Hands-on with Sony's new BDP-S350 and other HD frivolities

So Sony's got a $399 Blu-ray player on the market now, huh? Really blasting away at that price point, huh Sony? Really keeping on your toes now that HD DVD is dead and gone, giving you zero competition in the physical format space, yeah? Oh, we forgot, you're using a blue laser, and those require bloody war with dastardly intelligent man-eating monkeys to boot up. We got to handle Sony's new BDP-S350 Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player tonight, and while we aren't mad that the new player draws less power, takes up less space, and supports more technical HD hotness, it literally feels like a $20 DVD player in the hand -- no way Sony has $400 of electronic components in this thing. Even the front LCD is teensy: we've bought $200 home theater in a box systems from Sony with more extravagant displays. We understand Sony trying to make back a few dollars from a pricey format war, but at this point this ridiculous price point is looking way artificial. In other, less insulting news, Sony was showing off the new HT-SS2300 Home Theater System, which is designed to complement the S350, along with the HT-IS100 "Micro System," which we found intriguing. Sony also showed off its HDR-CX12, which is nothing special in person, though we certainly like what's under the hood.

Gallery: Hands-on with Sony's new BDP-S350 and other HD frivolities

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[Andir3.0 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:31PM]

Sony has competition. I don't know what you're smoking. Why are the other companies that make BluRay players not cheaper? Huh?

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 16th 2008 7:38PM]

Well they will. But they also have to pay licensing fees to Sony to make Bluray players, which hinders them from making anything substantially cheaper.

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 16th 2008 8:10PM]

Point me to an article or document that states that _Sony_ and Sony alone is the one receiving/issuing the license fees.

[Maeztro @ Jul 16th 2008 11:06PM]

Chuckles: Sony does not OWN BR. There is an association that Sony is a member of. The fee goes to the association. In fact, I am not even sure if being a member excludes you from paying a fee...so perhaps sony pays a license fee too! (or gets a discount!)

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jul 17th 2008 3:45AM]

I can't wait to see Oppo compete with Sony and blow their doors off.

[neofolklore @ Jul 17th 2008 8:13AM]

its almost as if this comes with a cell processor and software emulation of the Emotion engine

[andyg8180 @ Jul 17th 2008 8:16AM]

The only competition it has, is its own PS3.... E3 they called it the ONLY FUTURE PROOF BLU-RAY PLAYER... if thats not a slap in the face to samsung pioneer onkyo and all the other blu-ray manufacturers, i dont know what is...

$399 flimsy blu-ray player or $399 "future-proof" PS3.... you choose...

[tekdroid @ Jul 17th 2008 6:27PM]

Maeztro @ Jul 16th 2008 11:06PM

Chuckles: Sony does not OWN BR. There is an association that Sony is a member of. The fee goes to the association. In fact, I am not even sure if being a member excludes you from paying a fee...so perhaps sony pays a license fee too! (or gets a discount!)
------
Of course they all pay fees but Sony is winning the most in the fee-paying, because this 'licensing body' is supposed to distribute the royalties to the companies involved (ie. you own most patents, you get most money).

As it stands, Sony is the one benefiting far more than the others (ie. they invested the most in this format, they own most of its patents).

[Spyvie @ Jul 16th 2008 7:33PM]

If Sony licenses the tech for free, and another manufacturer produces a player for around $150 or less, then I'll pick up a Blu-Ray machine.

Otherwise... no chance.

Yes, I am still bitter about the format war, and yes, I intend to remain bitter for the foreseeable future.

[sr1329 @ Jul 16th 2008 8:27PM]

There's the walmart $300 one.

[Colin Potter @ Jul 17th 2008 2:03AM]

awww.... the format war left you a little red in the face did it? don't be so blue!

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jul 17th 2008 2:18AM]

It's really a $50 blue ray player with a built in $350 Sony Timer.

[DT @ Jul 16th 2008 7:35PM]

...and this is why the format war was a good thing. Haven't seen a "Buy a Bluray player, get 10 free movies" offer in a while? Prices aren't down to $250 or lower? That's because there's no competition, kiddies.

[primetime4 @ Jul 17th 2008 1:41AM]

You mean companies are no longer selling players at a ridiculous loss? One way or the other that was going to end.

[KarlW @ Jul 17th 2008 3:49AM]

Yea, just a shame half your favourite movie list requires buying a different player

I'm still waiting for Apollo 13 on Blu...

[Juxtah @ Jul 17th 2008 5:26AM]

I think overall the format didn't drive prices down as much as everyone thinks. And Blu-ray vs. Blu-ray competition will drive the price down much more, since during the format war, manufacturers didn't want to commit to one and as a result only tiny numbers were produced at very high costs. Now Blu-ray has won, manufacturers know which to throw their weight behind and as a result prices will drop.

And Sony do not own Blu-ray, companies do not have to pay Sony to use Blu-ray. Sony developed the format but DO NOT own it.

[Poom @ Jul 17th 2008 8:11AM]

Juxtah, I agree with you completely.

[andyg8180 @ Jul 17th 2008 8:19AM]

Totally agree with you... Theres no reason two formats couldnt co-exist... You have Zune vs iPod, you have AppleTV vs Xbox Marketplace vs Hulu and then you have Netflix vs Blockbuster and Dairy Queen vs Friendlys....

NO reason at all two formats can't coexist at all...

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 17th 2008 8:56AM]

Actually, two formats would make prices a little higher. Studios would have to pay additional license fees to support both formats, people would still have to buy two players because some studios wouldn't license one or the other...

Comparing it to physical products is an unfair comparison. When you buy ice cream, for instance, you can choose form both places, but both places have something similar. You can't find a movie similar to Mickey Mouse because Disney owns the likeness.

[travis.Taylor @ Jul 16th 2008 7:38PM]

I'd like a head-to-head comparison featuring this new Sony player and the Samsung 1500...

I'm in the Blu-Ray market, and don't care anything about the PS3. I use my 360 as a dedicated DVD player, and hate it. I'd rather not use another gaming console as a video player....but I have no idea what to get.

[glassd @ Jul 16th 2008 8:20PM]

The PS3 is actually a very good movie player. It bests any of my up converting dvd players, and I notice no difference between it's blu-ray playback and the high end sony machines. Plus the PS3 has updatable firmware, so if a new blu-ray profile comes out or there are enhancements, you will get them on the system. I see no reason not to use a PS3 as a movie player. Plus you get to play games on it. Win win.

[fischju @ Jul 16th 2008 9:11PM]

That is the whole point. Sony isn't afraid to update the standard, and the PS3 unlike most other blu-ray players can't be updated. They can even enable new encryption on disks (Hollywood is a major push for this) for PS3 exclusive Blu-Ray movies.

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 17th 2008 8:57AM]

Sony doesn't update the standard! It takes the agreement of all the companies involved in the BDA to update it.

[Sith Lord 24 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:41PM]

NO other companies. they keeping the blu-ray prices high to boost their ps3 sales. its not a secret... they are lucky that hd-dvd did not win.

[Colin Potter @ Jul 17th 2008 2:05AM]

and we're lucky the Nazis didn't win.

[WebDev511 @ Jul 17th 2008 11:08AM]

+1 and -1.

There are plenty of other companies making quality players. Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, but none at a price I would deem affordable.

IMHO the BDP-S350 only has two advantages over the PS3 and those are an infrared remote and bitstreaming lossless codecs over HDMI. I have a PS3, and would trade it for an upgraded version if they included bitstreaming lossless via HDMI.

I can see Sony dropping these to $299 for Black Friday and $349 for Christmas, but that's about it.

[coffee @ Jul 16th 2008 7:52PM]

I was wondering, too, where all the $199 players are. All I heard during the format war was that the prices would come down when it was settled, but if anything, they've risen.

Now I hear nothing from the BD fans. I bought a blu-ray drive for my HTPC for $120, so I don't really mind much, but I thought we'd have a decently priced standalone BD player by now. I mean, one that actually updates so it's not obsolete.

[zargon @ Jul 16th 2008 8:26PM]

I thought about adding a Blu-ray drive to my HTPC/Server, but there is no way I will run Windows and Linux currently doesn't have a great solution. Luckily, I scored a factory refurbed for a little more than a PC drive to tie me over until I am ready to spend the coin on a higher end player in a year or so.

[Mr. E @ Jul 17th 2008 10:55AM]

Visit EngadgetHD if you want to hear from Blu-ray fans. Actually, Blu-ray fans should more accurately be called "high definition fans", since Blu-ray is the only way to get 1080p with lossless audio in the home.

[John @ Jul 16th 2008 8:12PM]

they weren't really man-eating, more just man-killing.

[Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 16th 2008 8:22PM]

May I ask why not buy the 40gb PS3 for $399 instead? What does this offer over the PS3? I heard the PS3 is a very good player but of course is only 2x speed and the players will keep getting faster over time.

Just like how my PS2 now is so slow at skipping DVDs compared to modern DVD players.

[Colin Potter @ Jul 17th 2008 2:10AM]

the speed of the PS3 drive is more than enough though... allowing up to 72Mbit/s... and the main advantage I find is the load times being less than half that of standalone players

[Jon Acheson @ Jul 17th 2008 10:21AM]

The main advantage of this is that it is more compatible with a home theater setup: it is shaped like a standard hifi component, it uses an IR remote so it can work with your programmable UberRemote, and it probably runs quieter and cooler than a PS3 (though the PS3 is very quiet).

It is probably more accurate to compare this to the previous standalone Sony BR players that cost $1000. Compared to that, it is a bargain.

Lastly, remember, Sony can't make up the cost on this one by selling games, so the price reflects the full cost of the player. PS3 is still somewhat subsidized, with the expectation that they will make it back on games.

[David S @ Jul 17th 2008 10:46AM]

I also take it you have an HDMI receiver so you can listen to the HD audio formats.

I don't and I'm not really willing to replace my perfectly good receiver just for HDMI. A new receiver will cost more than a Blu-Ray player. I think I'm going to wait for the Sony 550 or the Panny BD50.

[sr1329 @ Jul 16th 2008 8:26PM]

What like this is news? Sony has always made cheaply designed and built products to the mass market. Sony only puts thought and builds with pride those products that either launch a format or is part of their high end lines (>$2000). Remember that sub-$300 DVD player they made in 2001 that inevitably failed around 12-18 months of purchase due to a design flaw. They never took responsibility for that, and since most players were out of warranty by the time they failed people got screwed. Why people even choose Sony in the sub -$1000 price range is beyond me. You could do a lot better in that range with a Panasonic, Toshiba (my discussion is not only about Blu-ray but consumer electronics in general), or even Samsung.

[edahl @ Jul 16th 2008 8:35PM]

I thought a lot about a PS3 before buying a Samsung 1500. The deal-breaker for me (and I suspect for many others) was the PS3's lack of an IR receiver. Until Logitech makes a Bluetooth-equipped remote, you won't be able to fire up your PS3 Blu-ray player with one universal remote button press.

I'd love to hear about boot and load times on this new Sony player. Blu-ray looks great, but in many ways even the newer players feel like first-gen efforts.

[Paul Dullford @ Jul 16th 2008 8:53PM]

Sony, ever the self sufficient company, eh?

[Josh Haagen @ Jul 16th 2008 9:19PM]

Isn't that an XBR8 in the picture too? Any more info on that?

[DaveHimself @ Jul 16th 2008 9:25PM]

Not a single reference to Boogie Down Productions? That ain't right.

[Shaun @ Jul 16th 2008 9:27PM]

Is that a Sony XBR8?

[Shaun @ Jul 16th 2008 9:31PM]

It's actually an XBR7.

[graphixmaster @ Jul 16th 2008 9:40PM]

I think that is the XBR-8 46" its the one releasing in Aug. -- My future TV. :)

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/04/14/sony-kdl-xbr6-kdl-xbr7-and-kdl-xbr8-specs-and-release-dates/

[Shaun @ Jul 16th 2008 9:48PM]

XBR7

http://gizmodo.com/photogallery/SonyXBR6XBR7XBR8

[OX4 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:49PM]

This is typical Sony. Look at how ridiculously priced the Bravia line is. They're just like Bose and Apple: add 30% to the price for the logo.

[OX4 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:50PM]

PS bravo on the Stewie lingo, Paul.

[Kspraydad @ Jul 17th 2008 12:31AM]

Hey Paul...do you feel the same way about your iPhone?

[Darren @ Jul 17th 2008 4:27AM]

The TV on display is a 55XBR8. You can see the model number in pic 1.

Why no extra info on the TV, Engadget folks?

[Jake @ Jul 17th 2008 8:18AM]

I don't care about the format war, I don't care that manufacturers lose money selling their players and make tons selling the discs. The fact remains that I won't buy any player unless it is below $200, decent quality and is upgradable. Untill that magic price point comes knocking my hard earned cash stays in the old piggy.

[Mr. E @ Jul 17th 2008 11:03AM]

You will see players selling below $200 in "Black Friday" deals during the holidays, and throughout next year. Wally World already sells a Magnavox-branded Funai player for $298, regular price. Seeing a loss-leader sale on that for $198 is certainly not a stretch. Actually, you could make the case that we've already hit that price point. W*M had a Father's Day sale last month where you got a $100 gift card with the purchase of a Blu-ray player.

[Jake @ Jul 17th 2008 8:19AM]

I don't care about the format war, I don't care that manufacturers lose money selling their players and make tons selling the discs. The fact remains that I won't buy any player unless it is below $200, decent quality and is upgradable. Untill that magic price point comes knocking my hard earned cash stays in the old piggy.