This Blu Ray player leaves regular Cheap DVD players blue with envy.

Author's Rating:

Pros: Firmware updates able.  BD live. Very good performance overall.

Cons: BD Live Painfully slow. No Eject command on remote.

The Bottom Line: 
BD Live compelling. Above average performance only especially picture. Will be relevant due to Firmware update ability. 

Author's Review
The Blu-ray player is the new kid on the block value HD format for all. No longer are the players over $1000.00 for the everything player that few may enjoy. Blu-ray pricing has plummeted in the players at least. Not so much the discs themselves. Though if you shop carefully, it is not too bad for the discs.

Features abound such as Netflix downloads, AVCHD, and other multi-format support come into the fray such as picture viewing mp3 music support. Lets not forget BD live. With a Network connection, further interactivity is possible more than regular DVD could ever dream about. 
You just hook up to the internet and viola your player becomes a portal to more than that disc you popped in the tray. 

For example on a Sony produced Blu-ray, Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig, catalog 24923, you get spotlight, previews, my profile, faq? menus to navigate and gain more information on what is the latest and greatest. Setup your own profile and more. 

So with all that going and more enter the latest blu ray player in my collection.
My first blu ray was the Sony PS3 40 gig model less the ps 2 emulation capability. Loved the machine, and still do.  However with the aging platform, I wanted to take advantage of the new HD audio formats. 
DTS-HD, Dolby Digital Master and HD are amazing. Non compressed audio with the incredible HD picture. This Sony under review here supports those formats.  

 This unit and my 3rd blu-ray the JVC XV-BP10 is my 3rd in this collection. I will make some comparisons with all 3 to give a veneer of how this Sony BDP-S360 fits in.
Yes you must have the specifications. So without further ado.

Connections
HDMI audio/video output: 1Component video (Y/Pb/Pr) output: 1Composite video output: 1Optical digital audio output: 1Coaxial digital audio output: 1Analog audio output: 1 (2-channel)Ethernet networking: 1
Video Specifications
AVC-HD: Yes (8cm/12cm; DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW)BD-R/RE Read Compatibility: Yes (BDMV & BDAV)BD-ROM: Bonus View (Profile1.1); BD-Live (Profile2.0); BD-ROM (SL/DL)CD (CD-DA): YesCD-R/RW: Yes (CD-DA & Data)DVD Playback: YesDVD+R Read Compatibility: Yes (DL) (+VR)DVD+RW Read Compatibility: Yes (+VR) (8cm)DVD-R Read Compatibility: Yes (DL) (VR) (VR with CPRM) (8cm)DVD-RW Read Compatibility: Yes (VR) (VR with CPRM) (8cm)JPEG Playback: Yes (BD-R/REDVD+RW/+R/-RW/-R/CD-R,RW)Noise Reduction: YesPhotoTV HD: Yesx.v.Color Technology: Yes
Audio Specifications
Dolby: Yes & Dolby TrueHD bitstream out over HDMI (V1.3)Dolby Digital plus Decoding: YesDolby True HD bitstream output: YesDolby TrueHD Decoding: YesLPCM: Yes (multi channel decoder): Yes (HDMI bitstream out)MP3 Playback: Yes (BD-R/RE/DVD+RW/+R/-RW/-R/CD-R,RW)5dts Decoding: Yesdts HD bitstream output: Yesdts Output: Yes, & /DTS-HD bitstream out over HDMI (V1.3)Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 16.9 x 2.2 inches ; 4.6 pounds

Specs done, lets get a sense of life with the S360.Lets start with the operation and remote.
The chassis is less than 5 lbs. my Nikon D200 with its flash and 300mm lens is heavier.  The simple layout of the front panel. Power,Eject,stop and play,  is really in the front.  

The unit has a sleek expensive look. Though feel is not so. The flip down face for disc tray access is clunky and cheap sounding.  

The remote is a TV/DVD remote. Conspicuously missing is the "eject" command.  You must go up to the unit itself and eject the disc. A first for me in a disc player of any kind, and very odd.Cheap plastic light "AA" battery variety.  Doesn't look like it really belongs to this unit, but all functions work with remote less "eject".
Playback is via Dolby Digital and DTS only. 
Unfortunately my receiver is unable to decode the HD lossless audio of DTS and Dolby Digital. I will tell you I have heard the difference, and it is well worth it. Concert Blu-ray recordings and movies are breath taking.  This audition of Dolby Digital and DTS HD on other systems.
Still with standard Dolby Digital and DTS, the S360 entertained nicely with dialog and music and effects the equal of any I have had including very high end units. 

Video processing is very good too. While not certainly the best, you are not deprived. Cinema and Computer Graphics generated video are very good. At least on my 1080p Sharp Aquos screen. Good dynamics in the shadows, vibrant color, and no artifacts I could see in blu ray mode. Upscaling while playing up converted standard DVDs showed some "aliasing", or known as "jaggies".

Accessing times in special features and functions were about average. In direct comparison to my JVC, a dead heat. My PS-3 would be in some regards twice as fast. 

Using the BD live feature though compelling is deathly slow. Your internet connection could matter a great deal. Also if you leave BD live, the disc must be completely reloaded.  Also remember, you must use a USB flash drive at least 1 GB in size. I bought a PNY 4 gig for the task.  

While BD live is a good feature, I would recommend not using it in the first viewing of your feature movie. Annoying tone "pops" also detract from viewing your movie feature. The menus in the BD live are simple. 
On 2012 blu ray one could see the various notes of a scene, music info, and more. Also since this is web based, it is always up to date.  A nice feature again for the 2nd viewing.

Initial setup before couldn't be easier with the quick basic audio and video configuration. Mine was optical digital, and HDMI 1080p video. Under a minute setup, impressive. My JVC and PS-3, took much longer with more menus. So the S360 wins here.

Performance in function and data loading times. The PS-3 is the fastest, the S360 and the JVC XV-BP-10 about even.
Performance in picture quality. The PS-3 and the S360 are very similar, but the JVC was the biggest surprise for me. It stayed right with the PS-3 in performance, audio and video.
 Though being less than $100.00,I am impressed how well it did. The Sony's I expected to do well, and they do. 

An observation, well made DVDs upscaled do well. Not so well done tend to have artifacts in their picture. The Bond film The World is Not Enough, ISBN 0-7928-4503looks great.
 A bit soft in focus, but no jaggies, and just a bit of dot crawl, but still great result. My PS-3 is awful in comparison. The JVC is again about the same as the Sony S360. 

Little People Big World discs season 3 were awful up converted. Artifacts ridden. Jaggies especially. So running these discs natively without up converting seems to hide their deficiencies. Reminds me of how Standard Definition was, smearing all the details. Now with High Definition doesn't hide anything, and Blu Ray shows what is possible now. 

So the Sony BDP-S360 is not going to make me feel that it is revolutionary in any way. It is in today's sense a great bargain. Also since it is discontinued, a replacement will likely even be more capable for same or less money.  Since BD Live is possible, Firmware updates are too, which the JVC does not have. At some point, my JVC will not play the latest Blu Ray discs as time goes on, and content changes and evolves. 

The PS-3 will also remain relevant too due to its firmware update ability as well. 
My final thoughts, The Sony is an interesting, very good performing product. Better than the PS-3 on standard DVD playback. It is not a clear victor over my JVC XV-BP10. Though my JVC in a few years may become a relic due to firmware issues later.  

The Sony's I have especially S360 will continue my trend of not buying expensive because at some point another technology will replace or outperform the current model. The JVC almost did it in my system at least. 

So a provisional recommendation for the bargain hunter, and Sony Blu-Ray fan the BDP-S360 will not disappoint.  

Panasonic, JVC, and Samsung, LG and others are vying for your bargain dollars too. I think still the Sony is king. They invented Blu Ray, and I think it is along with some of their Bravia TV products, the last of the great Sony products today. 
Hopefully more importantly Tomorrow as well. Thank you for reading. V.C.

Discography for this review.
DVDsLittle People Big World. Season 3.by TLC sku 538020.The World is Not Enough.U/A MGM ISBN 0-7928-4503Gran TorinoISBN 1-4198-7257-5
BLU-RAY DVDsCasino Royale Sony Pictures. isbn-1-4359-0477-xBullittWarner Bros. ISBN-1-4198-4813-5RatatouilleDisney pictures. ISBN-0-7888-7843-3
2012Sony Pictures34707.
Associated equipmentPioneer VSX-49tx ReceiverEnergy loudspeaker systemSharp Aquos 42 inch lcd 1080p TVJVC XV-BP10Sony PS-3of course the Sony BDP-S360.