Which player to buy for wedding gift?

[Augustine864]

Hey guys,
The first of my friend's is getting married in June and I thought I would get them a blu ray player to go with their new, (bought at Christmas time), LCD HDTV. What would you guys recommend?
I'm looking for something that won't disappoint in PQ and also has decent DVD upconversion, but not top-of-line break my wallet style. Not concerned with the audio codecs or really even the profile. I guess profile 1.1 would be preferable, but I don't really see them as caring. They probably wouldn't even know.


*EDIT* NOT THE PS3. I understand why you were suggest it and you are right, but.... I don't care. I want something less expensive, (even if that means lower quality and performace), and when I hand it over, it needs to look like a gift for both the bride and the groom, not just the groom, (PS3). I'm not trying to look like a jackass.

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Augustine864

Hey guys,
The first of my friend's is getting married in June and I thought I would get them a blu ray player to go with their new, (bought at Christmas time), LCD HDTV. What would you guys recommend?
I'm looking for something that won't disappoint in PQ and also has decent DVD upconversion, but not top-of-line break my wallet style. Not concerned with the audio codecs or really even the profile. I guess profile 1.1 would be preferable, but I don't really see them as caring. They probably wouldn't even know.

Do they like to game? I would vote PS3. I love mine and sold a standalone player to get it. Otherwise I would recommend the Panasonic BD30, but those are pricey due to supply constraints.

[JadedRaverLA]

Yeah, it's pretty tough to go wrong with a PS3 if they would EVER use it for gaming (or just don't mind having a gaming system for Blu-ray playback). Otherwise, try to find a Panasonic BD30... and good luck finding one.

[doctorsteve]

If you want to get on the bride's s*it list (the * is really a 'p' for the Mods sake) - get that lucky groom a PS3.

If you want to get on the brides good side - give them a big gift card to bed bath and beyond - and invite the groom over for a beer and to play YOUR PS3.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

The PS3 will give them more than they could ever expect. Even if they don't use it for games, the wireless multimedia aspect of the system sets it apart from EVERY other BD player. The only down side is that it doesn't have any analog audio outputs.

Also, if you decide on the PS3, make sure to get an HDMI cable to go with it. (www.monoprice.com)

[darkpoet25]

You can also go here to see what is available and what is coming soon.https://www.blu-ray.com/players/

[Entertainment72]

You can't go wrong with the PS3 simply due to bang for the buck. Even if they never play a game in their life the PS3 outperforms many standalones out.

[IMind]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

Yeah, it's pretty tough to go wrong with a PS3 if they would EVER use it for gaming (or just don't mind having a gaming system for Blu-ray playback). Otherwise, try to find a Panasonic BD30... and good luck finding one.

The BD30 isn't as hard to find as it was a month or so ago... both BestBuy and Circuit City seem to have it in stock.

[Caligula]

PS3... i got mine as wedding gift and it was best gift beside my wife

Make groom s day after the wedding better!

[Augustine864]

SEE MY EDITED POST. Thanks for tips guys, but I'm not interested in getting them a PS3.

[IMind]

The only players you can find that are less expensive than a PS3 are refurbished, some Samsung models that have had some issues, maybe a Sony BDP-300 on sale or open box, and the Sylvania/Funai player that just came out recently.

Basically the PS3 is one of the most inexpensive Blu-ray player on the market.

I can't recommend personally anything other than the PS3 and the DMP-BD30K. Just the only two I've used.

[Entertainment72]

Originally Posted by Augustine864

SEE MY EDITED POST. Thanks for tips guys, but I'm not interested in getting them a PS3.

Their loss..

[CptGreedle]

Sorry but if you want something less expensive than the PS3 and still a good gift, good luck.
If they were getting married in the fall you might have a better time finding a stand alone player but right now the PS3 is the best. Perhaps something else would be appropriate for a wedding.
Good luck whatever you choose to do.

[BStecke]

You're not going to find anything less expensive than the PS3, even with lesser performance. So . . . if you're dead set against the PS3, you're SOL.

[Crème Blu-ray]

For standalone, I'd go with the DMP-BD30K. Before you wrap it - open it up, power it on and make sure it has firmware 1.6.

(Definitely not the Samsung BD-P1400; even with the latest firmware, the load times are god-awful slow. That's what my parents have and I'm afraid of letting them watch anything on my BD30 lest they get buyer's remorse. )

[SquidPuppet]

Sony BDP S301. Mine has been bulletproof, upscales very well and INCLUDED a six foot HDMI cable. Under $400.00......shop around.

[Augustine864]

Originally Posted by Entertainment72

Their loss..

While that is the case, no one there would actually know it unless they are avid Blu enthusiatists, which they aren't. Instead they will see one of their college friends buying newly weds a gaming console because he is still living like he is 17 years old. While many of us here may see the PS3 as a Blu Ray player that also plays games, all they see is a game system that may or may not play "dvds" as an afterthought.


At any rate, thanks for the advice anyway, guys.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Augustine864

While that is the case, no one there would actually know it unless they are avid Blu enthusiatists, which they aren't. Instead they will see one of their college friends buying newly weds a gaming console because he is still living like he is 17 years old. While many of us here may see the PS3 as a Blu Ray player that also plays games, all they see is a game system that may or may not play "dvds" as an afterthought.


At any rate, thanks for the advice anyway, guys.

But here is an idea... when they open it, TELL THEM THAT YOU BOUGHT IT FOR THEM AS A BLU-RAY PLAYER! That should tell them that... well... it's not a gaming system, but... well... a Blu-ray player!

Hell, even if you tell them BEFORE they open it that you bought them a Blu-ray player, I'm sure that they are educated enough to associate your words, the name on the card, and the gift inside as being one in the same.

All it takes for people to realize that the PS3 is a Blu-ray player is TO TELL THEM! It takes less than 5 seconds for "It is a Blu-ray player" to come out of a person's mouth and yet people don't want to put that effort into educating those around them. It's this type of attitude that has been holding the PS3 back from becoming the extreme dominant system on the market, thus fueling the CrapBox3FixMe and its evil creator company.

Sorry for the rant, but it aggravates me when people will put all of this effort into choosing the right BLU-RAY PLAYER, but can't put the slightest effort into saying the words "It is a Blu-ray player."

[DetroitSportsFan]

Screw it, get them a toaster.

[Entertainment72]

Originally Posted by Augustine864

While that is the case, no one there would actually know it unless they are avid Blu enthusiatists, which they aren't. Instead they will see one of their college friends buying newly weds a gaming console because he is still living like he is 17 years old. While many of us here may see the PS3 as a Blu Ray player that also plays games, all they see is a game system that may or may not play "dvds" as an afterthought.


At any rate, thanks for the advice anyway, guys.

The PS3 by years end will be known more as a multi-media entertainment be all center moreso than a gaming console. Good luck with your gift.