Sony BDP-S1000ES Blu-ray Player Reviewed

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter Print this article

HTR Product Rating

Performance
4.5 Stars
Value
4 Stars
Overall
4.5 Stars

Disagree with our product rating? Email us and tell us why you think this product should receive a higher rating.

Page 1 | Page 2
SonyBDP_S1000.gif

Sony's Elevated Standard (ES) Series represents the company's top-shelf offerings in the receiver and Blu-ray categories. The newest Blu-ray addition to the ES Series is the BDP-S1000ES ($699.99). We have not performed a hands-on review of the BDP-S1000ES, but here is an overview of the player's features. This Profile 2.0 player supports BonusView/picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live Web functionality, and it offers both onboard decoding and bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. It features built-in 802.11n for a wireless network connection, as well as the ability to stream photos from a DLNA-compliant device. However, this player does not support any type of video-on-demand streaming or download service, such as those offered by Netflix, Amazon, and CinemaNow. Compared with the basic Sony-branded BDP-S560 ($349.99), the BDP-S1000ES adds multichannel analog audio outputs, comes with external storage, and employs some higher-end video and audio design elements.

Additional Resources
• Read over 100 Blu-ray player reviews from Sony, Sony ES, Oppo Digital, Yamaha, Onkyo, Integra, Denon and many others.
• Read a review of Sony's 400 disc Blu-ray Mega Changer - the BDP-CX7000ES.

In terms of video connections, the BDP-S1000ES offers HDMI, component video, S-video, and composite video outputs. This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI. The setup menu offers three preset picture modes, plus a memory option--with adjustments for contrast, brightness, chroma, hue, gamma, and noise reduction. This ES model also includes some higher-end Sony technologies: Super Bit Mapping smoothes out background shadow and color gradients, HD Reality Enhancer sharpens moving edges, and Precision Cinema HD provides higher-quality upconversion of standard-def content.

The BDP-S1000ES has the full suite of audio outputs: HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, and both 2- and 7.1-channel analog. The inclusion of multichannel analog audio outputs makes this model a good choice if you own an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver. As I mentioned, the BDP-S1000ES has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. You can set speaker size, distance, and level for the multichannel analog outputs. Audio adjustments include A/V lip sync and an audio filter (sharp or slow) for analog signals. This ES model adds a headphone output mode that's designed to create a sense of 7.1-channel surround sound through connected headphones.

The BDP-S1000ES's disc drive supports BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, MP3, and JPEG playback. You can add the player to your home network using either the back-panel Ethernet port or the internal 802.11n wireless module. The BDP-S1000ES comes with 4GB of external memory to download BD-Live features, which you add using a back-panel USB port. A second, front-panel USB port supports photo playback, but not digital music or movie playback. The player lacks advanced control ports, such as RS-232 or IR (these ports are available in the top-shelf BDP-S5000ES).

Competition and Comparison
To compare the Sony BDP-S1000ES against its competition, read our reviews for the Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD Blu-ray player and the Denon DBP-2010CI Blu-ray player.  There is also more information available in our Blu-ray Player section and on our Sony brand page.

High Points
• The BDP-S1000ES supports 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI. It has multichannel analog audio outputs for use with an older A/V receiver.
• It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• You can wirelessly connect the BDP-S1000ES to your network via 802.11n and stream photos from any DLNA-compatible device.
• Sony supplies 4GB of external memory.
• This player includes technologies like Super Bit Mapping, HD Reality Enhancer, and Precision Cinema HD not found in step-down models.


Page 1 | Page 2

  • Comment on this article

Post a Comment

You are encouraged to post your comments using Facebook on HomeTheaterReview.com. Simply sign in to your Facebook account below and post away.

Featured Audio-Video News

The Evolution of the Two-Channel Preamp

The Evolution of the Two-Channel Preamp -

The two-channel preamp has been due for an overhaul for a while now and it seems that the process is beginning with several of the new products hitting the market from several of the major manufacturers. But why is it happening now?

Latest Blu-ray Player Reviews

Home Theater Review's 2011 Best Of Awards -

For a third time, the editorial staff of Home Theater Review have examined the year's offerings in AV gear and decided what they deem to be the best in every category. Find out who is the best of the best.

Pioneer BDP-140 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

Pioneer has introduced a new entry level 3D-capable Blu-ray player with the BDP-140. The BDP-140 also supports the company's new Sound Retriever Link and Stream Smoother Link technologies.

Yamaha Aventage BD-A1010 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

Yamaha offers competition in the universal player market by adding the BD-A1010 3D Blu-ray player to the company's offerings. But how does the Yamaha BD-A1010 stack up against its competition? Adrienne Maxwell investigates.

LG BD670 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

Adrienne Maxwell takes a look at the LG BD670 Blu-ray player and its features and capabilities to see how the player measures up against other modern players available at a similar price.

Sharp BD-HP75U 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

While the Sharp BD-HP75U Blu-ray player supports features like 3D playback, Adrienne Maxwell points out that this Blu-ray player lacks typical features of Blu-ray players at its pricepoint.

Sharp BD-HP25U 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

Adrienne Maxwell takes a look at the BD-HP25U 3D-capable Blu-ray player from Sharp, which has an impressive feature set, even if it is missing a few features, and an impressive price.

Toshiba BDX5200 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

Toshiba has offered a compelling model with the 3D-capable BDX5200 Blu-ray player, which has features lacked by many Blu-ray players that exist at the same price point. However, there are still areas in with the BDX5200 is lacking.

Toshiba BDX2150 Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

Toshiba has offered a very value oriented player in the company's BDX2150 Blu-ray player. Yet, the player does support a pretty impressive amount of features given its very small price tag.

Onkyo BD-SP309 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

Onkyo has released the company's first 3D-capable Blu-ray player with the BD-SP309 Blu-ray player. On top of that, Onkyo has made the BD-SP309 the most affordable Blu-ray player in their current line up.

Panasonic DMP-BDT210 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed -

The mid-level entry into Panasonic's 2011 line of Blu-ray players in the DMP-BDT210 Blu-ray player, which sports many features, including a new feature that Panasonic is introducing to the company's Blu-ray players.