Which is the best bluray player currently available?

[pukalo]

I just bought a Samsung 40 Inch LN40A650 HDTV, and I want to get a bluray player but there are so many available that I have no clue which one is the best. But I do not want to get a PS3, I want the best standalone bluray player that is currently available. Thank you for suggestions!

[callas01]

I would say the Panasonic 55 is the best bang for the buck if you don't want a PS3. decodes all the audio, solid build, upconversion on pannys is always great, customer services is excellent(from Experience), and gives excellent PQ, plus it has analog outs for people without HDMI receivers.

Otherwise if you want to spend in the $1000 range you could look into the Oppo that is coming out or the Denon and Pioneer BDP's........... do you have a budget?

[pukalo]

I still have over a thousand of spending money for my entertainment center and I pretty much got everything except the bluray player. But what would be the difference between the one for 350 and the one coming out for 1000?

[callas01]

let me ask what receiver do you have?

[darkpoet25]

http://www.crutchfield.com/g_279850/...rs.html?tp=171
They have a variety of Blu players here. You can probably get them cheaper if you look around online. They have the new Marantz and Onkyo players as well.

[callas01]

Oppo is usually regarded as one of the highest quality dvd players on the market, so it is expected that it will have one of the highest quality BDP's on the market too. Usually you are looking at very high quality products that they use to build the player, so you can be sure there will be better video cards and audio decoders so on an so forth.... I am not a tech specialist, but I think there is a thread recently posted that discusses the Oppo, but I think it is not going to come out till mid next year or so..

[cartman781]

Panny BD55

[Octavio]

I am in love with my new Sony BDP-S350 updated to profile 2.0

It's small, quiet, easy to the eyes, loads BD's fast, great picture, bitstreams everything to my Onkyo, and it's quite inexpensive in comparison with similar players from other brands.

[Blu Myers]

The PS3 is by far the best player out there because of all the extras you get...and it loads movies faster than any other player.

- It also supports more video formats than any player, including divx, which can be played through a thumb drive. You can even play quicktime hd files (with a slight modification)

- The menu is very nice, which includes the playstation store.

- It has a wireless internet connection.

- Built-in hard drive.

- It streams media from any network computer.

[Midnightsailor]

Originally Posted by cartman781

Panny BD55

+1

[poogie]

I am a currently subscriber of Home Theater Magazine and they compare Panasonic BD 35 to Sony S350, both passed all their test except the Sony did not pass the 2:2 cadence test. Not sure what is that compare to regular deinteracing process 3:2.

[E55 KEV]

Originally Posted by pukalo

I just bought a Samsung 40 Inch LN40A650 HDTV, and I want to get a bluray player but there are so many available that I have no clue which one is the best. But I do not want to get a PS3, I want the best standalone bluray player that is currently available. Thank you for suggestions!

I like a player that works seemlessly with the TV and with the supplied remotes. Your Samsung TV has a feature called anynet+ that helps the BD player work together with your Samsung TV. If money is no object how abut the BD-P2500, aka 2550 at Best Buy. I am happy with my 2 BD-P1500 on both of my Samsung LCDs.

[Avond]

Originally Posted by E55 KEV

I like a player that works seemlessly with the TV and with the supplied remotes. Your Samsung TV has a feature called anynet+ that helps the BD player work together with your Samsung TV. If money is no object how abut the BD-P2500, aka 2550 at Best Buy. I am happy with my 2 BD-P1500 on both of my Samsung LCDs.

I don't know if this interests you, but I believe the 2500 also streams videos from Netflix with a firmware update...

[My_Two_Cents]

Whichever player(s) were recommended in the umpteen other threads out there titled "Which is the best blu-ray player?".

Seriously, though, any of the current Sony and Panasonic players are solid choices, as is the PS3. I, personally, see no need to spend >$500 on a good quality player, and you can get good ones for a lot less these days. There is a point of diminishing returns, and I have yet to see a player justify a $600+ picture quality premium over others. Save your money and buy more BD's. My opinion, of course.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by leem6453

The PS3 is by far the best player out there because of all the extras you get...and it loads movies faster than any other player.

- It also supports more video formats than any player, including divx, which can be played through a thumb drive. You can even play quicktime hd files (with a slight modification)

- The menu is very nice, which includes the playstation store.

- It has a wireless internet connection.

- Built-in hard drive.

- It streams media from any network computer.

I'm backing this horse.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by pukalo

I just bought a Samsung 40 Inch LN40A650 HDTV, and I want to get a bluray player but there are so many available that I have no clue which one is the best. But I do not want to get a PS3, I want the best standalone bluray player that is currently available. Thank you for suggestions!

Sony S350 is the best value by far. So glad that I got rid of my PS3.

[BIslander]

The answer depends on what you need/want in a player. The PS3 is a great player. But, if you want lossless audio and don't have HDMI on your receiver, it's not even a contender.

As a pure player that can meet anyone's needs, the Denon 3800BDCI and its Marantz twin, the BDP-8002, are clearly the best. But, they cost $2,000.

[ozzman]

Here we go again

[cawgijoe]

Unless you have alot of money to burn and you don't want a PS3, I would suggest one of the current Sony players (S350/S550) or the Panasonic 55.

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by BIslander

The answer depends on what you need/want in a player. The PS3 is a great player. But, if you want lossless audio and don't have HDMI on your receiver, it's not even a contender.

Exactly, a stand alone player would be your best option if you don't want to play games as they are actually getting better in quality and price. Beginning to wish I would have waited it out a few more months.