IFA 2011: Sony's £80 BDP-S185 Blu-ray player breaks cover

Sony's IFA press conference may have focused on its new Tablet range (more of that later), but this budget £80 BDP-S185 Blu-ray player has also caused a stir - it's been officially launched after quietly hitting shops at the weekend (as revealed in our Forum thread here).

Bringing Blu-ray playback down to a highly affordable level, the new player also incorporates Bravia Internet Video for streaming the likes of BBC iPlayer, LoveFilm and Demand 5.

In addition, it's compatible with the newly-named Sony Entertainment Network (bye bye Qriocity) and has a USB port for connecting an external hard disk drive.

Sony claims the BDP-S185 uses 47% less power than its predecessor, the BDP-S370, and is wrapped in casework a third narrower.

It will upscale DVDs to 'near HD quality', has a single HDMI output, handles Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and has BD-Live for extra disc features.

UPDATE - Sony BDP-S185 REVIEW NOW ONLINE HERE

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.