Blu-ray Players-Recorders

Sony BDP-S580 Blu-ray player

The Sony BDP-S580 is the best Blu-ray player that Sony makes. The only thing that makes it better than the $50 cheaper BDP-S480, though, is its integrated Wi-Fi networking -- something we don't think should come at an extra price. If you're willing to pay the extra, though, you'll be pleased to know that the Sony BDP-S580 is just as competent and full of extra features as its cheaper siblings.

Sony BDP-S480 Blu-ray player

The Sony BDP-S480 sits in the middle of Sony's line-up -- it's $30 more expensive than the cheap Sony BDP-S380, but this small price premium gets you 3D video playback and remote control via a free iOS or Android app on your smartphone. We don't think the top-end BDP-S580's extra $50 for inbuilt Wi-Fi is justified -- it should be in the BDP-S480 at no extra cost.

Sony BDP-S380 Blu-ray player

Sony's entry-level Blu-ray player, the BDP-S380, has an impressively wide range of features. It's a great player for watching Blu-ray movies, but it also has BRAVIA Internet Video for Web features like streaming ABC iView.

Grundig GSTB3111BR set top box with Blu-ray player

The Grundig GSTB3111BR set top box is a competent digital TV receiver that also incorporates a Blu-ray disc player and USB-based media player. It's reasonably cheap but doesn't have any significant flaws we could find -- for watching digital TV, playing Blu-ray movies and viewing the occasional photo or playing back a song it works just as advertised.

Pioneer BDP-430 3D Blu-ray player

The Pioneer BDP-430 is a Blu-ray disc player that can play 3D movies as well as normal 2D content with aplomb, and YouTube access will be offered via a future firmware update. Sadly its Internet-based features are limited when compared to media powerhouses like the Samsung BD-C6900 and Sony BDP-S470.

Pioneer BDP-LX54 3D Blu-ray player (preview)

The newly-announced Pioneer BDP-LX54 joins the Pioneer BDP-430 in Panasonic's 3D Blu-ray line-up. The company doesn't have any other 3D products -- after 2009's ups and downs, it doesn't even have any plasma TVs. The BDP-LX54 is the top model, and it's almost identical to the cheaper BDP-430. So what's the extra $100 for?

Pioneer BDP-340 3D Blu-ray player (preview)

The Pioneer BDP-340 isn't the company's most expensive Blu-ray disc player -- that honour goes to the $4999 BDP-LX91 -- but it's still chock-full of high-end circuitry and wizardry. As well as playing back 3D Blu-ray movies, the Pioneer BDP-430 can be controlled with an iPhone using Pioneer's iControlAV app.

Samsung BD-C8900 3D Blu-ray player and PVR

The high-end Samsung BD-C8900 Blu-ray player has inbuilt Wi-Fi and is capable of playing 3D Blu-ray movies. It shares many of the same features as the excellent Samsung BD-C6900 -- with the added benefit of a 500GB hard drive and DVB-T digital TV tuner.

LG Electronics BX580 3D Blu-ray player

The LG BX580 does an excellent job turning the bits on a DVD or Blu-ray disc into stunning images. Its Internet content and multimedia capabilities are among the best. And for a 3D Blu-ray player, the $300 estimated street price (as of November 22, 2010) is remarkably reasonable.

Samsung BD-C6500 Blu-ray player

Just about any way you look at it, the Samsung BD-C6500 is a first-rate Blu-ray player. The picture quality is among the best we've seen to date, it has audio options that are particularly friendly to older home theater surround-sound systems, and it brings Internet services such as Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, and YouTube to your television, too.

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