Best Blu-ray players
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
8.7 Excellent (reviewed 10/8/08)
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.
Read review of the Sony PlayStation 3
Panasonic DMP-BD35
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 10/15/08)
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.
Read review of the Panasonic DMP-BD35
Samsung BD-P2550
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 11/14/08)
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.
Read review of the Samsung BD-P2550
Panasonic DMP-BD55
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 10/1/08)
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.
Read review of the Panasonic DMP-BD55
Sony BDP-S550
7.6 Very good (reviewed 11/17/08)
The Sony BDP-S550 offers excellent image quality and a solid feature set, but only consider it if you need the multichannel analog outputs.
Read review of the Sony BDP-S550
LG BD300
7.6 Very good (reviewed 10/14/08)
The LG BD300 deftly combines Blu-ray and Netflix streaming in a single box, although there are better standalone players without Netflix.
Read review of the LG BD300
Sony BDP-S350
7.4 Very good (reviewed 8/5/08)
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.
Read review of the Sony BDP-S350