Sony NSZ-GT1 Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player - Product Review

The NSZ-GT1 provides very good Blu-ray and DVD playback in terms of detail, color, contrast, and black levels. Also, video performance with streaming content looked good, but it must be noted that factors such as video compression used by content providers, as well as internet speed affects the quality of what you see on the screen from online sources. For more on this refer to my article: Internet Speed Requirements for Video Streaming.

The NSZ-GT1 also passed most of the upscaling tests on the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD.

The upscaling test results revealed that the NSZ-GT1 does very well on jaggie elimination, detail, motion adaptive processing, and moire pattern detection and elimination, but did exhibit some inconsistency in frame cadence detection and also exhibited some background video noise and mosquito noise. However, overall, the NSZ-GT1 does a good job with DVD playback. For a more comprehensive look at the video performance of NSZ-GT1, check out my supplementary Test Results Report.

Audio Performance

On the audio side, the NSZ-GT1 comes equipped with HDMI and digital optical audio output options. The NSZ-GT1 delivered good audio performance on Blu-ray discs, DVDs, CDs, and SACDs. I noticed no audio artifacts that could be attributed to the NSZ-GT1.

However, in terms of audio connectivity, I found the NSZ-GT1 lacking. There are no analog audio connection options provided for connection to non-HDMI equipped home theater receivers. Also, although the NSZ-GT1 has a digital optical output, that output can only access standard Dolby Digital, DTS, and 2-channel PCM audio signals. Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, or multi-channel PCM audio signals output from this player can only be output via HDMI.

Also incorporated into the NSZ-GT1 is the ability to play audio, video, and image files stored on flash drives, or iPod, and the ability to access audio, video, and still image files stored on home network-connected devices.

I found the availability of four USB ports for accessing content on either a flash drive or iPod, was certainly convenient, but the required onscreen menu access took several steps before I could actually access the content.

In addition to flash drives and my iPod, I was also able to access shared audio, video, and still image files stored on my network connected PC.

Internet Streaming

Using the oncscreen All Apps menu, users can access streaming content from sites such as, Napster Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, and more via included access to the Android Market.

Playing the available content is easy. Setting up some accounts may require a PC, however, once that is done, you can navigate through each of the various providers to access content. However, you also have the option, using the Google Chrome or Quick Search tools, to type in the name, or other relevant keywords about the program or movie you are looking for, and the search results will provide you with the direct links to the content, much like searching for an article topic on a PC internet browser.

To get the best quality video playback result from internet streamed content, it is definitely desirable to have a high-speed internet connection. If you have a slow broadband connection, such as 1.5mbps, video playback may stop periodically so that it can buffer. On the other hand, some content providers, such as Netflix, are pretty good at determining your broadband speed and adjusting accordingly, but image quality is compromised at slower broadband speeds.

It must be also be noted that regardless of broadband speed, there is a lot of variation in the video quality of streamed content, ranging from low-res compressed video that is hard to watch on a large screen to high-def video feeds that look more like DVD quality or slightly better. Even streaming content advertised as 1080p, will not look quite as detailed as 1080p content played directly from a Blu-ray Disc.

The big addition on the NSZ-GT1 is the in corporation of the Google TV platform. Google TV is a tool that is intended to provide a more efficient way of searching for, accessing, and organizing audio video content supplied by your cable/satellite box or streamed from the internet. At its core, Google TV is the application of the Google's Chrome Browser in the home entertainment environment.

In addition to search, Google TV also now incorporates aspects of the Android operating system and Android Market App store. This enables users to add (either free or purchase) applications to enhance audio and video content access.

In use, Google TV provides very powerful search tools (Google Chrome and Quick Search) that enable you to find TV programs, videos, and music in a fast and organized way without having to scroll through lots of channels and clicking on Apps in search of that elusive TV episode, movie, long lost song favorite song or performer.

Quick Search

Of the two search tools, I found Quick Search to be the easiest and more efficient way of finding content. When you enter your search time, Quick Search places the results into one or more categories, such as all video and music results, all web results, and specific destinations, such as YouTube, or other service.

The search results also tell you how many services are offering the content. For instance, if a movie title is offered on both Netflix and Amazon, it will list and provide a direct link to where the title is located both services, giving you a choice of which service to view it from, without having had to scroll through each service in an effort to locate the title.

Google Chrome Browser

When using Google Chrome, the search results are listed the same way they are listed on your PC, which is fine if you are going a general search, but it doesn't place the searches into categories, so you still have to scroll through several different types of content to find you may be looking for.

On the other hand, since Google Chrome for Google TV works the same as it does on a PC, you can also perform the same type of searches you do when using your PC, thus enabling to you do all types of web searches, read and answer email, and also post on Facebook, Twitter, or a Blog.

Using the Remote Control as a Keyboard

However, the downside when using the search and text-input functions, is that the remote control is hard to use as a keyboard, unless you are really skilled with a Blackberry-type keyboard. You do have the option to use a full-size keyboard, but, unfortunately, you can't just temporarily borrow your PC's keyboard, you must use the Google TV compliant keyboard made by Logitech. I confirmed this by trying my own windows USB keyboard, and it didn't work. Definitely consider getting the Logitech keyboard.

1. Excellent Blu-ray playback.

2. Good DVD Upscaling.

3. 4 USB ports for accessing video, still image, and music files on USB flash drives and iPods.

4. A good selection of Internet streaming content.

5. Google TV feature provides extensive search and organization functions.

6. 8Gb of built-in memory for accessing/storing BD-live content and internet apps.

7. Fast disc loading.

What I didn't like about the NSZ-GT1

1. No component or composite video output options. NSZ-GT1 can only be connected to TVs with HDMI or DVI inputs.

2. No 2/5.1/7.1 channel analog audio outputs for use with pre-HDMI home theater receivers.

3. Some content providers have locked out Google TV.

4. Although 3D is supported via streaming and USB, it is not supported for Blu-ray disc playback. UPDATE 2/2/12: 3D Blu-ray Disc Playback Capability Can Now be Added via New Firmware.

5. SACD compatible but not DVD-Audio compatible.

6. Remote control cumbersome to use.

7. Remote Control not backlit.

8. Power Supply is external.

9. Complete User manual access requires going to Sony e-Support Website.

Final Take

The NSZ-GT1 is designed to fulfill three major functions, play disc-based content (Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD), play attached media content (USB flash drives, iPod), and stream content from the internet.

The GT1 provides excellent playback for disc-based content, and also functions well as a network media player. In addition, the added bonus is that the NSZ-GT1 is able to search and organize content efficiently, via the Google TV platform.

One the other hand, GT1 is not perfect, one serious connection omission is that lack of any component or composite video output option, making connection to non-HDMI or DVI equipped TVs impossible. Also, although the NSZ-GT1 can play 3D content streamed via the Sony Home Entertainment app and connected USB flash drives, it cannot play Blu-ray 3D content - only 2D is supported for playback of Blu-ray discs.

Also, while audio performance very good with Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs, with the HDMI and Digital Optical audio output options, the lack of any analog audio output capabilities limits flexibility further by not allowing connection to older analog-input only equipped home theater receivers or audio systems.

In addition, I thought that the provided remote control was not that intuitive to use, however, for those that are used to using video game controllers and blackberry/smart phone keyboards, the remote design will be very familiar. Since typing is required to enter search terms, it would have been nice to have included the capability to attach any USB-windows keyboard to the GT1, instead limiting external keyboard compatibility to only one offered by Logitech.

Taking all into consideration, the Sony NSZ-GT1 provides great Blu-ray Disc and good DVD and CD playback performance, it also does well accessing content over a home network, including streamed content from the internet.

The Google TV platform definitely makes content search and organization easier, and the inclusion of Android Market makes adding additional Apps easy, but there are several qualifiers that need to be taken into consideration.

These include the fact that some streaming services and network TV outlets (ABC, CBS, FOX, Hulu, and NBC) have blocked the Google TV platform from accessing their offerings, and although both the Google Chrome and Quick Search tools worked well, remote was not always easy to use, and the online help guide did not provide all the information needed to understand and use the entirety of the GT1's functions.

The Sony NSZ-GT1 is worth consideration as a great performing Blu-ray Disc player, and versatile network media player, but the remote control and Google TV platform do take some getting used to. Definitely read both the printed Quick Start Guide and more complete Online Help Guide before plugging in, setting up, or using the NSZ-GT1. It is also important to note that the Google TV platform and Android Market listings are both periodically updated with new features and content providers.

For additional perspective on the Sony NSZ-GT1, also check out my Photo Profile and Video Performance Text Results.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.