Sony NSZ-GT1 Blu-Ray Player with Google TV Review
by Andrew Van Til on November 29, 2010 3:45 PM EST- Posted in
- Google TV
- Media Streamer
- Sony
- Media Player
- Blu-Ray
The NSZ-GT1 provides a very basic DLNA and local file playback application. FAT32 formatted drives are recognized, but NTFS is not, so usefulness is limited primarily to photos and music files. File type support is also very limited; MKV and MP4 files with AVC/H.263 and AC-3 or DTS will play, but M2TS (while recognized) either did not play or in one case, actually crashed the player. On the audio side, MP3 and M4A files work well, but WMA does not. The DLNA browser was tested with Windows Media Player 12 with very limited success. Only photos really worked properly. Videos were listed but none would play and the browser did not find any music in the library. With such limited support for local file playback via attached or network storage, the device is clearly not intended as a replacement for a media streamer or home theater PC.
Besides the HD audio issues noted earlier with “BD Mixing” disabled, the Blu-ray playback experience was quite good. It is worth noting that the Blu-ray application is not as integrated into the player as the other applications. It will launch automatically when a disc is inserted but cannot run in the background, so features like PiP will not function during use. Unlike some other players, disc ejection is properly implemented as a background task, so it will not disrupt the focused application’s experience when pressed.
During disc playback video levels were correct, but both blacker-than-black (BTB) and whiter-than-white (WTW) are clipped at 16 and 235 respectively with YCbCr or RGB output, but interestingly, BTB/WTW were not clipped for file based playback when the player was configured for YCbCr output. BTB is only useful during calibration so this is not a significant loss, but WTW content does exist in real titles so clipping above 235 is less than ideal.
Generally, other audio and video playback was pretty good, but occasionally a strange issue was noted during video podcast playback (HD Nation—left/Engadget Show—right) where a white rectangle overlaid the content—each time the issue was resolved by rebooting the player (press control+alt+delete).
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Aloonatic - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - link
OH, i keep forgetting (as i'm in the UK) that these US prices often don't include taxes, as well as how much PS3s are these days :)You gotta really want to use Google TV to bother with one of these things/
Are those sorts of services used much in the US? Can't see these things catching on in the UK without being freeview/digital TV PVRs as well, such is the importance of the BBC, and cost of broadband with the traffic limits that have crept in over the last few years.
xype - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Welps, looks like another Google product with Serious Potential™.What happened to the tech reviewer that they are always talking about "future updates" with some products/companies. The piece is in stores _now_ and it's making its first impression on the consumers _now_. And God forbid those are people who have a mobile phone running Android 1.x still, because the "future update" never materialized.
Google doesn't just _not_ get certain aspect of a non-geek's life, they also don't understand that they're only going to get a certain amount of shots at the consumers before they earn a "Always Alpha, not worth the money" badge.
xype - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Spellink mistake, should be "...to the tech reviewers that..", as I'm not singling out Andrew here. :Pstrikeback03 - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
So if this goes like Android phones have, in a few years it will really be something to see. That said, early adopters will either have to do things on their own (like rooting old phones) or accept that as early adopters they don't always get a finished product. As always, people should see enough to buy a product based on what it is now and what they know they can do with it, not future hopes.That said, as-is does this do ANYTHING as well or better than other CE devices? at least until its rooted it seems like it might be a tough sell even to tech-geeks.
babgvant - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
LOL :)Sony has a good history of updating their BD players, so I'm not too worried that the player will be stuck in the current state forever. For e.g. the BDP-S570 (the better player referenced in the last section) shipped without 3D and Netflix; both were added via firmware updates.
babgvant - Thursday, December 16, 2010 - link
There should be an update to both the NSZ-GT1 and Revue coming very soon. Should bring a better Netflix app and DD pass through along with many other updated for the Sony.marvdmartian - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Limited file recognition/playability, a remote that looks like a netbook (without the screen), and the typically atrocious Sony price? Really??Personally, I can think of a half dozen other players/systems that I'd rather hook up to my home entertainment system, that won't cost any more, but have much greater capacity/ability.
cyberpdx - Friday, January 14, 2011 - link
I just returned a Jan'2011 purchased Sony NSZ-GT1 to my local Best Buy store. I had uit for about 10days. Here are some comments and reasons for the return......:PROS:
- Nice design of box
- Easy set up
CONS:
- Remote does not control the channel up/down on my Sony Bravia TV (huh?)
- Remote mouse does not work very well....very slow to move cursor at times.
- On screen display is very confusing to navigate.
- Netflix was a key reason for me to buy this, but I could only get in about 50% of the time.
- USB ports on back of box are not general purpose (is this for "Sony only products"?)
- Frankly, not very good content. No ABC, CBS, NBC online.
- No PDF reader on Google TV s/w
There are many more to list. I thought about keeping the unit until the next s/w upgrade comes out because I expect Sony/Google will fix some of these things, but I did not want to risk it. Besides, there are surely better & cheaper units coming out from different manufacturers within the next 6months and I am content to wait. Until then, I am still packing my note pc from my home office to my Bravia in the living room and watching Netflix and web surfing the easy way.
Good try Sony, but you fell flat on your face (from a dedicated Sony fan, by the way).
GRADE: C-
CraigHerberg - Sunday, January 16, 2011 - link
My major beef regards dropped frames. Specifically, when watching sporting events in high def, the screen frequently looks jittery, as if it is dropping frames. Also, when playing back home movies in 1080p, the screen frequently pauses, thereby making the movie virtually unwatchable.This box has no problem with with 720p home movies. Blu ray discs present no problem.
Craig Herberg
tletourneau - Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - link
Perhaps an updated review my be in order seeing that HonyComb has been released for these devices and has made some mojor changes.