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Best Blu-ray players
(Updated May 3, 2013 2:10 AM PDT)
Matthew Moskovciak
Senior associate editor
Blu-ray players might seem like yesterday's tech for gadget hounds, but they're still a bedrock of any modern home theater. Not only will a modern Blu-ray player handle all your disc-based media (Blu-ray, DVDs, CDs), they're also very capable streaming-media players, with support for apps like Netflix and Pandora.
Here you'll find a list of our favorite 2012 Blu-ray players, with a heavy emphasize on value. Don't get bogged down worrying too much about image quality, as all players are pretty much the same. Instead, pick a player that has that's easy-to-use and has features and streaming services you want. And if you're even a casual gamer, the PS3 Slim remains the best overall home theater value on the market.
And if you want to see all CNET's Blu-ray testing in a convenient (and huge) chart, check out CNET's 2012 comprehensive Blu-ray chart.
Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim
The latest PS3 slims down to its smallest size ever while retaining everything we like -- and a few things we don't -- about the PlayStation 3 gaming console.
Price: $269.96 - $290.40 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
Panasonic DMP-BDT220
The Panasonic DMP-BDT220 is the best Blu-ray value of 2012, with built-in Wi-Fi, tons of streaming-media apps, 3D compatibility, and a simple user interface.
Price: $126.99 - $157.95 (check prices)
4 stars
Read full review 
Sony BDP-S590
The Sony BDP-S590 is a great-looking Blu-ray player with built-in Wi-Fi, 3D compatibility, and tons of streaming-media apps, but it's slow to load discs and has some user interface quirks.
Price: $128.00 - $169.97 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
LG BP620
If you want 3D, the LG BP620 has most of the right features, but the absence of Amazon Instant and a dedicated Netflix button hurt its value a bit.
Price: $99.99 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review