Panasonic DMP-BDT110 Blu-ray Player (Profile 5.0, 1080p Upconversion, 3D)

136 Reviews

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	Price: $133.00
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Pros: 3D-Capable, Playback of MKV files, Supports both wired and wireless connection
Cons: Does not play DivX or Xvid-based media, Needs separate adapter for WiFi

Take your movie-viewing to the next level with the Panasonic DMP-BDT110 Blu-Ray player. This multifunction device is sure to become a major part of your home entertainment system as it offers the best aspects of the latest technology in a sleek and light package. It is capable of playing 3D content on compatible Blu-ray discs in full high definition, letting you experience a new world of entertainment. It even adds to the plate the ability to upsample 2D content into natural-looking 3D, showing your favorite movies in a whole new way. Using the 3D effect controller on the BDT110's remote, you can adjust the amount of 3D upsampling to your liking. In addition to Blu-ray discs, it supports standard DVDs as well as recordable and even rewritable variants. It can also play content stored on external media like USB drives and memory cards. However, it doesn't play AVI files based on the XviD or Divx codecs, instead, it offers playback for the less-common MKV file format, which can support multi-track audio. Other than that, multimedia content appears to work just fine with this disc player. Like many next-generation devices, it boasts networking support. Aside from local content on computers, game consoles and other devices, which it accesses via a network structure with a DLNA certification, you can also access content on the Net through the Viera Cast interface of the player which counts, among its offerings, streaming video via NetFlix, CinemaNow, VUDU and YouTube, music through Pandora and even video calling through Skype. The supplied remote control even has a dedicated Skype button to bring the interface up with a single click. The Panasonic BDT110, however, requires the use of a separate wireless network adapter in order to connect to your 802.11 network but it has an Ethernet port if you don't mind having a wired connection. Lastly, an update of the device's firmware is needed to resolve potential issues with NetFlix compatibility.

Panasonic DMP-BDT310 Blu-ray Player (Profile 2.0, 1080p Upconversion)

108 Reviews

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	Price: $222.99
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Pros: Media player with both 3d capability and wireless networking, Fast operation, 2D-3D upconversion
Cons: No support for Divx or Xvid files, VieraCast interface is slow, Skype service needs additional accessory to work

Complete your home theater setup with the Panasonic DMP BDT310 Blu-Ray Player. From its software, user interface, and functionality to its overall look and performance, this model is loaded with the latest features guaranteed to satisfy even the most future-proofing conscious of users, as well as those looking for the best value for their money. At a profile 1.4 inches thick, this extremely well-made media player fits into even the most compact of entertainment systems. At first glance, the front end of the BDT310 seems spare and lacks any apparent buttons to operate the unit with. However, wave your hand a couple of inches above the body, and a sensor automatically opens the disc tray located at the left side of the player. It's definitely a cool feature that adds a touch of futuristic style and keeps the unit clean from smudges. Another thing that you will notice when using the BDT310 is how quiet it seems even while loading media from optical discs. It also has the added advantage of being lightning-fast, with content only taking seconds from loading to initial playback. The main selling points, however, of the BDT310 are undoubtedly its great overall picture quality coupled with a 3D-rendering capacity and its compatibility with wireless networking through a built-in 802.11n wireless adapter. As expected, this player performs very well in terms of image resolution, especially when coupled with a high-definition receiver. The 3D rendering ability if this unit is likewise top-notch, and it works well with nearly all 3D-enabled HDTVs. You can even adjust the depth of the rendering to your liking, and it comes with a pair of 3D glasses. Likewise, the BDT310 offers upconversion from standard 2D to 3D. With regards to wireless networking on the other hand, this player may require a update to the latest firmware to remove certain connection issues, but after doing that, you can enjoy services like streaming content from Netflix and Pandora, or even making video calls with Skype. One thing that is missing though from the excellent Panasonic DMP BDT310 Blu-Ray Player is support for videos encoded with the DivX codec or even its open-source counterpart. Xvid. Instead, it offers support for MKV files. Also, while the performance of the unit in general is really fast, the VieraCast interface for the other applications supported by the player is a bit sluggish, but not as slow as is apparent in other players. Finally, the Skype service requires that an additional accessory is purchased to make it work. An option to just use voice calls instead of video calls would be much preferred to maximize the service.

Samsung BD-D6700 3D Blu-ray Player (Profile 2.0, 1 GB Flash Drive, 1080p Upconversion)

73 Reviews

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	Price: $194.99
	Price: $179.99
	Price: $202.97
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Pros: Cutting-edge features set with stylish and touch-sensitive exterior
Cons: No last scene memory, Price range a little high

The phenomenal progress of 3D technology, as well as its increasing adoption into consumer electronics means that it's only a matter of time before such high-end features become commonplace. The BD-6700 from Samsung distills all the recent developments of 3D over the past year or so into a cutting edge device that's more than certain to weather the rapid pace of tech releases; This, in effect, essentially means future-proofing your equipment. This Blu-Ray disc player makes the price of purchase, while somewhat steep, totally worth it. The 3D output of the unit (using separate glasses and a 3D-capable TV set) is amazingly clear that it seems real enough to touch. Aside from rendering native 3D content, it can also simulate three dimensions using 2D media, something it also does exceptionally well, as it plays high definition media with the Samsung Full HD specification that makes every detail on still images and video clear and sharp. It is backwards-compatible up to basic DVD discs so there's no worries about having to convert your precious DVD library just for the ability to play it on the product. It even upsamples standard definition resolutions such as those on older DVDs without too much apparent loss in visual quality. Playback is fast, with loading times in the under-10-second range. The model does not support last scene memory, so it's a better idea to have movies play through or use chapter indexes to quickly navigate between scenes. The DLNA-certified Wi-Fi capabilities of the BD-6700 make it a smart disc player able to connect with other certified devices in order to deliver custom entertainment when and where you want it. Using the Samsung apps suite alongside this player opens up a new world of interactive digital content like videos, music and even information from social networks streamed straight into your living rooms. Also through this technology, data from other devices can be shared effortlessly with the player acting as a sort of gateway. If needed, it can connect using a wired connection instead of a wireless one. Even on the hardware side of things, the Samsung BD-6700 passes all marks. Starting with the double HDMI outputs - one for video and the other for a dedicated audio receiver (a must-have if the TV you own does not have HDMI 1.4 but you still want to set up a high-definition audio system) - to component video and digital audio outputs plus a USB port, it seems to cover all the bases of connections. The sleekly polished glass-style front has no buttons. Instead, lighted touch-sensitive hotspots act as the device controls. The final touch of a slim, low and stylish profile caps off this great product and rounds off the equally-impressive feature set very well.

Sony BDP-S780 3D Blu-ray Player (Profile 2.0, 1080p Upconversion, Wi-Fi)

46 Reviews

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	Price: $198.00
	Price: $198.00
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Pros: Great picture and audio quality, Fast loading, Built-in Wi-Fi, Easy to set-up, SACD-compatible
Cons: Remote is not backlit, No onboard memory, Buffering issues with Netflix

Although the improvements made by Sony on the BDP-S780 are not exactly jaw-dropping, it is significantly a better performer in terms of video and audio than earlier models and it stands out with its addition of Super Bit Mapping which raises playback quality a couple notches and ability to play SACD or Super Audio CD. Sony also included a Skype feature that permits easy video calling by simply connecting a webcam and 2D-to-3D upconversion which is unnecessary but can be a great bonus. The design of this Blu-Ray player remains similar to the 770, only more compact. It shares much of the key features found in its predecessor like Full HD 1080p playback, Quick start mode, DLNA compatibility and Built-in Wi-Fi. With Gracenote Metadata Service, you can get hold of all the other details regarding your favorite movies. The 780 has its own web browser and it enables you to enjoy all the Internet has to offer by letting you stream media content from Netflix, Amazon on demand, Slacker, HuluPlus, YouTube, Pandora and more. However, some users experienced buffering when streaming movies from Netflix. Unlike the 770, there is also no onboard memory, so you need to plug-in a thumb drive in order to access BD-Live features. Nonetheless, the Sony BDP-S780 is highly recommended for movie fanatics. It provides an ideal way to kick back and relax and it includes all the necessary connection options starting from an Ethernet port and an HDMI output to digital and analog audio outputs and component and composite video outputs. It also has two USB ports, one in front of the unit and one at the back. Set-up is straightforward and disc-loading time is faster than previous models. The remote control is not backlit but it is easy to use and nicely-designed. By downloading the free “Media Remote” app on iTunes, you can even control the unit through your Android-based phone or Apple devices like iPhone and iPad. The player also allows you to stream music from virtually anywhere in your home.

Marantz UD5005 Blu-ray Disc Player (DTS - BD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, CD-RW - DVD Video, BD Video, DivX, AVCHD, MPEG, DivX HD - Ethernet - HDMI - USB - DLNA Certified)

17 Reviews

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	Price: $599.99
	Price: $599.00
	Price: $599.00
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Pros: 3D-ready, Impressive audio and video quality, Simple User Interface, 1 GB onboard storage for BD-Live
Cons: No multichannel analog audio outputs, Doesn't support Wi-Fi

The Marantz UD5005 allows you to enjoy the details of your music and movies at a much lesser price than the UD7006. It offers the usual features you'd expect from a mid-level player like 3D capability, 1 GB of onboard storage for BD-Live, access to YouTube and Netflix and support for DLNA and HDMI, but without the 7.1 HD Audio Output and multichannel analog audio outputs found on the UD7006 and the wireless streaming ability of higher-end models. If you think that the 1GB internal memory is not enough for your needs, you can easily expand its memory by inserting a thumb drive via its front-panel USB port. The same port can be used for media playback. As for video and audio quality, the UD5005 is very impressive. Despite its lack of some features, it still provides a great deal for the money. Being a Universal Disc Player, it can play Super Audio CD(Stereo/Multi), BD-Video/-ROM, DVD-Audio/Video/-R/-RW/+RW and CD-DA/-R/-RW/dtsCD and almost all file formats including MP3, MPEG, WMA, AAC, WAV, DivX Plus HD, AVCHD, Jpeg and Kodak Picture CD. It features Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD decoding. There's no S-video but it has HDMI, component and composite video outputs, D-bus(RC-5) In/Out, IR Flasher In/Out, coaxial digital audio output and 2-channel analog outputs. An Ethernet port is also provided for media streaming and it supports 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions through HDMI. Other improvements include a detachable power cable and faster loading time than previous models. Set-up is relatively easy, thanks to its simple user interface, and performance is comparable to more expensive disc players. The modest price tag, in addition to its great features, is the reason why you should make the Marantz UD5005 the heart of your home theater set-up. But if you need the extra features, we recommend investing in the higher end UD7006.