Blu-ray Players: Reviews

Videophiles have been anxiously awaiting this first Blu-ray player from Oppo Digital, and critics all say that the wait was well worth it. Whether you are watching high-definition Blu-ray Discs or standard-definition… DVDs, video quality is unsurpassed by anything remotely near this player's selling price. Audio quality is equally superb, and as a universal player the Oppo BDP-83 is compatible with virtually any disc format, including Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio. Performance is also fast, meeting or beating the speed of many other Blu-ray players. For those who like to watch discs authored outside of the U.S., both NTSC and PAL formats are supported. A Wi-Fi link is not built in, but is available as an extra-cost accessory (*Est. $80). The lack of streaming capabilities is a notable shortfall, particularly if you want to watch Internet content on your TV.

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Although lots of less expensive Blu-ray players are available, reviewers are impressed with the overall value of the LG BD390. Picture quality with Blu-ray Discs is top-notch -- as good or better than on any other Blu-ray… player. Video quality with DVDs is also great, though the pickiest of purists might find some small flaws. Performance is very quick, keeping pace with the best. Additionally, you would be hard pressed to find a Blu-ray Disc player with as complete an array of features, including a built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi radio that makes it easy to connect to the Internet to download BD Live content (including trailers and other extras related to the disc being played). The ability to stream movies and more directly from content providers such as Netflix and CinemaNow is another plus, and reports say it works well and looks good. Unlike the more expensive Oppo BDP-83, the LG Blu-ray player can't play the more obscure audio discs and can't play discs authored in countries other than the U.S.

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Although the Panasonic DMP-BD60K is missing some features when compared to its higher-priced competition, it really delivers the goods where it matters most -- on the TV screen. Blu-ray performance is impeccable and image… quality with standard-definition DVDs is very good -- better than most Blu-ray players in its price range, not to mention some that cost considerably more. While other players are quicker, reports say that the Panasonic DMP-BD60K is a reliable performer. It is BD Live-compliant, but you'll need a hardwired Ethernet connection to access the Internet, and an extra 1 GB of memory (via an SD memory card) to enjoy BD Live features. Most reviewers aren't that impressed with Viera Cast online video streaming, though the recent addition of Amazon Video on Demand as a content partner helps things along. Onboard decoders for lossless audio formats are included, but these won't work with older audio receivers, which have no multichannel analog audio outputs.

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Though it no longer makes the cut as the best Blu-ray player overall, critics say that the Sony PlayStation 3 still ranks near the top and is a logical selection if you are also interested in its video gaming abilities.… Reviews say HD Blu-ray movies look fantastic on this player. It is a BD Live machine, so it can download trailers and other extras related to the disc being played. The PS3 has tons of memory, storage and computational horsepower, so interactive disc features that slow down other models work smoothly and quickly here. Audio support is good, with built-in decoders for HD audio. One catch is that disc playback commands are handled through the game controller. A conventional Bluetooth remote is optional.

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