SI: Sony Delivers New BDP-N460 Blu-ray Player With Various Streaming Options To Satisfy Critics

[Christopher]

During CEDIA 2009, Sony showed off it’s latest addition to the Blu-ray player family due in October – the BDP-N460 ($250). What differentiates this Blu-ray player from everything else in Sony’s line-up is the addition of various streaming options. While other Blu-ray players in the past have had Internet capabilities, none have the absolute convergence that the N460 carries. This is the true union of the Bravia Internet Link and a Blu-ray player into one device. Aside from enjoying the crystal clear picture/audio quality of 1080p/60p Blu-ray (as well 24p True Cinema), you can also watch (and search for) thousands of movies, TV programs, and music from YouTube, Slacker, and, later this fall, Netflix.

I can already hear the PS3 owners out there clamoring for this streaming functionality on their systems.

Sony is also touting that this device has 802.11g/n compatibility, which is designed for use with the Linksys by Cisco Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band (WET610N, sold separately). The bridge helps ease the connection between the Ethernet–enabled player and a wireless router in either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio band for optimal streaming.

Notable audio features include 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio. The model can also output 7.1 channel L-PCM via HDMI after decoding. As for picture enhancement, the N460 supports Deep Color video output and x.v.Color (xvYCC) technology. It can also play just about anything on a disc, including BD-R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), AVCHD, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEG on BD/DVD/CD recordable media.

It also appears to have two USB ports (one front, one back), according to the press release. I assume it also has the same I/O as their other similarly priced Blu-ray players.

We’ll be on hand at CEDIA tomorrow and check out the N460 in more detail. Any questions you want answered about this device, please let me know.

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