BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 enhance Blu-ray profile
The format war is at an end and slowly but surely, the decision to buy a Blu-ray player will become easier and easier.
Right now, Blu-ray players aren't quite perfect and most are missing a handful of features that will some day complete Sony's Blu-ray specification. Granted, you could just buy a PlayStation 3 and hope to receive any new features via software updates but movie enthusiasts will want a be-all end-all standalone player.
Well, those better all-round players are getting closer and right after HD DVD's sudden death, Sony has announced a duo of new Blu-ray players, the BDP-S350 and BDP-S550.
Pictured above, both players support BonusView (i.e. Picture-in-Picture) and provide BD-Live functionality via a built-in Ethernet port. Though both models provide a USB port for additional external storage, the BDP-S550 will ship with a 1GB storage device.
Chris Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home Product Division said:
"Building on the exceptional picture and sound quality of previous players, Sony's next-generation Blu-ray Disc models bring exciting interactive features to life and offer consumers a ground-breaking experience. These new devices bring home movie experience beyond the cinema and into a whole new realm of entertainment."
As you'd expect, the players feature 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output, provide 1080p HDMI upscaling for your standard DVDs and offer 7.1 Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS HD audio. The S550 will throw in DTS HD Master audio for good measure.
The BDP-S350 will ship this summer for about $400 but you'll be left waiting for the BDP-S550, it will be available later this fall for about $500. Not to worry though folk, Blu-ray players are getting better and some day they'll get much cheaper too.
Official press release: Sony Adds New Blu-Ray Disc Players With Advanced Interactivity
Related reading: Sharpe and Sony team for next gen LCD
