Sony Focuses On Blu-ray At CEDIA

DENVER — Sony brings Blu-ray Disc to CEDIA Expo in a big way, unveiling two new players and its first 200-disc Blu-ray Disc home server with 25GB Blu-ray Disc burning capability.

The company also is presenting new Bravia 1080p SXRD video projectors, including the VPL-200, which packages the advanced features of the former Qualia 004 model with a sleeker form factors.

Highlighting the two new Blu-ray Disc players is the BDP-S2000ES, high-performance player. That unit offers 1080/60p output with 24 fps True Cinema video output capability.

Also added is Dolby Digital TrueHD/DTS-HD Master bitstream out via HDMI, uncompressed multi-channel liner PCM, BD-ROM/DVD/CD playback, Bravia Theater Sync simplified system interoperability, DVD up-scaling to 1080p via HDMI, AVC-HD with x.v.Color output, IR-in, high quality rigid construction and a new design.

The unit, which ships this fall at a $1,300 suggested retail, uses separate audio/video boards for improved sound and picture quality.

Sony packages many of the same features into a more affordable model called the BDP-S500. That unit features 1080/60p output with 24 fps True Cinema capability, Dolby Digital TrueHD/DTS-HD Master bitstream out via HDMI, uncompressed multichannel liner PCM, BD-ROM/DVD/CD playback, Bravia Theater Sync, DVD up-scaling to 1080p via HDMI, and AVC-HD with x.v.Color output.

The player will ship this fall at a $700 suggested retail price.

Sony is showing its first Blu-ray Disc home entertainment server, model HES-V1000, which ships this fall at a $3,500 suggested retail.

The unit features a 200-disc BD/DVD/CD changer with support for burning Blu-ray Discs, DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Disc writing will support only 25GB BD media.

The server, which will be capable of playing one movie at a time, also includes a 500GB hard disk drive for burning home movies, digital music and photos (137 hours of video, 2,000 CDs or 20,000 digital photos) with x-Applications, x-Pict Story HD and x-Scrap Book automatic photo slide shows.

It will also use Sony's Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface that is used in the PSP and Playstation3 gaming systems, and will include an Ethernet connection for access to All Media Guide (AMG) metadata.

Also supported by the server is wireless music streaming to the Sony CPF-IX001 wireless streamer or other DLNA devices including PlayStation3. Up to 10 devices with four independent audio streams is possible.

In front projectors, Sony is introducing the VPL-VW200 SXRD model, which will ship this fall at a $15,000 suggested retail featuring QUALIA 004 level high picture performance and the smaller form factor of the earlier VW100 model.

Features include three separate newly developed high frame rate (120 fps) SXRD 1080p panels with both black frame rate insertion and motion interpolation modes.

An improved native contrast system combined with iris technology delivers a 35,000:1 contrast ratio, Sony said.

New panel alignment adjustment precisely aligns R/G/B images.

Sony has also added an exclusive All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) glass lens, which optimizes SXRD panel performance.

Users can also add an optional external anamorphic lens with new zoom mode.

A high output Xenon cinematic lamp maintains the best color temperature characteristics.

Other key features include improved auto iris brightness with variable manual setting, HDMI with x.v.Color (wide color gamut) capability, support for multiple system control protocols, built-in Ethernet network connectivity and Bravia Theatre Sync home theater system interoperability.

Sony is also showing its new Bravia VPL-VW60 (shipping this fall at a $5,000 suggested retail).

This SXRD front projector combines the advanced features and technology associated with the legendary Qualia 004 with the form factor of the more compact VW50 projector.

The projector features an improved native contrast system combined with Iris technology to deliver a 35,000:1 contrast ratio.

New panel alignment adjustment precisely converges R/G/B images.

In addition, Sony's exclusive All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) glass lens optimizes SXRD panel performance.

Other features include improved auto iris brightness with variable manual setting, HDMI v1.3 input with x.v.Color (wide color gamut) capability and Bravia Theatre Sync integrated system interoperability.