„If a DVD player is heavier than a middle-class receiver, features a high-quality remote control and has a video input it is obvious that this player is pretty special. Even the loader’s performance is impressive: after the front panel has been lowered, the drive comes out in a very smooth fashion – just like a diva. It is possible to connect the satellite receiver with the player via the S-video input, which means that the impressive video technology is not only noticeable when watching DVDs but also when watching television. When it comes to the quality of the picture, the player is pretty equal to its tall receiver brother, and even at the steep price of 4,500 Euro such quality is not a matter of course. So it is lucky that Onkyo’s engineers kept up their attention to detail when they designed the remote control. Even though it is not exactly handy, the huge “chocolate bar” is easy to handle and can be operated in the dark without problems. Thanks to its background illumination and clear arrangement of the keys it is almost impossible to make a typing error.  The Onkyo even comes with all necessary cables, which are by no means cheap free-bees but are definitely useful. The CD playback is full and mature. The sound picture is a good compromise between precise details and dimensional illusion. High resolution data carriers such as SACD or DVD audio are definitely not neglected as it seems that the Onkyo celebrates every single byte. The player does not sound like a cold digital technology system, but it sounds pleasant and honest. The overall quality of the picture is almost as good as the quality of the sound. One of the Onkyo’s fortes is its ability to eliminate small differences and to play mediocre recordings in a way that is not harmful to the eyes. The picture does not lose any of its naturalness even when played via HDMI with an activated Scaler. It even emanates the flair of a good film role. Furthermore the drive and navigation are pretty slick, and its correction mode can even get rid of scratches on CDs.

„The high quality of the sound absolutely convinced us: The system reached top results in the listening test and with its measurements – the sound of the digital output was especially good.“
„Its picture quality and equipment is extremely good.“

"Here's a stunning looking, brilliantly built and superb sounding Japanese high end DVD-universal based stereo system from brand new components on sale in the UK today,..."

“No other universal player sounds so fine and detailed in the high end as this one. Its intoxicating sound even fascinates listeners, who thought they had heard everything. It brings out the finest nuance of every sound source and links everything in order to create coherent and fresh sound characteristics, which emanate an unforgettable sovereignty and lightness…”

“The Onkyo DV-SP1000E is considered one of the best DVD players – and rightly so. Its audiovisuals are of a very high quality and it is able to play all formats there are. Thanks to its modular construction it is absolutely future-proof.”

"And this is the point. the Onkyo is a superb one-stop-shop, with excellent sound quality and state-of-the-art video performance at a price that compares extremly favourable with the competition. It's also extremely well built, and equipped with a vast array of outputs and pontentially useful features such as internal video upscaling."  

“Very solidly manufactured high-tech universal player that does not only play back DVDs perfectly but also has a S-VHS and composite input, which make the picture of external components reach HDTV standards. It features a great picture and smooth operation with progressive scan. The sound via multi and two-channel is very detailed and atmospheric.”  

"Onkyo DV-SP1000 is a highly respectable component which offers the best possible DVD technology. It's capability of enhancing a classical DVD resolution picture to a HDTV quality is remarkable and the sound quality is so good that it will satisfy even the most demanding audiophiles. The multi channel digital transfer of the sound signal with the i.link interface from the DV-SP1000 is just the icing on the cake. The Onkyo DV-SP1000 fills the life dream of every home theatre lover with excellent sound and vision."

„The Onkyo’s front panel with its illuminated controls looks extremely posh. Another advantage to its Denon competitor is its remote control, which is made of the finest aluminium and features sophisticated keys. The remote control certainly suits the high quality high end device. The simpler and more cheaply looking remote control of the Denon cannot even begin to keep up with it. With its remote, its easy-to-use menu and its clear display, the Onkyo might even win the “operating” test….”

"…to be equally clear, there’s no disputing that the Onkyo is a superior player. It’s better made, better equipped, and capable of better sound and vision performance: in short, for the home cinema enthusiast who has everything, it’s a better buy."
"The chassis is constructed from reinforced steel, while the supporting feet are solid brass. Internal components are tof the highest calibre, from the oversized power transformer to giant capacitors, and every socket bears the expensive, performance-enhancing lustre of gold plating"

"The DV-SP1000E, ONKYO'S FLAGSHIP DVD Player, is a very impressive beast. First and foremost it is a DVD-Video player with integral Dolby and DTS decoders, which output through six analogue outputs on the back in the time honoured fashion…" " The Onkyo is a superb one stop shop, with excellent sound quality and state of the art video performance at a price that compares extremely favourably with the opposition, and which is also extremely well built and equipped with a cast array or outputs and useful features..."

"Onkyo has scored a high-end hit with the DV-SP1000E. The picture and sound quality from DVD-Video are so good your chums will think Blu-Ray has arrived. DVD-Audio and SACD replay are the icing on the cake. I can't wait for the brand to roll out its matching über-receiver." Picture: 5 Stars; Sound: 5 Stars; Features: 5 Stars; Overall: 5 Stars

"We have experience with Onkyo’s flagship DVD players, but nothing prepared us for the DV-SP1000E. Don’t be fooled by its comparatively low price, or the prosaic nature of its styling: the Onkyo is a very special player."
"Excellent picture and multichannel sound; great specification; quite astonishing build quality"
Verdict: An excellent player, and an extraordinary testament to the quality of Onkyo’s engineering

“This player makes a good impression immediately after taking it out of its box. Its design is definitely a winner. The massive aluminium front is concave and there are no designer frills, however, it has more than an every-day façade. The eject key operates the drive by the slightest touch, which then pushes the loader out smoothly but quickly.”

“There are many technological tricks that make a real high-end device out of a high-performance DVD player and Onkyo has used them all in the new DV-SP1000.” “Onkyo’s tradition of using the latest technology and the best equipment in AV receivers has finally reached the era of DVD.”

"In the laboratory test the machine is very linear on the whole wideband and the frequency response in very linear. The video section has very good levels. The player is a high-end product able to give very high video and audio performances to the a/v enthusiasts. The video quality is very good; in particular all the analog video outputs are very good thanks to the sophisticated video DAC Analog Devices...."

"Quality doesn't come cheap. The name Integra already is a sign that it is a good machine... This also means that no consesions are made...." "However as expensive as it is, every penny is justified. The build, both inside and outside is very good. Seperate boards for Analogue and Digital signals, the heavily shielded cables. It also comes with the very smart O-Plus chip which gives supurb picture quality on HDTV. Brilliant picture! Superb sound quality also in Stereo! Brilliant O-Plus Flexscale! Sublime 216MHz/14Bit NSV DAC! Excellent on DVD-Audio and SACD! This is the new TOP in the land of DVD! "

“High end at its best: Onkyo’s new universal player, the DV-SP1000E, impresses with the latest connection points, a new concept and real reference quality.” “Listening to any CD is a real joy with this player and even the high end systems bloom when used with this player. We only give unlimited praise once a component has mastered our test run without problems and has managed to get through the listening and viewing test – and that is exactly what this Onkyo player has achieved…”

"…the chassis, is built with high quality aluminium, which is also used for aircraft construction." "The picture offers such a high degree of realistic views that we have to start rethinking. Nobody has ever thought that it would be possible to increase the quality of a DVD…"