Blu-ray Players: Reviews

Updated November 2009

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Best Blu-ray player

*Est. $500 Compare Prices

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 it's 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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Expert & User Review Sources:

Home Theater Magazine: Home Theater subjects the Oppo Digital BDP-83 to an extensive battery of tests and details the results in this long article. Kris ...

Ultimate AV Magazine: UltimateAVmag.com also weighs in with a detailed testing-based report on the Oppo BDP-83. David Vaughn is so impressed that he ...

Audioholics.com: This testing-based review examines the video and audio prowess of the Oppo Digital BDP-83. Clint DeBoer says, "The BDP-83 ...

CNET: While CNET says that many will balk at the price, it also says the Oppo BDP-83 offers terrific picture quality and is a speedy ...

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity: While lots of reviewers conduct thorough testing, all pale compared with the extensive testing and detailed reporting presented ...

AVGuide.com: The title of this report more or less gives away AVGuide's opinion of the Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player. While the report is a touch ...

ConsumerReports.org: The Oppo Digital BDP-83 is among the Blu-ray players tested by ConsumerReports.org for its latest update. While testing is ...

AVSForum.com: The Oppo BDP-83 gets tons of discussion here, including this 105-page (and growing) thread asking posters to compare the player ...

Amazon.com: Amazon.com is home to around 100 user-written reviews of the Oppo BDP-83. That's enough feedback to see how pleased owners are ...

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Best value Blu-ray player

LG BD390

*Est. $275 Compare Prices

Although many 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 that feature 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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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNET: CNET names the LG BD390 its "top choice among premium standalone Blu-ray players." Image quality with Blu-ray Discs is excellent, ...

PCMag.com: The LG BD390 rates an Editors' Choice award here. Speed is cited as the major plus, but the many features, including wireless ...

Audioholics.com: The review at Audioholics.com delves deeply into technical details, though not so much so as to lose the less technically ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org includes the LG BD390 among the Blu-ray players reviewed for its latest update. Although we appreciate the ...

E-gear.com: E-Gear.com's reviews are clearly based on hands-on testing, but they fall short of better reviews when it comes to the depth of ...

Amazon.com: The LG BD390 attracts more than 175 user-written reviews here and gets a solid, though not spectacular, rating of four out of ...

BestBuy.com: You can find fewer user reviews here than at Amazon.com, but the pattern of satisfaction seems similar. Some express ...

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Amazon Marketplace

for $399.95

No-frills Blu-ray player

Panasonic DMP-BD60K

*Est. $150 Compare Prices

Although the Panasonic DMP-BD60K is missing some features when compared with 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.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Sound & Vision Magazine: Sound & Vision magazine tests three relatively inexpensive Blu-ray players, including the Panasonic DMP-BD60K. Testing is ...

Home Theater Magazine: Though Kris Deering is uninspired by the Internet streaming offered by the DMP-BD60K, he says that otherwise, for the price, ...

CNET: Although the Panasonic DMP-BD60K makes CNET's list of top Blu-ray players, it finishes fairly far down. Image quality is fine, ...

PC World: Though not as detailed as some reviews, PCWorld's review of the DMP-BD60K is based on testing. Slow operation is noted, and some ...

Amazon.com: After more than 120 user-written reports, the Panasonic DMP-BD60K has racked up an impressive record of owner satisfaction as all ...

BestBuy.com: Though there are less than half as many user reviews here as at Amazon.com, the pattern of customer satisfaction is the same. ...

Bluray-Players.net: This site publishes reviews that dwell more on features and appearance than performance, but it does seem that someone is at ...

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Blu-ray player and gaming console

Sony PlayStation 3 Slim (120 GB)

*Est. $300 Compare Prices

Though it no longer makes the cut as the best Blu-ray player overall, critics say that the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim 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 Slim has tons of memory, storage and computational horsepower, so interactive disc features work smoothly and quickly. Audio support is good, with built-in decoders for HD audio, and the ability to bitstream audio to home theater receivers that have their own decoders is a newly added plus. One catch is that disc playback commands are handled through the game controller. A conventional Bluetooth remote is optional.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

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

CNET: Though a review on the other attributes of the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim can be found elsewhere on the site, this briefer report is ...

Home Cinema Choice.com: This article in Britain's Home Cinema Choice magazine largely delivers on its promise of explaining why the Sony PlayStation 3 ...

Engadget.com: This article examines the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim and compares it with the previous version. Playback quality is not addressed, ...

Amazon.com: Around 240 owners have reported in on the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim so far. The overwhelming majority give it either four or five ...

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Samsung BD-P3600 *Est. $300

2 picks by top review sites.

Samsung BD-P1600 *Est. $200

2 picks by top review sites.

Panasonic DMP-BD80K *Est. $190

2 picks by top review sites.

LG BD370 *Est. $155

2 picks by top review sites.


	Samsung BD-P3600 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player from Amazon.com New: $299.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Samsung BD-P1600 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player from Amazon.com New: $199.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Panasonic DMP-BD80 High Clarity Audio Blu-ray Disc Player, Black from Amazon.com New: $249.95 Average Customer Review:


	LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player from Amazon.com New: $249.95 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Blu-ray Players: Reviews

Best Blu-ray player

Best value Blu-ray player

No-frills Blu-ray player

Blu-ray player and gaming console

Blu-ray Players by Price Range