Sony's new MegaChanger and ES Blu-ray players

[boomslang06]

While nothing here solves Blu-ray's number one problem, price, there's no denying Sony's got some fun tech on display in its new 400 disc Blu-ray MegaChanger and the new BDP-S1000ES single disc Blu-ray player with WiFi. The MegaChanger presents a lovable XMB-style, Gracenote-powered onscreen menu for sorting through all the media stashed in your MegaChanger, and the S1000ES packs in 802.11n for BD-Live, along with premium analog outs and some dashing good looks for the well-heeled enthusiasts. $1,900 and $700 of respective awesomeness? Well, that's up to you decide.

source

[SlmShdy1]

Sorry, dude. Clicky.

[rdodolak]

SONY ORGANIZES YOUR ENTERTAINMENT COLLECTION WITH NEW 400-DISC BLU-RAY DISC/DVD MEGACHANGER

Company Expands Blu-ray Disc Player Options with Three New Models

NEW YORK, July 23, 2009 – Looking to help consumers simplify and manage their living room entertainment experience, Sony today announced the new BDP-CX960 and the “Elevated Standard” (ES) BDP-CX7000ES 400-disc Blu-ray Disc™ MegaChangers.

The company also announced the BDP-S1000ES single disc ES player expanding the Sony’s Blu-ray Disc line to 13 models offering a broad set of performance and features.

The Blu-ray Disc MegaChanger models store and play 400 Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs, allowing consumers to relocate their disc library to a convenient, easy-to-access location.

They also feature the ability to download information from Gracenote’s MusicID® and VideoID™ products to organize movies and music. When a disc is inserted into the device, Gracenote technology automatically downloads information across an existing Internet broadband service and saves title, director, some cast information, release year, and genre information for most titles, allowing users to easily navigate the library intuitively through the player’s xross media bar™ menu system.

“Think about all those great movie and music discs in your collection,” said Chris Fawcett, vice president for Sony Electronics’ home audio and video business. “Wouldn’t it be great to instantly play those movies or CDs -- definitely gives a new meaning to the notion of a movie marathon!”

BDP-CX7000ES and BDP-CX960

Leading the MegaChanger line up is the BDP-CX7000ES which outputs full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema™. Designed to integrate with third-party automation control systems, the model features an RS232 connection and IR-in and is built to high-quality ES standards.

It offers exceptional audio quality with 7.1 channel analog output and superior video incorporating Sony’s HD Reality Enhancer and Super Bit Mapping technologies. The HD Reality Enhancer technology continually analyzes the original source bit by bit, sharpening edges and reproducing detail, while reducing the effects of film grain. Super Bit Mapping delivers smoother color gradation realizing true 14-bit equivalent color tone from 8-bit sources.

The model also upscales standard definition DVDs to 1080p through Sony’s Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology when connected to a 1080p display via HDMI.

Precision Cinema HD Upscale uses advanced conversion and processing to detect image changes at the pixel level, rather than the level of whole scan lines. Additionally, separate algorithms are used to process the moving and still parts of an image, resulting in sharp backgrounds with moving objects that are free from motion artifacts.

Complementing the BDP-CX7000ES, is the new BDP-CX960. This 400-disc MegaChanger also delivers full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output and Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology.

Both the BDP-CX7000ES and BDP-CX960 feature an Ethernet port for connectivity to a local home broadband network to download metadata from Gracenote, software updates and to access BD-Live™ content. There is also an external port for local storage so users can add their USB flash storage device to support BD-Live content.

The models support 7.1 channel Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby® Digital Plus, DTS®-HD High Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding as well as bit-stream output via HDMI. It is compatible with an array of video formats, including BD-ROM/R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), DVD-+ Video/R/RW, CD/R/RW, and MP3/JPEG on BD/DVD/CD recordable media and supports x.v.Color™ (xvYCC) technology. The BDP-CX7000ES also supports Deep Color via HDMI (v1.3).

The BDP-CX7000ES is available this August for about $1,900, while the BDP-CX960 will be available this fall for about $800.

BDP-S1000ES

The single-disc BDP-S1000ES Blu-ray Disc player bolsters the ES line adding built-in Wi-Fi® (802.11N/G/B/A) capability for easy BD-Live access. The model offers full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema™ and upscales standard definition DVDs to 1080p through Sony’s Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology.

The model can easily connect to the Internet through an existing wireless home network to download and stream BD-Live content from select titles including additional scenes, short subjects, trailers, interactive games, and more. It also enables easy firmware updates to assist in keeping your player up-to-date with the latest Blu-ray Disc media and features.

While compatible with most wireless routers, the BDP-S1000ES also supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup™, for a quick and easy connection to enabled wireless routers. Additionally, the player is Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) ready, allowing it to connect to other DLNA compliant devices to watch digital photos on your TV.

The model also incorporates Sony’s HD Reality Enhancer, Super Bit Mapping, and Precision Drive HD technology.

It supports Deep Color video output and x.v.Color technology. The player is compatible with an array of video formats, including BD-ROM/R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), DVD-+ Video/R/RW, CD/R/RW, and MP3/JPEG on BD/DVD/CD recordable media.

The model also is compatible with advanced audio codecs including 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS -HD Master Audio, and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio decoding and bit-stream output, as well as analog 7.1 channel output.

The BDP-S1000ES is available this August for about $700.

The models will be available at Sony Style stores, online at www.sonystyle.com, and at authorized retailers nationwide.

BDP-S1000ES



Link to hi-res images:

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/image_li...e=41051&page=1

[Propellarhead9]

That changer would be a lot more awesome if it didn't cost so much

[bootman]

Originally Posted by Propellarhead9

That changer would be a lot more awesome if it didn't cost so much

Wait a bit.
You should be able to find one for about $400 online in 6-8 months.

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by bootman

Wait a bit.
You should be able to find one for about $400 online in 6-8 months.

I would say more like 1 1/2 - 2 years to be realistic.You know how Sony is with their prices......Besides there are already 2 models available,but then they will make a way more slimline model in a year...hmmmm problem is I'm already at 398 Blu's....darn!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Propellarhead9

That changer would be a lot more awesome if it didn't cost so much

So would Porsches.

[PWGJ4114]

Originally Posted by Propellarhead9

That changer would be a lot more awesome if it didn't cost so much

Ive been looking on Ebay, Amazon, etc for a CD changer this week. The megachanger looks similar to the Sony CDPCX355/455 CD changers. Ive read a lot of negative feedback about these two units. There have been a lot of problems reported about discs being misloaded & jamming causing scratches & damage. If the carousel & loading mechanisims are similar to these two units, I might want to stay away from the megachanger, especially considering the cost of replacing Blu-ray discs.

[Hep]

Originally Posted by The Seventh Taylor

Only the fact that the press release doesn't mention it.

I think you are right, but just like you can’t disprove a negative, the absence of its mention still leaves the door open to the possibility it will be included (maybe it's not marketed because SACD is a dead format). Heck, my Sony 400 Disc ES player does SACD, but of course not over HDMI.

Originally Posted by PWGJ4114

Ive been looking on Ebay, Amazon, etc for a CD changer this week. The mega changer looks similar to the Sony CDPCX355/455 CD changers. I’ve read a lot of negative feedback about these two units. There have been a lot of problems reported about discs being misloaded & jamming causing scratches & damage. If the carousel & loading mechanisms are similar to these two units, I might want to stay away from the mega changer, especially considering the cost of replacing Blu-ray discs.

I don't have the units you mentioned, but I do have both a Sony 400 disc ES CD and DVD player, and have never had an issue with disc handling (actually, I have had one issue with a double sided DVD Audio/DVD combo disc; but that was because it was the max allowable disc thickness for the DVD format). I have zero concerns that this player will scratch or otherwise mar a BD.