Best Blu-ray Player Reviews 2012

Electronic devices are items most of us covet. From large screen LED TVs, home cinema systems and Blu-Ray disc players, we've all had our heads turned and really wanted this equipment. In electronic stores, we see these items set up together, showing their optimal performances, the deep sounds, the amazing clear, crisp and colorful displays, never before has home entertainment been so good. These Blu-Ray disc players are coming down in price so much, that all of these items are within financial reach of most of us.

As with DVD players in the past, and CD players before that, prices came tumbling down after the initial introductory period of the release of the new technology. Prices for Blu-Ray players have now dropped so much, you can pick them up for nearly the same price as a regular DVD player. We will show you how.

Furthermore, it's easy to get confused or lost in the technical jargon of this technology, therefore we have written extra content on Blu-Ray players as well as including a glossary of terms. This can be found in the Learning Center.

What to Look For in a Blu-Ray Player?

The basic technology in these players is the same from player to player. What is different are the features and options of each player. Our reviews will help you identify these differences and allow you to compare them.

Video

All the Blu-Ray players we have reviewed have the same video technology. In this regard, there is no difference, they all offer the latest 24p True Cinema, full 1080p HD resolution, Deep Color, and DVD upscaling. The differences occurred with regards to the picture adjustment feature, and yet if this occurs automatically with your television, then even this is null and void in terms of comparison.

Audio

Your Blu-Ray player's best performance will be via HDMI cable to your TV. The quality of picture is immense, but the sound is too. You will be able to experience the same Dolby True HD, DTS HD and LPCM in your home, as you can at the movie theater. However, to experience the full effect of this sound, you should only consider purchasing a Blu-Ray player with the ability to output the sound to your 7.1 surround sound system. If you only have a two speaker system, then it's not worth spending the extra on this type of player, and instead you can look at purchasing a standard player with 2 channel sound.

Features

Because Blu-Ray technology offers so much extra storage space, it is able to connect to the net and download many extra things such as ring tones, wallpapers, chat with friends while watching the movie, and even watch additional footage. This is done through a system known as BD-Live.

BonusView allows a picture in picture type environment which enables you to watch two things at once, and if you go for a DLNA certified player, you will also be able to stream internet video through it. Other features include child locks, or shields for the buttons (as per the Samsung BD-C6500).

Functionality

Many Blu-Ray disc players are wi-fi compatible, but it should be noted that many require an extra adaptor to make this happen. Check the model before purchasing.

Green technology is evident in all the Blu-Ray players we have reviewed, and all use less than a watt in power in standby mode. They will also revert to standby mode after a period of around 25 minutes or so, helping reduce your electricity bill.

Most players have the option for additional storage, either built in, or via the use of an SD card. In the case of players with SD card capability, you need to check whether an adapter is necessary or not.

So, before choosing a Blu-Ray player, understand what your needs are. You needn't purchase the top of the line model because it boasts certain features; you may never use these features. Use our site to compare players, because we have already done the work and brought together a fine selection of the best Blu-Ray players available.