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In this review:
  1. Cheap Blu-ray Players
  2. Blu-ray Player Reviews
  3. Blu-ray Streaming, Wi-Fi
  4. Blu-ray Sound, Formats
  5. Discount Blu Ray Players Features Comparison Table
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Blu-ray Player Performance

The best reason to buy a cheap Blu-ray player? You get to enjoy movies at the highest video quality possible. Indeed, Blu-ray player reviews indicate that in terms of picture quality, there seems to be little difference among those we researched, even the cheapest models.

We found that they all do an excellent job replaying video in 2D and those with 3D capability also perform well when playing 3D movies. As a Blu-ray players review of the Panasonic DMP-BDT220 (starting at $130, Amazon) by CNET points out, features (for instance, which file formats are supported) and ease of use matter more than image quality when choosing a Blu-ray player because by this measure, at least, there's little discernible difference among current models. Consumers and other experts seem to agree -- not many Blu-ray player reviews discuss the devices' video prowess. Instead, the reviews offer general commentary about the visual display, using adjectives such as "excellent," "superb," and "awesome" without delving into detail. Complaints about the quality of video playback with the models we researched are rare, and when they do pop up, are nothing more than nitpicks.

Screen resolution has a lot to do with the quality of the image you see on your TV, and resolution of 1080p is about as good as it gets. Blu-ray movies look their best when played at a resolution of 1080p, so any budget Blu-ray player on the market today -- including all those we researched -- supports this resolution. DVDs normally play at 480p, but all Blu-ray players can "upconvert," or manipulate, the DVD to a higher resolution, such as 1080i or 1080p, which makes DVDs look even better on Blu-ray players than on DVD players. (See our buying guide to LCD TVs for a primer on resolution.)

Blu-ray Players Speed.

A topic often raised by experts and consumers in Blu-ray player reviews concerns how quickly the device starts playing a movie once the disc goes into the tray. Although CNET maintains that speed has ceased to be a defining performance attribute among the newest Blu-ray players, some are definitely faster than others. It's typical for Blu-ray players to require 30 seconds or more to load a disc, and Blu-ray Live discs take even longer (perhaps more than a minute) due to their extra features.

Review continues below

Loading times for the models we researched vary. Oppo's Digital BDP-93, a mid-market model starting at $500, may be the fastest-loading machine of the bunch; an expert from Home Theater Review says it was consistently faster than other comparably-priced players tested, especially when loading 3D Blu-ray discs. Back in the budget range, the LG BP620 (starting at $139, Amazon) proved to be a comparative speed demon; a Blu-ray players review by PC Mag reports this model can load a disc in a mere 20 seconds. The Panasonic DMP-BDT220 hit the 30-second target, according to a Blu-ray players review by Techradar. Ditto for the Panasonic DMP-BD75 (starting at $80, Amazon), although a Blu-ray players review by Pocket Lint reports load speed of 19 seconds with one test movie. PC Mag says the Toshiba BDX2200 (starting at $85, Amazon) has enough horsepower to fire up discs in about 28 seconds but adds that a Blu-ray Live movie takes more than double that time (about one minute and 14 seconds) to get going. Loading time for the Sony BDP-S580 (starting at $131, Amazon) tested out at a leisurely 42 seconds, notes CNET, although the Vizio VBR122 (starting at $120, Amazon) turns out to be the ultimate slowpoke; PC World found that this model needed 54 seconds to load a simple Blu-ray disc, which is truly sluggish by today's standards.

by Michael Sweet (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Blu Ray Players

Panasonic DMP-BDT220

 Read why »
Where to buy

LG BP620

 Read why »
Where to buy

Good Cheap Blu Ray Players

Sony BDP-S580

 Read why »
Where to buy

Panasonic DMP-BD75

 Read why »
Where to buy
 
 
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Don't Bother Cheap Blu Ray Players

Toshiba BDX2200

Toshiba's cheap BDX2200 garners lots of criticism from users for its annoying tendency to freeze, particularly when trying to stream Netflix video. Others complain that the player is prone to break downs, is slow to load, and features a difficult user interface. Read more »

Vizio VBR122

Although consumers report the Vizio VBR122 is a cinch to set up, many say the streaming feature disappoints because the player often freezes up during playback. Users generally like the keyboard on the back side of the remote. Read more »

 
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