Sony rolls out two new Blu-ray Disc players
Sony has officially announced its new Blu-ray Disc players, the BDP-S350 and BDP-S550. On sale immediately, the new models are designed to take full advantage of BD-Live and BD-Java content, and feature a new transport mechanism designed for enhanced disc stability.
The flagship BDP-S550 (above) comes complete with BD-Live/BD-Java firmware, and also has 1GB of exchangeable USB storage to save downloaded BD-Live content. The less expensive BDP-S350 is described as 'BD-Live ready': a firmware update will be available by October to activate the extra features. It also has a USB port to allow storage to be added for downloaded content.
Both machines have Ethernet connections for internet access, and BonusView to enable two streams from a single disc to be viewed simultaneously, for example for picture-in-picture director's commentaries.
The new players use Sony's Precision Drive HD mechanism, which detects and corrects disc wobbles in three dimensions, and they also have a quick start-up mode, enabling them to be up and running in just six seconds.
Other facilities include Sony's 24p True Cinema and new Precision Cinema HD upscaling, which works up to 1080p.
The BDP-S550 also has DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and a 7.1-channel analogue output, while both players will output Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio as bitstream to a suitable amplifier.
They also have Sony's XrossMediaBar menu system, Bravia Synch and support for AVCHD discs with X.V.Color.
Watch this space later today for our exclusive online review of the BDP-S350, which we'll be uploading to the website this afternoon.
UPDATED: Review now online here
Comments
Why would a brand new Blu-ray player not play Divx? Would this be possible via a firmware upgrade? This is functionality that has been around for years in DVD players.
so, if I have an Onkyo 875 - then I don't need the more expensive model as the amp will decode the audio for me? also, how does the video upscaler in the 875 compare to the one in the Player?
Wouldn't hold your breath, kaotician, at least on the Blu-ray Disc front.
I'm still waiting for a multi-region version of ANY BD player.....
Alsone
Yes the 605 does accept TrueHD as a bitstream, and I guess that since the 350 is firmware upgradable to BD-Live then the players have the facility to take firmaware upgrades at a later stage.
Bluntman
What's the problem with the players outputting the HD formats as bitstream? Or indeed LPCM? Either way gives you the same results.
Looks like a classier player than the Samsung 1500 which is all the rage at the moment. I'll be very interested to see the review this afternoon.
Clare,
Does the Onkyo 605 decode the bit stream of True HD? I know its supposed to support True HD but I've never figured out if it supports it as in amplifies the decoded stream or actually decodes it and amplifies it.
Also, are the new players firmware upgradeable like the PS3 so as to take advantage of future developments in the software / BD format?
We've been given a price of £230 for the BD350, but retailers will set their own prices for the players when they get stocks (I wouldn't be surprised if you see if for £199).
Both players should be in shops by end of month.
Any ideas on cost or when will they be in the shops.
TO add in decoders to output PCM would've cost money, which is why they haven't included them. Any entry level product is a cost compromise, so it'll be a while before we see bog standard BluRay players doing everything.
Surprise, surprise bitstream only on the cheaper model for the hi-def formats. So the only blu-ray player under £400 that decodes TrueHD and DTS MA to PCM is the PS3 I'm think I'm correct in saying? and thus my entry into the blu-ray market is delayed again, I am not going get rid of my superior sounding Marantz that only takes multi channel LPCM so that I can buy an inferior sounding Onkyo or Denon amp that takes bitstream formats, shame really as I was hoping the new Sonys would solve that problem, looks like saving the pennies for a PS3 then.