- Great image quality with Blu-rays and DVDs
- Internet streaming
- DLNA-compatible for streaming from a PC
- 250 GB hard drive
- Expensive
- User interface could be a little more polished
- No 3D capabilities
- Not as fast as some Blu-ray Disc players
Reviewers say that all but the most quality obsessed will be thrilled by what they see on their TV screens with the LG BD590. Blu-ray performance ranks among the best, and most say that DVD performance is excellent. In terms of features, the BD590 stands apart from all other Blu-ray players save for the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim (160 GB) (*Est. $250) by including a spacious 250 GB hard drive. You can use that drive to store purchased (but not rented) videos from Vudu, one of the BD590's ample stable of Internet streaming content partners, or use it to hold all of your own media files, including videos, music, photos and more. Transferring files to the hard drive isn't always a seamless operation, but an included utility makes transferring music files from CD very easy.
In addition to Vudu, online content partners include Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube, Pandora and more. Wireless networking is built in. Usability is generally good, though some reviewers express some small complaints about the interface. Operational speed isn't bad, but some other players, such as the Sony BDP-S570 (Discontinued), race ahead. This Sony player lacks a hard drive, but does have reasonably robust Internet streaming, built-in Wi-Fi and streaming from a networked PC. The BDP-S570 also has 3D compatibility, something that's missing from the LG BD590. The step-down LG BD570 (*Est. $170) is similar to the BD590 but doesn't have a hard drive.
The LG BD590 has seen its fair share of editorial coverage. CNET, Home Theater magazine, Sound & Vision magazine, Wired and ConsumerReports.org are among those that weigh in. User reviews can be seen at Amazon.com and BestBuy.com.
| LG BD590 250GB HD Network Blu-ray Disc Player | |
(202 reviews) |
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Our Sources
1. Home Theater Magazine
The LG BD590 gets a Top Pick award here. Blu-ray picture quality is praised, but DVD performance is only so-so. Some operational issues give reviewer David Vaughn pause, but those are cleared up via a firmware update. Speed is a disappointment but streaming, especially through Vudu, is a plus.
Review: LG BD590 Blu-ray Player, David Vaughn, July 2010
2. Sound & Vision Magazine
Audio and video quality is called terrific, but Rob Sabin loves how the LG BD590 makes it easy to access your media files and have them play back "without hiccups." The user interface comes in for mild criticism. Value gets dinged a little more. Still, Sound & Vision magazine grants the LG BD590 a Certified and Recommended award.
Review: LG BD590 Network Blu-ray Disc Player, Rob Sabin, May 2010
3. CNET
The LG BD590 earns one of the better grades among Blu-ray players at CNET. Matthew Moskovciak praises the video quality, the versatility of the hard drive (despite some limitations) and the access to streaming media services, in addition to the fact that you can get all of that in one set-top box. Like Sound & Vision magazine, CNET criticizes the user interface (Moskovciak calls it "overdesigned") and questions the value.
Review: LG BD590, Matthew Moskovciak, March 18, 2010
4. Wired
The LG BD 590 gets a "very good, but not quite great" grade here. Like others, value is questioned. Wired's Terrence Russell is also disappointed to learn that while you can rip and store music from CDs, copying content from Blu-rays and DVDs is strictly off limits. Lack of 3D compatibility could be limiting in the future, Russell says.
Review: LG BD590 Network Blu-ray Player, Terrence Russell, April 14, 2010
5. ConsumerReports.org
The LG BD590 is among the Blu-ray players rated here. Testing is done and Blu-ray players are ranked, but discussion is far shorter than other reviewers.
Review: Blu-ray Players, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
6. Amazon.com
Nearly 60 owners post reviews contributing to an overall rating of 4 stars out of 5. Most owners are completely satisfied, or nearly so. However, some received a defective player, or had issues with streaming or disc playback, some of which have since been fixed via firmware updates.
Review: LG BD590, Contributors to Amazon.com
7. BestBuy.com
BestBuy.com also has collected a good number of user reviews (nearly 50), and the pattern of satisfaction is even a touch higher than at Amazon.com. All but a handful rate the LG BD590 either 4 stars or 5. More than 85 percent add that they would recommend the Blu-ray Disc player to a friend.
Review: LG BD590, Contributors to BestBuy.com
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