A Blu-ray player [Sony BDP-S550] that will do EVERYTHING! (Verified)

Paul Hillenbrand · 03-07-2008, 10:27 AM

Per Sony Pictures Entertainment insider "paidgeek":

Quote:

Originally Posted by paidgeek

The S550 will do everything; Internal decoding of THD and MA internally, available on HDMI or Analog, and bitstream output of all formats via HDMI.

Post 741 @ Blu-ray.com

"The S550 will run about $500 this fall." Engadget

Paul

**HTF Ads**

Stephen_J_H · 03-07-2008, 03:32 PM

And it's good-looking, too.

PaulDA · 03-07-2008, 04:02 PM

This now makes it the player to beat--it does everything (except play HD DVDs

) that I originally wanted in a hi-def player. But that's okay, I have two HD DVD players already.

I was going to go with a PS3 and live without the advanced audio, but I can wait.

Carlo Medina · 03-08-2008, 10:34 AM

Sweet! Does anyone know if it will provide DVD-Audio playback? (yes I bought both DVD-A and SACD)

If so, then it really will do everything for me. If not, I may have to wait until Oppo joins the BD player fray. Hopefully my PS3 can hold me over until then.

Camper · 03-08-2008, 11:52 AM

That's the one I'm waiting for too!!

Does anybody know if Amazon when they first get an item just released like this, provide any discount at all or will likely just go with $499???

I'd probably buy it first day if it was $449.

Robert George · 03-08-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

I'd probably buy it first day if it was $449.

That is the price the player will sell for. The $499 price being published in various places is from an incomplete press release. My dealer sheet lists high SPPG as $499 and low SPPG as $449. This is Sony's equivalent of MSRP and MAP.

Robert Crawford · 03-08-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulDA

This now makes it the player to beat--it does everything (except play HD DVDs

) that I originally wanted in a hi-def player. But that's okay, I have two HD DVD players already.

I was going to go with a PS3 and live without the advanced audio, but I can wait.

Does it beat the BD-50? If not then I'm going to buy that one since it comes out first.

PaulDA · 03-08-2008, 02:08 PM

I won't be getting it until next Christmas (it's been promised to me--a Blu-ray player--for then by my wife) so that point should be moot for me. I will, of course, investigate each one and go with the one that seems better at the time but at this moment, I KNOW the Sony does all I want it to do while I'm not entirely certain of the Panny.

Robert Crawford · 03-08-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulDA

I won't be getting it until next Christmas (it's been promised to me--a Blu-ray player--for then by my wife) so that point should be moot for me. I will, of course, investigate each one and go with the one that seems better at the time but at this moment, I KNOW the Sony does all I want it to do while I'm not entirely certain of the Panny.

I'm not sure this information is correct or not, but from I've heard Panny makes the players for Sony at least as far as the insides of them.

Robert George · 03-08-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

I'm not sure this information is correct or not, but from I've heard Panny makes the players for Sony at least as far as the insides of them.

The exact nature of the design and internal components of the new Sony players is still uncertain. I have seen a preproduction working model of the S350 and a mock-up of the S550. Both look virtually identical to my Panasonic BD30, however, it is being reported that the latest version of the Sigma Designs video decoder chip is being used in the new Sony Players. Panasonic uses an exclusive design in their players (Unipher).

I am only speculating, but I would not doubt that Panasonic does not want to share their video decoder with others (the Unipher is the best I have seen on BD performance) but is going to OEM their chassis and drive. If that turns out to be the case, then it would remain to be seen how much improvement Sigma has made with their chip set. Based on current iterations of Sigma and Unipher, I'd take the Panasonic design. Sigma's current offerings are distinguishing themselves in players with load times of over two full minutes on some discs.

Chris Gerhard · 03-08-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Crawford

I'm not sure this information is correct or not, but from I've heard Panny makes the players for Sony at least as far as the insides of them.

I haven't seen a disclosure about the manufacturer of this upcoming Sony Blu-ray player. I do know my Sony BDP-S1 was manufactured by Pioneer as were at least a couple of the other Sony standalone players, possibly all of the players released to date.

Chris

Robert Crawford · 03-08-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert George

The exact nature of the design and internal components of the new Sony players is still uncertain. I have seen a preproduction working model of the S350 and a mock-up of the S550. Both look virtually identical to my Panasonic BD30, however, it is being reported that the latest version of the Sigma Designs video decoder chip is being used in the new Sony Players. Panasonic uses an exclusive design in their players (Unipher).

I am only speculating, but I would not doubt that Panasonic does not want to share their video decoder with others (the Unipher is the best I have seen on BD performance) but is going to OEM their chassis and drive. If that turns out to be the case, then it would remain to be seen how much improvement Sigma has made with their chip set. Based on current iterations of Sigma and Unipher, I'd take the Panasonic design. Sigma's current offerings are distinguishing themselves in players with load times of over two full minutes on some discs.

Just like me, something tells me that Obi will be buying the BD-50 too.

Crawdaddy