Top 10 Blu-ray Players

With ever cheaper prices, standalone blu-ray players have now made its way into most homes replacing the once ubiquitous DVD player. Players that offer streaming media services, such as Netflix, Pandora and YouTube now account for almost 60% of blu-ray players sold.

Given the myriad of models being introduced every few months, it is becoming increasingly difficult for first time buyers to make an informed decision. To help narrow your search, we have compiled a list of Blu-ray players that offer not only credible performance but also good value for your money. This list is by no means exhaustive and there are certainly more than 10 worthy players that should be on this list (like the excellent Sony PS3 for example).

Feel free to use this as a starting point in your search for the blu-ray player that caters best to your budget and needs. This list is updated monthly.

August 2010 Update :

The well received Panasonic DMP-BD85 takes the top spot for the first time for its excellent all round performance and good value with sub $200 prices online. Dropping to second spot, the Oppo BDP-83 is still the player to beat in video and audio quality. We have found it be excellent in every area of performance coupled with fast disc loading times. In 3rd place is the LG BD570 which delivers pristine blu-ray pictures and media streaming.

1. Panasonic DMP-BD85

Panasonic DMP-BD85

Panasonic has hit the right notes with the DMP-BD85. Equipped with killer specs and lots of picture processing goodness that made its predecessors so successful. Panasonic’s P4HD chipset is the beating heart of the BD85 and, in conjunction with PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus, it delivers beautiful images. On the audio side of things, Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD Master Audio, and advanced Panasonic technologies serve up studio-quality multi-channel surround sound to your home audio system.

Actual user comment: “The picture quality of BD video is simply stunning, even with my Panasonic 720p projector (which is soon to be upgraded to 1080p). I can only imagine how good the picture will be with 1080p projector! Since all my connections are via HDMI, the sound quality is also outstanding. I watched Star Trek twice and this regular DVD seemed to have acquired a new life with the terrific upscaling by this player. Colors and the picture look a lot like in movie theaters, thanks to Panasonic’s proprietary video processors developed in collaboration with Hollywood studios.”- A.M.Kini (MD,USA)

List Price: ~~$249.95~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on Panasonic DMP-BD85

2. Oppo BDP-83

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: “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 quality 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

Click Here for Latest Offer on Oppo BDP-83

3. LG BD570

The LG BD570 is a Wi-Fi-enabled Blu-ray player that combines a sleek crystal-edge design with cutting edge technologies. It doesn’t have 7.1 analog-audio outputs, but it comes with a host of features like NetCast streaming services (including Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Pandora, and Picasa), built-in Wi-Fi. Blu-ray image quality is excellent and it passed all of the most important test patterns and program material tests.

Actual user comment: “We bought this blu-ray player for our living room. We wanted a standalone player that could also stream Netflix. This player could not be easier to setup and the amount of features that they pack into this thing is crazy. It does everything you could want and more. Netflix playback is flawless and works much better then using an Xbox which we were using before. Usually a Netflix video takes about 30 seconds to start playing and never stops to buffer while watching. YouTube is also easy to use and navigate and their videos also play just as you would hope they would. Blu-ray playback is outstanding as well as standard DVD’s. I also updated the firmware and it installed with no problems at all.” – E.Lamaide (USA)

List Price: ~~$279.95~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on LG BD570

4. Sony BDP-S570

The Sony BDP-S570 has all the major features we expect on midrange Blu-ray players, including built-in Wi-Fi and a full suite of streaming media services (including Netflix, Amazon VOD, YouTube, and Slacker), plus some interesting extras like SACD playback and Gracenote support. It’s also the fastest player we’ve ever tested, even beating the Oppo BDP-83 on disc loading times. 1GB of onboard storage allows access BD-Live features without needed a separate USB memory drive. It will also get free 3D firmware upgrade in the summer.

Actual user comment: “The Sony S570 is a great player. The fast load system is excellent and much faster than the older 300s models. The setup was easy (it walks you through each step) I use the wireless N router and the speeds are awesome. Seamless integration with our Netflix account and the ability to watch YouTube videos is a great addition to what the player can do. Great 1080p picture and good upconversion of DVDs. Do not be afraid of this player. If you have a Netflix account or would like to watch YouTube videos on your TV- this is your player. Also on a side note- you have several other choices besides Netflix and YouTube. You have Amazons video on demand service and several other free video services.”- W.J.Willis (MO,USA)

List Price: ~~$249.99~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on Sony BDP-S570

5. Panasonic DMP-BD65

The Panasonic DMP-BD65 is a terrific Blu-ray player that does the most important things very well indeed. Its support for YouTube is a welcome extra, and its ability to play video, MP3 and photo files from memory cards and USB sticks is worth having too, especially if you own a Panasonic camera or camcorder. If you are looking for a competent all round player below $200 you have found it. Picture quality is nothing short of top notch and sound quality even for CD playback is more than acceptable.

List Price: ~~$179.95~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on Panasonic DMP-BD65

6. Samsung BD-C6500

The BD-C6500 combines great performance and speed with improved energy efficiency. It features full 1080p HD video along with Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Integration to the internet and online media is seamless and convenient with its built-in wi-fi. You can even shop online, share pictures, catch up with friends and connect to a wide range of streaming digital content at the touch of a button.

List Price: ~~$249.99~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on Samsung BD-C6500

7. Samsung BD-C6900

The Samsung BD-C6900 comes with built-in Wi-Fi support and Samsung’s latest incarnation of Internet@TV, which puts more widgets on your screen and opens up each app much faster. New for Internet@TV is Samsung Apps which provides you with an expanded, easy to navigate selection of content and applications from leading services such as Accedo Broadband, AccuWeather.com, The Associated Press, Blockbuster, Fashion TV, Netflix, Picasa, Pandora, Rovi, Travel Channel, Twitter, USA TODAY, and Vudu. The BD-C6900 features improved disc load and boot up times, while the 1080p playback reproduces movie images at 24 fps without need for up-conversion.

List Price: ~~$349.99~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on Samsung BD-C6900

8. LG BD550

The LG BD 550 is LG’s new entry level model similar in features to the BD570 except for the lack of Wi-Fi capabilities. It features the same sleek crystal-edge design; smooth 1080p 24/60hz high-def video and high resolution 192khz surround sound. It offers convenient access to a virtually endless array of entertainment content options with a large variety of content options. As an entry level player sub $200 player, the LG BD550 sure packs a host of features that will satisfy every movie fan.

List Price: ~~$199.95~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on the LG BD550

9. Samsung BD-C7500

Samsung touts it as the world’s slimmest blu-ray player garnering a CES 2010 Innovations Honoree Award. You get seamless access to web content and the latest HD video and audio. This wall-mountable Blu-ray player allows you to access a whole wide world of web widgets from top-notch content providers using an ethernet connection or the built-in WiFi. And with AllShare, you can even use your wireless connection to access media from DLNA-compliant devices on your home network.

List Price: $349.99

Click Here for Latest Offer on Samsung BD-C7500

10. Samsung BD-C5500

The Samsung BD-C5500 is Samsung’s latest entry level blu-ray player. Although it’s an entry level player it does come with many of the latest features, multimedia capabilities and streaming content from the web.The BD-C5500 comes with a strong suite of streaming options. It offers excellent value for money for those who want a reasonably good-performing player with the latest multimedia features. The easy setup and simple operation is ideal for those who are adopting high definition playback in the home for the for the first time.

List Price: ~~$179.99~~

Click Here for Latest Offer on Samsung BD-C5500

Understanding Blu-ray

Blu-ray Profiles

Profile 1 Version 1.0 — The basic Blu-ray profile. All Blu-ray players released before November 1, 2007 fit into this profile.
Profile 1 Version 1.1 — Adds secondary audio and video decoders for BonusView (picture-in-picture) support. This can be used for things like director's commentary. The player displays the movie in its original, full-screen form while also playing video commentary from the film director on a smaller, inset screen. Players in this profile also need to include 256MB of local storage for audio/video and title updates. This can either be built into the player or available through a removable memory card or USB drive.
Profile 2.0 (also known as BD-Live) — Includes all of the functions of Profile 1 Version 1.1, but increases local storage capacity to 1GB. Players in this profile must also include an Internet connection. This lets you connect the player directly to the Internet to access bonus material available on some Blu-ray movies. Some movie studios also use this capability for things like online games and chat.

Audio Codecs Supported by Blu-ray

Linear PCM (LPCM) - up to 8 channels of uncompressed audio
Dolby Digital (DD) - format used for DVDs, 5.1-channel surround sound
Dolby Digital Plus (DD ) - extension of Dolby Digital, 7.1-channel surround sound
Dolby TrueHD - lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio
DTS Digital Surround - format used for DVDs, 5.1-channel surround sound
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio - extension of DTS, 7.1-channel surround sound
DTS-HD Master Audio - lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio

Other Supported Services

Netflix®, Pandora® and other services - In addition to delivering high-def movies, some newer Blu-ray players let you stream movies and music from online services like Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, and more. You'll need subscriptions to these services and a broadband Internet connection to take advantage of them. Once you're connected, you can enjoy movies from your Netflix Instant Queue. Or listen to music from Pandora — an Internet radio service that creates on-the-fly playlists.