Audio Video News

A few months after CES each year, many manufacturers hold individual line shows to give their dealers and the press a closer look at their new products. Sony is usually the first one out of the gate, and this year was no different. About 600 dealer representatives and 50 members of the press converged on the Paris hotel in Las Vegas this week (weren't we just there?) to see the latest from Sony.

The company has expanded its lines of LCD TVs quite dramatically, adding 18 new models for 2008, bringing the total to more than 50, ranging in size from 19 to 52 inches. Large models (40 inches and above) will be available in five series—in descending order of sophistication, they are XBR, Z (brand new this year), W, V, and S (entry-level). As the costs of manufacturing decline, Sony is migrating advanced features to less-expensive series—for example, the W series will includes 120Hz operation, and the V and S series will have 1080p resolution.

The new Z series makes a striking design statement, with a thin, brushed-metal bezel.

Another technology that's migrating downward is DMe^x, Sony's expansion port on the back of some TVs that can accommodate a growing variety of modules. This is a brilliant concept, effectively future-proofing the TV with the ability to add functionality. The only DMe^x module currently available is Bravia Internet Video Link ($300), which connects directly to a broadband router and streams content from partner providers to the TV without requiring a computer. Other modules in development include Wireless Link (wireless HDMI), Input Link (adds three HDMI inputs), and DVD Link (a complete DVD player). Each DMe^x-compatible TV has room enough to accommodate two modules, and more can be added by daisy-chaining them via USB or HDMI.

Speaking of Bravia Internet Video Link (a ridiculously long name that I'll abbreviate BIVL), Sony announced many new content providers, including CBS, FearNet (full-length horror and suspense movies), EPI (food), Style.com, Ford Models (fashion, beauty, fitness), Singing Fool (music videos), Video Detective (movie trailers), and Timeless TV (Sony Pictures classic TV series). These join the partners already providing content, such as AOL, Yahoo, Blip.tv, and Sports Illustrated. All together, there are over 2000 programs available so far, all in standard-def, though BIVL can handle up to 1080p, depending on the speed of the connection. All programs are free at this point, though some have ads.

One new projector was announced, the VPL-VW40, which is essentially a VW50 for $3000. This wall o' projectors illustrates Sony's SXRD projector lineage, from the Qualia 004 in the center to the VPL-VW200 and VW100 to the left and the VW60 and VW40 to the right.

Two new Blu-ray players were unveiled—the BDP-S350 ($400, Summer) and BDP-S550 ($500, Fall), which replace the S300 and S500, respectively. Both conform to Profile 1.1 with PIP capabilities, and both have an Ethernet port that can be used to update the firmware. Even better, both can be upgraded to BD-Live with an upcoming firmware update and the addition of 1GB of memory in the form of a USB storage device; the S550 will include a 1GB USB memory module, while the S350 will not. Other distinguishing features include a 7.1-channel analog-audio output on the S550 (2-channel on the S350), Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding in the S550 (no DTS-HD MA in the S350), and full bitstream output of all advanced codecs via HDMI from both players

The new generation of Blu-ray players are about half the size of last year's models.

Sony introduced four new AVRs in its standard line (not the upscale ES line). Shown here are the STR-DG920 ($600) on top, DG720 ($300) on the lower left, and DG520 ($200) on the lower right. Not shown is the DG820 ($400). The 920 has a new GUI and video upscaling, and both the 920 and 820 provide four HDMI inputs, decode all the advanced codecs, and pass 1080p/24 via HDMI.

Sony's Vaio TP series of media-center PCs have a stylish cylindrical shell and offer Blu-ray playback. The black VGX-TP25 ($3000) shown here includes two CableCARD slots and 4GB of RAM; the white VGX-TP20 ($1600) has no CableCARD slots and 2GB of RAM but is otherwise functionally identical.