Blu-ray offers pristine HD video, better than any other source, including cable and especially streaming.
These days, Blu-ray players can be had for under $100, but what do you get if you spend more?
All the features and a handy chart, after the jump.
Yellow=Some Models, Green=Most/All Models
For easy of labeling, we’ll break down the Blu-ray players into three categories: Entry-level, 3D, and Specialty. While there is some overlap, these represent the most noticeable changes in features and price.
What you will get across the board, is stunning HD picture quality (much better than DVD), HDMI output, and fast loading. This year, what you won’t see, is component outputs. If you do, it’s possible they won’t output HD. This is due to the so-called “Analog Sunset.” Unless you have an older television, this likely won’t affect you. All TVs of recent vintage have HDMI inputs.
Entry-level
As the name describes, these players are the entry into the Blu-ray world. Often around $100, you rarely get the features we’ll see in the upper levels.
However, what you do get is DVD/CD playback and 1080p output (usually 1080p/24 as well). Even at these prices, though, you can find entry-level players that also offer Internet streaming services like Netflix, VUDU, Amazon, and so on. The lowest cost players often have a limited selection of streaming content providers, but for just a few dollars more, you can get a different player that offers most.
Word of caution: As you can see in the links below, there are many excellent Entry-level Blu-ray players that offer lots of features for very little money. You can spend more and get less, and you can spend less and get less. This is of course true with any product category, but for many $100 is an impulse buy. That’s fine, but make sure that impulse is pushing you towards something that’s a good value, not just one that’s cheap.
In this category, here are HDGuru.com’s picks:
Toshiba BDX2150 Wifi-Ready Blu-ray Disc Player
LG BD630 Network Blu-ray Disc Player
Also check out our review of the Panasonic DMP-BD75 Blu-ray Player, now $80.99 on Amazon
SquareTrade offer a 3-Year (total) Warranty
Today’s Best Selling Blu-ray Players
3D
Still the buzz-word in consumer electronics, 3D is a feature found in most new TVs and Blu-ray players. For just a small step-up in price over Entry-level players, you get the ability to output 3D. That’s presuming, of course, you have a 3DTV to use it on.
Because these models are a step-up, they often have more extensive Internet streaming options and are wireless-ready. This latter means you have to purchase a wireless “dongle” that attached to the player to allow WiFi. These aren’t cheap, and often represent most if not all of the price difference between “Wireless-ready” and “Wireless” Blu-ray players. We have seen some occasions where buying a Wireless-ready player+dongle costing more than a similar player with the wireless built-in. Something to keep an eye on, if you’re looking for wireless.
Here are our picks for 3D players:
Samsung BD-D6700 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
Panasonic DMP-BDT210 Integrated-Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray Player
Also check out our review of the LG BD670 3D Wireless Blu-ray Player, now $149 on Amazon
Specialty
At the top of the Blu-ray food chain you’ve got Specialty players. These often, though not always, have all the features of their lower-priced brethren. They add specific niche features to appeal to a certain group. In some cases, this may be SACD/DVD-Audio playback, in others it can be a built-in hard drive. Many feature high-end electronics for the best possible picture and sound quality, with all sources. The $250 PlayStation 3 plays Blu-rays and games.
Denon DBP-1611UD Universal Blu-Ray/SACD/DVD-Audio Player
LG BD690 3D Wireless Network Blu-ray Disc Player with Smart TV and 250GB Hard Drive
Sony PlayStation 3
Also check out our review of the OPPO BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player, now $499.99
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Geoff Morrison Follow me on Twitter @TechWriterGeoff
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