Early DVD Player Black Level

[Outland]

I've noticed that the Sony DVP-S7000, a reference level player with very good reviews from the time it was released, has a very strange issue.

As soon as the player turns on, the black level changes. Meaning, the lowest black the player outputs, even at the idle screen, is more gray. No other video equipment I have, including VCRs etc., does that.

Using any other DVD player gives a significantly better picture in my view, because the blacks are no longer washed out.

The S7000 is supposed to be one of the few players that can output blacker than black on test strips. Does that mean that the 'black' is in fact a few steps above 'true' black, meaning the black seen on a calibrated display is indeed the black on the disc and the other players just chop the 'true black' off if the disc calls for it? Or is the player just outputting a higher black level for some reason.