By Steve Holdgren

Well known for producing high-quality electronic devices that are easy to use and are thoroughly tested before being released, Sony’s BDPS5500 Blu-Ray player is no exception. This model includes Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows access to a wide array of apps and online media. This Blu-Ray player also allows USB playback as well as 3D conversion on Blu-Rays and even DVDs. That’s a big upgrade over many previous models in this price range. We especially liked the ability to “mirror” the content on our Android devices onto the big screen. Available for $91, this is one of our favorite players and well worth the money for the functionality, value, and options available.  

More Specifications:

• Full HD 1080p
• 2D to 3D conversion
• Built-in Web browser
• Wi-Fi connectivity

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The LG BP350 is an affordable Blu-Ray player at less than $100. The good part is that is it Wi-Fi enabled and will allow plenty of streaming options right to any TV. It connects to video streaming programs like Netflix, CinemaNow, VUDU, and YouTube for fast movie access. The Wi-Fi is certified for a,b,g, and n speeds so it will connect to just about any wireless router. The USB port of the front makes it easy to view photos and video from your digital library on the big screen as well. The full HD 1080p play is incredibly sharp and vibrant in color with a Blu-ray disc; even standard DVDs will look better thanks to up-scaling. Best of all, you can connect all your HDMI devices to one remote control, thanks to SimpLink—no more hassle of operating multiple remotes just to set up a movie. Better yet, this Blu-Ray player is now 3D enabled, providing plenty of great features and high-quality performance.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The Samsung BD-H6500 is an ultra-slim, sleek 3D Blu-ray player fully loaded with many useful features. A big improvement over previous models is the inclusion of 4K upscaling, which is relatively new technology, but for those capable of displaying UHD content it is a worthy addition to the player. It is also a very smart device. This will make any TV it is connected to a smart TV. The BD-H6500 has built-in Wi-Fi and access to the Samsung Smart Hub. Searching for more video content is easy thanks to a full web browser; additionally, S-Recommendation offers you top picks based on your previous selections and what’s popular. The price for this feature laden Blu-ray player is about $150 online. 

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

Blu-Ray players are becoming increasingly more advanced while not surging to ridiculously high prices. Several new models coming out in 2015 offer smart TV viewing options, with the ability to search for movies, apps, and entertainment sites. We selected 10 of the best Blu-Ray players that showed the greatest technological advances and connectivity options. Other features we considered:

1. User-friendly interface
2. Sleek, compact design
3. Stunning full HD 1080p video
4. Ability to access personal photos, videos, and files on USB storage devices
5. Fast streaming capabilities
6. Rich audio that enables surround sound
7. Quick boot-up and loading
8. Built-in Wi-Fi
9. Multiple HDMI inputs

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

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By Steve Holdgren

For only $77.99, the Samsung BD-J5100 is an ideal bare-bones Blu-Ray player that has a surprisingly fast loading time. This lightweight, compact model won’t take up much space in your entertainment station, and it includes HDMI, USB, Ethernet, and HDMI-CEC ports. We liked the quick-start option, which keeps the player in an active sleep mode; when you’re ready to start it up, it boots up right away. We have no complaints about the 1080p picture quality. If you don’t care that this model has no Wi-Fi and you have to connect it to a router, then you’ll be pleased with its affordable price and simple interface. Our only major complaint is that it doesn’t have a light to indicate when it’s on.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The Panasonic BDT230 is a full HD 3D Blu-Ray player with some cool and convenient features. With VIERA Connect, users can access endless web content, including popular programs like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Pandora, and numerous gaming sites. Up to four people in a home can set up their personalized setting preferences. And the picture and audio quality they’ll experience with the BDT230 is enviable; the player provides a sharp, clear picture with minimal noise and high-quality audio. The Blu-Ray player also converts 2D video content from DVDs, Blu-Rays, and VIERA Connect to 3D. We only wish that the default setting didn’t allow ads. This Energy Star-certified Blu-Ray player, compact in design, is available for $106.99.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

For only $99.05, the Samsung BD-J5900 is a valuable 3D-enabled Wi-Fi Blu-ray player. This lightweight, compact model won’t take up much space in your entertainment station, and it includes HDMI, USB, Ethernet, and HDMI-CEC ports. We liked that it boots up quickly, faster than other models we’ve seen. We have no complaints about the 1080p picture quality, and the 3D play works great, too. And its Wi-Fi connectivity means that you can easily stream content from major services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. Our only gripe is that it doesn’t have a light to indicate when it’s on, but that’s a minor issue.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

Honorable Mentions

Panasonic SC-BTT190 

Panasonic SC-BTT195 

Panasonic SC-BTT490 

LG BD670 vs LG BD630

BD670 vs. BD630

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By Steve Holdgren

This updated for 2013 blu-ray player has all the features you’ll need to get the most out of your HDTV and Blu-ray discs. They player is equipped with built-in wifi, so there is no need to worry about those silly dongles or finding a convenient way to hard wire the thing. The wifi grants access to all the internet app like Netflix, Youtube, Pandora, Hulu, and even Amazon Instant Video. These should provide plenty of content if you run out of discs to watch. It plays 3D movies in full 1080p HD to get the most out of every image. It’s pretty stunning when done right. A neat feature is the quartz cabinet housing around the insides of the player. This should provide a nice aesthetic addition to the rest of your futuristic looking home theater gadgets. Look for this player out on the market sometime during early 2013.

Quick Specs

• Full HD 1080p
• Built-in Wifi
• 2D to 3D Conversion

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

Many home theater in a box audio systems today come with a built-in DVD or Blu-ray player. This simplifies things if you don’t already own one of these players, but what are some other benefits or perks to this feature?

Pros

• With Blu-ray players, even DVD content is “upconverted” to near HD quality, 1080p.
• It simplifies the setup.
• There is less wire and cable clutter.
• It keeps your electronics uniform and streamlined.

Cons

• It’s not essential and becomes extraneous if you already have a Blu-ray player or game console that plays these discs.
• You may become stuck with a particular Blu-ray/DVD player brand, when you may prefer having more options.
• It’s typically more expensive.

If the home theater in a box you select doesn’t have an integrated Blu-ray or DVD player, it’s not the end of the world. Simply make sure that the system’s inputs/outputs allow you to hook up whatever player you already have.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

More Top Ten Lists

Top 10 Home Theater Systems

Today more and more families are picking up home theater systems, or “home theaters in a box.” It’s no wonder why—these systems conveniently link surround sound to the TV, sometimes with a built-in DVD or Blu-ray player. As we surveyed the vast selection of home theater systems, including some Panasonic models…. [more]

Top 10 Blu-ray Players

Blu-Ray players are becoming increasingly more advanced while not surging to ridiculously high prices. Several new models coming out in 2012 offer smart TV viewing options, with the ability to search for movies, apps, and entertainment sites. We selected 10 of the best Blu-Ray players that showed the greatest technological advances and connectivity options. Other features we considered…[more]

Top 10 HDTVs

Our expert TV editors pull together the Top 10 most impressive best quality HDTVs for 2012. Editors noted several factors in helping them decide which HDTVs to include in the list including: 1. Black Level Depth 2. Side Angle Viewing Quality 3. Clarity and Clearness of Images on Screen…[more]

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Following are the models our electronics category editors JB Burden and Bob Wiley think are great mid-range LED TV choices in terms of the quality/value/price/features equation. We have reviewed these or similar offerings from the manufacturers and we recommend and rated these models based on the following…[more]

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This simple list shows off some of the best TV shows of the past few years that have a box set available. With the popularity of HBO/Showtime type shows you can get lost in finding the next great TV show (or last great)…. [more]

The BD670 and BD630 are two popular LG Blu-Ray players available on the market. Both players display full HD 1080p video, but the BD670 has the distinction of being 3D. To view movies in 3D, of course, you also need a 3D-enabled HDTV, 3D glasses, and an HDMI cable with bandwidth speeds up to 10.2 Gbps. The LG BD670 is more of an investment, costing $109.99, but it also possesses more features. With Smart TV, you can browse through 100s of apps, social networking sites, and video streaming services. The streaming options on the BD630 are limited to Netflix, CinemaNow, VUDU, and YouTube.

The LG BD630 may not have 3D or DLNA like the BD670, but it’s more affordable at $59.99 and offers great picture quality and video streaming options. Like the BD670, it also lets you access your personal videos, photos, and other files by connecting a USB storage device directly to the Blu-Ray player. And the BD630 gives you a Bonus View picture-in-picture option and a SimpLink remote control that operates all your HDMI devices.

Both the LG BD630 and BD670 up-scale standard DVDs to near HD quality. While the BD630 doesn’t have DLNA capabilities, it still streams videos well and has great HD quality. And if you’re willing to spend the extra cash, the BD670 offers stunning 3D movie viewing and full web browser searching.

JB Burden has been reviewing, and researching TVs and Electronics for more than 9 years. His topical “interests” include pixel orbiters, louvered screen filters, and in-plane switching panels… among other things. See more about JB

LG BD630 Review
LG BD670 Review

By Steve Holdgren

The LG BD630 is an affordable Blu-Ray player at $59.99 that still offers enviable streaming capabilities. It connects to video streaming programs like Netflix, CinemaNow, VUDU, and YouTube for fast movie access. Additionally, you can insert USB storage devices to the port in the front and pull up your own video content and photographs. The full HD 1080p is incredibly sharp and vibrant in color; even standard DVDs will look better thanks to up-scaling. Best of all, you can connect all your HDMI devices to one remote control, thanks to SimpLink—no more hassle of operating multiple remotes just to set up a movie. While this Blu-Ray player isn’t 3D or DLNA enabled, it still provides plenty of great features and high quality performance.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The Panasonic BDT210 is a 3D Blu-Ray player that grants you access to 100s of apps and programs. Search for entertainment content online through the web browser, upload your own videos and photos with a USB drive, or play Blu-Ray and DVD discs. Skype is available if you purchase a Panasonic web camera. When someone calls, whether you’re watching TV or the TV’s in standby, you’ll hear the ringtone. The ringtone won’t interrupt your Blu-Ray movie, however. We thought the touch free sensor was especially cool—you can open the disc tray simply by waving your hand over the sensor. The Blu-Ray player is available for $126.94.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

Vizio has announced its upcoming VBR430, a 3D Blu-Ray player that uses VIZIO Internet Apps Plus (V.I.A. Plus) to let you access 100s of Android apps on the big screen TV. With Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), you can also pull up videos, photos, and other personal files from your PC, smartphone, network drive—any other DLNA-enabled device—and view it on your TV. The Vizio VBR430 is just one of the latest products in Vizio’s Beyond TV line. The advanced Blu-Ray player promises to be a success with both consumers and electronics fanatics. The release date and price of this Blu-Ray player, slated for 2012, have yet to be announced.

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

Panasonic had the environment in mind as much as entertainment when it developed the BDT320, a compact 3D Blu-Ray disc player with a fast boot-up time and no wasted electricity. The player is extremely slim at 1.06 inches, which makes it easy to fit it in even the tightest spaces. You’ll be thrilled to access VIERA Connect, which has video streaming programs like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, and CinemaNow. Additionally, with a dedicated Skype button on the remote and a compatible HD web camera, you can Skype with friends and family over the HDTV. The picture quality and vivid color display will delight any movie fan. This Panasonic Blu-Ray player won Best of Innovations in the CES 2012 Video Components category. The release date and price are TBA.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The Samsung BD-E6500 is an ultra-slim, sleek 3D Blu-ray player that lets users register their DVD collection and access them on any personal device—be it a TV, PC, or smartphone. If you have a large DVD collection already, you’ll be happy to be able to store them in a digital format and view them in a pristine HD 1080p resolution anywhere you go. Searching for more video content is easy thanks to a full web browser; friends and family can also access your HD movie collection using your account information. With two HDMI inputs, you can keep the tangle of wires down to a minimum, running them from the Blu-Ray player to the TV, game console, or set-top box in a streamlined fashion. This smart Blu-Ray player will be introduced in 2012; the price is TBA.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices