Sony all UP in the News!
Something old, something new, something blu...
Now that Sony isn't worried about crushing HD DVD under its jackbooted heel, it's got time to focus on other things… like releasing products.
New Players
To start with, the new BD-Live enabled BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 have been announced - just in time to dance on the broken corpse of HD DVD. According to the press release:
The BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 models both support BonusView (Picture-in-Picture) featured on some of the new Blu-ray Disc theatrical releases. The BDP-S350 model is BD-Live-ready [Profile 2.0] featuring an Ethernet port for an easy firmware update and access to Internet-based interactive content features. The BSP-S550 is BonusView and BD-Live-capable when it ships. Both models also feature an external port for local storage, so users can add optional storage device. The BDP-S550 ships with a 1GB storage device [per the 2.0 spec].
They will decode the Dolby formats (including TrueHD) internally but will only bit stream DTS HD. The players support 1080/60p and 24p video with Deep Color and upconvert standard definition DVDs to 1080p over HDMI. There is no SACD support however, not surprising since Sony basically gave up the format a couple years ago. The new BDP-S350 will ship this summer for around $400 and BDP-S550 will be available this fall for about $500 (remember the good ol' days of sub-$200 HD DVD players?).
Old Tech
To hedge their bets, Sony has also released a turntable. That's right, vinyl, people. The PS-LX300USB is an interesting mix of old and new. It is a belt driven record player that offers automatic operation of playback at 33-1/3 and 45 rpm speeds with a static balance tone arm with a bonded diamond stylus for precise tracking and low record wear. The built in phono preamp will ensure compatibility with AV receivers that lost their phono inputs 5 generations ago. You can connect the LX300 via USB to your computer and use the included Sound Forge Audio Studio software to import, edit, and compress the heck out of those vinyl gems so they'll fit on your iPod. The LX300 will be available next month for $150.
See all the good that can happen when Sony isn't focusing all their efforts on feeding Michael Bay sound bites?
As Associate Editor at Audioholics, Tom promises to the best of his ability to give each review the same amount of attention, consideration, and thoughtfulness as possible and keep his writings free from undue bias and preconceptions. Any indication, either internally or from another, that bias has entered into his review will be immediately investigated. Substantiation of mistakes or bias will be immediately corrected regardless of personal stake, feelings, or ego.
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