New Sony receiver uses PSP-style onscreen interface
updated 03:40 pm EDT, Wed September 6, 2006
Sony PSP Receiver Controls
More news from Sony arrives today in the form of an upcoming home theater receiver. Most receivers rely on relatively arcane interfaces through either the receiver itself or a television to manage the different A/V connections and their features. The cryptically-named STR-DA5200ES evades these pitfalls by implementing a much simpler, icon-based interface heavily influenced by the Cross Media Bar from the PSP and upcoming PS3. Users can assign, control, and rename inputs by delving into a hierarchical system which identifies inputs by their appearance and role in the home theater as well as by type. Moreover, the onscreen interface can overlay on top any source currently in use, including HDTV signals. The I/O features of the receiver are similarly capable and include multiple HDMI ports with video upconversion, audio-only HDMI with 7.1 surround, and support for external XM Satellite Radio receivers. The DA5200ES will retail for slightly under $2000 when it makes its North American debut next week, but may easily justify its price by making its strong feature set more accessible to inexperienced users. Additional details are available by visiting the receiver's product page for Australia, where it is already shipping. More photos of the interface are available after the jump.
Renaming an input:
Calibrating speakers:
