Sony, Magnavox models win tests of Blu-ray video players

from Consumer Reports

Tools

Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

By Gene Hartley

Prices on Blu-ray players are coming down, and more and more Blu-ray movies are now available, so you may be thinking of getting a player or giving one. Consumer Reports tested more than two dozen costing from $130 to $700.

Blu-ray players allow you to watch high-definition video discs. Most of them now have a new feature called BD-Live, which allows the player to connect to the Internet. That enables BD-Live players to access movie outtakes from movie-studio Web sites.

Some players with BD-Live are able to access streaming movies from services such as Amazon Video On Demand, Netflix, and Vudu. In most cases, you need to plug the player into an Ethernet connection. But some let you connect wirelessly.

If you want the BD-Live feature, testers rated the Sony #BDP-S360 excellent. It costs $230. It has what's known as a "BD-Live-ready player." That means it can connect to the Internet, but you have to add memory for that feature to become active. It'll probably cost you about $10 to $15 to add the memory you need.

If you just want to play Blu-ray discs, for much less, consider the $130 Magnavox #NB530MGX. Testers also rated it excellent.

The good news is that all the players tested had excellent picture quality, the feature that's probably most important.

Consumer Reports recommends keeping an eye on store advertisements for Blu-ray players. It expects prices to come down further around Black Friday, and some players could drop to $99.

More Good Stuff

Advertisement
More Weather

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Ask The Ozarks
Quick Searches:
Food & Dining
Shopping
Arts & Entertainment
Beauty & Wellness
Real Estate
Autos
Home Services
Education
Churches
Health & Medical
Lawn & Garden

Stock Quotes

Ask KY3 module
KY3 on Facebook

Poll

Which company had the best Super Bowl commercials?

  • Bud Light
  • Coca Cola
  • Denny's
  • Doritos
  • Google
  • Snickers
  • Other

On Demand

AP Video