Onkyo is one of the most widely distributed manufacturers of consumer electronics in the world.

Unlike its competition, which oftentimes delivers products with cutting edge technologies to stay ahead of the pack, Onkyo waits to see how the market develops before taking the plunge.

The Japanese company’s latest source component is a good example of that wait-and-see approach. Onkyo’s new THX-certified BD-SP809 player incorporates the ability to play 3D Blu-ray discs, as well as other physical media formats like CDs and DVDs. Also, through the use of its USB input, consumers can playback A/V files stored on mass-storage devices.

In addition, the BD-SP809 provides for network connectivity and digital media playback through its DLNA 1.5 certification. For owners of legacy audio equipment, the Onkyo BD-SP809 has built-in Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio processing to provide home theater enthusiasts with a lossless audio multichannel experience.

Other features of the unit include dual HDMI 1.4 outputs and Marvell’s Onboard Qdeo video processing technologies that include deinterlacing, noise reduction and standard definition content upscaling to HD levels. The player also offers streaming services such as Netflix, Blockbuster, Film Fresh and VUDU.

The BD-SP809 will start shipping in August with an MSRP of $600.

Robert Archer - Senior Editor, CE Pro

Bob is a dedicated audiophile who has been writing about A/V for Electronic House sister publication CE Pro since 2000.