMI in
User Rating: 9/10
Great Unit
Pros: Great sound, HDMI port, Easy setup
Cons: Woofer not powered
User Rating: 8/10
Best for the Price
Pros: Auto Calibration, Digital Audio in (Optical & Coaxial), HDMI out
Cons: Subwoofer so so, Complicated Remote, Cheap Speaker Wire with unusual connectors
I had to exchange the first one because it stopped working, New one is working fine.
I have mounted the front speakers to the wall beside my plasma TV, did not use the supplied stand.
This system is a good bargain. You get 5-disc changer, 1000 watt, AM/FM Tuner, can hook-up your I-pod or mp3 player in the front. It is little bigger than what I thought but I think most of the 5 disc systems are big. Sound quality is pretty good, although I am not an audiophile. Autocalibration is really cool. Digital Audio in (both optical and coaxial) are present (which are missing from the similar system DAV-FX375). DVD upconversion with HDMI is good and is very convinient (saved me running 5 wires {3 component video and 2 audio} from TV to DVD player)
I am not impressed with the subwoofer, Remote has lot of buttons, There are 3 menu buttons 2 display buttons, Setup Menu opens by pressing Display button. Speaker wire is thin and has special connectors for hooking up to DVD, so not too easy to upgrade the wire yourself.
Overall I am quite happy with the system. It looks pretty too
User Rating: 8/10
Great so far...
Pros: Auto Calibration actually works well, crisp, clean, and a decent sub.
Cons: Typical issues: crappy speak wire(thin and proprietary), hard to learn remote, etc...
Overall, I bought this system as a way to "tide me over" until the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD battle is over and prices have dropped. I connected it to my 50" SXRD, and man is it beautiful with the HDMI upconvert. BE CAREFUL, don't try to save a couple bucks with the FX375, it doesn't feature an optical input, this product(FX500) does.
Great system, but it's not going to compete with an AcoustiMass. What do you expect for 1/5 the price? Oh yeah, and the overall contruction quality is pretty impressive too. Very little plastic.
The only downfalls I can honestly see at this point are that the included speaker wire is probably 18 or 20 gauge, and they're proprietary(not your typical speaker connections on the back of the unit, they're Sony connections). That's typical with most Sony products though.
