Sony unveils 400-disc Blu-ray Disc changers

While no price or launch date has been announced yet for the Canadian market, Sony Electronics in the U.S. has just unveiled the latest in its MegaChangers line of audio-video players — the BDP-CX960 and the “Elevated Standard” (ES) BDP-CX7000ES — both of which can store and play 400 Blu-ray Discs, DVDs and CDs.

Not only does this centralize your media in one convenient location, but also protects it all from sticky fingers (anyone with young children can nod their heads).

Both models also feature the ability to download information from the Internet, which is then displayed on your television screen. Data is pooled from Sony’s own Gracenote’s MusicID and VideoID service, so whenever a new disc is inserted into the unit, you can see info such as title, director, cast info, year released, genre and disc cover art.

I was able to test drive this service at a recent Sony event and even though it takes a while for the changer to pick and play the right disc (about 25 to 30 seconds), as someone who reviews movies and listens to music non-stop, this is a great product if you can afford it.

The top-of-the-line MegaChanger is the BDP-CX7000ES (US $1,900), which outputs full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema via HDMI cable, and integrates nicely with third-party automation control systems (including both an RS232 connection and IR-in). Sony’s HD Reality Enhancer technology continually analyzes the original source bit by bit and sharpening edges (helping to reduce the effects of film grain), while the Super Bit Mapping feature delivers smoother colour gradation. This 7.1 audio device (supporting Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio) also upconverts standard definition DVDs to 1080p. 

For US $800, the BDP-CX960 is also a 400-disc MegaChanger that delivers full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output, but without some of the other bells and whistles found in the upscale “ES” line.

Both models include Ethernet (sorry, no Wi-Fi) to snag Gracenote info and for online BD-Live features found on some Blu-ray Discs.