Blu-ray Players: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentConsumerReports.org evaluates lots of Blu-ray players and conducts competent testing, but discussion is limited compared to other reviewing sites and not always as enlightening as it could be. Top choices, including some Best Buys, are named, but lots of Blu-ray players qualify for that honor. The listing includes many current models, but some older – and still available -- Blu-ray players are listed as well. The review and recommendations are only available to subscribers.

Our AssessmentPCMag.com's reviews of Blu-ray players do a good job of providing essential guidance without burying the reader in information overload. Testing is performed and documented in adequate but not extensive detail. Ratings are provided, making it easy to see how players compare to each other, and the best Blu-ray players earn Editors' Choice awards. The Samsung BD-D5700 earns Editors' Choice accolades as the best "budget" Blu-ray player the site has tested.

Our AssessmentWhile some technical details vary, many (though not all) of the Blu-ray players tested by this British site are also available in the U.S. Reports are well-illustrated and reasonably detailed without being technically dense. Ratings are provided, and the very best Blu-ray players are recognized with a Recommended tag. That being said, some of the players with high ratings are also criticized for multiple flaws.

Our AssessmentThe reviews written by Robert Silva, the home theater guide at About.com, are a mixed bag. The very best reviews are equal to or better than those found at other sites, with testing meticulously detailed and explained. Discussion, while not extensive, covers the essentials and then some. Other reports, however, clearly are based on more cursory examinations or perhaps manufacturer data, and some discontinued players remain listed. Still, About.com is worth a visit to see if a Blu-ray player you are considering is covered in one of the better reviews here. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Our AssessmentOne advantage Amazon.com has over BestBuy.com is that the reviews here tend to be a little more detailed. Another is that many players get more feedback. The Oppo BDP-93 is a standout here, with 4.8-star overall rating following feedback from about 150 owners. Panasonic's DMP-BDT310 doesn't get as much feedback, or quite as high a rating (4.3 stars overall), but that's still enough to step it above the average Blu-ray player here.

Our AssessmentFor the technically sophisticated -- or obsessive -- it's tough to beat the in-depth reviews at this enthusiast site for everything home theater or high fidelity oriented. Coverage spans the range from ultra-high end players costing thousands of dollars to mid-level and budget players costing about $100. Regardless, each player is put through its paces in hands-on and bench testing, with every technical success and flaw thoroughly exposed. No ratings or rankings are provided, but clear conclusions leave no doubt about how the reviewer (or reviewers in some cases) feels about a specific player. Reviewers say the Oppo BDP-95 is a reference quality video and audio player, while the step-down BDP-93 delivers similar goods when it comes to video. Among more moderately priced players, the Panasonic DMP-BDT210 is a "no brainer pick."

Our AssessmentThough Audioholics.com's "first look" reviews and previews are based on available features rather than testing, the site's full reviews are comprehensive and well detailed. An example of that is Clint DeBoer's evaluation of the Oppo BDP-93, which spans six pages. At the final tally, the BDP-93 receives perfect scores in almost every category, including overall score.

Our AssessmentHomeTheaterReview.com reports on lots of Blu-ray players. Unfortunately, the majority of the reviews are short and superficial -- based on general impressions and manufacturer-supplied information. We do appreciate that the site has become more forthright in admitting that certain reviews are not based on hands-on testing. The site also includes a few long and well-detailed reviews that stand up well against the best found anywhere else -- but those have become rarer of late. Of all the players reported on by the site, Oppo's BDP-93 (which does undergo a full review) garners the highest accolades, being called "the player to beat on the current Blu-ray landscape."