Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony BDPS550 Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Player

I wanted a Blu Ray player what did the lot, and after careful dleberation and review reading opted for this model. And ordered one for a christmas present to me. This has got to be the best on the market, from opening the box to getting it set up on my tv and surround system took me about 10 mins at the most. the picture jumps out at you it's that clear and the sound is awsome as well, upscales my DVD's no problem and gives them a better viewing quality. I got the 3 Blu Ray film pack as well for free, and in the box is a cd and if you register the player with Sony using the cd and filling in a questionaire online, they send you Casino Royale + Batman Dark Knight. What more could you ask for. Have got a network cable attached and can download bd live content onto supplied 1gb memory card.

I have had HDTV for a while and purchased this Blu-ray player mainly to play AVCHD discs recorded from a HD video camera. I deliberated for some time before deciding to buy the Sony 550, and I am not disappointed. This is a good looking machine and the picture quality is astounding. It will also play just about every type and format of disc including music CD's. I have a Technics CD player which is good but this Sony machine plays music with such detail that the other just can't compete.
So, why no fifth star? Well, unfortunately, from the time you insert a disc to the when it starts playing can be up to 30 seconds. This I assume is due to the way the machine reads a disc. Irritating, but as this is otherwise such a great machine, a small price to pay.
Sony BDPS550 Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Player Highly recommended!

Stunning HD and very good DVD upscaling. Lots of options. Great flexibility in audio outputs.

Fast operation - compared to what I was expecting.

Linked to an LG 32" plasma the picture quality is stunning. 100% recommendation.

Brought my BDSP550 about two weeks ago (£175 warehouse deal on Amazon) and....wow great little player!

I went for this model because it de-codes the new audio formats on-board and I can then use the six channel analogue outputs into my old Marantz SR5300 AV Amp, which saved me having to shell out un-necessary cash on a new Amp.

Set-up took me about an hour.....HDMI into the Plasma, five RCA cables (I have a 5.1 audio system) to the amp, RCA Cable straight from the Sony into the Sub-woofer, then fiddling with the Amp (just set the input to six channel direct). I adjusted all the channels to be equal on the amp and used the Sony player to set the audio output levels and distances to the speakers. I also turned up the sub a notch as I have read other users complaining about a lack of base.

Picture quality is first class....even at 1080i (which is the best my panel can accept other than 720p). I did have to turn the colour setting down on the panel as it seems too 'in your face' otherwise.

Dvd playback is also excellent with pretty decent up-scaling of your old discs.

If you are still un-decided about Blu-ray......this is an affordable way to get into it (and still play your older DVD's as well).

For now I will selectivly buy Blu-ray discs that I think benefit from the new formats extra detail levels......just waiting for 'saving private Ryan' to appear...otherwise I'll continue with DVD (until the prices eventually drop to more affordable levels)

Oh.....and I got the two free discs from Sony as well (just register your product on-line using the included CD and wait about two weeks for the postman to bring them!)

All round then.....highly recommended.

One of the best blu-ray players on the market today!!! Awesome Video quality on my 50inch Full HD1080P 24P Samsung plamsa tv!!! Build quality of this player is excellent and attractive to the eye as a opposed to other blu-ray players on the market! For this Price and absolute bargian!