2011 Holiday Guide to Choosing a Blu-Ray Player

December 2, 2011 · Filed Under Blu-Ray Movies · Comment

If you are interested in viewing movies or videos in pristine and vivid color this holiday season, consider Blu-ray media. Unlike a DVD player, this high-definition device offers five times the amount of detail over standard definition, thus making pictures incredibly sharp and stunning. Additionally, Blu-ray media has a large storage capacity to suit the needs of HD, such as storage space up to 50 GB that enables playback, rewriting and recording.

In order to play Blu-ray media, you need a Blu-ray player. In today’s market, these players have received a lot of attention as there is a wide range of brands, features and prices. They are ideal if you want to watch your favorite videos in HDTV with 1080 pixels.

Here are some Blu-ray models that are highly sought in today’s holiday market:

1. Panasonic DMP-BD75 Blu-ray Disc Player: Priced less than $100, this is considered an entry-level player. It is small in size and ideal for use in a limited space. This player has all the basic features for viewing stunning images and Internet streaming. The boot time is pretty fast, so you can watch your favorite movie without delay. Furthermore, with its BD-Live feature, which offers a large memory capacity, you have additional downloadable, interactive web content, or streaming multimedia. Unfortunately, this player does not have Wi-Fi capability.

2. LG BD670 3D Wireless Network Blu-ray player: If you are searching for more options than an entry-level player, this 3D category of Blu-ray player may be the best choice. It is less than $200 with all the basic features and more, such as built-in Wi-Fi capability, making it highly portable. It offers you an amazing experience to watch your favorite movies in 3D.

3. Sony PlayStation 3: This Blu-ray player is one of the top specialty players as it offers excellent gaming capability, plus all the features mentioned in the other two players above. At less than $300, this device is compact, slim, operates quietly and has a user-friendly interface. Playing video games in high-definition is the main attraction, and you can also store many movies in its spacious hard drive. Furthermore, this player has a free online gaming service and other multimedia capabilities.

Each of these Blu-ray players represents a high quality product as each serves different needs. For those who want to replace their DVD for a better viewing experience, having a basic feature Blu-ray player is adequate. At less than $100, there is a huge selection of brands available in the market. On the other hand, if you want the option to move the player around your home, a Blu-ray player with built-in Wi-Fi is ideal. With much competition among the popular brands, it is easy to locate an affordable player to suit your needs. The third category of Blu-ray player aims primarily for gaming. Although slightly more expensive, with this player you will experience an outstanding entertainment powerhouse.

In conclusion, research each product carefully to make sure it has the features you need prior to purchasing. Additionally, read reviews about the player you are interested in to learn what others have experienced with it. By performing your due diligence, you will find a high quality player that meets your needs and fits your budget.

Fran Delaney writes on the latest gadgets and electronics.