Access exclusive downloadable content with this Blu-ray Disc™ player and BD-Live™ and make the most of your movie experience. This model also features an external port for local storage, so users can add optional flash-based memory.

The BDP-S550 ships with a 1GB storage device. The player features 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output. It is compatible with most standard DVDs and features 1080p upscaling through an HDMI connection to capable HDTV sets, improving the picture performance of existing DVD libraries. The model offers 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus decoding and bit-stream output, as well as dts -HD High Resolution Audio and Master Audio bit-stream output.

The BDP-S550 adds dts-HD High Resolution Audio and dts-HD Master Audio decoding as well as 7.1 channel analog audio output.The player supports AVCHD discs encoded with x.v.Color (xvYCC) technology, an international standard for wide color space reproduction. The standard expands the current data range of video by about 1.8 times, allowing the players to output more natural and vivid colors similar to what the human eye can actually see.

The player also features compatibility with an array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW (Video Mode), CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEG on DVD/CD recordable media.The new model features a slim design with reduced depth and height compared to previous models matching Sony's new home-theater-in-a-box systems, the HT-SS2300 and HT-CT100 T-SS2300, also announced today. Optimized for Blu-ray Disc, the new component systems feature three 1080p compatible HDMI inputs making them the perfect match for a Full high-definition home theater when connected to a new Sony BRAVIA 1080p HDTV.

• Full HD 1080p video output  provides high-resolution HD image, so you can take full advantage of the superior detail of Blu-ray Disc™ video content.

• DVD Upscaling via HDMI™ gets the most out of your existing DVD collection by upscaling standard definition video to near HD 1080p resolution.

• 7.1 channel analog output provides connectivity to older receivers, making the player compatible with your existing audio system with 7.1 analog inputs.

• Dolby® TrueHD internal decoding and bitstream output via HDMI™ for the Dolby TrueHD and dts®-HD (Master Audio and High Resolution Audio) codes delivers studio quality audio designed specifically for high definition entertainment like Blu-ray Disc™ movies, with up to 7.1 channels of surround sound that is virtually indistinguishable from the original studio version.

• Slim chassis with a gloss black finish fits elegantly with your home theater system and décor, and the included backlit remote helps give you total control of the movie-watching experience.

• Ethernet port provides connectivity to a home network with broadband connection so you can download network updates and bonus content.

• BD-Live technology allows you to download and stream bonus content such as additional scenes, shorts, trailers, movie-based games, and more

• Bonus View feature provides “picture-in-picture” capability with select Blu-ray Disc™ titles.

• 24p True Cinema capable 4 provides a direct connection to 24p video display devices so you can avoid conversions and enjoy films at their intended 24 fps (frames per second) cinematic picture quality.

• BRAVIA® Sync for Theatre technology utilizes the industry-standard HDMI™ CEC function to provide one button access and control of the appropriate inputs for your BRAVIA HDTV and HDMI-connected A/V components.

• Precision Cinema HD Upscale circuitry uses high bandwidth digital-to-analog conversion and processing to detect image changes at the pixel level, rather than at the level of whole scan lines. Additionally, separate algorithms are used to process the moving and still parts of an image, resulting in sharper backgrounds with moving objects that are nearly free from motion artifacts.

• BD/DVD/CD and AVCHD playback plays your favorite Blu-ray Disc™ movies, DVDs, audio CDs, and AVCHD-format discs on your Sony Blu-ray Disc player.

• Support for the international xvYCC color standard produces images with 1.8x the color space of the traditional RGB color standard, resulting in images with more natural and vivid color reproduction.

• Precision Drive system for BD allows you to play back some Blu-ray Disc™ media or DVDs that may have been damaged or warped — with minimal degradation of picture quality.

• xross media bar™ (XMB™) on-screen display is a fast, fun and easy way to access set-up menus, user controls, and more.

• USB Port lets you connect the included 1GB USB flash-based memory for BD-Live External Memory.