Blu-ray Players: Reviews

Updated November 2011

Now that prices have come down and usability and reliability have come up, there's little reason not to choose a Blu-ray Disc player for your home theater. ConsumerSearch looks at expert reviews to measure how well Blu-ray Disc players perform, and owner reviews to see which ones provide the best user experience, to name its top picks. Blu-ray players that deliver the best picture quality regardless of cost, those that deliver good performance at a rock-bottom price, and value choices that balance cost and performance are all identified.

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Best Blu-ray player for videophiles

Oppo BDP-93

*Est. $500 Compare Prices

If you want the highest-quality video playback available, reviewers say the Oppo BDP-93 is the Blu-ray player for you. No other Blu-ray player handles video playback -- including 3D -- as well as the BDP-93, although many… expandcome close. Audio quality is similarly superb, edged out only by Oppo's more expensive, step-up Blu-ray player, the Oppo BDP 95 (*Est. $1,000). High-end features on the BDP-93 include 3D support, a second HDMI output, analog multichannel sound outputs, support for nearly all common disc formats including SACD and more. Internet streaming and built-in Wi-Fi are on board as well, though the number of content partners is limited compared to other, less-expensive Blu-ray Disc players. That -- and the relatively steep price -- are just about the only quibbles reviewers and users have with the BDP-93 Blu-ray player. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Big Picture Big Sound.com: The Oppo BDP-93 wins The Biggie award here.

Home Theater Magazine: David Vaughn says he loves the Oppo BDP-93, and it garners a Top Pick award here.

Audioholics.com: Clint DeBoer goes into extensive detail in this review of the Oppo BDP-93.

HDGuru.com: Off the bat, Geoff Morrison gives kudos to the Oppo BDP-93 for its DVD-Audio and SACD support, as well as its inclusion of an HDMI cable.

ConsumerReports.org: The Oppo BDP-93 is among the Blu-ray players rated here.

About.com: Though not the most in-depth review available, Robert Silva, About.com's guide to home theater, does a good job of dissecting the positives and negatives of the Oppo BDP-93 in this well documented, testing- based report.

Amazon.com: The Oppo BDP-93 boasts an overall rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 in about 150 reviews.

AVSForum.com: This thread contains more than 100 pages of valuable, often in-depth comments from Oppo BDP-93 owners who also happen to be hardcore AV enthusiasts.

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Amazon

for $499.99

Best Blu-ray player for most users

Panasonic DMP-BDT210

*Est. $150 Compare Prices

For most users, the Panasonic DMP-BDT210 hits the sweet spot between price and performance. Video quality is terrific with Blu-ray Discs and DVDs, though a few test-pattern quirks that don't show up in real-world viewing… expandare noted by some. While you won't find multichannel analog audio outputs -- you'll need to step up to the pricier Panasonic DMP-BDT310 (*Est. $175) for that) -- audio support is otherwise robust. This Blu-ray player has 3D playback, of course, as well as 2D to 3D conversion, though not all are impressed with the effectiveness of the latter. Wi-Fi is built in for streaming from the Internet or your PC. Although most of the major types of content are covered, critics say they wish it had a broader stable of providers. Speed is lightning fast. An issue with Netflix playback has been fixed via a firmware update. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNET: The Panasonic DMP-BDT210 hits most of the high points in this review, earning it an Editor's Choice award and praise as the best Blu-ray player of 2011.

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity: This videophile and audiophile oriented site gives the Panasonic DMP-BDT210 its typical in-depth analysis is this review.

Home Theater Magazine: The Panasonic DMP-BDT210 earns Top Pick honors in this more-than-competent, testing-based review.

TrustedReviews.com: Reviewer Danny Phillips sings the praises of the DMP-BDT210 in this three-page review.

ConsumerReports.org: The Panasonic DMP-BDT210 is included among the Blu-ray players tested here.

Amazon.com: The Panasonic DMP-BDT210 maintains a healthy 4-star overall rating at Amazon.com following about 400 user reviews.

BestBuy.com: The Panasonic DMP-BDT210 receives fewer reviews here than at Amazon.com, but the pattern of satisfaction with the Blu-ray player is higher -- a 4.5-star score.

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Buy from Amazon for $199.99
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Best budget Blu-ray player

Panasonic DMP-BDT110

*Est. $120 Compare Prices

While the Panasonic DMP-BDT110 sells for a budget price, its combination of features and performance is anything but low rent. You won't find some of the advanced audio features found in the step-up Panasonic DMP-BDT210… expand(*Est. $150)`, and you'll need a nearby hardwired network connection or an optional Wi-Fi adapter if you want to connect to the Internet to stream content, but little else is left out. Pluses for its price point include the same 3D features (including 2D to 3D conversion), Internet/PC streaming features (sans Wi-Fi) and Skype compatibility as found in the DMP-BDT210. Picture quality is also the same, which means Blu-ray and DVD performance that, while not technically perfect, is good enough to please all but the fussiest of viewers. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

BigPictureBigSound.com: Impatient Blu-ray fans with shaky attention spans should check out Panasonic's DMP-BDT110, reviewer Rachel Cericola says -- the lightning-fast menus and disc loading speeds can't be beat.

TrustedReviews.com: This British site calls the Panasonic DMP-BDT110 "a vast improvement on Panasonic's previous 3D-capable Blu-ray players." Picture quality is first-rate regardless of the format, reviewer Danny Phillips says.

About.com: Subtitled "The Little Blu-ray Disc Player with a Lot Under the Hood," Robert Silva says Panasonic's DMP-BDT110 does a bang-up job of displaying 2D Blu-Ray discs and a very good job at 3D, especially "in terms of detail, color, contrast, and black levels." Audio performance is also excellent, Silva notes.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests and ranks the Panasonic DMP-BDT110.

Amazon.com: Though most owners posting here are pleased with the Panasonic DMP-BDT110, the overall score is dragged down by those complaining about a Netflix bug that's since been fixed via a firmware update or saying that they didn't realize that Wi-Fi required an extra-cost adapter.

BestBuy.com: The Panasonic DMP-BDT110 has less feedback here than at Amazon.com, but the level of satisfaction is a bit higher.

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Buy from Amazon for $149.99
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Blu-ray player and gaming console

Sony PlayStation 3 Slim (160 GB)

*Est. $250 Compare Prices

Though it no longer makes the cut as the best Blu-ray player overall, critics say the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim ranks near the top and is a logical selection if you are also interested in its video-gaming abilities. Reviews… expandsay HD Blu-ray movies look fantastic on this player, and 3D support has been added. It is a BD-Live machine, so it can download trailers and other extras related to the disc being played via Ethernet or a built-in Wi-Fi radio. Internet content partners are limited compared to many stand-alone players, but they include Netflix, Hulu Plus and Sony's own PlayStation Store. You can also stream content from your own PC. The PS3 Slim has tons of memory, storage and computational horsepower, so interactive disc features work smoothly and quickly, though some stand-alone Blu-ray players have surpassed it in that regard. One catch is that disc playback commands are handled through the game controller. A conventional Bluetooth remote is optional. The built-in drive can hold 160 GB of data, including games, movies, music and more. The company also offers a version with a 320 GB drive (*Est. $300). collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

AudioVideo Revolution: This is the most detailed report we've seen on how the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim performs as a Blu-ray Disc and DVD player.

CNET: This brief report is most useful for those who want to know how the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim stacks up as a Blu-ray player.

Engadget.com: This article examines the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim and compares it with the previous version.

Amazon.com: More than 400 owners report on the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim.

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