SONY BDP-S590

Shopping for a Blu-ray player has changed considerably over the past couple of years. In the past, as you stepped up the model ladder, you gained features such as Internet apps, network media streaming and HD audio decoding. Now those features are available even in entry-level models, leaving the feature list separating the low end from the high end very lean indeed. But recently, 4K came along and changed things.


4K – which some call Ultra High Definition – promises resolution four times that of our 1080p televisions and, some believe, could end up being the next major evolution in home television. In fact, companies such as Sony are banking on it. Not only has Sony done all it can to pave 4K’s way into commercial movie theaters, but it’s also sneaking 4K into the home market by incorporating 4K up-scaling into its top-of-the-line Blu-ray players.

Ironically, this feature provides no practical benefit for anyone now because the only commercially available 4K-capable display devices usually have the very same up-scaling feature built in. However, this ahead-of-its-time technology has provided companies with a new feature that justifies a certain price spread among player models. In short, 4K is your friend because it has helped drive down the price of fully featured Blu-ray players.