Sony has unveiled two new ES ("Elevated Standard") A/V receivers, which support 1080p displays and sources and both come XM-ready.
First up is the badass 5200ES which rocks a 1080p upscaling 7.1 channel receiver with 120 watts of power per channel. It supports HDMI active intelligence switching and HDMI up conversion from composite, S-video and component sources. The 5200ES also features a slick icon-based interface which allows for easy navigation and control, while HD content can play in the background. Expect the 5200ES out this October and running for a mere $1,500.
The smaller cousin of the 5200ES, the 3200ES, which is also a 7.1 channel receiver has 120 watts of system power per channel. Sadly, the 3200ES is sans the iconic interface, but the damage is signficantly less at $900.
Both receivers support XM Connect-and-Play satellite radio as well as XM HD Surround 5.1.
That will be Sony gear that I will never own. Time to start looking at better electronics makers. Sony is dopy for building in xm. F-THAT!
Well.. if Sony is "dopy" then so are Denon, Onkyo and Pioneer. I guess you'll be buying your receiver at WalMart....