Sony Connects The Home Theater With New Line-Up Of Home Audio And Video Gear

Sony announced its newest connected home audio and video products – from Blu-ray Disc™ players and Home Theater Systems to Network Speakers and set-top boxes powered by Google TV —delivering what users have come to expect from Sony: flexible Internet access to networked content from sources such as packaged media, the cloud and digital download, anytime, anywhere. The end result is a new type of user experience, more dynamic, intuitive and immersive.

Sony BDV-N890W

Choice and Control for Converging Media Powered by Google TV

Following its recent platform update and addition of the Android Market^TM, Sony Internet TV home products powered by Google TV received high praise from critics and a renewed interest from consumers. In 2012, Sony will expand on the industry-leading line with two new set-top boxes powered by Google TV (NSZ-GP9 connected Blu-ray Disc player and NSZ-GS7 Network Media Player), releasing both models in North America and Europe. Enhanced features and access to the new Android Market are coupled with a redesigned remote control for improved functionality, new linkage with the Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) platform and a new mobile device interface that allows consumers to use smartphones and tablets as a content source.

“Whether watching movies or TV, listening to music or sharing personal photos and videos, the common thread to these activities is the user experience,” said Charles Speidel, vice president of Sony Electronics Home Audio and Video Division. “Now, when using a home audio or video product from Sony, the experience will be seamless, efficient and intuitive. The content source may vary, but the way you access that media will be unified.”

The Content Consumers Want – However They Want It

Building on the award-winning Sony Blu-ray Disc player line, three new models feature Wi-Fi^® Internet connectivity, offer access to an array of online entertainment and provide support for Blu-ray Disc media, DVDs, CDs and USB playback. The BDP-S590 and BDP-S790 players also add Blu-ray 3D™ playback capabilities. Additionally, the BDP-S790 is the first BDP capable of “upscaling” HD content, converting it to 4K resolution. When connected to a broadband network, all models offer access to movies, video, and music services through the Sony Entertainment Network including its Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited streaming services, as well as the most popular entertainment services from Netflix®, Pandora^®,HuluPlus™, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube®, Slacker^® Internet Radio, Crackle and many more.

In addition to Web content, the new models include the Sony social viewing application, Socialize™ which lets viewers share their media experiences with friends and followers on Twitter™ and Facebook™ directly through their Blu-ray disc player. The 2012 models will also add Sony’s new user interface to deliver greater customization and streamlined access to online content and apps. Quick access to the new portal which highlights four sections, “Favorites,” “Apps,” Video” and “Music” is available through a new “SEN” (Sony Entertainment Network) button on the device remote control.

Also on display is the BDP-SX910 portable Blu-ray Disc player which includes a 9-inch screen, and supports playback from Blu-ray Disc media, DVD discs and USB media. It features up to four hours of battery life² from the built-in, rechargeable battery and offers built-in speakers and headphones output as well as touch-key controls.

Speidel continued, “Only Sony can bring consumers an ecosystem of hardware, content and networked services, and those users expect a seamless interface for that ecosystem.”

The Heritage of Excellent Audio Continues

Sony built its reputation on innovative audio products which offered the widest breadth of features and top performance. That same audio quality and flexibility is built into the STR-DH830 A/V receiver. Users can select from a variety of sources including HD/3D video through five HDMI™ and two component inputs. An integrated iPod® and iPhone® dock delivers the added flexibility of accessing existing digital libraries.

The new Sony Blu-ray Disc home theater line features three models that are Blu-ray 3D^TM capable and all offer access to the Sony BRAVIA Internet network platform and HomeShare compatibility. The new flagship BDV-N890W Home Theater System packs full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc system with 5.1 channel -1000 watt sound and built-in Wi-Fi (802.11n) into a strikingly designed housing, completed with wireless rear surround sound speakers, two-way, floor-standing front speakers and an improved subwoofer. The model also features a universal remote, a wireless HomeShare Speaker and an improved “Network Audio Remote” app available for iPhone/iPod Touch and Android devices to double navigate popular music sources. The BDV-N890W Home Theater System also offers a unique on-screen interface to control HomeShare wireless speakers. Users can manage streaming audio sources, speaker zones and volume control on the integrated universal remote control.

Last year the HomeShare network audio system was released, giving users the flexibility of wireless sound in any room via any DLNA™ certified device, such as PC or Sony Blu-ray Disc player over the home Wi-Finetwork. This year, two new HomeShare network speakers (models SA-NS310 and SA-N4S10) join the critically acclaimed SA-NS500 rechargeable wireless network speaker to deliver great sound anywhere. The entire line-up now includes Apple^® AirPlay®, and also new is direct streaming of audio content over Wi-Fi. So now listeners can playback music in their library or stream from an Internet music service such as Slacker®.

Also on display at CES, are the new BDV-N790W and BDV-E390 Blu-ray Disc home theater systems. Innovative features, such as IP Content Noise Reduction technology and Precision Cinema HD upscaling improve standard definition and web video quality, elevating the overall viewing experience, regardless of content source.

Sony Innovation Leads to an Unforgettable Experience

In 2011, Sony took a major step forward into the realm of high-end audio with the award-winning SS-AR1 speakers. The $27,000/pair units are an audiophile’s dream. This year, the line grows with the addition of the SS-AR2, loudspeakers. Like its sibling, this next generation uses the precision design, top quality materials and painstaking manufacturing to deliver the purest playback for music enthusiasts.

The innovative, HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer was among the must have gifts this past holiday season, due largely to its novel design, which delivers a unique entertainment experience. Users enjoy an immersive experience similar to watching video on a large screen approximating 150 inches from 12 feet away. Sony has also adapted its original virtual surround signal processing technology to deliver a powerful acoustic equivalent of a 5.1 channel surround-sound system. Available now, for $799.99, and on display at CES, the Personal 3D Viewer is the embodiment of Sony’s commitment to developing exciting home entertainment products.

Unveiled at CEDIA this fall, the VPL-VW1000ES home theater front projector marked the first home theater projector capable of displaying stunning 4K images. Capable of displaying native 4K content or upscaling HD, the projector delivers an immersive and engaging visual experience with more than four times the resolution of HDTV. Created specifically for the custom-install market, the 4K Home Theater Projector is available now for around $24,999.99.