(Dec 03, 2008)
Matthew Moskovciak
Now that HD DVD is dead, home theater fans have only one choice for high-def movie discs: Blu-ray. Blu-ray players can deliver outstanding image quality, with movies encoded in 1080p resolution and rich colors that put DVD to shame. This list consists of the best Blu-ray players on the market and the bottom line is clear--the Sony PlayStation 3 is the most by far the most recommendable Blu-ray player available today. There are a few caveats--the PS3 doesn't have analog multichannel outputs or an IR receptor--but they're overshadowed by the fact that you also get a high-def gaming console and media streamer. Some home theater die hards will insist on a standalone player, but everyone else should stick with the PS3 until standalones cost much less and perform comparably.
Sony PlayStation 3
Even though PS2 backward compatibility has been dropped from this version, the 80GB PS3 is still a superb Blu-ray player and high-definition game console.
Price: $399.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 8, 2008
Excellent
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Panasonic DMP-BD35
The Panasonic DMP-BD35 represents the best value in standalone Blu-ray players, with excellent image quality, a comprehensive feature set, and a price that's significantly lower than the PS3.
Price: $299.00 - $299.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 15, 2008
Excellent
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Samsung BD-P2550
The Samsung BD-P2550 adds Netflix and Pandora to an already well-featured and top-performing Blu-ray player, with only some minor disc compatibility issues giving us pause.
Price: $699.99 (check prices)
Review date: Nov 14, 2008
Excellent
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Panasonic DMP-BD55
The Panasonic DMP-BD55 is the best standalone Blu-ray we've tested and it's a good choice for those with older receivers, but most people will get the same performance out of the cheaper DMP-BD35.
Price: $388.49 - $399.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 1, 2008
Excellent
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Sony BDP-S550
The Sony BDP-S550 offers excellent image quality and a solid feature set, but only consider it if you need the multichannel analog outputs.
Price: $298.19 - $399.99 (check prices)
Review date: Nov 17, 2008
Very good
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LG BD300
The LG BD300 deftly combines Blu-ray and Netflix streaming in a single box, although there are better standalone players without Netflix.
Price: $324.00 - $349.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 14, 2008
Very good
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Sony BDP-S350
The combination of its small design, solid feature set, and excellent image quality make the Sony BDP-S350 a worthwhile standalone Blu-ray player--especially if you can find it for less than $300.
Price: $279.85 - $369.95 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 5, 2008
Very good
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