Sony BDP-S500 Blu-ray player - By: ML PAUL

Sony BDP-S500 Blu-ray player

When it comes to high-end viewing, the move to Blu-ray is definitely on. The High Definition DVD war is over, and Blu-ray is the victor, and the manufacturers are about to reap the spoils. So where does one start; to enter this market? In search or quality, reliability and all round value for money? Well Sony have got a great entry level, but not-too-basic model for your consideration.

This is certainly one of the most considerable and value for money units available today. Sony have attempted to take on Pioneer's value packed models with this new model. It is an attractive unit with a smooth look and feel to it, with a motorised front panel, that moves aside for the disc tray and a str eamlined, luxuriant look

The technical specs of this Sony unit are quite good for this price-range. It has an HDMI 1.3 output and can send all the HD codes via HDMI. No ethernet connection or BD 1.1 support. The 1080p/24fps video is present and correct. The build quality is very good, an enduring Sony feature.

That being said, the picture is clean, smooth and crisp. The Sony BDP-S500's colors are rich, and the player delivers an image that is solid and very presentable. Fast moving scenes and motion are handled well, but the overall detail is just slightly lacking when compared to some of the more expensive rivals. Darker scenes lose some of their clarity and detail, when compared to other Blu-ray players. The not-too-discerning Blu-ray purchaser will not be disappointed.

The audio is satisfactory but not a standout feature of this unit. It does not stream DTS-HD master audio via HDMI, and some musical pieceslack the punch and power of other comparable players.

There are other machines that can pack more features into this price range, such as the Panasonic BDP 30. Some purchasers may be Sony freaks and prefer to stick to their known and preferred brand. Overall this is a very good package, that does not reach to the heights of the premium players, but delivers an excellent picture, satisfactory sound in a well packaged and attractive exterior.
----------

About the Author

ML Paul loves his gadgets, and has set up a new blog http://blu-ray-comparison.blogspot.com/ to assist people to compare Blu-ray players prior to making a purchase.

Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com

Additional Articles From - Home | Product reviews | Consumer electronics