Best Blu-ray Players

The best Blu-ray players are separated by features, not performance

If you want a Blu-ray player that will display 1080p visuals with stunning clarity, deliver lush, booming audio and connect to a wide variety of Internet apps, any of the best Blu-ray players identified here will do the trick.

All of them have Wi-Fi. All of them support DLNA streaming. All of them play 3D movies. They're even all pretty much priced the same. In fact, experts say the difference between the three players is pretty small, with the main points of variance being their (usually minor) drawbacks. User feedback, however, sometimes tells a different story.

The LG BP620 (*Est. $120) loads discs very quickly and has a wonderful interface once you get used to its naming conventions: what most Blu-ray players call "apps," the LG BP620 calls "premium services," with its "Apps" section being dedicated to ho-hum apps like e-book readers and games. Once you're in the premium services menu, most of the major apps are available, but the lack of Amazon Instant and MOG (Music on the go) leaves most reviewers disappointed -- especially since both were included in LG's 2011 Blu-ray players.

The Sony BDP-S590 (*Est. $120) loads Blu-ray discs much more slowly, and reviewers say that its attractive exterior also feels flimsy. Unlike the LG Blu-ray player, the BDP-S590 includes Amazon Instant and Slacker radio, but while the LG BP620's DLNA streaming is spot-on, users say the Sony player's DLNA support is spotty and prone to fickle playback.

If you only read expert reviews, the Panasonic DMP-BDT220 (*Est. $115) would seem to be the best of the bunch, with solid construction, superb Blu-ray and DVD playback and an abundance of features. User reviews rain on that parade, however; dozens of disappointed owners say the Wi-Fi drops out frequently and Netflix just doesn't work. If those issues don't bother you, reviewers say the Panasonic DMP-BDT220's overall performance slightly outshines the competition.