Best Blu-ray Players

Best standalone Blu-ray players

No Blu-ray player has been as eagerly anticipated as the first Blu-ray offering from Oppo Digital, a company that has earned an almost cult-like status for its high-quality DVD players at relatively reasonable prices. Now that the Oppo BDP-83 (*Est. $500) has debuted, critics are unanimous in saying that it meets or exceeds what everyone had hoped for. Though it is more expensive than most popular Blu-ray players, many reviewers call the Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player a great value, and some even call it a bargain.

That's because its performance with Blu-ray Discs and DVDs is unsurpassed. Additionally, the BDP-83 is a universal player designed for compatibility with virtually all audio disc formats, and it delivers sound quality that some say approaches perfection. In fact, both audio and video performance is so good that Audioholics.com says the Oppo Blu-ray player "embarrasses high end players" that cost more -- sometimes many times so.

Video performance is enhanced by the use of a very highly regarded Anchor Bay video processor, though its benefits are only seen if you're using an HDMI cable to connect to your TV. Upscaling of standard DVDs is stellar, and UltimateAVmag.com's David Vaughn writes, "While an upscaled DVD will never look as good as a Blu-ray, I was surprised at how good some discs looked." The BDP-83 is also the first Blu-ray Disc player to offer a zoom mode and scaling for use with constant height (full cinema width) projectors. Blu-ray video looks stunning, according to all reports -- but that's hardly a surprise because even budget Blu-ray players these days are capable of terrific picture quality with those HD discs.

Usability is very good, all reviewers say. Disc loading is fast, and menu commands are processed quickly. Features are plentiful and include onboard decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (more on audio formats on our What to Look For page), or you can bitstream those formats over HDMI to newer home theater receivers that have their own decoders. The inclusion of multichannel analog audio outputs means owners of older home theater receivers (at least those that have multichannel analog audio inputs) can enjoy the benefits of those formats as well.

Like most current Blu-ray players, the Oppo BDP-83 is BD-Live-compliant (see our What to Look For page for info on Blu-ray profiles), and the requisite 1 GB of memory is built in. The Internet link is via Ethernet, though an outboard wireless add-on (*Est. $80) is available. Both NTSC and PAL (used outside of the U.S.) formats are supported. Twin USB slots are available, and the BDP-83 can play back a wide variety of formats recorded onto a USB drive.

There are a couple of small drawbacks, however. For one, the Oppo BDP-83 is more expensive than most popular Blu-ray players, and its main advantages over less costly rivals have less to do with Blu-ray playback and more with how it handles other video and audio discs. Additionally, it lacks one important feature -- the ability to stream additional content from the Internet.

Though still on the costly side, the less expensive LG BD390 (*Est. $275) is also earning raves for its performance, image quality and features -- particularly its ability to connect to the Internet to stream movies and more directly to the player. At CNET, the LG BD390 trails only the Oppo BDP-83, and it pleases PCMag.com to the point that it earns an Editors' Choice award. Other reviewers are similarly impressed.

Lots of attention is paid to the LG BD390's network capabilities. The LG Blu-ray player is BD-Live-compliant, with 1 GB of memory built in. The inclusion of an 802.11n Wi-Fi radio means you don't have to have an Ethernet connection right at your TV. In addition, the LG BD390 has the ability to connect to content partners -- including Netflix, CinemaNow and YouTube -- and stream movies and more directly. Streaming works well, reports say, with Clint DeBoer at Audioholics.com noting that picture quality is as good as other set-top streaming solutions, such as the Roku set-top box. For more information on streaming -- as well as other ways to view downloadable movies from Netflix, CinemaNow and other providers -- see the ConsumerSearch report on movie downloads.

Reviewers say streaming is a great feature, but they wouldn't be as high on the LG BD390 if it weren't also a terrific Blu-ray Disc player. Audioholics.com says "this is one of the most 'crisp' players we've ever seen, with resolution and detail that are simply pristine." CNET concurs, with Matthew Moskovciak saying that image quality is "top notch." Tests indicate that this LG Blu-ray player also does a very good job when playing back standard DVDs, with Moskovciak noting that "all but the pickiest videophiles will be satisfied with the BD390's DVD performance."

Usability is also a treat with this LG Blu-ray Disc player. Robert Heron at PCMag.com says "the BD390 is the fastest Blu-ray player I've ever tested," though others note some other current-generation Blu-ray players are just about as fast. Disc loading times are short, and the BD390 is also very fast and responsive when scrolling through disc menus, even long ones.

Audio support is good and includes built-in decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Bitstream audio (for use with audiovisual receivers that have their own decoders) is supported, and there are 7.1-channel analog audio outputs so those with older receivers -- without HDMI inputs -- can enjoy the latest HD audio formats as well. A USB port lets you play back most major file formats from a flash drive. You can also stream content from a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) server set up on your PC, and the LG BD390 ships with software (Windows only) that makes setting up such a server easy. Owner reviews are generally very positive, though we've also seen a handful that complains of HDMI compatibility issues and lackluster customer support.

While the Samsung BD-P3600 (*Est. $300) hasn't received as much editorial press as the Blu-ray Disc players above, those who have reviewed it say it is a good high-end alternative. Critics who have tested both it and the LG BD390 do say that the latter is better, however, albeit not by much.

One disappointment is that Samsung formerly used sophisticated third-party video processing, but has instead turned to its own processing solution in the BD-P3600. Kris Deering at Home Theater magazine says the result is not as impressive as on some past Samsung Blu-ray players, but not too bad in its own right. In fact, video quality with Blu-ray Discs is first-rate. Standard-definition DVDs look good as well, though the BD-P3600 is bested by some of its competitors -- including some less expensive ones -- in that regard.

Like the LG BD390, wireless Internet access is available, though it is somewhat less elegant than the BD-P3600 because it requires the installation of an external dongle. Thankfully, that's included with the player. Also, while the look is sleek, Samsung has elected to place all of the front panel controls on the top edge, making it difficult to stack the player with other components.

The Samsung BD-P3600 is BD-Live-compliant and includes the requisite 1 GB internal memory. Performance is speedy -- some say even faster than the LG BD390 in some respects, though not very noticeably. Streaming from the Internet is also supported, but at last glance, content providers were limited to Netflix and Pandora Internet radio. Though the BD-P3600 is not DLNA-compliant, it does allow you to stream some file types from a connected PC or play back ones stored on a flash drive. Audio features include built-in decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, support for bitstreaming, and analog 7.1-channel analog audio outputs.

One red light with the BD-P3600 is that user feedback is very mixed. At Amazon.com, there are well over 100 reports with almost as many giving the player a one-star rating as those awarding it the top five out of five stars. Sources of complaints are varied, but player lockups, issues with firmware updates, and difficulties getting Internet streaming to work reliably seem to lead the pack. On the other hand, lots of owners are thrilled with the player, and they report no issues whatsoever.