
Best value Blu-ray player
- Great Blu-ray picture quality
- Fast and responsive
- Streaming from the Internet or a PC
- Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi
- Expensive
- Software for PC streaming is Windows-only
- Reports of lip-sync issues
Reviewers looking at the LG BD390 have all come away impressed. Image quality with Blu-ray Discs is terrific. While DVD image quality is not quite as good, reports say that it is better than that of many competing Blu-ray players, and good enough to satisfy all but the pickiest of viewers. The BD390 is one of the speediest Blu-ray players available, keeping up with or beating all comers, including the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim (*Est. $300). Audio support is first-rate, and it includes built-in decoders for the latest high-definition audio formats and multichannel (7.1) analog outputs for compatibility with older audiovisual receivers.
In terms of features, the LG BD390 is loaded. The built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi radio means you won't need to run an Ethernet connection to your home theater's location to enjoy BD-Live features on Blu-ray Discs. Additionally, the LG BD390 can connect to the Internet to stream content from partners such as Netflix, CinemaNow and YouTube. This player meets Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standards and includes software (Windows only, unfortunately) to add a DLNA server to your PC so you can stream videos, photos and other types of files directly from it as well. If you have a smaller budget, the Panasonic DMP-BD60K (*Est. $150) delivers rock-solid image quality with Blu-ray Discs and standard-definition DVDs, but it is slower and lacks some bells and whistles, such as Wi-Fi and multichannel analog outputs. It does offer Internet streaming, but despite the recent addition of Amazon Video on Demand as a content partner, critics say that the streaming content available via the LG BD390 is more compelling.
We found a number of helpful reviews of the LG BD390. CNET and PCMag.com provide testing-based reviews that might not be the longest but still do a good job conveying the editors' impressions in detail. The review at Audioholics.com is also testing-based and delves deeper into technical details. ConsumerReports.org tests the BD390, but it offers fewer details than we typically like to see in a report. E-Gear.com also reports in, though its review is somewhat less rigorous. You can read user-written reviews at Amazon.com and BestBuy.com.
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Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player, Black
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| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
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| In Stock. | $279.97 | See It | ||
| In Stock. | $289.99 | See It | ||
| In Stock. *Circle of excellence award winner* Enjoy secure online shopping, great prices, fast shipping & award wining customer service when you shop at buydig.com. | $279.00 | See It | ||
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Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET names the LG BD390 its "top choice among premium standalone Blu-ray players." Image quality with Blu-ray Discs is excellent, and DVD performance is good enough that "all but the pickiest videophiles will be satisfied." Speed is another plus, as are the ample features, including Wi-Fi and Internet streaming. Cost is a negative.
Review: LG BD390, Matthew Moskovciak, May 27, 2009
The LG BD390 rates an Editors' Choice award here. Speed is cited as the major plus, but the many features, including wireless networking and robust multimedia support, are complimented as well.
Review: LG BD390 Network Blu-ray Disc Player, Robert Heron, June 22, 2009
The review at Audioholics.com delves deeply into technical details, though not so much so as to lose the less technically obsessed. Attention is paid to both video and audio performance. Clint DeBoer says that with Blu-ray Discs, the BD390 holds its own against the highly regarded Oppo Digital BDP-83 (*Est. $500), and that its many features make it a compelling choice. "This is one player that is going to make a lot of consumers very satisfied," he adds.
Review: LG BD390 Network Blu-ray Player with Wi-Fi Review, Clint DeBoer, Aug. 4, 2009
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