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Review of Toshiba BDX2000

In technology sector, it is rare to see a competitor develop and sell a competing manufacturers technology. Losing out in competition usually means death knell for the company in technology sector. However, it is entirely different matter when it comes to format war. Sony readily manufactured and sold VHS over their own defunct Betamax format. This time around, Sony’s Blu-ray won over the Toshiba’s own HDDVD format. With the defeat, Toshiba officially announced the end of HDDVD format on February 19, 2008. Since the announcement, Toshiba has taken nearly 18 month to bring out their first Blu-ray player. It feels like Toshiba is begrudgingly releasing their first Blu-ray player. It has to feel somewhat irritating to release a Blu-ray player after its own HDDVD was killed off by it. Even so, Toshiba is an excellent manufacturer with long history of producing great electronics.

Features

Unlike Samsung or Sony, Toshiba has opted to release only one model so far. Instead of releasing higher end model, Toshiba opted to stay with entry level model for their first Blu-ray player. Arriving late to the game, Toshiba BDX2000 doesn’t suffer from performance issues like the earlier Blu-ray players. It also doesn’t add anything new to the Blu-ray player market. The core set of features are present on BDX2000. Like all new Blu-ray players, BDX2000 is BD-Live compatible player. You will have hard time finding any new Blu-ray player that is not Profile 2.0 compliant. On par with other players, the BDX2000 comes with onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio formats. The onboard decoding was somewhat high end feature on the first generation Blu-ray players. However, it is common feature on all the latest Blu-ray players. The lack of any internet streaming service is somewhat surprising as most new Blu-ray players have some type of internet streaming services. Overall, it lacks some of the features that are present on the competition players like WiFi and onboard storage.

Design

Toshiba has decided to go with faceplate design. This gives the player more polished and sleek design. When closed, the right side has see-through space for the LCD display. Otherwise, the faceplate has solid black finish. The tray is located in the middle of the player with playback function to left of the tray. The LCD is located on the right with the SD card slot. The choice of going with SD card over USB drive might upset some people as most have a USB drive lying around. However, with the faceplate design, it is more convenient and logical to have SD card instead of USB drive sticking out at all time. The back of the player houses the HDMI, component, composite, Ethernet port, digital audio output, and analog audio output. The BDX2000 lacks 5.1 or 7.1 channel analog audio output. A USB port in the back would have been nice addition.

Visual

The overall video imaging quality was outstanding. I don’t think you can find a better player at this price. The BDX2000 went as low as $80 during the Black Friday. You can usually find BDX2000 for around $120 right now. The BDX2000 produced crisp video images throughout the testing. It did not suffer from any video defects like the other first generation players. Although this is Toshiba’s first Blu-ray player, I can’t really compare this player to the first generation player from other manufacturers. As such, I did not expect to find any problems that plagued the first generation players. Tested with three different movies, the BDX2000 displayed no noticeable defects. All the action sequences had no problem with moiré or choppiness. Also, I did not notice any jaggies even when I paused the movies. If you still have large DVD collection, you will appreciate the DVD upscaling quality. While not good as the top tiered players, BDX2000 provides very good upconversion. The regular DVD movies looked very sharp and had no problem with defects. Overall, I had no problem with video processing. On the other hand, the overall speed of the player was not comparable to some of the newer players from Sony or Samsung. The second generation players from most manufacturers greatly increased the overall speed of the players. The BDX2000 was not close to replicating the overall speed. However, it was still adequate and not a big drawback for the price.

Audio

There were no problems with the audio decoding. The onboard decoding had no problem with any audio formats including Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS Master Audio. The overall audio performance will depend on your home theater set up. If you own a good set of speakers, you will definitely appreciate all the decoding option found on this player. You will also appreciate the MP3 and WMA playback capability. You can load SD card with your favorite music in these formats and play them without any problem. Overall, the audio output quality was excellent.

Overall

The Toshiba BDX2000 is without a doubt one of the best Blu-ray player for your money. While you can find a better player, you will be hard pressed to find it for the BDX2000’s price range. If you are lucky, you can pick one up for under $100. Even so, the lack of internet streaming and internal memory might be problem for some consumers. If you absolute must have internet streaming, you can check out the base models from Panasonic or Samsung. Otherwise, BDX2000 should satisfy most consumers in terms of quality and price.

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Sony BDP-N460 Blu Ray Player Review

Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand were conspicuously absent on the Sony Blu ray players. The BDP-S360 and BDP-S560 both lacked any type of streaming services for some reason. Even Sony’s PS3 lacked the streaming services until Sony recently added the Netflix support via firmware update. This was odd omission since Sony’s rivals all included comprehensive streaming services on all of their Blu ray player models. There was some speculation about Sony adding these streaming services via firmware update on their current Blu ray players. However, Sony decided to launch entirely new model with included streaming services. Instead of including few major streaming services, Sony has gone all out and included over 25 streaming content providers. With the release of BDP-N460, Sony finally catches up with LG, Samsung, and Panasonic in terms of streaming services.

Features

Perhaps Sony felt the majority of the home theater buyers didn’t need or want streaming services on their Blu ray players. While there are segment that do not care for streaming contents, I would have to think that majority of the consumers would still want some type of streaming option on their Blu ray players. The BDP-N460 fills that segment nicely. The overall feature is comparable to the BDP-S360 model with added streaming services. The BDP-N460 is Profile 2.0 player with full support for BD-LIVE content. The BDP-N460 features full audio decoding options. It can decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio as well as Dolby Digital and DTS audio. A drawback on audio side is the analog output of 7.1 channel audio. You will need a receiver if you want 5.1 or 7.1 channel analog output. For storage, you will need a USB storage unit. Also, BDP-N460 lacks WiFi found on the BDP-S560 model. As with other Blu ray players from Sony, BDP-N460 comes with BRAVIA Sync technology. This basically eliminates you from having to use multiple remote controls on Sony products. If you don’t own a nice programmable remote control, this should be a nice feature.

Design

The BDP-N460 retains the flip down tray design like the BDP-S360 model. The tray is located in the middle of the player beneath the tray. The see through LCD screen is located on the right side along with play and stop buttons. Unlike the BDP-S360, the USB port is located outside of the flip down tray on the BDP-N460. This is much better design compared to BDP-S360 model. The back of the player houses the HDMI, Component video, composite video, and Ethernet port. Also, there is optical and coaxial digital audio port as well as analog audio output port.

The Remote

The included remote is the one provided on the BDP-S560 model. The included remote control is similar to the older player’s layout. It is more compact and streamlined than the previous offerings. The numeric pad is located at the top of the remote followed by the function buttons in four different colors. The menu and directional buttons are located in the middle with playback function buttons at the bottom. However, the remote does not contain the channel buttons whereas the older version did have them at the bottom. Nevertheless, it is very functional and easy to use remote control. The lack of channel button might not be a deal breaker if you already own a quality universal remote control.

Performance, Video, Audio

The Blu ray playback and the DVD upscaling are very good on the BDP-N460 model. The quality is carried over from the BDP-S360 and BDP-S560 model. For the DVD upscaling, the BDP-N460 uses the same Precision Cinema HD Upscale circuitry found on the other models. While not as good as the Oppo upconversion, it does fairly good job of upconverting DVD movies. As for the Blu ray playback, it is in line with the playback quality from other Sony Blu ray players. The playback itself is very good without any discernable defects. The playback of two movies, The Dark Knight and Marley and Me, showed no problems. The action sequences in The Dark Knight had no glaring or noticeable defects. The first generation players showed some jaggies and moiré but the current generation models including BDP-N460 showed none of the jaggies or moiré. Pausing during the movie also produced no defects. Overall, the video processing quality is comparable to BDP-S360 and BDP-S560 model. On the other hand, the loading time and overall processing time is not on the par with other manufacturers. It is very similar to BDP-S360 and BDP-S560. While not horrendously slow, it is still slower than other players in its class.

As with video quality, the audio processing quality is on par with other Sony Blu ray players. There are very limited differences between Blu ray players when it comes to audio processing quality. Most consumers will not notice any difference even when you step up to the high end models offered by premium audio and video manufacturers like Pioneer or Marantz. The real difference comes from the audio decoding options. The BDP-N460 will handle all of the audio decoding needs including the high definition audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The only drawback of BDP-N460 is the lack of analog 7.1 channel audio output. Otherwise, the player handles all the audio decoding functions perfectly.

Overall

Sony BDP-N460 comes little late to the streaming service market. LG, Samsung, and Panasonic all launched their latest Blu ray players with streaming services like Netflix and Youtube. While little late to the market, the BDP-N460 boasts the most comprehensive streaming service on Blu ray player. Some of the streaming services include Netflix, YouTube, Blip.tv, Crackle, slacker, Wired, and Fear.net. If you are in market for a Blu ray player with great streaming service contents, clearly the BDP-N460 is the best choice. There is one caveat to the Netflix streaming. If you purchased it thinking Netflix was ready to go out of the box, you would have been disappointed. Sony just added the Netflix streaming via firmware updates. So, update your firmware as soon as you unbox the Blu ray player.

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Review of Sony BDP-S560 Blu-Ray Player

Like other major manufacturers, Sony offers multiple Blu-ray player models ranging from entry level to more loaded high end models. The Sony BDP-S560 represents the direct update to the BDP-S550 model. The BDP-S550 was the high end model from the previous year. While the BDP-S560 is the replacement for BDP-S550, it shares many similarities with the current lower end model, BDP-S360. Sony’s standalone players are in an odd situation as it has to compete with other Blu-ray players and Sony’s own PlayStation 3. This is a problem since PlayStation 3 is considered one of the best Blu-ray players on the market. Even so, Sony’s Blu-ray players are very competitive against the offerings from the other leading manufacturers. The BDP-S360 is one of the most capable player in its segment.

Features

The BDP-S560 adds few more features to the already feature packed BDP-S360. This has been the trend with Samsung, LG, and other top electronics manufacturers. They take the base model and add few more features to the top end models. The BDP-S560 boasts all the features found on the BDP-S360 and adds WiFi and media streaming from your computer. Like the BDP-S360, the BDP-S560 is fully compatible with Profile 2.0 for BD-Live contents. On the audio side, the BDP-S560 is capable of decoding Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio as well as all the other audio options including DTS audio and Dolby Digital. This eliminates a need for a receiver for full decoding options. Strangely, the BDP-S560 is missing the 7.1 channel analog audio output. If you want the 7.1 or 5.1 speaker set up, you will need a receiver with HDMI input. As with BDP-S360, the BDP-S560 does not have internet video streaming contents out of the box. LG, Samsung, and Panasonic have all opted to include video streaming capabilities in one way or other. It is disappointing to see Sony not include Netflix or Youtube capability.

Design

The BDP-S560 retains the flip down front tray design from BDP-S360. The dimension and weight is almost identical to BDP-S360. The LCD screen is located on right side of the player. The playback function buttons are located on the right side of the LCD. However, unlike the BDP-S360, the BDP-S560 placed a USB port at the front of the player for easy access. It lies below the face plate for easy access without having to open the front face plate. The back panel contains the HDMI, RJ-45, Component outputs, and Digital audio output. The overall finish and glossy front face plate makes for an attractive player.

Remote Control

The included remote control is similar to the older player’s layout. It is more compact and streamlined than the previous offerings. The numeric pad is located at the top of the remote followed by the function buttons in four different colors. The menu and directional buttons are located in the middle with playback function buttons at the bottom. However, the remote does not contain the channel buttons whereas the older version did have them at the bottom. Nevertheless, it is very functional and easy to use remote control. The lack of channel button might not be a deal breaker if you already own a quality universal remote control.

Video Performance and Quality

As with previous Blu-ray player models and PlayStation 3, the BDP-S560 handles Blu-ray playback without any problem. The latest Blu-ray players are fairly good compared to the first generation players. The BDP-S560 displays outstanding video quality. If you are going from DVD to Blu-ray and own a HDTV, you will definitely notice a very nice improvement. The video testing showed no artifacts, jaggies, or moiré during the playback. The fast motion sequence showed no blocking or other defects that was prevalent in the previous generation players. And, the still images during pause showed no defects in the picture. Overall, two movies tested, Batman Begins and Marley and Me, had no problem in any areas. The only down side of the player was the slow loading time. This was present in the BDP-S360 and it carries over to this player as well. The new Samsung, LG, and Panasonic players all had dramatic improvement on loading time compared to the new Sony players. I’m hoping the performance can be improved with firmware updates.

Audio

The audio output was flawless on the BDP-S560. Aside from the missing analog 7.1 channel output, BDP-S560 has no faults when it comes to audio output. There are no audio formats that can’t be decoded natively on the BDP-S560. The inclusion of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding should cover all the high definition audio decoding needs. Even with top notch audio system, you will be hard pressed to find any faults in any of the new generation Blu-ray players.

Overall

This is a feature packed player that can be had for around $250 as of this review. While there are other players in this price range with more features, you will be hard pressed to get a Sony product and the all the reputation that comes with it. The one true down side of Sony’s Blu-ray player is the loading time compared to its competitors. I would have liked Sony to improve the loading time over the previous generation players. Also, the lack of internet streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Video on Demand was a small disappointment. If you want a Sony Blu-ray player with Netflix, you might want to consider PlayStation 3.

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OPPO BDP-83 Blu-Ray Player Review

While not as widely known as Sony or Samsung, Oppo has made a name for itself with their high quality upconverting DVD players. Oppo is based out of China with many independent subsidiaries around World. Oppo Digital Inc. is a subsidiary based out of California and is responsible for producing the upconverting DVD players. Oppo DV-984H had excellent image quality to go along with SACD and 7.1 channel analog outputs. While it had great set of features, the main draw for the DVD player was its upconverted image quality. The upconversion of the standard DVD to 1080p resolution was one of the best in the industry. Given the track record, it is surprising that Oppo has waited long time to jump into the Blu-ray market. Nevertheless, Oppo has put together a very solid Blu-ray player.

Features

Oppo has put together a standalone player capable of playing almost any format. This includes DVD, SACD, DVD-Audio, CD, and Blu-ray. It’s also capable of playing Kodak Picture CD, AVCHD, and MKV files from the disc or USB flash drive. While Samsung recently added MKV compatibility, it is rare to see MKV compatible Blu-ray player. The Oppo BDP-83 is a Profile 2.0 player with BD-Live capability. It can natively decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio as well as other audio formats. Also, Oppo has decided to include 7.1 channel analog outputs. Oppo BDP-83 is capable of switching between PAL and NTSC format. While this might not be an important feature for most users, people who enjoy movies from different region will appreciate the easy conversion between PAL and NTSC. The overall set of features is very comparable to Panasonic DMP-BD80 and Samsung BD-P3600.

Design

The overall design of the Oppo BDP-83 is fairly standard affair. It is 17 x 13.25 x 3.0 inches in dimension. The dimension of the player is about the same as any other Blu-ray player. On the other hand, the player weighs in at 11 lbs. This is almost double the weight of most other players. This gives the player a real solid and well built feeling. The front face plate consists of brushed metal finishing around the LCD and loading tray. The right side of the front plate contains the general playback buttons and USB port with cover that makes it inconspicuous. The back of the player contains all the connectivity ports you can imagine. As befitting a high end player, it contains 7.1 channel analog output, HDMI port, USB port, RJ-45 port, composite and component outputs, and Digital audio outputs. As bonus, Oppo has decided to include RS-232C port and IR input and output ports for more advanced users.

Remote Control

Oppo has put in a lot of thought for their remote control. With some Blu-ray players, the remote control seems to be an afterthought. That is not the case with Oppo. The remote control has very well thought out button placements to go along with back lit buttons. And, the buttons themselves are large unlike some of the other remote controls. The numeric buttons and ON and OFF buttons located at the top of the remote with directional buttons in the middle. The bottom of the remote contains the playback function buttons as well as subtitle and various other functional buttons. There is dedicated button to turn on the backlight. Overall, the included remote was very easy and convenient to use. While it can’t compete with programmable remote controls, it is a very competent remote control.

Performance

The Oppo BDP-83 can handle almost any media formats excluding HD-DVD. It can handle DVD, Blu-ray, CD, SACD, and DVD audio media. Also, PAL and NTSC versions of DVD can be played without any difficulties. The overall video quality was excellent as expected. I used several different Blu-ray titles to test the Blu-ray playback. None of the movies showed any sign of processing defects. This is consistent with other major Blu-ray players. You won’t find too many defects or bad video processing with new Blu-ray players like you did on the first generation players. What sets this player apart from other Blu-ray players is the high quality upscaling capability. There is definite and noticeable difference between Oppo BDP-83 and other Blu-ray player’s upscaling of DVD discs. This is a definite plus for people with big DVD collections. Also, Oppo had the fastest loading time for Blu-ray discs. It even beat Samsung’s loading speed.

Audio

The audio quality was on par with most other Blu-ray players. The audio decoding option covered almost every known audio format including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Throw in 7.1 channel analog output and you won’t be left short for any audio options. The support of SACD and DVD audio format is a big bonus for audiophiles. While these formats are not very popular, the audio enthusiasts have embraced them as high definition audio formats. If you have collection of SACD or DVD audio discs, this player will fill in nicely.

Drawbacks

The Oppo BDP-83 does have few drawbacks. First, it does not have WiFi connection. For people looking for wireless home theater solution, you will need to get extra equipment to make this player wireless. Second, the player lacks streaming contents. We come to expect Netflix, Amazon Video on demand, Youtube, or Pandora on the new Blu-ray players. Lastly, it is little more expensive than the comparable Blu-ray players. Comparable players from Samsung or Sony cost about $100 less than this player.

Other than Drawbacks...

This is a player for home theater enthusiasts. The overall picture and sound quality is marginally better than comparable players. However, it might be worth it for some users. Also, this player boasts the best DVD upscaling capability on the market. If you can overlook the price and lack of streaming contents this is a definitely a solid choice for your standalone Blu-ray needs.

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LG BD390 Blu-Ray Player Review

Blu-ray players are finally hitting their stride this year with very good performances to go along with lower prices. Even the “base” models are loaded with features and excellent performances. The higher end models from the major manufacturers are priced well below $400 mark. This is far lower than the previous generation players. LG’s high end model, BD390, is priced around $350 and is crammed with features. LG adds very nice features on top of the already very competent BD 370 model.

Features

LG was the first to introduce media streaming with the BD300. BD300 was the first player to incorporate Netflix streaming on the Blu-ray player. Since BD 300, most of the Blu-ray players have copied the media streaming capabilities with their player in one form or another. Some opted to use the Netflix streaming and some have opted to go with some other services. Most players already support plethora of features on top of Blu-ray playback functions. BD390 features includes the integrated WiFi capability, Netflix streaming, Youtube and CinemaNow streaming, and media playback via network connection similar to the Samsung’s new players. The Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are natively decoded via onboard decoder. Also, BD390 includes the 7.1 analog out output. You should have no problem with audio decoding with the BD390. As with other latest Blu-ray players, the BD 390 comes with 1GB of onboard storage. As expected, the BD390 will be fully compliant with Profile 2.0.

Design

LG continues the flush front panel design it utilized on the BD370 model. While you won’t mistake BD390 for BD370, the glossy finish and flush front panel are all part of the BD390’s design. With the panel design, the front looks less cluttered. The LCD sits in the central area and is not visible until information is displayed. The playback function buttons are located on the right side of the player. A plastic cover hides the front USB port at the far right side of the player. As with any other glossy finish, the material tend to be a dust and finger print magnate. Otherwise, it is fairly nice looking player. The back of the player houses all the connectivity. The component and 2 channel audio out is provided for the older television sets. The HDMI and RJ-45 are located next to optical and coaxial digital audio output ports. We would have liked another USB port but it is not a big drawback as you don’t need a WiFi dongle like Samsung player for WiFi functionality. The big addition over the BD370 model is the inclusion of the 7.1 channel analog audio output. If you own receiver with HDMI input, you might not consider this a big addition. Otherwise, it’s nice inclusion for people with older receivers.

Remote

The included remote is very functional remote. The layout is pretty good with directional buttons in the middle and the special function buttons separated by different colors. The playback function buttons are located below the special function buttons. The numeric buttons and other less used buttons are hidden beneath the sliding cover at the bottom of the remote. This was nice design feature as it hides away the seldom used buttons. I found this design to be really nice as it made the remote less cluttered. If you need to use the numeric buttons often, this might cause some hassle. But, most users will appreciate the out of sight numeric buttons.

Performance

There’s not too much to say about BD390’s performance. The video/image quality is superb like most other Blu-ray disc players. The new crops of players all have similar video/image quality in Blu-ray playback as well as DVD upscaling. BD390 performed flawlessly on all three Blu-ray titles. Batman Begins and Matrix discs showed no moiré or jaggie defects. All the action sequences displayed without any blocking or blurring artifacts. The less action intense title, Marley and Me, had no problem with colors or any other defects. The area of great improvement is the loading speed over the past LG players. Samsung players all improved greatly in loading times. The BD 390 also does great job with loading time improvement. It is nearly twice as fast as the previous generation players. The loading time used to be hideously long on older players with some player taking minute or so to load certain discs.

Audio

The audio quality greatly depends on the home theater setup. As such, it is important for the Blu-ray player to have good decoding and output options. The decoding quality is similar across many different manufacturers. BD390 handles all known decoding option and includes the 7.1 channel analog output for added bonus. The overall audio decoding quality was on par with other players.

Overall

I was very impressed with all the formats the player was able to decode. The BD 390 can decode MP3, JPEG, PNG, AVI, Divx, and MKV. MKV file containers are usually used for high definition encodings as well as great many formats. This is the first player that actually managed to decode MKV files without too much trouble. The media streaming capabilities were easier to set up than the Samsung version. The included software had no problem setting up the connection to the PC. The included streaming services are more than adequate to cover all the streaming needs. Youtube and Netflix are fairly well known video services. The CinemaNow is similar to Amazon Video on Demand service that offers new video releases for rental.

If I had to purchase a new Blu-ray player, this would be the player to get. It is packed with features and boasts some of the best performances. And, all this comes at relatively low price point of $350. This is a highly recommended player.

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Review of DMP-BD70V Blu-Ray Player

VHS and Blu-Ray Combo?

The switch from VHS to DVD was helped along by the DVD/VHS combo units in the early days. The switch from DVD to Blu-ray was more easily accomplished as you can play DVD discs in Blu-ray player. So, there should be no need for a VHS/Blu-ray combo. Apparently, there is a market for such unit. The Panasonic DMP-BD70V is the first and only VHS/Blu-ray combo player on the market. We are not sure how much of market research went into the decision. However, they must have some data showing a demand for this player. The DMP-BD70V boasts same set of features as the DMP-BD60 model on top of the VHS playback function.

Features

As stated earlier, the DMP-BD70V has the same set of features found on the DMP-BD60 model. Like DMP-BD60, the DMP-BD70V comes with Profile 2.0 and high definition audio decoding. Instead of Netflix and Pandora, the DMP-BD70V supports the Viera Cast and Amazon Video on Demand service like the DMP-BD60. The Viera Cast is Panasonic’s proprietary online streaming service. While not as robust as Netflix or Pandora, it is a nice bonus. The Viera Cast suite includes the Youtube service as well as Picasa web picture suite. The Amazon Video on Demand does have newer videos for streaming than the Netflix. Overall, the features mirror the DMP-BD60 model.

Design

As expected of the combo player, the unit is bulkier than other Blu-ray players. However, compared to DMP-BD60, it is about 2 lbs heavier. The VHS slot and Blu-ray slot are located at the top half the player with LCD on the bottom half. The flip down face plate on the right side houses the playback function as well as SD card slot and USB slot. As far as the aesthetics go, it is not the most sophisticated looking player. The connectivity for DMP-BD70V include component video, HDMI, RJ-45, composite audio/video, and SPDIF output.

Remote Control

The remote control for the DMP-BD70V doesn’t change much from the previous remote controls. It is very similar to the remote control from the DMP-BD 60 model. The top of the remote houses the volume and channel buttons. This can take some time getting used to since most remotes have them in the middle or the bottom. However, there is separate volume button for your receiver. This is particularly convenient if you have receiver set up and don’t have a universal remote control. The numeric buttons are right below the channel and volume buttons. The playback function buttons and directional buttons are in the middle. The menu buttons surround the directional pad. The bottom of the remote houses the special function buttons like Viera Cast and set up buttons. Overall, it’s a solid remote control. It’s not Harmony but you can do much worse.

Performance

The Blu-ray performance mirrors the DMP-BD60 model. The movies tested on the DMP-BD70v fared no better and no worse than the DMP-BD60. The video and image qualities were top notch with no noticeable defects like moiré or jaggies. The fast moving sequences were spot on with no problem. As with DMP-BD60, the loading times were not as fast as the Samsung or LG players. The new generation of players from Samsung and LG has improved the loading time dramatically over their previous models. This is not true for the Panasonic players. While it does improve upon the older models, it is not as significant as the players from Samsung or LG.

Sound

Unless you are an audiophile, you will not notice significant differences between audio qualities from this model or other comparable players. The DMP-BD70V is very comparable to the audio performances found on DMP-BD60. The DMP-BD70V can natively decode Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and the DTS HD audio formats. These should cover most decoding needs for most consumers. The only drawback on audio front was the lack of 5.1 or 7.1 analog audio output. If you have receiver, you won’t miss the lack of output. However, if you don’t own a receiver, you might want to invest in a receiver if you plan to utilize the existing speakers.

Overall, the DMP-BD70V is very good Blu-ray player. As far as the VHS performances go, the upscaling of VHS to high definition resolution can’t really compare to DVD or Blu-ray. However, it does look better than the playback from VHS player. I can’t imagine anyone needing a VHS player to go along with their Blu-ray player as you can easily convert VHS to DVD with very minimal effort. Regardless, if you absolutely need a VHS player to go along with Blu-ray player, this is a perfect player to get. Even if it is the only VHS/Blu-ray player on the market.

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Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-Ray Player Review

Samsung generated a lot of buzz when they previewed the BD-P4600 at the 2009 CES. Not only did it have great number of features, it also had a very unique design not seen on previous Blu-ray players. Following the Touch of Color design schemes on other electronics, The BD-P4600 boasts glossy finish and red colors bleeding from the rounded edges. It might be aesthetically pleasing but serves no practical purpose when it comes to the actual playback. Another big feature of BD-P4600 is the ability to mount the player on the wall instead of shelving it in your entertainment center.

Loaded with Features and Options

Functionally, the BD-P4600 is identical to the BD-P3600. It boasts same features and playback capability. The BD-P4600 is a Profile 2.0 player that comes with on-board 1GB memory as well as the WiFi dongle. Because of the design, Samsung has chosen to remove the 7.1 channel analog output. Otherwise, it has the same audio decoding capability. It can decode Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential. The ability to stream Netflix and Pandora is carried over from BD-P3600 and BD-P1600. Another welcome carry over is the ability to stream media files from your computer. Also, the included Wi-Fi dongle is extra $80 if bought separately.

Design

If you are seriously considering the BD-P4600 for extra $50, you are most likely attracted to the design or the option to mount it on the wall. No other player offers an out of the box mounting solution. Whether it’s worth extra $50 is questionable. Having said that, Samsung BD-P4600 is a beautiful looking player. The rounded edges accentuated by Touch of Color scheme makes it a very aesthetically pleasing player to look at. At about 8 x 18 inches, the player is definitely on the smaller side. And, the overall thickness of the player is just 1.7 inches. This makes it one of the smallest Blu-ray disc players on the market. The entire player lacks any hard buttons to speak of. Instead, the player features flush buttons that light up when the player is powered up. Otherwise, the LCD and the buttons are “hidden” and out of the way when powered down. Due to the design, the player lacks the traditional loading tray for the disc. Instead, Samsung has implemented slot loading system on the side of the player. The bottom of the player houses the connectivity ports. These include the HDMI, RJ-45, video and audio out, digital audio out, USB, and power input. All these ports are housed in a compartment with a flip down door. Also, you can close the door even with all the connections.

Remote Control

The included remote control doesn’t deviate from BD-P1600 and BD-P3600. The numeric buttons are located at the top of the remote with playback functions right below it. The channel and volume buttons are located in the middle of the remote control. The directional and BD-J disc buttons are placed at the bottom of the remote. The BD-J buttons are color coded in red, green, yellow, and blue and are used for special features. The dedicated subtitle and audio buttons are nice additions for on the fly switching. Overall, the redesigned remote control is a step above the previous generation remote controls. Most of the advanced home theater users will want to purchase a programmable remote like Harmony remote controls from Logitech.

Performance

Aside from form factor, the BD-P4600 mirrors the performance of BD-P3600. That is to say, it is almost identical to BD-P3600. There were no discernible differences between the video processing qualities. The three identical movies tested on the BD-P3600 were also used to test the BD-P4600. As with BD-P3600, the movies showed no moiré or jaggies. The fast action sequences produced no blurring or blocking artifacts. As with BD-P1600 and BD-P3600, the loading time was very fast. The loading time of the new Samsung players are by far the best. The loading times are quite noticeable when tested against other Blu-ray players from Panasonic or Sony players. The streaming quality of Netflix and Pandora are on par with watching or listening on the computer. You need high speed internet to get the best possible quality for the Netflix streams.

Audio and Sound

The audio performance is identical to that of BD-P3600 as well. The player is capable of decoding Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essentials out of the box. Due to the design constraints, the BD-P4600 lacks the 7.1 channel analog output support. The BD-P3600 is the only new Samsung player capable of 7.1 channel analog output. If you are considering the BD-P4600, make sure you have receiver capable of HDMI input and output. Other than that, the quality of Pandora streaming was very capable.

Network Capability and Issues

As with BD-P3600, the BD-P4600 is capable of streaming media files from your PC. This is a big addition to the Blu-ray player for people that have large media collection on their PC. However, the setup is not very user friendly. You need some working knowledge in networking process to get it up and running. The automatic detection and setting feature is useless as it failed to detect the PC on the network. As with BD-P3600, you need to manually input IP and log in address every time you connect to the network PC. I’m confident Samsung will refine this through firmware updates.

Other Thoughts

I did not utilize the mounting kit that was included with the player. If you choose not to mount the player on the wall, you can use the stand that comes with the player. The player sits on the stand on a slanted angle giving it a unique look. The biggest problem I see with mounting it on the wall is the wire management to make it look presentable. Until we get truly wireless player, you will have to punch some holes in your wall if you want the wires to stay out of sight.

The street price of this player is roughly $400. This is about $50 more than the BD-P3600 model. Both players have exact same functionally and components except for the lack of 7.1 channel analog output on the BD-P4600. If you are willing to part with $50 for unique design, BD-P4600 will not disappoint.

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Samsung BD-P3600 Review

Most of the major electronics manufacturers boast various models of Blu-ray disc players. They range from entry level models to higher end models that command premium price. The Samsung BD-P3600 was one of the higher end models announced at previous CES. The Samsung BD-P1600 and BD-P4600 are already available for purchase. While BD-P4600 may carry higher model number and slightly higher price, the BD-P3600 is aimed at the broader market for the higher end Blu-ray disc players. While BD-P4600 is a radically departure from the BD-P1600, the BD-P3600 is more traditional upgrade from the BD-P1600. The BD-P3600 retains the traditional design and adds various features absent from the BD-P1600.

Features

The Samsung BD-P3600 is definitely a step up from the BD-P1600. While it shares the core features like Profile 2.0 and various audio decoding options, the BD-P3600 adds various features absent on the BD-P1600 model. On the audio side, the BD-P3600 comes with 7.1 analog out put on top of all the audio decoding options found on BD-P1600. The biggest addition is the inclusion of the Wi-Fi adapter, extra $80 if you purchase them separately. This will be a big bonus for people with wireless network. Also, the player comes with 1GB storage space. This should eliminate the need for additional USB drives. Another great feature is the ability to stream media files from your computer. All these features are in addition to the features found on BD-P1600 such as the Netflix and Pandora streaming.

Design

I give Samsung a lot of credit for the BD-P3600’s design. They could have stuffed more features into the BD-P1600’s frame. Instead, they made it stand out on its own. The overall glossy finish of BD-P1600 is replicated on the BD-P3600. The dimension is not merely a rectangular unit like its predecessor or other Blu-ray players. The top of the player is wider and it tapers off toward the bottom. This gives the player a unique look compared to other players. Another difference was the addition of the touch sensitive buttons at the top of the player instead of front. This might be a problem if you intend to place your Blu-ray player in a tight space where you can’t readily reach the buttons at the top of the player. There is a flip down cover that houses one of the two USB ports on the right side of the player. The tray is located on the left side of the player. The back of the player houses rest of the connectivity. These include HDMI, component, audio outputs, RJ-45, USB, and 7.1 channel analog out put.

Remote Control

The remote is similar to the one found on BD-P1600. The numeric buttons are located at the top half of the remote control along with the power button. The playback function buttons are placed directly beneath the numeric buttons. The middle of the player contains the channel and the volume buttons. The bottom half of the remote control houses the directional buttons, the color coded special buttons, and Menu buttons. The dedicated subtitle and audio buttons are a welcome addition from the older generation Samsung players. If you have several Samsung home theater equipments, you can utilize the Anynet+ feature to control them all with single remote. You must own Anynet+ compatible equipments to utilize this feature.

Video Quality and Performance

From the start, Samsung’s Blu-ray players have never had any problem with video/image quality. The BD-P1500 and BD-P2500 models were all excellent Blu-ray players. The lower end model BD-P1600 was also an excellent performer. The BD-P3600 continues the excellent video quality. The same three Blu-ray movies were tested to get consistent comparison between the players. The Batman Begins and Matrix discs showed no discernable moiré or jaggie defects. The action sequences showed no blurring or blocking artifacts. This was consistent throughout the movie. The video quality was on par with the BD-P1600 model. The third movie, Marley and Me, also had no problem in any area. As noted in the BD-P1600review, the loading time and overall performance time has vastly improved over the first generation players. The BD-P3600 is even faster than the BD-P1600 model. It comes close to the performance of PlayStation 3 loading times. On some cases, the loading time of BD-P3600 was close to 10 seconds or faster than the other players. One other thing to note is the quality of Pandora and Netflix streams. As these are mostly standard definition videos and audios, you can get varied qualities with the speed of your internet connection. For best result, broadband speed is recommended.

Audio

The overall audio quality is pretty much similar to other Blu-ray disc players. The onboard decoding support for the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA is a very nice addition from the previous generation players. One addition from the BD-P1600 model is the inclusion of analog 7.1 channel output support. For people with older receivers that need 7.1 channel input, this should be a nice inclusion. The overall performance of audio was excellent. It had no problem with any of the movies on the audio side. Even the streamed audio from Pandora had excellent audio quality.

Conclusion

The ability to stream media files from your PC to Samsung BD-P3600 is one of the biggest additions from previous and current Blu-ray disc players. Once you set up the network configuration, you will be able to stream MP3, Divx, and various picture formats from your PC. Reading other reviews, people with very basic networking knowledge might have some difficulties in setting this up. The automatic detection and setting feature were virtually useless as it did not detect the PC on the network. You have to manually enter the IP address as well as the log in information every time you want to connect to the streaming PC. I hope Samsung will release an update to make this feature more easily accessible.

At about $400.00 this is not the cheapest player on the market. However, for price and performance that is comparable to Playstation 3, it is a very good choice for people who do not need a gaming machine to go along with their Blu-ray players.

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Sony BDP-S360 Review

Sony’s update to their BDP-S350 arrived later than its competitor’s update to their mainstream Blu-ray disc players. Most of the Sony’s competitors have released their updates for their Blu-ray players. This includes Samsung, LG, and Panasonic. While Sony was the main force behind the Blu-ray format, it had some trouble finding a firm footing with their stand alone Blu-ray players. This was partly due to the PS3 being able to handle Blu-ray playback in more than adequate fashion as well as the higher price than its competition. Nevertheless, the BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 were both very capable players with outstanding image qualities. The BDP-S360 went on sale few weeks after the competitor’s players were available to the public. The price point and the features are comparable to that of Panasonic DMP-BD60 and Samsung BD-P1600.

Loaded with Features

The BDP-S360 is direct successor of the Sony BDP-S350, the base model of Sony’s stand alone players. However, there is nothing “basic” about BDP-S360. Like the Panasonic DMP-BD60 and Samsung BD-P1600, the BDP-S360 comes loaded with features at a very competitive price. As with most new players, the BDP-S360 is fully compatible with Profile 2.0. This means you can access any BD-Live content via internet. The BDP-S360 features full audio decoding options. It can decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essentials as well as the Dolby Digital and DTS audio. As with the other entry level models, it lacks the 5.1 or 7.1 channel analog audio output. You will need receiver or higher end model for the output options. One glaring omission is the video streaming capabilities offered by Samsung, LG, or Panasonic. Samsung and LG integrated Netflix for their video streaming while Panasonic has opted to integrate the Amazon Video on Demand features. On the other hand, Sony does not come with any streaming or video on demand capabilities. This is somewhat unfortunate as video streaming has become a big draw for many consumers.

Design

The BDP-S360 resembles Samsung BD-P1600’s design. It has flip down front tray much like the Samsung player. The front panel has glossy finish much like the Samsung BD-P1600. The LCD screen is located on the right side along with play and stop buttons. The placement of the USB port in the back is either a good choice if you rarely used them or a bad choice if you frequently use them. Otherwise, there is nothing incredible or terrible about the overall design of the player. The back panel contains the HDMI, RJ-45, USB, and Component outputs. Digital audio output can be done via optical or coaxial along with analog audio output.

The Remote Control

The included remote control is similar to the older player’s layout. It is more compact and streamlined than the previous offerings. The numeric pad is located at the top of the remote followed by the function buttons in four different colors. The menu and directional buttons are located in the middle with playback function buttons at the bottom. However, the remote does not contain the channel buttons whereas the older version did have them at the bottom. Nevertheless, it is very functional and easy to use remote control. The lack of channel button might not be a deal breaker if you already own a quality universal remote control.

Video Quality and Performance

Sony has always produced outstanding video qualities with their disc players. The BDP-S360 is no exception. Even the previous efforts, BDP-S350 and BDP-S550, were among the best performing players on the market. With more refinements in the current crop of players, it is difficult to point out or single out a player based on image quality. Most of the new players will offer excellent video quality. The BDP-S360 offers image quality comparable to the other new players. The video testing showed no discernable defects such as jaggies or moiré. The fast sequence show no disruption or blocking up issues. Even the pause showed no signs of the defects. The player performed flawlessly on all three movies tested. The only downside of the player was the loading time. All three movies tested exhibited longer loading time than any other player tested. The Samsung, LG, and Panasonic’s new players all offered faster loading time than the BDP-S360. This might be improved with firmware updates but as of now it is the slowest performing player when it comes to loading time.

Audio Quality

As with video quality, there are little separations between the players when it comes to audio quality. The decoding options are what separated the first generation players. Some players were not able to fully decode all the high definition audio formats. However, the current generation players including the BDP-S360 all cover majority of the audio formats. As mentioned earlier, the BDP-S360 will be able to decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential out of the box. Similar to other entry level players, the BDP-S360 lacks the 5.1 or 7.1 channel analog audio outputs. The BDP-S360 showed had no problem with audio decoding.

Overall

This is a worthy successor the BDP-S350 and maybe even Playstation 3. Sony has cannibalized their own stand alone units with thePS3 filling in nicely. However, should you not wish to buy a gaming machine along with Blu-ray disc player, the BDP-S360 should have no problem filling in for the PS. The lack of video streaming might turn off some people as it is nice little bonus to be able to stream Netflix or Amazon video on demand services. Otherwise, it is very good player with competitive price.

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Panasonic DMP-BD80 Blu-Ray Player Review

Panasonic’s other Blu-ray disc player announced at 2009 CES is finally hitting the retailers across the internet and brick and mortal stores. The DMP-BD80 was the high end model announced along with the DMP-BD60. The DMP-BD80 adds few more features to the already solid DMP-BD60 model. Both players feature Profile 2.0, high definition audio decoding, and the video streaming via Panasonic’s own Viera Cast service. Technically, there are not too many differences between the DMP-BD60 and DMP-BD80. The players themselves look remarkably similar except for the 7.1 channel analog output in the back of the DMP-BD80 model.

Features

The DMP-BD80 is a step up from the DMP-BD60 model. Like the DMP-BD60, the player is Profile 2.0 compliant with all the high definition audio decoding. The onboard audio decoding can decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio as well as the legacy audio formats like DTS and Dolby Digital. You shouldn’t have any problem with audio compatibility with this player. The DMP-BD80 adds the 7.1 channel analog audio output which was missing on the DMP-BD60. The Viera Cast is a nice added bonus for online streaming videos. The coming compatibility with Amazon video on demand service will be a nice added feature since it lacks the Netflix streaming found on LG and Samsung products. As with the DMP-BD60, the Viera Cast comes with weather information, Youtube, Picasa, stock quotes, and the upcoming Amazon video on demand service. The Viera Cast has very nice and easy to use interface. It’s clean and simple to use with large icons showing the feeds for weather and small screens that represent Youtube and Picasa. Panasonic still has not addressed the aspect ratio problem when viewing Youtube contents. Most of the videos on Youtube are 4:3 instead of 16:9. This stretches out the pictures making them unattractive.

Remote Control

The remote control is essentially the same one from the DMP-BD60 unit. Instead of having the volume and channel buttons in the middle, the top of the remote houses the volume and channel buttons with separate volume button for your receiver if you have receiver setup in your home theater system. The middle of the remote control contains the playback function buttons along with directional buttons. The menu buttons conveniently surround the direction pad for easy access. The bottom of the remote contains the special function buttons for Viera Cast and set up buttons. This is very functional remote control if you choose to stick with it instead of a universal remote control. We liked the LG’s design with sliding cover better than the Panasonic’s remote unit for the DMP-BD60 and DMP-BD80.

Design and Aesthetic

Panasonic has not changed the design of the Blu-ray disc players significantly since the introduction of their DMP-BD35 model. The DMP-BD60 and DMP-BD80 both look exactly alike. The middle of the player contains the disc tray with LCD on the right side. There are basic playback functions housed beneath the manual flip down tray that includes the SD card slot and the USB port. The only addition to the DMP-BD80 is the 7.1 channel analog audio port found on the back of the player. Also, there are the standard HDMI, component video, optical and digital audio ports that go with the analog outputs.

Video and Performance

As with previous Panasonic Blu-ray players, the video quality is simply amazing. From the start, Panasonic has consistently produced great Blu-ray players that are capable producing crisp and accurate video playbacks. Generally, the playback quality mirrored the quality from DMP-BD60 model. That is to say, it was excellent across the board. Using three different titles, the video playback showed no signs of jaggieness or moirés. Even the freeze frame revealed very little defects in the way of jaggieness on few scenes in Marley and Me. The fast motion sequences in the Matrix and Batman Begins had no problem in video rendering. The only minor complaint is the longer than expected loading time found on this player and the DMP-BD60. As mentioned in the DMP-BD60 review, the loading time of Blu-ray discs on these models took significantly longer than the competition’s players from Samsung, Sony, or LG. On some cases, the loading time took almost twice as long on this player as it does on the other players. The differences in Blu-ray and DVD structure will force some delays but the Panasonic seems to have somehow missed out on reducing the loading time from the previous generation models. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t detract from the quality video rendering and very good image quality provided by the DMP-BD80.

Audio for Audiophiles

The audio quality was spot on and handled all the audio formats encountered on the three discs. As with other players, most viewers will not notice any difference in audio quality from top manufacturers like Panasonic or Samsung. The differentiation in audio comes from the player’s ability to decode the high definition audio formats.
Out of the box, the DMP-BD80 can decode Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, and DTS. The addition of 7.1 channel analog output is the main upgrade from the DMP-BD60 model. If you have absolute need for the 7.1 channel analog output, you will have to pay about $100 premium over the DMP-BD60 model.

Overall

For most people, the DMP-BD60 should be sufficient. Only the people who need the 7.1 channel analog output should opt for this model. The video qualities as well as the audio options are similar to that of the DMP-BD60 model. Overall, this is a very well performing player with polished software to go along with a very good hardware.

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Top 10 Best Selling Blu-Ray Players

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• Sony BDP-S360
• Panasonic DMP-BD80
• Panasonic DMP-BD70V

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