Top 10 Blu-ray Players
Given the myriad of product models, it is increasingly difficult for first time buyers to make an informed decision. To help narrow your search, here’s a list of the Top 10 Blu-ray Players that is updated monthly. As individual needs and preferences vary, this list is compiled based on actual user ratings, search popularity and sales. Feel free to use this as a starting point to search for the blu-ray player that caters best to your needs.
March 2010 Update : The highly regarded OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Player held on to its position at the top of the list due to overwhelmingly positive user reviews. We have found it be excellent in all aspects of performance especially its fast disc loading times that bettered every player we’ve laid our hands on. It has taken the industry by storm by setting a new benchmark in price/performance ratio. Holding on strongly at 2nd place is the Panasonic DMP-BD60 with its superb all-round performance. Sales of the DMP-BD60 remain strong due to a massive 35% discount at Amazon. The BD60 will soon be replaced by the new Panasonic DMP-BD65. New on the list is Oppo’s new BDP-80. It uses trickle down technology from the BDP-83. At less than $300 it is a steal.
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player
The Oppo BDP-83 is the first Universal Blu-ray player to hit the market offering features that make it a truly all-in-one media solution for high definition playback. With a vast feature list that includes BD-Live, DVD Up-Conversion, 1080p/24 and source direct output, bitstream, and internal decoding of high resolution audio codecs, the OPPO BDP-83 is a steal at this price point considering its top notch video and audio capabilities. Audiophiles will be elated by the BDP-83, thanks to its support for both DVD-Audio and SACD. These formats provide sound quality that is far superior to that of CDs, and they have greater sound depth and higher sound resolution.
Actual user comment: “You might ask who is Oppo when there are many giant electronic companies producing Blu ray players. For price, there is the Sony PS3 slim, a game console with player capabilities. Then there are companies (LG, Samsung) adding internet content. Do some research online about the BDP-83 and you will find nothing but glowing reviews for this product. Oppo is a small company of videophiles whose goal is to produce the best video/audio qality for the price and with excellent customer support. You say $500 is high for a player? Add in that it comes with a high quality HDMI cable and two professional Blu ray calibration discs and the differences diminish. Build quality is first-rate; a substantial 11 pounds with mostly metal construction – not plastic! Even the AC cord is pro level. This is a UNIVERSAL player. Besides Blu ray, CD and DVD, this unit handled my DVD-AUDIO and SACD discs with aplomb. There are 7.1 analogue audio jacks if you don’t have HDMI audio capabilities and they support the player’s decoding DOLBY and DTS HD audio. The Anchor Bay VRS upconversion is superb, adding new life to a DVD collection. Some of my SUPERBIT DVD’s are now almost Blu ray quality on screen. Add a comprehensive setup menu and well written manual and you will get the most out of this unit. If your major criteria is PRISTINE video and audio quality, THIS IS THE PLAYER!” -R.P.Muraski (CT,USA)
List Price: $499.99
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2. Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Player
The Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player combines high quality images with enhanced networking functions, including VIERA Cast’s improved internet functionality that provides access to Amazon Video on Demand’s (VOD) huge selection of titles. Continuing its commitment to producing products that stress ease of use, the 2009 line of Blu-ray Disc players continue to incorporate VIERA Link, allowing you to operate your audio/video components, via HDMI, with one remote. The DMP-BD60 employs the PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus. Developed in collaboration with Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, this high image processing technology reproduces clear, vivid colors that are faithful to the original film. Recognizing that audio is important to the overall entertainment experience, this Blu-ray Disc player features a high definition audio decoder (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio Essential) to take advantage of the exceptionally high quality 7.1 channel surround sound now integrated in Blu-ray Discs. This model will soon be replaced by the newer DMP-BD65.
Actual user comment: “I purchased the Panasonic DMP-BD60 after reading the prior reviews about Panasonic players and their ability to play everything without problem along with the fact that Panasonic prepares regular firmware updates. I am completely happy with it. It plays whatever I put in without a glitch or problem. The load times are not that bad (my HD-DVD is alot slower). The firmware update was smooth and without any problems. The picture is terrific, sharp, clear and in the case of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, it seems to have an almost 3D quality in certain scenes. The upconverter works as well or better than my Toshiba (which was very good). And with the current price decreases, it is the best value by far. Don’t hesitate to buy it. ” – E.Paskey (USA)
List Price: $299.95
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3. LG BD 390 Network Blu-ray Player
Full HD 1080p resolution and 1080p upscaling, this Network Blu-ray Disc player is the ultimate in picture quality. You can stream all of your Video, Music, and Pictures wireless from your PC with the included Nero software. The WiFi is built in so there is no need for a wireless dongle. It is like having a second computer in my living room. Simply connect it to a broadband home network through the built-in Ethernet port and grab your LG remote. Blu-ray Disc Playback Exceptional Full HD 1080p video performance, BD-Live to access real-time extras and BonusView for a Picture-in-Picture experience. Express Reaction Startup Quick-opening tray and ready to play before you hit the couch. Superior Audio Performance Up to 7.1 channels of surround sound with Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA Advanced Digital Out technologies. Newer version LG BD570 now available.
Actual user comment: “This is my first blu-ray player and I couldn’t be more pleased. I am not at all technically adept but set up was very simple and straight forward. I had to get a new router and upgrade my ISP to take better advantage of Netflix and YouTube. With my faster router and more bandwidth, the picture quality for instant downloads from Netflix is very good as is YouTube. They also offer a pay per view service called CinemaNow which I don’t use since I have Netflix. Discs load quickly and play very well, blu-ray disks, of course, are most clear and crisp. Amazon shipped very quickly.”- G.Romeo (NM,USA)
List Price: $379.99
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4. Oppo BDP-80 Blu-ray Player
The BDP-80 is a full-featured universal Blu-ray player that supports BD Profile 2.0, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, HDCD, CD and other popular media formats such as AVCHD, MKV video files, digital photos and music. Sharing the same decoder and similarly optimized firmware as OPPO’s award-winning BDP-83, the BDP-80 features fast disc load times, quick response to user operations, and robust audio and video controls. In contrast to the BDP-83, which utilizes an onboard VRS by Anchor Bay video processor, the BDP-80 design has been optimized for use as a digital audio/video transport, emphasizing the accuracy of its digital audio/video outputs. At the same time, the BDP-80 is versatile enough to be used as a stand-alone universal Blu-ray player, thanks to its full array of output connections and audio/video decoding capabilities.
List Price: $289.99
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5. Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Player
The BDP-S360 stand-alone player delivers full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output, plus decodes the latest advanced audio codecs. It provides a movie experience worthy of your HDTV. Plays Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p quality and upscales the quality of your DVDs. Supports BD-Live technology to download bonus interactive entertainment on select movies. Supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio codecs for up to 7.1 channels of high-definition sound. With QuickStart Mode your movies will start approximately six seconds from the moment you turn on the player. Newer version Sony BDP-S370 just released.
List Price: $299.99
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6. Sony BDP-N460 Blu-ray Player
In addition to playing Blu-ray Discs and DVDs, the Sony BDP-N460 streams one of the largest collections of premium and free on-demand entertainment from the BRAVIA Internet Video platform, including thousands of movies, TV programs, and music from from over 25 leading content providers – including YouTube, Slacker, and Netflix. Simply connect the BDP-N460 to your existing Internet connection. It supports Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD audio codecs for up to 7.1 channels of high-definition sound, and there’s even quick start-up mode which begins operating your Blu-ray Disc player in approximately six seconds from the time it is powered on. You can also play and upscale your standard DVDs to near high definition. And navigation of the player’s menus is a breeze thanks to the icon-based Xross Media Bar (XMB) menu system.
List Price: $249.99
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7. Samsung BD-P3600 Blu-ray Player
The Samsung BD-P3600 is a huge leap ahead for standalone Blu-ray players, with blazing-fast speed, tons of features and excellent image quality. Image quality is excellent on Blu-ray movies. Included are Wi-Fi USB dongle, Netflix and Pandora streaming and super fast disc loading. It is Profile 2.0 compatible and streams media off connected PC. Onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, 7.1 analog outputs and 1GB onboard memory. Also check out the newer version Samsung BD-C6500.
List Price: $399.00
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8. Panasonic DMP-BD80 Blu-ray Player
The Panasonic DMP-BD80 Blu-ray Player combines high quality images with enhanced networking functions. Continuing its commitment to producing products that stress ease of use, the 2009 line of Blu-ray players continue to incorporate VIERA Link, allowing you to operate your audio/video components, via HDMI, with one remote. It employs the PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus. Developed in collaboration with Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, this high image processing technology reproduces clear, vivid colors that are faithful to the original film. Recognizing that audio is important to the overall entertainment experience, this Blu-ray Disc player features a high definition audio decoder (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential) to take advantage of the exceptionally high quality 7.1 channel surround sound now integrated in Blu-ray Discs. This model will soon be replaced by the newer DMP-BD85.
List Price: $399.95
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9. Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray Player
Although it’s an entry level model, the Samsung BD-P1600 includes many of the features found on high end models. The BD-P1600 is Profile 2.0 player with full support for BD-Live. The most notable additions to the BD-P1600 are the high definition audio decoding and content streaming capabilities. On the audio side, BD-P1600 is capable of decoding Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby digital Plus, DTS HD, and Dolby True HD. The real improvement over the previous models is the loading time. The average loading time was between 8 and 14 seconds compared to almost double for the older models. Newer version Samsung BD-C5500 now shipping.
List Price: $299.00
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10. Sony PS3
The Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) has been talked about as one of the most capable blu-ray players available. The new ’slim’ version ups the ante even further with faster load times and outputsDolby TrueHD and DTS-HDMA codecs on bitstream to your receiver; something the previous PS3 couldn’t do. It provides real value for money with its well known gaming options. So you get 2 bites of the cherry for one price. The video looks absolutely stunning and the audio quality is amazing. It’s 1080p, 24fps capable, support HDMI 1.3a and all the latest audio codecs. It connects to your network either wired or via Wi-Fi for updating the latest firmwares making it almost future proof.
List Price: $299.99
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