Sony Ships 4K Blu-ray Player - MSRP only $250

Kosty · 04-24-2012, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Sony Ships 4K Blu-ray Player

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 4/24/2012

San Diego - Sony revealed Tuesday that it is now selling its BDP-S790 4K-up-scaling Blu-ray Disc player via its online store, and it will hit brick-and-mortar stores May 6.

Sony's BDP-S790 ($250 suggested retail) offers 4K up-scaling and UltraViolet playback support.

The new flagship Blu-ray player will carry a $250 suggested retail, and is expected to ship to Sony's online customers this week.

The player features a dual-core processor, 3D playback, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, DLNA streaming, and access to Netflix, Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, Slacker, Pandora, Twitter and Facebook.

The model also provides access to the Sony Entertainment Network, with both music and video streaming services, and will support UltraViolet streaming services powered by Flixter and Vudu, latter of which is further supported by Walmart's newly launched UltraViolet-enabled in-store disc-to-digital service program.

The built-in 4K up-scaling will offer support for next-generation 4K high-definition display devices, including Sony's 4K video projectors. The capability is expected to become more pervasive in coming years.

Other features include IP content noise reduction, dual HDMI outputs, IR input, front USB input for music and video file playback, and a Media Remote app (iPhone/iPod Touch/Android BD remote control).

http://www.twice.com/article/483537-...ray_Player.php

Kosty · 04-24-2012, 12:18 PM

The next generation 4K Blu-ray players with all the bells and whistles are showing up faster and at a lower price point than many expected.

leevitalone · 04-24-2012, 12:40 PM

so, why 4k now, do I need it now?

Kosty · 04-24-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leevitalone

so, why 4k now, do I need it now?

You don't, not with a 1080p or lessor display.

But if you are buying a high end Blu-ray 3D player in the near future, you might want to consider such a player with all the bells and whistles and a fast video processor with the future proofed option of it already having 4K capability. 4K displays will be on the market soon enough.

Plus if you win the lottery and want to buy a JVC or Sony 4K front projector for your new home theater you'd be all set.

HD Goofnut · 04-24-2012, 01:18 PM

I guess to get an actual 4K player (not upconversion) there will have to be a medium to support 4K resolution. How big of a disc would that require? Lee posted those figures back several months ago, but I can't remember where.

Lee Stewart · 04-24-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I guess to get an actual 4K player (not upconversion) there will have to be a medium to support 4K resolution. How big of a disc would that require? Lee posted those figures back several months ago, but I can't remember where.

Quote:

Certain ten megapixel video requires truly higher bandwidth, but with advanced H264 encoding, a 10 megapixel 4K2K video can match in 50mbit/s, and 50mbit/s can be delivered over Fiberoptical Net connections and almost certainly that you would be ready to match a 4K2K stream on a Blu-ray disc which has a 48mbit/s bandwidth restrict. At that bitrate, a 2 hour 4K2K film could fit on about 43GB, so it can perfectly effectively fit on a dual-layer 50GB Blu-ray disc.

http://entertainmentprojector.info/s...deo-bandwidth/

I think (???) he is referring to H.264 High 10 Profile (Hi10P)

http://www.innocodec.com/H.html

Kosty · 04-24-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I guess to get an actual 4K player (not upconversion) there will have to be a medium to support 4K resolution. How big of a disc would that require? Lee posted those figures back several months ago, but I can't remember where.

I've been told that current and tested future Blu-ray Discs can support 4K resolution.

Since Sony is doing this 4k player now its reasonable to assume they know something about it to actually support 4K Blu-ray Discs in the future as its Sony the leader in Blu-ray technology that is releasing this device.

I would not be surprised if it would be capable of playing actual 4K Blu-ray Discs in the future as they are the people that are actually developing the 4K Blu-ray Discs as they have stated at various trade shows for the past year. They do not have to promise it now.

HD Goofnut · 04-24-2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kosty

I've been told that current and tested future Blu-ray Discs can support 4K resolution.

Since Sony is doing this 4k player now its reasonable to assume they know something about it to actually support 4K Blu-ray Discs in the future as its Sony the leader in Blu-ray technology that is releasing this device.

I would not be surprised if it would be capable of playing actual 4K Blu-ray Discs in the future as they are the people that are actually developing the 4K Blu-ray Discs as they have stated at various trade shows for the past year. They do not have to promise it now.

Do you think this player could support a native 4K disc with a FW update? I suppose it's possible if same type of laser is used for these newer discs, right?

Lee Stewart · 04-24-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Do you think this player could support a native 4K disc with a FW update? I suppose it's possible if same type of laser is used for these newer discs, right?

If the only difference between a 2K BD and a 4k BD is the video codec (H.264 vs H.265) then yes, all that would be needed is a FW upgrade as long as H.265 is backwards compatible to H.264

Kosty · 04-24-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Do you think this player could support a native 4K disc with a FW update? I suppose it's possible if same type of laser is used for these newer discs, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

If the only difference between a 2K BD and a 4k BD is the video codec (H.264 vs H.265) then yes, all that would be needed is a FW upgrade as long as H.265 is backwards compatible to H.264

That was the wink and a nod answer I and a lot of other people got at CES Jan 2012 and CEDIA Sep 2011 when discussing the issue. Sony is releasing this player and they are the ones working on 4k Blu-ray Discs.

Any future multilayer Blu-ray discs above 2 layers use the same laser and setup to read them, the player just needs to adjust a tiny difference to go between the multiple layers on the top of the disc.

If the hypothetical 4K Blu-ray Disc is just a physical dual layer Blu-ray disc in physical structure with a more modern codec squeezing more data on the disc then its just software and computing horsepower in the player to be able to read the new data structure.

The hard part of getting Blu-ray Disc production and players going at BD50 capabilities is already done. Incrementally improving beyond that should be easier, especially if its done like Lee Stewart is musing, just by a new codec getting more data on a dual layer disc.

**bruceames** · 04-25-2012, 07:37 AM

Seems odd to ship out a player without discs to play in it or a display to watch it on. Also the price seems very low for a new format with 4x more resolution. It's like it's being rushed.

HD Goofnut · 04-25-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

Seems odd to ship out a player without discs to play in it or a display to watch it on. Also the price seems very low for a new format with 4x more resolution. It's like it's being rushed.

It's a "futureproofer" Bruce. It upconverts 1080p to 2160p for those that have bought one of those 4K projectors and then it also doubles as a media center and 3D player. I'd recommend it for sub $200 for anyone wanting to get into 3D or possibly 4K. It is reasonable to assume that it will be able to play 4K BDs in the future with a FW update as well.

**bruceames** · 04-25-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

It's a "futureproofer" Bruce. It upconverts 1080p to 2160p for those that have bought one of those 4K projectors and then it also doubles as a media center and 3D player. I'd recommend it for sub $200 for anyone wanting to get into 3D or possibly 4K. It is reasonable to assume that it will be able to play 4K BDs in the future with a FW update as well.

I don't know. I want 4K done right, not cheaply. This whole thing of trying to cram a 4k movie on a BD50 is like HD DVD trying to use DVDs as their media. The format needs more room.

GizmoDVD · 04-25-2012, 08:24 AM

This makes no sense. No displays and no content. What the hell is the point?

mikemorel · 04-25-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

If the only difference between a 2K BD and a 4k BD is the video codec (H.264 vs H.265) then yes, all that would be needed is a FW upgrade as long as H.265 is backwards compatible to H.264

There is no free lunch. The tradeoff with H.265 is that it provides 2x better video compression performance at the expense of significantly higher computational complexity, compared with H.264. The chip needs to have more processing power.

04-24-2012, 12:18 PM	#2
Kosty Home Theater Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 5,064	The next generation 4K Blu-ray players with all the bells and whistles are showing up faster and at a lower price point than many expected. __________________ . "A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about." - Miguel de Unamuno "I understand the concept of optimism. But I think with me what you get is a lack of cynicism." - Tom Hanks "I don't think you lead by pessimism and cynicism. I think you lead by optimism and enthusiasm and energy." - Patricia Ireland

04-24-2012, 01:18 PM	#5
HD Goofnut Official HDF BD Reviewer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mississippi, U.S.A. Your resident Dune, Star Wars, and war film expert Posts: 9,556	I guess to get an actual 4K player (not upconversion) there will have to be a medium to support 4K resolution. How big of a disc would that require? Lee posted those figures back several months ago, but I can't remember where. __________________ BenQ MP512ST, Panasonic TC-L55ET5 55" 360Hz LED/3D, Sharp LC-46SB57UN 46" 120 Hz LCD, Sanyo DP46848 46" 60Hz LCD, HP 21.5" 60Hz LCD Onkyo TX-NR709 7.1/Onkyo SKS-HT540 ASUS BD Drive, LG BH200, Sony Optiarc Blu-ray Burner, Sony BDP-590, Vizio VBR220 My Motion Picture Collection Latest BD Review: *Jack Reacher*

04-25-2012, 07:37 AM	#11
bruceames Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 15,372	Seems odd to ship out a player without discs to play in it or a display to watch it on. Also the price seems very low for a new format with 4x more resolution. It's like it's being rushed. __________________ RIP Kosty.

04-24-2012, 12:40 PM	#3
leevitalone High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,722	so, why 4k now, do I need it now?

04-25-2012, 08:24 AM	#14
GizmoDVD High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,034	This makes no sense. No displays and no content. What the hell is the point?