We have been a big fan of Sony products for many years. We recently upgraded our Sony Blu-ray player to one that has all of the newest features, including Blu-ray 3D and streaming video.

Our older Sony BDP-BX1 still works well, but we were interested in taking advantage of the free streaming video feature that comes with our Netflix subscription. Netflix calls this feature Instant video. While we do not have a 3D capable large screen HDTV, we also were interesting in purchasing a Blu-ray player with this feature built in so that we can enjoy 3D movies when we decide to upgrade our 52 inch HDTV. In order to enjoy special 3D movies, both the HDTV and the Blu-ray player must have these features.

After researching the various models on the market, we decided that the Sony BDP-S570 3D Blu-ray Disc Player best fit our needs. This unit has a wide variety of streaming media entertainment applications built in which allow access to access Netflix, Pandora, Slacker, Picasa, YouTube and many more services. These services are accessed via the Internet, so you do need Internet access. You will also need a router with either a Wi Fi connection or a direct line via a CAT 5 networking cable from your Internet router. The BDP-S570 can use either type of Internet connection. Our home is already wired with CAT 5 cabling, so we opted for that method.

After unpacking the unit and hooking it up to out HDTV using an HDMI cable, the setup was pretty much automated and it only took a few minutes to configure the player. It is a good idea to have your network connections or Wi Fi device ready to go, because the unit will detect the Internet connection and configure it automatically.

Here is what we found with the Sony BDP-S570.

• The unit is fast loading. The boot-up time is a few seconds, rather than a few minutes, as with most Blu-ray players.
• The upscaling is clearly superior to our older Blu-ray player. Standard DVD movies are noticeably sharper than with our older Blu-ray player. While they are not quite as sharp as Blu-ray movies, the quality is much improved.
• The Netflix configuration took less than 10 minutes to set up. It is simple to do. You are given a Sony URL where you register an account (they do not ask for personal details). You are given an activation code and a URL at Netflix where you enter the code. That’s all there is to it.
• The only annoyance is the use of microbuttons on the control panel that are so small that you cannot see them in a darkened room. You definitely want to use the remote control with this Blu-ray player.

Tips for Using the Netflix Instant Streaming Media Service

Netflix movies need to be set up in a queue on the Netflix site. Look in the Instant section. There aren’t very many new movie releases in the Instant section, but you will find some, such as Shutter Island and the newest Star Trek movie. There are lots of oldies and lots of television programs in the Instant section, which are good entertainment when there isn’t anything interesting on the cable or broadcast channels. After placing movies in the Instant queue, your can select them after entering the Netflix section from the Sony menu.

The quality of the streaming video is directly related to the quality of your Internet connection. A hard wired CAT 5 connection will generally give you better quality than a Wi Fi connection. Beyond that, you are at the mercy of your Internet service provider. A poor connection will cause a movie to periodically pause while the streaming media download is filling the buffer in the player. With our CAT 5 connection we have only experienced issues perhaps 2 or three times out of about 50 times that we used the Instant service. Don’t blame Netflix or the Sony player if you experience problems. Any problems are likely to be cause by the speed of your Internet connection.

As an added plus, the March 2011 issue of Consumer Reports magazine that just arrived rated the Sony BDP-S570 as a CR Best Buy. It is currently selling for less than $200 at a variety of online stores, but now that Consumer Reports has given its blessing, it could be hard to find this impressive Blu-ray player.

You can find the Sony BDP-S570 3D Blu-ray Disc Player at: