Yamaha recently added a fourth model to its Blu-ray lineup, and the new BD-S667 is the company's least expensive Blu-ray offering to date, with an MSRP of $329.95. We have not performed a hands-on review of the BD-S667, but here is an overview of its features. This Profile 2.0 player supports BD-Live Web functionality and BonusView/picture-in-picture playback, and it offers both onboard decoding and bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Yamaha has added a limited Web platform, which currently consists only of Netflix video-on-demand streaming; the BD-S667 is also DLNA-compliant, so you can stream media content from a connected PC or DLNA server.

Additional Resources
• Read more Blu-ray player reviews from HomeTheaterReview.com's staff.
• Find an AV receiver to pair with the BD-S667.

In terms of video connections, the BD-S667 offers HDMI, component video and composite video outputs (no S-video). This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI. The setup menu includes picture adjustments for brightness, contrast, hue, saturation and sharpness. Audio outputs include HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, and 2-channel analog. The BD-S667 has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. The player lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so the only way to pass decoded high-resolution audio formats is via HDMI.

The BD-S667 supports the BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, WMV, WMA, MP3 and JPEG formats. You can add the player to your home network using the back-panel Ethernet port; this model is not WiFi-ready. The BD-S667 lacks internal memory to store BD-Live features; dual USB ports (one on the front, one on the back) have been provided for this purpose. These ports also support WMV, WMA, MP3 and JPEG playback. The BD-S667 offers a remote input and output for integration into an advanced control system. The unit is also compatible with the SCENE function available in many Yamaha receivers, which automatically launches a series of codes for certain tasks like "DVD Viewing."

Read about the high points and low points of the BD-S667 on Page 2.

High Points
• The BD-S667 supports 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI.
• It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• The BD-S667 includes Netflix VOD and DLNA media streaming.
• It has remote control in/out ports.

Low Points
• The BD-S667 lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so it's not the best choice for someone who owns an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver.
• The player lacks internal memory, so you must add your own USB storage device.
• It doesn't support wireless connectivity to your home network, and its Web platform is limited, compared with the competition.

Competition and Comparison
For some competitors of the Yamaha BD-S667 Blu-ray player read our reviews of the Samsung BD-C7900 Blu-ray player and the Panasonic DMP-BDT100 Blu-ray player. You can also find more information in our Blu-ray Player section. Discuss Blu-ray players at hometheaterequipment.com.

Conclusion
Slowly but surely, Yamaha is catching up with the competition in terms of Blu-ray pricing and features, but they aren't quite there yet. Yes, this model adds DLNA media streaming and Netflix, but you can still find less-expensive players that include 3D-readiness, WiFi, internal storage, and/or a larger assortment of Web-based services. If those particular features aren't important to you and you're looking for a nice counterpart to your Yamaha receiver, the BD-S667 is a logical choice.

Additional Resources
• Read more Blu-ray player reviews from HomeTheaterReview.com's staff.
• Find an AV receiver to pair with the BD-S667