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Blu-ray Players: Ratings of Sources

Total of 16 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. CNET
Updated May 1, 2012
Best Blu-ray Players
by Matthew Moskovciak
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentCNET does a good job of staying on top of the latest Blu-ray players. The site reviews many new models as soon as they come to market and details its findings in reports that manage to inform but not overwhelm. An editors' rating makes it easy to see where each Blu-ray player stands in relation to its competition.
2. ConsumerReports.org
Not Dated
Recommended Blu-ray and DVD Players
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Credibility Rating
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 several Best Buys, are named, but lots of Blu-ray players qualify for that honor.
3. PCMag.com
July 10, 2012
The 10 Best Blu-ray Players
by Will Greenwald
Credibility Rating
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. A handful of the models on this list are discontinued, however.
4. What Hi-Fi?
As of Sept. 2012
Blu- ray Players
by Editors of What Hi-Fi? magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBritain's What Hi-Fi? reviews a large number of current Blu-ray players, many of which are available in versions for the U.S. market. However, while the write-ups are very informative and touch on all the high and low points of a particular model, they are also fairly brief and most products receive similarly high ratings.
5. Home Theater Magazine
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Player Reviews
by Editors of Home Theater magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentHome Theater magazine has reviewed a number of Blu-ray players in expertly done single-product reviews, but the frequency of reviews has tapered off in recent months. An at-a-glance section at the top of each review provides high and low points, and ratings are given for performance, value, features and ergonomics. Top performers are given Top Pick status.
6. TrustedReviews.com
As of Sept. 2012
Best Blu-ray Player
by Editors of TrustedReviews.com
Credibility Rating
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.
7. TechRadar.com
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Players Rated
by Editors of TechRadar.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentTechRadar.com is a British site that hosts reviews from a number of affiliated publications, including Home Cinema Choice and What Video and High Definition TV. The reviews are of European versions of Blu-ray players, but while some technical details and features might vary, performance should be for the most part similar. Discussion is detailed but accessible and even fun to read for non-videophiles. Among players available in the U.S., high-end options from Oppo and Cambridge Audio draw top 5 out of 5 scores.
8. About.com
Not Dated
The Best Blu-ray Players
by Robert Silva
Credibility Rating
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. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
9. BestBuy.com
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Players
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBestBuy.com is a good place to read user reviews. Navigation is easy, and some Blu-ray players get lots of feedback. A nice touch is that posters are asked if they would recommend a specific player to a friend, and those results are tallied and presented at the top of the customer review page for each product. Many Blu-ray players accumulate enough feedback to make it easy to see which players please and which ones disappoint.
10. Amazon.com
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Players
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
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 user feedback for the Panasonic DMP-BDT220 shows why customer reviews are a useful tool; while critics love the Blu-ray player, dozens of users complain that it's Wi-Fi and Internet streaming capabilities are spotty or flat-out broken.
11. AVSForum.com
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Players
by Contributors to AVSForum.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentYou'll find lots of far-ranging -- and sometimes heated -- discussions about everything and anything Blu-ray on this popular site. Hints, tips, problems, solutions and tons of user reviews are just some of what's available. Be prepared to spend some time reading, however, as some of the threads can go on for hundreds or thousands of posts.
12. Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Players
by Editors of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
Credibility Rating
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.
13. Audioholics.com
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Players
by Editors of Audioholics.com
Credibility Rating
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. Some of the written reviews are accompanied by detailed video reviews that actually show the talking points covered by the experts. Only a handful of Blu-ray players are reviewed, however, and all 2012 models receive a similar "Pretty Cool" rating.
14. HomeTheaterReview.com
As of Sept. 2012
Blu-ray Player Reviews and Information
by Editors of HomeTheaterReview.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentHomeTheaterReview.com used to cover a ton of Blu-ray players, but the majority of the reviews were short and superficial, based on general impressions and manufacturer-supplied information. Recently, the site returned to delivering a smaller number of long and well-detailed reviews that stand up well against the best found anywhere else. The information is very useful, but only two 2012 Blu-ray players receive critical attention at the time of our visit.
15. Sound & Vision Magazine
July 24, 2012
Review: LG BP620 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
by Al Griffin
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis brief review of the LG BP620 is the only 2012 Blu-ray player covered to date by Sound & Vision, a top source for home theater information. This review doesn't directly compare the LG player against other Blu-ray players, though it does compare specific features to features that are available in the wild. Overall, Griffin says the LG BP620 offers a lot of apps and great video quality for a low price.
16. BigPictureBigSound.com
As of Sept. 2012
Home Theater Reviews: Blu-ray, DVD Players
by Editors of BigPictureBigSound.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis is another site with helpful, in-depth reviews of Blu-ray Disc players, but unfortunately, its Blu-ray coverage dropped off a cliff in 2012, with only the Sony BDP-S590 being reviewed thus far.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
 
 
  
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