Sony PS3 out in Spring 2006!!!

Wow, 2 HDMI outs, plays SACD in 5.1 and...1080p AV out!!!

I can't tell for sure, but it looks like it may only read the CD layer of hybrid SACD's. On the other hand, if this thing is priced similar to previous Playstations at launch ($300 or so) and it will play Blu-Ray movies (which it looks like it will), we may see Blu-Ray develop a quick advantage in user base. That still leaves the issue of software availability (Blu-Ray would need to at least match HD-DVD in that regard), but it could be a significant factor in the format war. Especially now that the talks between Sony and Toshiba seen to be falling apart.

It's nice to know that Sony will allow us to bypass use of proprietary cabling to connect this iteration to our AV systems. I've looked at pix of the new XBox and have yet to see any specifics on its connections, which to me means that (aside from USB) it'll be sporting proprietary A/V ports - thanks, Mr. Gates

gonk,

under SACD it also says SACD HD which leads me to belive that it handles both layers of the SACD.

Yes, it reads both layers of SACD. Sony has started referring to the CD content as the 'Hybrid' layer and the DSD content as the 'SACD HD' layer (the press release initially gave many the impression that a new version of SACD was due out).

I wondered what SACD HD was... Like you, Sanjay, I thought first of a revision to the format.