Ask the expert: How to choose the perfect Blu-Ray player

Q. I’ve just bought a HD telly and I’m thinking of taking the leap to Blu-ray. But I’m not sure what to look out for. Any advice is welcomed open-armed.

A. Despite being a new breed of hardware there are now already stacks of Blu-Ray players to choose from. We’ve rounded up three of the best, each boasting a different set of talents to suit any scenario you might be interested in pursuing, so you shouldn’t have any problem making the right choice.

Solution 1: Budget Blu-Ray
The Blu-Ray format has changed a lot since it was first launched. Modern players have added whizzy features like picture-in-picture, and Internet connectivity. But if you’re just after a HD source to watch Blu-ray movie discs, you can save a ton by choosing an older player. The Sony BDP-S300 won’t offer you all the fancy features of the newest players, but at under £170, you’ll have lots more money left to spend on kick-starting your collection of high definition Blu-ray films.
Best option: Sony BDP-S300 – £168

Solution 2: Feature-packed Blu-ray disc spinners
Of course, investing in the most modern players will keep your tech investment up to date for longer. Look for models with ‘Profile 2′ compatibility. This means they can hop online to download updates for your discs. That could include new trailers, bonus features or director’s commentaries. They’re more expensive, but will squeeze more from every disk you slip inside too.
Best option: Panasonic DMP-BD50 – £393.59

Solution 3: The PlayStation route
Sony’s PlayStation 3 is also a Blu-Ray player, but it shouldn’t be left out when considering the jump to HD. Thanks to its Internet connection, frequent software updates and built-in hard drive, it’s one of the most advanced around. It’s fully compliant with ‘Profile 2′, and its 40GB of built-in storage will come in handy when discs arrive letting you download bonus content. It’s also one of the cheapest ways to be up-to-date with Blu-Ray?
Best option: Sony PlayStation 3 – £279.99

Get chatting about Blu-Ray players over at the PriceRunner Forum

Related Articles:

1. Marantz launches high-end BD8002 Blu-ray playerWelcome to the Blu-ray revolution Marantz. The BD8002 is the company’s first foray into the High-Definition revolution, and what a foray! This Blu-ray bad boy (or triple B as we like to say) is capable of spinning discs at a Full-HD 1080p, at 24 frames per second, which results in a picture so clean you’d [...]...
2. Ask the expert: Game consolesQ. I’m keen on downloading cheaper console games, rather than buying them off the shelf. Out of PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii which machine is best for downloadable games? A. All three games consoles on sale today can download games. However, the Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 all approach the task differently. We’ve summed up [...]...
3. Ask the expert: HD TVsQ. I’m looking around at high definition LCD TVs, but I’m confused about 1080p, 1080i and 720p. What does it all mean, and what do I really need to look out for? I want to buy a 32 inch TV or bigger. Does this make any difference to what I need to know? Help! A. You’re [...]...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Rate this article