Sony BDP-S500
Sony BDP-S500
RRP - £599
Buy the Sony BDP-S500 online from Sony@HomeCinemaGear from £486
Convenience – and style – of a different kind is evident in the design of the BDP-S500. This model features a motorised sliding panel at the front, which opens automatically when you load or eject a disc
Another reason this player will fit so comfortably at the centre of the digital living room is BRAVIA Theatre Sync technology. This uses HDMI to let you control a home theatre setup using a single button on a single remote instead of having to switch on and select inputs on several devices one after another. So all you need to do is press Play on the player’s remote and the TV switches on and selects it as the primary input. When you’re done, turning off the TV with its remote will automatically shut down the player as well and any other components of your setup connected to it by HDMI.
Film lovers will relish 24p True Cinema. Cine cameras actually film at 24 frames per second, but televisions operate at a higher frame rate, so conversion has traditionally been necessary. The result is a 4% discrepancy from the original – the film broadcast on TV or played on a VHS or DVD player actually runs 4% faster than the original, and some soundtrack rises by 4% in pitch. When the BDP-S300 or BDP-S500 is connected to a TV with 24p capability such as the new Bravia X-Series, the original 24 frames per second are played just as the camera first recorded them. You see – and hear – exactly what the director intended.
The BDP-S500 also supports the new x.v.Colour standard, an international standard defining a colour range for moving images approximately twice that of sRGB. This means the players can handle AVC-HD discs recorded by new-generation camcorders that use x.v.Colour and reproduce the more natural and lifelike colours in full.
Even your existing collection of DVDs can look better thanks to a 1080p upscaling feature that works with HDMI-equipped 1080p-capable HDTVs, enhancing and sharpening the picture as you watch.
Technical specifications
Please be aware that the features/specifications can differ from country to country.
System
BD-ROM Playback, BD-R/RE Playback (only BDMV), AVC-HD 8c/12cm DVD Playback, DVD Video Playback, Audio CD Playback, DVD-R/RW(Video Format)Playback, DVD+R/RW Playback, CD-R/RW(CDDA) Playback, JPEG Playback, MP3 Playback
Picture Quality
1080p output (via HDMI), DVD upscaling to 1080p, 24fps True Cinema, x.v. Colour, Progressive Scan Output, Preset Picture Mode
Audio
8ch Linear PCM bitstream out, Dolby Digital decoding, Dolby Digital bitstream out, Dolby Digital Plus decoding, Dolby Digital Plus bitstream out, Dolby True HD decoding, Dolby True HD bitstream out, DTS decoding, DTS bitstream out, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio decoding, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio bit stream out
Construction
Motorized Slide Door, Display on Front Panel
Connectivity
HDMI x1, Component Video Output x1 gold plated, S-Video Output x1 gold plated, Composite Video Output x1 gold plated, Digital Audio Output: Coaxial x1 gold plated, Digital Audio Output: Optical x1, 5.1ch Analog Audio Output x1 gold plated, Analog Stereo Output x1 gold plated
Convenience
Quick Setup, Bravia Theatre Sync, Step FW/REV, Custom Parental Control, Disc Resume
Others
Screen Saver, Audio/Video Bit Rate Indicator, Start up screen, Back Ground Graphics
Specification
Power Requirements 220-240 V, Power Consumption (in Operation) 33 W, Power Consumption (in Standby) 0.4 W, Dimensions (WxHxD) 430 x 99.2 x 361 mm, Mass (kg) 4.8
For & Against
What Hi-Fi Sound And Vision
“…
For - Excellent colours, motion and detail with Blu-ray and DVD; lovely build and styling; even a reasonable CD player
Against - No DTS-HD Master Audio through HDMI; no Ethernet connection; could do with a touch more crispness and black detail to images
Rating - 4 out of 5
…”
Home Cinema Choice
“…
Highs: Excellent images, build quality, high resolution audio.
Lows: Not Profile 1.1, no DTS-HD Master Audio, No SACD.
Overall: 4 out of 5
…”
Available from Sony@HomeCinemaGear from £486
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