Blu ray players....need advice

[KCmike]

What should I look for?
Which is best bang for the buck?
I'm thinking there might be a great deal on Cyber Monday?

 

[Lintasare]

You want to look for a brand that is known for quality and longevity. Blu Ray players are coming down in price and they offer a pretty good bang for the buck but they are still pricey. All should come with some sort of way to connect to the internet either by a LAN cable or Wi-Fi. Some have the ability to stream content from the internet to the player like from Netflix. I think that is a feature that is becoming more common. If you want a multipurpose device I would suggest the Playstation 3. It plays Blu Ray and regular DVDs and can stream content from the internet. Plus you can play some awesome games.

I have a Samsung and I love it. LG makes a player that is pricey now...$300 but it was Wi-Fi connectivity for use in player updates, BD-Live content and streaming content.

Also make sure you budget for an HDMI cable if your TV has an HDMI port. The you don't need multiple A/V cables since HDMI carries audio and video. Most players that I know of are not packaged with one and they have to be purchased separately.

 

[CurtisCandy]

I agree with everything Lintasare said, and would stress that, only if you enjoy gaming, think about buying a PS3. The Blu-Ray player in it is very nice and you are getting an entire entertainment system along for the ride. Prices have recently been dropped on the PS3, as well.

As far as the players, just stay with a brand name you've heard of. Most of the components are made by the same companies anyway.

Most electronics are a lot like car buying. You may have a particular brand to which you're partial, but there are gems and lemons sprinkled into all makers.

 

[Micca]

Just wanted to throw in another vote for PS3. I am 55 years old and had never once played a home video game(last game I played was Pac Man). I bought the PS3 about a year ago as it was getting rave reviews as the best blu-ray player out there. I was very happy with the unit as a blu-ray player, and then...The Beatles Rock Band came out I was so pleased I had purchased the PS3 because I HAD to have this game.

The first generation of blu-ray decks left a lot to be desired which is why the PS3 was superior to almost all of them. The newer blu-ray decks are much improved, the the PS3 still gets good ratings and they've dropped the price to $299. If you think you'd ever have any inclination to play games, I'd encourage you to check it out.

 

[bicker]

You want to look for a brand that is known for quality and longevity.

Very good advice: Stick with Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, or Sharp (pretty-much in that order, AFAIC).

Blu Ray players are coming down in price

Absolutely... I was a little tweaked that the Sony BDP-S360 I bought over the summer for $230 is now selling for $130.

All should come with some sort of way to connect to the internet either by a LAN cable or Wi-Fi.

This is not just for the extended functionality you mentioned, but also so that the manufacturer can automatically provide you fixes to the firmware that came shipped with the Blu-ray Disc player.

Also make sure you budget for an HDMI cable if your TV has an HDMI port.

You shouldn't pay more than $3.04 for a 1.5 ft HDMI cable, or $3.57 for a 3 ft HDMI cable ... you can order them for those prices HERE.

 

[Papa Deuce]

PS3 @ $299 is the way to go...

Awesome HDMI cables for under $5 @ www.monoprice.com

I use them for all my DJ cables and home theater cables. Good quality and 90% cheaper than Monster Cables...