Sony BDP-S780
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: BDP-S780
- CNET Editor rating: Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 4 reviews
- More product information:
- Editors' blog post
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Description:
- Enjoy Full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc movies even in 3D plus wirelessly stream the best selection of online entertainment2 with the Sony BDP-S780 3D Blu-ray Disc player. Get access to movies, TV episodes, videos, music and live sports events from Netflix , YouTube , HuluPlus , Pandora , and more. You can even video chat with friends and family using Skype . Add an app ... Read more
Where to buy
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| Provantage | | In stock | as of 05/24/2012 |
CNET editors' blog post
By Matthew Moskovciak, 05/26/11
Sony's Bravia Internet Video is packed with streaming-media services, but its one-size-fits-all user interface holds it back.
(Credit: Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)They may be called Blu-ray players, but in 2011 they're as much about streaming-media services as they are about high-definition discs. With every manufacturer having a different collection of streaming-media services, we've been taking an in-depth look at each company's content portal for 2011.
Today, we're looking at Sony's Bravia Internet Video. Sony's content portal is significantly different than all of its competitors: there's no app store, nor are streaming services kept in a separate section of the user interface, and all the services--including Netflix--have an interface customized for Sony.
Sony's Bravia Internet video is the same on most 2011 Sony Blu-ray players--and home theater systems with built-in Blu-ray players--but considerably different from the Bravia Internet video content portal offered on Sony HDTVs.
Sony Bravia Internet Video streaming services vs. competitors
Editors' note: The chart doesn't list every streaming-media service available on each content portal; for the sake of simplicity, we chose those we considered most important.
Sony's Bravia Internet Video is absolutely jam-packed with services, offering more streaming-media options than its competitors. Even beyond the services listed, Sony has a ton of niche video services that it supports, from Wired to Dr. Oz.
Amazon Instant Streaming is our favorite extra, especially for cord-cutters without cable. While competing services like Vudu are a compelling alternative for video-on-demand movies, Amazon Instant offers by far the largest selection of TV shows for pay-per-view watching, including both network and cable shows.
We also appreciate that Amazon Instant is tied into the viewer's Amazon.com account, which means we're able to watch our purchased content in a browser as well. If you're looking to "cut the cord" or just supplement your existing cable subscription, we've found Amazon Instant Streaming to be the best TV content provider. Sony Bravia Internet Video is also the only content portal to offer both Amazon Instant and Hulu Plus.
You may notice a lot of red at the bottom of the chart, but most of those are social media services that we don't find are that useful when viewed on a TV. The biggest missing service to us is MLB.TV, which is available on competing LG and Samsung players.
Sony also includes an Internet browser, but it's slow and doesn't support video playback (as far as we could tell), so we don't consider this a significant added feature. We also couldn't load a mainstream site like ESPN.com, instead getting an error that the page was "too large." In an age of smartphones, tablets, and laptops, a slow Internet browser on a TV would be our last choice to access the Web.
Bravia Internet Video user interface
(Credit:
Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)
Sony may have the most services, but its user interface is our least favorite. Rather than let each app have its own interface (like on all other players), Sony tries to creates a more unified look between all the services. Unfortunately that unified look is less-than-ideal The interfaces for Netflix and Amazon feature smallish cover art that can be difficult to read while you're leaning back on the couch. And though the layout has improved significantly via firmware updates over the last couple months, it still lags behind competitors like Panasonic and LG.
(Credit:
Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)
Even beyond the the layout of the individual services, Sony's XMB interface doesn't work as well on Blu-ray players as it does on the PS3. While competitors like Panasonic Viera Cast and LG's Smart TV feature several large icons for each service, Sony's interface has just a single row of small icons. That single row is even more difficult to sort through because it includes so many niche streaming services, which end up feeling more like filler than useful content. The fact that Blu-ray players don't have the lightning-fast response times of a PS3 makes it even more tedious to sort through.
Netflix interface
(Credit:
Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)
Sony's Blu-ray players are the only ones we've reviewed to not feature the typical Netflix interface that's available on the PS3 and other Blu-ray players we reviewed this year. When we first looked at the Sony's 2011 Netflix interface it was very outdated, lacking search and limiting you titles in your instant queue. Recent firmware updates have improved the experience, although we still prefer the interface available on other players.
Our main gripe with Sony's Netflix interface is the one we mentioned before: small cover art. There were several titles that we need to select first before we knew what the movie was. Otherwise, we're happy to see that Sony has added additional genres and sorting options. You can now look through sections like "New Arrivals" or "Comedy" to see titles that aren't necessarily in your instant queue.
Conclusions
The trade-off with Sony Bravia Internet Video is straightforward. It has more streaming-media services than competitors and it's the only player have both Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant, but you'll have to put up with its mediocre user interface. We expect most buyers will use just a few streaming-media services regularly (Netflix, Pandora, etc.), so they'll be better off with a competitor like Panasonic or LG that has less overall services, but a better interface. However, if you think you'll take advantage of all the streaming-media services Sony Bravia Internet Video has to offer, it's worth putting up with the interface, especially because of its recent updates.
Got Sony Bravia Internet Video questions? Leave a comment below.
User reviews
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GREAT MACHINE !!!!
by Vito on February 11, 2012
Pros: I'ts been 7 months since I bought it.Very easy to set up.Plays everything you throw at it.
Cons: NONE WHATSOEVER.
Summary: SONY DID IT AGAIN !!!
Summary: SONY DID IT AGAIN !!!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great product
by electronica4 on September 17, 2011
Pros: This product successfully achieves all the functions I expected it to fulfill. Namely: Playing Blu-ray discs, streaming Netflix movies (in HD and SD), and streaming Pandora radio. There is also a Netflix button on the remote control, which is nice, althou
Cons: So far there are only 2 cons that I have noticed, and neither one is anything that causes any major problem for me.
#1: They could have done a better job in the instruction manual to tell you how to set up the individual services, like Pandora, Netflix,Summary: It took about an hour to set everything up and test all the functions. Overall, I am very satisfied with this player.
Some more details:
Some reviews about Sony Blu-ray ...Summary: It took about an hour to set everything up and test all the functions. Overall, I am very satisfied with this player.
Some more details:
Some reviews about Sony Blu-ray players (not sure what model) that I had seen before I bought the unit said that there were problems with streaming HD Netflix movies. This was NOT true. I had no problems whatsoever with streaming HD Netflix movies. (Note: My Internet speed guaranteed by the provider is 12 mbps, I used a wired Internet connection to the Blu-ray player, and I have a 1.4 HDMI cable. I also have the setting for video quality on the Netflix site set to "Best". I think to successfully stream HD movies you probably have to set that to "best". And you need at least 10 mbps of Internet to be able to watch HD.)
Before I bought this, I had also seen reviews about Sony Blu-ray players (could have been other models) that said that the load time was slow. This was NOT true either. I don't notice any difference in time compared to a Sony DVD player.
Cons:
#1: They could have done a better job in the instruction manual to tell you how to set up the individual services, like Pandora, Netflix, etc. Basically the instruction manual just says to click on the icons on the screen and follow the instructions (for all services... there are no explanations for any individual services). But the instructions on the screen were either not correct, or they were missing steps, so it was not possible to set these services up based on the instructions that were on my screen.
For example, with Netflix, if you go into the Blu-ray Netflix menu, it says "type in this code at Netflix.com" and gives you a code. However, if you do what they tell you to do, at Netflix.com, it will say "this code has expired, get a new code." What I discovered after a little bit of Internet searching is that the code that the Blu-ray player gives you at that point, is not for Netflix. It is for the "Customer Central" part of Sonystyle.com. You have to go to Customer Central, create an account, and input that code for your Blu-ray player. Then, when you go back to your Blu-ray player, it will have a different code on the screen. It is this code, the second code after you register at Sonystyle.com, that you input in the Netflix activation screen. Then everything works fine after that. In the Sonystyle.com page, you can also see where to register for Pandora, which I did easily. There were a few more services listed on that page, but I don't think all the services that the Blu-ray player supports were listed there. So yeah. This was easily solved with a little research on my part, but basically there are no instructions anywhere in the manual or on the player that will enable you to set the services up without doing your own separate research about it online.
#2: It seemed like you could successfully run a Youtube search, but you cannot search for movies on Netflix successfully through the Blu-ray interface. There is a way to search Netflix, but when I did that (with 1 word only), the search results generated 2 random movies that had the keyword I typed in their title, but not the famous movies that I was intending for it to show (Netflix definitely has them). I tried a different keyword with similar results... the search returned some animated movies that were on the theme of what I was looking for, but not the famous movies I was intending for it to show. Not sure why this happened, why it would generate some results but not the intended results. So basically you need to use a computer to manage your instant queue. And if the movie you want to watch is in your instant queue, it is easy for you to get to it on your Blu-ray player.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Sony BDP-S780 is a fantastic Blu Ray Player
by rxs123 on April 2, 2011
Pros: - Works with any new DVD I have thrown at it with no problems.
- Tried very old DVD's that I use to get a border on with my old Samsung Blu Ray and borders do not exist.
- During my testing, switched around with other DVD's and went back to a Blu RayCons: No cons at this point in time.
Summary: Although I have only used it for a very short period of time, I would highly recommend this Blu Ray player and have not experienced anything that I didn't ...
Summary: Although I have only used it for a very short period of time, I would highly recommend this Blu Ray player and have not experienced anything that I didn't like - just pleasant surprises. I had an old Samsung that would no longer play certain Blu Ray movies after the latest firmware update without a chapter popup appearing every 30 seconds and Samsung did absolutely nothing about it and couldn't even tell me how to back out the firmware. Sony so far (one day of use) has been a dream! Hopefully this experience stays the same for the lifetime of the product. Keep up the good work Sony.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Can not play subtitles from network video
by JockeyJT on October 9, 2011
Pros: Quick install.
Wifi works fine.Cons: No subtitles on network content (such as playing a .srt file with an .avi video) making it virtually unusable in The Netherlands.
Cumbersome navigation through DLNA menus.Summary: Do not buy if you live in a non-english speaking country or if you wish to play full album content without resorting to trics.
Summary: Do not buy if you live in a non-english speaking country or if you wish to play full album content without resorting to trics.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: BDP-S780
- Description: Enjoy Full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc movies even in 3D plus wirelessly stream the best selection of online entertainment2 with the Sony BDP-S780 3D Blu-ray Disc player. Get access to movies, TV episodes, videos, music and live sports events from Netflix , YouTube , HuluPlus , Pandora , and more. You can even video chat with friends and family using Skype . Add an app to your iPhone or Android smartphone and turn it in a versatile remote with full QWERTY keyboard for simplified searching. This great device is also HomeShare compatible which allows you to build a customized wireless music experience for your home. All you need is a Sony HomeShare Network speaker to get started, but you can add other HomeShare compatible devices to build the best system for you.
General
- Product Type Blu-ray disc player
- Form Factor Tabletop
Blu-ray
- Video D/A Converter 12bit / 148.5MHz
- Upscaling ( Up to 1080p )
Blu-ray Features
- Additional features 3D movie playback ,
Built-in 2D-to-3D conversion processing. ,
Skype capable with separate USB TV camera (sold separately) Power
- Power Device Power supply
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Sony
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
