Matthew Moskovciak, April 14, 2009
Blu-ray may have started out as a mess, with confusing "profiles" and painfully slow load times, but this year's standalone players have finally gotten their acts together. The new 2009 Blu-ray players are already hitting retailers and we're happy to report that all the units we've tested have full Profile 2.0 compatibility, as well as onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential. The days of half-baked standalone Blu-ray players are pretty much over.
The Samsung BD-P3600 is the standout player of the bunch, going beyond the basic features to include Netflix and Pandora streaming, 7.1 analog outputs, 1GB onboard memory, and an included Wi-Fi USB dongle. We were also very impressed with its operational speed, as it's the only player we've seen that is generally as fast as the Sony PlayStation 3. Mix in its excellent image quality on Blu-ray Discs and its sleek design, and you've got one of the best Blu-ray players we've laid our hands on.
The next tier of players includes the Samsung BD-P1600, LG BD370, and Panasonic DMP-BD60. These players all supplement Blu-ray playback with a variety of streaming Internet content, including Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Amazon Video On Demand, and Flickr; picking your favorite largely comes down to which services you prefer. If you're a videophile, we'd recommend going with the Panasonic, which has excellent image quality on Blu-ray movies and DVDs. The Samsung BD-P1600 is also noteworthy for its speed disc loading and the capability to add a USB Wi-Fi adapter--although Samsung charges $80 for it.
Rounding out the list is the Sony BDP-S360. It's a solid player overall, but it doesn't include any streaming Internet content found on the other models. Even if all you care about is basic Blu-ray playback, we struggled to find a reason to recommend the BDP-S360 over the Pansonic DMP-BD60, which has a better remote and superior image quality.
We'll update this list as new and notable Blu-ray players are released. In the meantime, check out our list of top Blu-ray players, which also includes some older models that remain available.
| Product name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $334.99 | Pricing not available | $99.95 to $218.05 | $34.99 to $399.99 |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||
| Average user rating | ||||
| Review date | April 02, 2009 | March 27, 2009 | March 31, 2009 | April 14, 2009 |
| The Bottom Line | The Samsung BD-P3600 is a huge leap ahead for standalone Blu-ray players, with blazing-fast operational speed, tons of features, and excellent image quality. | The Panasonic DMP-BD60 offers excellent image quality and reliable Blu-ray playback, but it doesn't have as many features as the competition. | The Samsung BD-P1600 has a great mix of features and performance for a standalone Blu-ray player, with only its annoying design holding it back. | The Sony BDP-S360 handles all the Blu-ray basics with ease, but it lacks the streaming Internet content found on competing models. |
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| Features | ||||
| Product Description | Samsung BD-P3600 - Blu-ray player | Panasonic DMP-BD60K - Blu-ray player | Samsung BD-P1600 - Blu-ray player | Sony BDP-S360 - Blu-ray player |
| Product Type | Blu-ray player | Blu-ray player | Blu-ray player | Blu-ray player |
| Network Connection | Ethernet | Ethernet | Ethernet | Info unavailable |
| Internet Streaming Services | Pandora Netflix | YouTube | Netflix | Info unavailable |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 17.3 in x 9.8 in x 2.2 in | 16.9 in x 9.8 in x 1.9 in | 17 in x 7.8 in x 2.1 in | 16.9 in x 8.1 in x 2.2 in |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs | 5.7 lbs | 4.9 lbs | 4.6 lbs |
| Media Type | DVD+R BD-ROM BD-R BD-RE CD-R DVD CD DVD+RW DVD-R DVD-RW CD-RW | DVD-RAM DVD+R DL DVD-R DL DVD+R BD-ROM BD-R BD-RE CD-R DVD CD DVD+RW DVD-R CD-RW DVD-RW | DVD+R BD-ROM BD-R BD-RE CD-R DVD CD DVD+RW DVD-R DVD-RW CD-RW | DVD+R BD-ROM BD-R BD-RE CD-R DVD+R DL DVD CD DVD+RW DVD-R DL DVD-R DVD-RW CD-RW |
| BD Profiles | Profile 1.1 (Bonus View) Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) | Profile 1.1 (Bonus View) Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) | Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) | Profile 1.1 (Bonus View) Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) |
| Upscaling | Yes ( Up to 1080p ) | Yes ( Up to 1080p ) | Yes ( Up to 1080p ) | Yes ( Up to 1080p ) |
| Audio D/A Converter | 24bit / 192kHz | 24bit / 192kHz | 24bit / 192kHz | Info unavailable |
| Built-in Audio Decoders | Dolby Digital DTS decoder Dolby TrueHD Dolby Digital Plus DTS-HD High Resolution DTS-HD Master Audio | Dolby Digital Plus Dolby TrueHD DTS HD | Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby True-HD DTS decoder DTS-HD High Resolution DTS-HD Master Audio | Dolby Digital Plus Dolby TrueHD |
| Remote Control | Universal remote control - Infrared | Universal remote control - Infrared | Universal remote control - Infrared | Remote control - Infrared |
| Sound Output Mode | Surround Sound | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo |
| Power | AC 120 V | AC 120 V | AC 120 V | Info unavailable |
| Form Factor | Tabletop | Tabletop | Tabletop | Tabletop |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 1 year warranty | Info unavailable | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices | | Pricing not available | | |
