Onkyo has announced the release of the BD-SP809, the company?s new top-of-the-line THX Certified Blu-ray Disc player. The BD-SP809 handles a wide range of disc media, includes home-network functionality that supports one of the more recent developments in home entertainment, video on demand (VOD).

As well as playing the latest 3D-encoded Blu-ray Discs, the BD-SP809 plays virtually all the major types of CD and DVD?including those encoded with popular compressed formats such as DivX HD, MP3, and WMA. Furthermore, it features a USB port that enables users to play audio and video files from a USB mass storage device.

Owners with a local network set-up in their home can use the BD-SP809 to incorporate videos, music, and photos sent from a DLNA 1.5-certified media server.

The Onkyo BD-SP809 video-on-demand capabilities allow consumers to stream movies and TV shows directly to their TVs in HD- or SD-quality video through the Netflix, Blockbuster, Film Fresh, and VUDU services.

Onboard Qdeo technology from Marvell ensures deinterlacing, noise-reduction, and 1080p upscaling. Meanwhile, the player?s twin HDMI outputs allow users to switch easily between two displays, such as a main TV for casual viewing and a projector for movies and sports.

The BD-SP809 supports high-definition audio formats in the form of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. The integrity of these lossless formats is preserved by the player's high-precision clock and by a construction design that incorporates separate blocks for video/audio circuitry and a vibration-reducing top cover.

The Onkyo BD-SP809 will be available in August with a suggested retail price of $599.