Benjamin Franklin once said, “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten”. Even though these wise words were spoken over 250 years ago, they arguably have more relevance today. Nowhere is that more true than with Blu-Ray DVD Players.
Entry level Blu-Ray DVD Players recently hit below the $100 mark, while there are luxury-performance units costing $2,000 or more. As you can imagine, the specific differences in features, performance, and build quality are significant to say the least. However, you will not find a long list of blu-ray players in this guide. Since none of us have the time (I hope) to research the dozens of models on the market, it would not serve you very well. Instead, I will point out some critical factors you should consider when shopping for blu-ray players, and provide you with a summary of our favorite recommendations. This way, you will be able to make an informed decision about a model that is right for your needs.
Milk, Eggs, and Blu-Ray Players
It is sad to say, but most blu-ray players are largely considered disposable. They are designed on lightweight, plastic chassis to be sold at an economical price point at the expense of performance. Should something go wrong with the player (which often does) outside of the typical 90-day to 1 year warranty, they are not cost effective to repair. You simply toss it, and buy a new one. These blu-ray players represent the bulk of the market for discount / warehouse shoppers and are often sold under second tier brand names such as Insignia, Sansui, Jwin, and Haier. You can be sure these players will be heavily promoted during the holidays, especially during Black Friday. We cannot recommend these type of players as they will not offer the performance or reliability that we demand from the systems we design. If you are unsure of the player’s quality, we have a surefire test that will help. If you can purchase the blu-ray at the same place you get groceries, it’s not the right player for you.
Once you look beyond price as the primary motivating factor for a new blu-ray player, you will start finding models that are designed with engineering pride. Larger metal chassis and top end components make for a player with lasting quality and superior performance. These are players that should give you years of service and are the choice for true home theater enthusiasts. See below for some examples of blu-ray players that we like.
Receiver Compatibility
Another item to consider regarding the purchase of a new blu-ray player is what surround receiver you will be pairing it with. In addition to providing truly impressive 1080p video quality, blu-ray technology has the ability to feed our home theater systems with up to 7 channels of uncompressed digital audio. These surround formats are known as Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio and are a real advancement over standard Dolby Digital and DTS.
However, if your surround receiver is over three years old, it probably does NOT have the ability to process Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master Audio signals. You can, of course, get a new surround receiver. But, as an intelligent reader of this article, you can instead pick a blu-ray player with a 7-channel audio output. Found on some mid to upper end models, these blu-ray players process Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio themselves and send it pre-decoded to your “older” receiver so you can still enjoy the sonic brilliance that blu-ray has to offer.
3D or not 3D? That Is The Question
The latest advancement in TV is 3D. Nearly all of us have enjoyed 3D movies at the local theater. For some films, it really adds to the experience. But, do you really want to wear the glasses at home? For day to day casual viewing, I do not think so. Judge Judy in 3D just wouldn't be any more compelling. But, if you think of 3DTV as an occasional special event, the same as going out to the movies, then it starts to make sense. Why not pop on the glasses once or twice a month to experience the added dimension and excitement it provides? If you are in this camp, make sure you select a blu-ray that is 3D compatible. Fortunately, that is not hard to do as they are becoming increasingly available and affordable. Don’t forget, the blu-ray player is only part of the equation; your TV will need to be 3D as well.
Why wi-fi?
One of the most important features to have in a blu-ray player is built in wi-fi. As detailed in a previous article titled “A Guide on Connecting Your TV to the Internet and the Cool New Features You Can Enjoy”, we detailed how Internet enabled devices can stream a wealth of entertainment directly into your home theater system. Blu-ray players with services such as Netflix, Vudu, and Cinema Now, give you a video store right at your fingertips. Rhapsody, Pandora and Napster offer endless music selections. In addition, you can check sports scores, get a weather forecast, surf YouTube, play games, and share photos through various other Internet “widgets” or apps. As a matter of fact, I use my blu-ray player for features such as these more than I use it to play actual blu-ray or DVD discs!
I know, I know…many of you “old-school” die hards who are listening to AM radio right now, are saying, “I don’t need that, I'll never use those Internet things”. Before you jump to a conclusion, keep in mind; a wi-fi enabled blu-ray player is also critical for conveniently receiving the firmware updates that keep it running smoothly. Just like your computer requires periodic system software updates to improve performance, add features, and fix bugs, so does a blu-ray player. In fact, the recent release of Avatar on blu-ray included new “advanced” DRM (Digital Rights Management) software that made it incompatible with many players until they were updated.
While most of us do not have one, a hard-wired Ethernet connection to your router is the best way to stream on-line content and get firmware updates. And, most lower end players can be updated by going to the manufacturer’s web site and copying the updated software onto a USB drive or a disc and then transferring it to the blu-ray player. However, the technically challenged may have a difficult time doing this and if it is a hassle to do so, you probably won’t bother. With built-in wi-fi, the latest firmware update is obtained simply by pressing a few buttons on the remote control.
Blu-Ray Players We Like
Yamaha BD-A1000 ($599)
Available late this month around Halloween, the BD-A1000 is Yamaha’s first 3D blu-ray player and is part of their recently introduced Aventage Line of premium home theater products. Aventage products are known for their “unparalleled attention to detail in design, engineering, and fabrication”. A seemingly un-ending list of features makes this universal player well deserving of that lofty statement. This universal player is able to able to play CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays (including 3D), DVD Audio, and SACD (Super Audio CD) discs for virtually unlimited high quality entertainment. In addition, you can stream content from Blockbuster, Netflix, YouTube and a connected computer. The 7.1 channel audio output and internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio Decoders mean you can enjoy the best audio blu-ray has to offer even on older surround receivers commonly equipped with a multi-channel input. While it does not have built-in wi-fi, it can be connected to your network with a Cat5 cable connection, media bridge or power line adapter (ask us about these options). The build quality is refined and robust, making it a cut above the plethora of “disposable” players in the market today. I especially like the front USB port, which makes it a piece of cake to play back family photos or digital audio files. So, if you only want treats and no tricks this Halloween, place your order for the BD-A1000, and we guarantee to scare up some calorie free entertainment for you.
LG BD-590 ($349)
This player never ceases to amaze me when you think of all of what it does in a $349 package. LGs BD-590 is the only player on the market with a built-in 250 GB Hard Drive. Why you say? Well, it allows you to store all of that wonderful digital content (photos, music, and videos) right in the player where it is convenient to enjoy rather than solely on your computer. After all wouldn't you rather press a few simple buttons and enjoy family photos on your 60” TV instead of gathering around a laptop or the 2” screen on the back of a camera? You can literally rip your CDs into the blu-ray and archive your entire music collection. The built-in Gracenote Database organizes your collection by artist, album, etc. and delivers cover art for a nice presentation. With LGs included “Netcast” streaming you can enjoy Netflix, Vudu, CinemaNow, Pandora Radio, and more. And, with the built-in wi-fi, linking to your router for content streaming and firmware updates is a breeze. It is not a perfect player, however. It is not 3D, does not have a 7.1 channel output, and the build quality is average. But, the fact that it becomes a true media hub for your entertainment center helps make up for these deficiencies and it is the reason it sits in my equipment cabinet at home.
Denon DBP-2011UDCI ($799) & Marantz UD7005 ($899)
Marantz and Denon are well known for building top quality reference players with rock-solid construction. Due in December, the DBP-2011UDCI and UD7005 are no exception. Coming in at over 10 pounds, these blu-ray players look, feel, and perform like serious pieces of equipment. Three-year factory warranties back up their claims to fame. The dual layer top plates and aluminum front panels increase strength and reduce vibrations. As universal players (like the Yamaha), you can play back virtually any disc including DVD Audio and SACD. Also like the Yamaha, there is no built-in wi-fi. However the performance is top notch. For example, the Denon unit includes high end Burr-Brown192kHz/32-bit audio digital-to-analog converters and an Anchor Bay VRS ABT-2015 video scaler for improved DVD picture quality. They are both 3D and Internet ready including the ability to stream from Netflix and YouTube. For any serious cinema enthusiast, these may well be your best choice.
Conclusion
The experts at Diamond Case can help you select a blu-ray player that is right for your needs, budget and system. Just give Steve or I a call (toll-free at 800-616-5354) M-F 10-6, or Sat 10-4. You can also e-mail steve@diamondcase.com or dave@diamondcase.com. Remember, if you've purchased a universal remote from us in the past, when you buy your new blu-ray player from us, we will update your remote with the new programming for FREE.
Despite the enticements for cheap blu-ray dvd players in the Sunday paper, they are not going to give you the features, quality, and performance that you will want and need. You will end up replacing it sooner than you should have to and all of a sudden “the cheap will become expensive”.