IFA 2007: Sony Unveils Two Cheaper Blu-ray Players August 31, 2007

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I mean ‘cheaper’ rather than ‘cheap’ because at £400 and £600 respectively, the new BDP S300 and BDP S500 are still significantly more expensive than Toshiba’s HD DVD players. Still, the prices are heading in the right direction, if at a snail’s pace.

Both can output 1080p and support 7.1 channel Linear PCM and Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound audio. They also promise to upscale your standard DVDs and both will play movies at 24fps – just like you get at the cinema. The higher end BDP-S500 also supports Dolby TrueHD surround.

The BDP S300 and BDP S500 are due out in September and October, respectively. The real bonus for interested UK consumers though is that Sony will bundle the Spiderman Trilogy of movies on Blu-ray – after you’ve done an online survey and registered the product, that is. -Martin Lynch

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