PlayStation 3
Almost unanimously voted for by both forum and staff members,
Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) became
the Blu-ray player to own soon after its release last November. Since then, the popular game machine has received numerous updates, all accessible through the machine's built-in Internet ports, to provide increased stability and features. Most recently, Sony added DVD upconversion to the list of features, and overnight the PS3 became one of the top DVD players on the market as well.
Like most players, there were some initial issues, but the flexible nature of the PS3 hardware meant quick fixes for Blu-ray enthusiasts. BD-Java updates were also distributed quickly, usually before the title utilizing those new features ever hit store shelves. The inclusion of Dolby TrueHD and upgrade to 24p video output means that the console is equally applicable to both the casual movie watcher and dedicated home theater enthusiast.
The strength of the player comes from its awesome processing power. This means that upcoming advances like DTS Master Audio and BD-Java Picture-in-Picture (PIP) are not totally out of the question (though no promises to their addition have been made). Still, the future looks very bright for the PS3 as a Blu-ray player. With an expected price drop for the holiday season, this will not only be the best Blu-ray player available, but also remain one of the cheapest.
Runner-Up: Panasonic DMP-BD10
Coming in a distant second was the
Panasonic DMP-BD10. Lovingly referred to as “The Rock” by its owners, this player has been just that – rock solid. Recent updates include support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, making this a very capable player. Panasonic recently released an updated version, the DMP-BD10a, which is identical to the BD10, a testament to the success of the original design. Originally priced above $1000, the new lower $599 price is much more accessible to those looking for a great stand-alone player.