If the US$24,999 price tag of Sony's flagship 84-inch 4K TV was a little rich for your blood, then the company's upcoming 55- and 65-inch models might just pique your interest. The $4,999 and $6,999 respective price tags are still fairly hefty, but the company is working to make the prospect of early 4K adoption that little bit more appealing by launching its own 4K media player, the FMP-X1, alongside the new sets.
The TVs in question were announced at CES in January and feature a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, passive 3D tech and WiFi connectivity. Both the XBR-55X900A and the XBR-65X900A are equipped with the company's TRILUMINOS Display technology and its 4K X-Reality PRO engine, designed to reduce visual noise and correct image shapes. There's also a set of 65-watt front-facing speakers seated alongside the display, making for an attractive and powerful audio solution.
The FMP-X1 4K Media Player will launch this summer (Northern Hemisphere), setting users back a further $699. Though the planned fee-based video distribution service won't actually launch until the fall, the initial purchase will provide users with ten feature films and video shorts, including The Amazing Spider-Man and last year's Total Recall remake. Owners of the XBR home server, offered with Sony's 84-inch XBR-84X900, are also able to exchange their device for the new media player.
Lastly, Sony plans to release a range of “Mastered in 4K” Blu-rays alongside the new TVs. These discs won't display in full 4K resolution, but will feature expanded color, and a more “dynamic and vibrant picture” than standard Blu-ray releases. Users who pick up either the XBR-55X900A or the XBR-65X900A, will receive "Mastered in 4K" copies of Spider-Man (2002), Ghostbusters and Angels & Demons.
Orders open up for the two TV sets on April 21st, with deliveries expected to begin in the summer. The FMP-X1 4K Media Player is set for release in the summer, with the full distribution service launching this fall.
Source: Sony
