Sony has introduced three new audio/video receivers and a new Blu-ray model that combine to create an upgraded 3D home theater, and the AV models will only be available at specialty retailers — not online or via phone.
Available next month for about $400, Sony’s BDP-S1700ES Blu-ray 3D player features an IR input on the back panel for integration with control systems, and also offers built-in Wi-Fi (802.11n) for access to Sony’s Bravia Internet Video platform and Sony’s new premium video service, Qriocity.
Users with an iPhone or iPod touch device can control the player using the free “BD Remote” app available from the Apple App store. The app, which will also be available soon for Android devices, allows the hand-held to function as a remote control and displays Blu-ray Disc details such as jacket artwork, actor, and production information as well as search for related video clips online.
The new Elevated Standard (ES) AV receivers — STR-DA5600ES, STRA-DA4600ES, STR-DA 3600ES — and the Blu-ray 3D player, the BDP-S1700ES, complement the recently introduced line of Sony 3D-capable of Bravia HDTVs.
Sony said in today’s announcement that the company is focusing its distribution strategy exclusively on specialty AV retailers and custom installers, and therefore ES products will no longer be offered for sale online or through telesales.
Sony’s 2010 ES AV receivers offer 3D pass-through and flexible multi-room features, as well as IR input jacks and two-way serial control, among other things.
The company also added the 110-watt STR-DN2010 network 3D capable model to its receiver line up. The model will be available in August for about $800.
The receivers also feature new HD Digital Cinema Sound that was developed together with Sony Pictures Entertainment to transform and replicate both the sound quality and acoustics of a movie theater in the home environment.
All of the models support 1080/24p video signals and x.v.Color™ and Deep Color™ video codecs, as well as all advanced audio formats (Dolby® Digital Plus, Dolby® TrueHD, dts® Master HD, dts® ES, Dolby® Digital EX, Dolby® Pro Logic IIx and 8 channel Linear PCM).
Model Specifications:
STR-DA5600ES 7.1 Channel Network Multi-room AV Receiver
Available in September for about $2,000
• 130 watt x7 @ 8-ohms, 1kHz, .09% THD
• DCAC EX Speaker Auto-Calibration with Speaker Relocation (distance and degree) and Automatic Phase Matching (APM)
• 3D pass-through
• Integrated four port Ethernet switch
• Second zone CAT5e output
• DLNA Client and Live Audio Server
• iPhone / iPod Touch remote control application
• Quick Click feature for multi-room source control (with iPhone/iPod touch app)
• On-screen graphical user interface with overlay (main and second zones)
• H.A.T.S. clock synchronization for HDMI and DSD
• Standby pass-through of audio and video via HDMI
• Control system integration via control over IP, RS232 or IR
• PC set up manager
• Audio Return Channel for TV audio over a single HDMI cable
• Shoutcast® Internet Radio and Rhapsody® Music Service
• Dolby® TrueHD and dts® HD Enhanced audio codecs
STR-DA4600ES 7.1 Channel Network Multi-room AV Receiver
Available in August for about $1,500
• 120 watt x7 @ 8-ohms, 1kHz, .09% THD
• 3D pass-through
• Integrated four port Ethernet switch
• Second zone CAT5e output
• DLNA Client
• iPhone / iPod Touch remote control application
• Quick Click feature for multi-room source control (with iPhone/iPod touch app)
• On-screen graphical user interface with overlay (main and second zones)
• Standby pass-through of audio and video via HDMI
• Control system integration via control over IP, RS232 or IR
• PC set up manager
• Audio Return Channel for TV audio over a single HDMI cable
• Shoutcast® Internet Radio and Rhapsody® Music Service
• Dolby TrueHD and dts HD Enhanced audio codecs
STR-DA3600ES 7.1 Channel Network Multi-room AV Receiver
Available in August for about $1,100
• 100 watt x7 @ 8-ohms, 1kHz, .09% THD
• 3D pass-through
• Integrated four port Ethernet switch
• DLNA Client
• iPhone / iPod Touch remote control application
• Quick Click feature for multi-room source control (with iPhone/iPod touch app)
• On-screen graphical user interface with overlay (main and second zones)
• Standby pass-through of audio and video via HDMI connected devices
• Control system integration via control over IP, RS232 or IR
• PC set up manager
• Audio Return Channel for TV audio over a single HDMI cable
• Shoutcast® Internet Radio and Rhapsody® Music Service
• Dolby TrueHD and dts HD Enhanced audio codecs
STR-DN2010 7.1 Channel Network AV Receiver
Available in August for about $800
• 110 watt x7 @ 8-ohms, 1kHz, 1% THD
• 3D pass-through
• Integrated four port Ethernet switch
• DLNA Client
• iPhone/iPod touch remote control app
• On-screen graphical user interface
• Wireless second zone audio (S-AIR™ multi-room capability)
• Standby pass-through of audio and video via HDMI connected devices
• Audio Return Channel for TV audio over a single HDMI cable
• Shoutcast® Internet Radio and Rhapsody® Music Service
• Dolby TrueHD and dts HD Enhanced audio codecs
BDP-S1700ES Blu-ray 3D Player
Available in August for $400
• Full HD 1080p single-disc Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD, SA-CD player
• Blu-ray 3D capable
• BRAVIA Internet Video and Sony’s Qriocity
• IR input jack on rear panel for easy control system integration
• Built-in Wi-Fi Wireless (802.11n) with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)
• Entertainment Database Browser with Gracenote™ technology
• BD Remote (iPhone/iPod touch and Android remote control – free app.)
• Photo/music/video playback via USB and DLNA
• DVD upscaling to 1080p with Precision Cinema HD Upscaling
• Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio™ decoding
• Built-in 1GB Memory