Sony breaks out 'mass market' Blu-ray players

HD for all

By Scott Snowden in Berlin • Get more from this author

31st August 2007 09:15 GMT

IFA 07 High-definition at home is the big theme at the IFA consumer electronics show this year with a myriad of media players and a titanic turnout of new TVs. Not to be left out, Sony announced two new Blu-ray Disc players: the BDP-S300 and the BDP-S500.

The BDP-S300 (top) and the BDP-S500 Blu-ray players
Sony's BDP-S300 (top) and BDP-S500

The BDP-S300 is being marketed for the mainstream and will be priced accordingly. The BDP-S500 is a high-end alternative aimed at customers with a bit more mazuma to invest in their definitive HD viewing experience.

Both come with a complimentary copy of the Spider-Man trilogy on Blu-ray disc... after registration of the product and completion of a customer questionnaire online.

Both models support 1080p over HDMI 1.3 and output 7.1-channel Linear PCM and Dolby Digital Plus surround sound. The BDP-S500 also supports Dolby True decoding and Bit Stream Output for DTS-HD1 and Dolby True.

Both models also support a wide variety of formats and media, including the still centrally important CD. In addition each supports BD-ROM, DVD, and DVD video playback from DVD/DVD±R/RW encoded discs, as well as MP3 audio files and JPEG images stored on DVD. The BDP-S500 will also support BD-R/RE discs.

The BDP-S300 will be available mid September and the BDP-S500 from the end of October. Unfortunately, pricing details weren't available.