Blu Ray Disc Players

While the question still remains if 3D is everyone’s cup of tea, Oppo has decided to take this innovative technology to a greater level by unleashing their next model, the Oppo BDP-93. Enormous effort is seen in terms of its engineering and design in making sure it is a true successor to its predecessor, the award-winning BDP-83. Well Oppo has done quite a few tweaks to the BDP-93, to name a few they it is 3D compatible, a few modifications on the chassis, additional network functionality in terms of Blockbuster and Netflix movie streaming, swapped over to the highly-regarded and most popular Marvell Qdeo video processor along with dual HDMI output that comes in handy with dual monitors or just importing audio to an AV receiver, and finally not to forget that the player supports Wireless networking; the best part of all this being all of these with absolutely no increase in its price tag. Frankly, this is QUITE a few tweaks and to imagine that we still haven’t practically started the review at all huh? So hold on, looks like this might take quite a while!

Well, for those of you who feel that most high-end Blu-ray players of today come with almost all of these features for a far better price and yet others who have not heard of Oppo and question its basic performance to justify the cost, Read on!

To begin with OPPO is a beloved manufacturer of Blu-ray Players and DVDs extant since 2004 with significant followers on the Internet for their outstanding performance and extensive features. Let us take the BDP-93′s SACD playback and DVD-Audio for example: Both these formats are practically outdated with very few manufacturers offering the same, one among them being Oppo. They provide this for enthusiasts with a sizeable library of titles, who wish to playback titles in these formats and Oppo gracefully complies with such fetish.

Unboxing the BDP-93:

Upon unboxing the BDP-93 Blu Ray Disc Player, it is matter of time before you realise that it is no different from its older brother with an impressive packing that keeps the unit well protected in a reusable carry bag. Also found in the package are the remote control with batteries, power cord, well-informed User Manual, standard A/V cables, HDMI cable, Wi-Fi Dongle that supports Wireless N along with a 6-foot USB extension. But then it lacks the inclusion of the Spears and Munsil and AIX Calibration Discs (but the same can be availed from OPPO by paying extra), which was available for free on the BDP-83/BDP-83 SE models. Well coming back to the looks, the BDP-93 is just about the same size as the BDP-83, but then with a marked difference, definitely attractive looking from every angle. Featuring an exemplary anodized brushed aluminum front panel, the BDP-93 is gracefully designed and comes with few flushed buttons like the Power, Disc Tray, and Navigation buttons giving it a sophisticated look with an exemplary black finish and fit. Well the flush eject buttons might be a wee bit problematic to locate in a darkened room, and this is where the back-lit remote comes in fairly handy. The refurbished disc tray has been improvised and is custom-built by Japan’s Tohei Group, which has wonderfully taken care of the mechanical noise and rigidity issue that beset the BDP-83. It is designed to look cool and retracts fully flushed in the front panel with the tray operating more rapidly, smoothly and quietly. There are two digital displays right next to the tray with the main display on the left displaying disc and track timings and the aux display responsible for disc info and icons. Both the displays are dimmable, subtle and relatively informative. The BDP-93 also is equipped with an easy-to-access front USB port that is smartly concealed. The BDP-93 might weigh a tad less in comparison to the BDP-83SE (10.6 oz versus 11.3 oz), but it still boasts of the same solid build as its older brother.

Back Panel Connectivity:

Peeking at the back panel you get to observe two obvious inclusions – firstly an additional HDMI v1.4a output that supports all old, existing and future HDMI TV and receivers and secondly the absence of a stereo analog output. (This is available only in the Oppo BDP-95). Well this is no big deal as majority of the users might posses an AV receiver that derives its audio from HDMI output. Again, there is also an option provided in the setup menu that downconverts 7.1 channels to 2, if stereo audio is all that you need.

The provision of an additional HDMI comes in fairly handy allowing you to utilize one HDMI exclusively for video and the other one exclusively for audio, ensuring high-quality audio/video for both the signal path. Likewise the flexible HDMI menu makes configuration of the dual HDMI outputs fairly easy. There is no longer the need to upgrade your A/V receiver to a 3D model for you to enjoy 3D anymore. Just connect one HDMI out to a 3D TV and the second one to a pre-3D HDMI A/V receiver. Better still, you could opt for dual outputs parallel to a single output fed into a projector to enjoy home theatre viewing and the other fed into a TV for casual viewing. If you are looking at multi-room viewing, the BDP-93 is equipped to output video/audio to two 3D/2D television sets concurrently.

Remote Control:

No big changes in the remote of the BDP-93 and is almost similar to that of the BDP-83 remote. It is the most preferred one and it is nice to know that Oppo has decided to retain this proven design up until their latest players. Well for those who are new to it, here is a short description of the same: It rounded back gives more of an ergonomic feel to the remote with chunky buttons and symbols labeled along with being backlit making it easy on the eyes, especially with most of the home theatre environment having a dim light setting. The layout seems to follow a fairly logical format with the backlight getting triggered upon pressing any key on the remote for roughly 8 seconds. Additionally, it also comes with a dedicated light in the right lower corner. While the Pop-up and Top buttons sit on the upper right and left hand side of the navigation button, Return and Setup keys sit at the bottom towards the left and right of the navigation buttons. Common control can be accessed with the Stop/Play/Pause buttons that are nice and chunky. Upon choosing the Resolution option, users are given the following options to choose from “Auto, 480I or 576I, 480P or 576P, 720P, 1080I, 1080P or Source Direct”. Also you might be interested in this smart offering from Oppo, the BDP-93’s remote comes with the inclusion of a 3-position switch within the battery compartment, wherein users are allowed to modify the command set, ensuring that it does not hamper other Oppo products. This absolutely cool feature offers users absolutely separate and full control of 2 Oppo players within the same room.

Wi-Fi Networking:

The Oppo BDP-93 is loaded with wireless N capability; but not in-built though. Instead, it comes with an USB Wi-Fi dongle together with an extension cable that is dock attached allowing the dongle to be located on a flat surface, for better reception, away from the rear of the unit. The signal strength is supposedly seen to increase due to the USB dock (that comes with the dongle) being optimally placed. The dongle is an Atheros AR9271 10/100Mb unit with its drivers in-built in the BDP-93. Regrettably, the Wi-Fi seems to go more easy on the conventional 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n systems as against the 5GHz-only 802.11n systems. Configuration is a real breeze with utilizing the “Internet Connection Menu” where the users are given the choice of both wired and wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi works faster and is reliable with both wire and wireless and seems to have no problems detecting wireless systems or connecting to it. Additionally, Netflix movies in HD is also devoid of any issues with bandwidth or artifacts.

Well! The other connections go on to include two USB 2.0 ports, one in the front panel and one at the rear, along with a set of 7.1 multichannel audio outs. In case you wish to use an external DAC for two-channel music playback, you are provided with the digital optical and coaxial audio outputs. These also come in handy with establishing easy and simple connections to the conventional A/V receivers that are devoid of HDMI inputs. Yet another new feature would be the eSATA Port – make the best of this high-speed eSATA connection that aide in playing your videos, audios or even image files stored in your hard disks.

A/V Processing:

Oppo has tried its hands on something novel with the inclusion of Marvell 88DE2750 “Kyoto-G2 Digital Video Format Converter.” The prevalent Anchor Bay (ABT2010 chip) incorporated in the BDP-83 has been revamped with the Qdeo video processor. The award-winning Marvell chip is supposedly fairly famous in the industry known for its outstanding video performance and consequently been incorporated in numerous products from leading manufacturers. There is an whole host of offers by the Marvell chip in terms of edge-adaptive and motion-adaptive 3D de-interlacing along with supporting arbitrary film cadences in conjunction with per-pixel 3D VNR/BNR (Video Noise Reduction)/(Block Noise Reduction) Additionally the Source Direct mode enables video outboard processing. Again, the BDP-93 is also loaded with the contemporary “Silicon Image” SiI9334 HDMI 1.4 Transmitter chip responsible for sending video signals from the HDMI 1 connector.

Audiophiles:

In terms of Audio Board, the BDP-93 is capable of producing DTS-HD MA and lossless Dolby TrueHD bitstreams through the HDMI connector. The multi-channel decoder on-board is capable of converting every channel to LPCM and yields audio either via the 7.1 analog audio outputs or the HDMI connector. With a flexible design, it virtually adapts to any system, be it old or new.

Oppo’s modular design comes in handy in enhancing the audio quality for audiophiles with replacement of the power supply and audio board. We will be hearing more on this with Oppo’s launch of the all new BDP-95 Audiophile BD player.

(GUI) Graphical User Interface:

Again, nothing has changed in terms of UI and is pretty much the same user interface witnessed in the BDP-83, with the menu system being plausible and easy to follow. Oppo have done their homework well in devising a set of menus that anyone can play with, be it a novice or a patron. Also the fonts go easy and pleasing on the eyes. There is yet another nicely thought out feature by Oppo that allows users to access menus even as a disc is being played, which is definitely a feature worth mentioning that you get to see only with expensive players.

There are few basic setup menus that are exclusively designed to walk users through the initial settings and get the unit up and running in no time. Well Oppo prefers calling it the “Easy Setup Wizard” which consists of 6 simple steps that require the users to provide their valuable inputs for the unit to perform accordingly. Let us take a quick glance, shall we?

Video Interface:

To begin with, users need to outline the primary video output and are given the option to choose between component video and HDMI. It would be ideal to choose HDMI predominantly, unless the display fails to support it. You might want to choose HDMI as your default as it is HDCP-friendly (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) enhancing the resolution big time to avoid disappointments by choosing to not use the HDMI digital interface.

Aspect Ratio:

Well now coming to the aspect ratio trait of the display. Displays coming with a 4:3 aspect ratio can go in for Pan & Scan or Letterbox and those units with the contemporary 16:9 HDTV’s can go in for Wide or Wide/Auto where the latter places side borders on the 4:3 source material.

Output Resolution:

Users are given a whole array of choice to choose from in terms of video output namely: Auto, 480P/576P,480I/576I, 1080P, 1080I or Source Direct. Upon changing the TV output mode users are asked to confirm the settings before making the change final. The player reverts back to the prior video mode upon failing to get any confirmation on the new settings, thus preventing the player from utilizing a video mode that leaves users without any picture.

Audio settings:

Well, coming to the audio mode, the Compatible Mode is designed to work by default with majority of the receivers and displays; nevertheless the BDP-93 is also equipped with an advanced setting for receivers compatible with HDMI 1.3. For those of you who would like to explore more on the audio check out the Audio Settings in the Setup Menu.

That being said, the Easy Setup Wizard sure does make life easy for non-techy users to get more comfortable with their BD player and configure the same in no time. Nevertheless, it would also be ideal to be familiar with all the features, as there is a whole array of them being available in the player thus maximizing its performance.

Setup Menu:

The BDP-93′s Setup Menu is categorized into 6 each of which provides advanced controls equipped with an extensive set of parameters that can be modified by users for optimal performance. Let us explore into each one of them in detail:

Device setup:

The device setup menu aide users with Firmware Information thereby allowing users to perform a Firmware Upgrade though Disc, USB or Network. Setting the Firmware Notification On checks firmware updates by default via the Oppo server. Few other default settings go on to include Front Panel Display, Remote Code, Persistent Storage Options, HDMI CEC, DivX VOD DRM, Netflix, Easy setup and Reset Factory Settings.

Network setup:

The Network Setup menu takes care of configuring the Ethernet connection through which the BD-Live content along with firmware updates can be accessed. Info like current IP address, My Network, BD-Live Network access can be accessed via turning On/Off the Connection Information. Upon selecting the Internet Connection, the Wireless Setting goes active instantly scanning for any active Wi-Fi links. IP Settings can either be set to Manual or Auto with the option to turn On/Off the Proxy Settings. Users can enter their current IP address Gateway, Subnet Mask, DNS 1 and 2 manually in the Manual mode and the Connection Test runs a check on the same verifying proper functioning of the network connection.

Playback setup:

Parental Control, Language, Screen Markers for Angle, SAP and PIP (secondary audio programs and picture-in-picture) all of these are classified under the Playback Setup menu with markers being suggested in the screen (if the options are available) on the disc being watched. You can set SACD Priority to Stereo, multi-channel or CD-mode. The DVD-Audio Mode decides how Audio DVDs are played (audio or video). Well for the most part, it all depends on how users configure their systems and what is supported. Likewise, Playback, Auto Play and Auto Resume modes can also be individually set On/Off.

Audio Format Setup:

The Audio Format menu is responsible for setting the Secondary Audio On/Off mixing it with the main audio. HDMI Audio Bitstream/LPCM/Off – can be set depending on the unit or the user’s preference. The Optical/Coaxial Output decides if the player needs to convert the audio to PCM or let the receiver decode the raw bitstream. Maximum sample rate for utmost compatibility with the equipment connected is taken care of by the LPCM Rate Limit, thus preventing the player from transferring high resolution data than what is supported by the digital outputs. You could set the SACD Output to yield raw DSD streaming or convert the same to PCM data with the option to set the HDCD Decoding On/Off.

Video setup:

All video parameters are taken care of by the Video Setup menu with the Picture Adjustment panel giving users the option of changing settings to HDMI 1 or HDMI 2 or Analogue. The Primary Output establishes the video output – HDMI 1, 2 or Analog. For best video performance, it would be ideal to choose The HDMI outputs by default. The 3D Mode can either be Auto or off and the 3D TV Size gets keyed in here. Users are allowed choose the TV Aspect Ratio from 4:3 Pan & Scan, 4:3 Letterbox, 16:9 Wide or Wide/Auto with the TV System being set to either PAL or NTSC. The 1080p 24 Output provides users with a 24 frame per second output rate. The HDMI Options Menu classifies Color, Space and Deep Color that can be set independently for HDMI 1 and 2. Also you get to enable the Video Only option for HDMI 1.

Audio Processing:

This takes care of configuring the speaker of the unit allowing each channel to be configured to large or small, adjusting the same for level and distance. Interestingly, we may add, looks like no other speaker could be set farther than the two front speakers, which include the sub-woofer too. Well, this is applicable only to the analog outputs and doesn’t really affect the LPCM outputs or digital bit stream.

Firmware Updates:

With a network connection being active, the Oppo BDP-93 3D Blu Ray Player automatically connects to the Oppo server for updates. The same is also possible by manually checking for updates or using the disc image or the USB to update the player. The possibility for the manufacturers to incorporate updates every now and then and encountering issues is definitely a huge advantage in few of the latest BD players.

Performance:

To begin with, the picture quality is beyond doubts incredible with rich and deep colours. But what really gets you, is the player’s capability to depict detail and depth bordering on photorealism. In terms of animated content, the space and distance between stuff flying is easily discernable without causing much stress on the eye. The 3D experience for movie buffs would be an absolute treat for the eyes when things flying on the scene come at a ripping speed protruding from the screen aiming right at you.
The player’s decoding ability is also equally impressive. The audio looks to be amazingly balanced with the dialogues, music and sound effects fitting into their own frequencies in the broad sound-stage. Bass looks to be controlled and tight along with sounding deep. All of these elements seem like they flow without a glitch to and from the speakers eventually disappearing into the sound-stage leaving users with an airy cinematic feel of sight and sound. Looks like the BDP-93 certainly knows to get its job done, no matter what!

Again for users who are not so keen on going 3D, you might like to know that the BDP-93′s 2D performance is no way inferior. Visually striking objects and colours are portrayed taking even the minutest vivid detail into account like the depth of shadows and transparent outlining of trunks, ranches and trees. Fast moving images carry some amazing clarity that is a rarity these days. Both action sequence and dialogue delivery seem to go hand in hand demonstrating the player’s competent audio decoders. The 24-bit/48-kHz uncompressed PCM along with delivering complex and dense noise, also takes care of the resolution and clarity of the soundtrack. To conclude, the BDP-93 proves itself to be a pro in terms of its audio quality.

Audio Performance:

The biggest advantage of the BDP-93 Region Free Blu Ray Player is its capability to handle multitude of audiophile formats namely DVD-Audio, SACD, Dolby lossless bitstreams (TrueHD) and DTS (Master Audio). Also it seems to handle FLAC and WAV files that were kind of problematic in the BDP-83. Again, users wishing to use analog outputs can rest assured, as the player’s Analog audio quality is more than decent. It would be ideal to choose the HDMI interface with regards to DSD, multi-channel PCM and other bitstreams, as it yields fabulous results. Music fanatics would beyond doubt love the BDP-93 for the copious audio formats that it supports.

Access Times:

Access time supposedly varies widely among different BD players. Also it is considered a vital performance metric while choosing a player. We must admit that Oppo beats its competitors hands down here. There was nothing much to complain on the BDP-83 in terms of access time and had a fairly good performance to its credit, but looks like the BDP-93 is all set to outperform its elder brother as majority of the discs thrown at it timed at an approximate 20% to 30%.

DVD Layer Switching Times:

Similar to BD boot time, many users might be interested to know if BDP-93 has any significant noticeable delays while executing a DVD layer switch. Well, the answer to this is a big NO, as the Oppo BDP-93 seems to handle every single disc thrown at it perfectly well with short layer times, that are barely noticeable; a definite improvement in comparison to the BDP-83!

Key Features:

Along with 3D video playback, the BDP-93 is actually a universal player that is compatible with almost majority of the disc formats, including the not so popular DVD-Audio and SACD discs. Also you can enjoy Netflix and Blockbuster movie on Demand streamed straight into your home theater. Oppo is looking out to increase its video partners going forward in an effort to boost the streaming experience.

Also in response to user’s demand, Oppo has decided to support majority of the media and file formats, namely Audio CD, DVD, AVCHD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, DivX, MP4, MKV, and more importantly the 24-bit/192KHz WAV and FLAC files. Those of you wishing to use a high-end AV receiver display or external video processor, there is the “Source Direct” mode on offer for the same that sends out the original video/audio content from the discs with no further processing or alteration.

As already mentioned, video processing happens via the “Marvell Kyoto-G2 video processor” together with the second-generation Qdeo technology offering options for enhancement, namely intelligent colour, video noise reduction, edge enhancements, and compression artifact reduction. It proves to be very handy with reducing noise in videos that is apparent with streaming content.

The BDP-93 has various levels of aspect ratio control along with image zooming. This includes a vertical stretch mode for users possessing a 2.35:1 Constant Image Height (CIH) projector. An exclusive subtitle shift feature offers to shift the subtitle up/down, thus enabling users to see all subtitle text while using the 2.35:1 CIH display.

Few other conventional features go on to include DVD Up-Conversion, True 1080/24p video together with support for contemporary audio codecs like the DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. Additionally, it also supports bitstream output of DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD via the HDMI 1.4a output. Also it internally decodes Hi-Res audio codecs into LPCM and produces the same via HDMI/7.1ch analog audio output terminals.

Warranty:

The Oppo BDP-93 comes with full parts and Labour warranty for 2 years from the original date of purchase. Registering the product with Oppo is mandatory in order to avail of the same with the registration form being available for download in the official website http://www.oppo-bluray.co.uk/customer-services/warrenty/

Pros:

• Beats most of the high-end Blu-ray players hands down.
• Outstanding video quality
• Wi-fi enabled
• Dual HDMI outputs, flexible

Cons:

• DLNA networking needs improvisation
• Lacks Hulu Plus
• No automatic Home Menu

Verdict:

So to conclude, guess we have to get a touch cynical to point flaws up front, but then eventually tell you this is a great player and quite an easy choice for the price you pay. Stand out features include ability to stream from the likes of Netflix and Blockbuster, excellent video processing, dual HDMI 1.4a output and a solid build. The cynical side will suggest improvements in the audio and some user interface subtleties (a demonstrative logo screen that comes up on eject while we could’ve been served with a more user-friendly Home screen) but then the positives far outweigh these points. Go for it.

Oppo BDP-93 Blu Ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Oppo
Model Name	Oppo BDP-93
Model Number	BDP-93
Product Type	Blu-Ray 3D player
Form Factor	Table top
Dimensions H x W x D	7.9 cm x 43 cm x 31.1 cm
Weight	4.9 kg (10.8 lbs)
Colour	Black
Full HD 1080p Resolution	Yes
True 24p Video	Yes
Disc Types	BD-Video, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, SACD, CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL, BD-R/RE
Operating Temperature	5 °C to 35°C
Operating Humidity	15% to 75% No condensation
Audio Characteristics	Frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz (±0.3dB), 20Hz – 96kHz (±2.0dB) Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >110dB (A-weighted) THD+N: < 0.002% (1kHz at 0dBFS, 20kHz LPF)
Audio Codecs	Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and DTS Digital Surround
File Formats	AVCHD, MP4, DivX, MKV, Jpeg, FLAC, WAV
Video Characteristics	Composite Video Amplitude: 1.0Vp-p (75O) Component Video: Y: 1.0Vp-p (75O), Pb/Pr: 0.7Vp-p (75O)
BD Profile	BD-ROM Version 2.4 Profile 5 for 3D (also compatible with Profile 2, Profile 1 Version 1.0 and 1.1)
Internal Storage	2GB (Approximately 1GB available for BD-Live persistent storage. Actual storage varies as per system usage)
Output	Analogue Audio: 7.1ch, 5.1ch, or stereo Digital Audio: Coaxial, Optical HDMI Audio: Stereo, up to 7.1ch high-resolution PCM, up to 5.1ch DSD, bitstream or LPCM conversion of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio. Analogue Video: Composite, Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr, 480i/480p, 720p/1080i available for non-restricted content only) Digital Video: HDMI with HDCP (PAL576i/576p/720p/ 1080i/1080p/1080p24 NTSC: 480i/480p/720p/1080i/1080p/1080p24)
Key Features	Blu-ray 3D Playback Video Processing by Marvell’s Qdeo technology Dual HDMI 1.4a Outputs Supports Netflix Instant Video Streaming Fast Loading & Response Times BD-Live & BONUSVIEW Plays SACD & DVD-Audio Discs USB 2.0 for Media Playback Supports 24/192kHz FLAC & WAV files eSATA Port for media playback from Hard Disks
Power Supply	100V – 240V, 50/60Hz AC
Power Consumption	35W (0.5W Standby)
Warranty	2  years

Two years post the HD format crusade, the innovations that consumers get to witness in the Blu-ray arena just does not seem to cease, thus making life all the more interesting to watch technology grow by the minute. Leading players – Sony, Samsung, Philips, Panasonic have left no stone unturned in replacing Hi-def DVD players into full-size home entertainment boxes. LG however holds the pioneer status and has gone one step ahead and introduced on-demand movies via VUDU, with introduction of the LG BD590 (our player in discussion today) that features a 250GB hard drive. Well! This South Korean company has unswervingly been ahead of the flock when it comes to Blu-ray players. But then, what took us by surprise is when almost every manufacturer had a 3D player to boast of, at the CES 2010, LG begged to differ here by taken an absolutely different stance in unveiling their flagship player, BD590 that comes equipped with an in-built hard drive aiding with ripping CDs. Well! We think it is a smart move. With endless choices being available for 3D players, CD ripping seems to be one unique feature that might attract a good amount of buyers for the player.

The LG BD590 Blu Ray Disc Player takes entertainment to the next level going one step ahead by allowing instant streaming of entertainment. Besides enjoying Full HD 1080p along with matchless entertainment options it is also loaded with a 250GB Media Library allowing you to store your precious memories in the form of Photos, Music or the HD movies bought from Vudu. Isn’t it something better than a Blu-ray? Also check out LG’s new partners for 2010 – AccuWeather and Picasa. So does this justify paying couple of bucks extra than its predecessor BD570 that features almost the same attributes with the exclusion of the hard drive? Is it really necessary to have an internal hard drive in a Blu-ray player? Well take a sneak peek to find answers to the above questions!

In The Box

• 1 x A/V Cable
• 1 x Nero’s MediaHome 4 Essential software (LG Edition)
• 1 x Quick Start Guide
• 1 x Customer Registration Card
• 1 x Universal Remote Control
• 2 x AAA Batteries
• 1 x User Manual

Design:

Measuring 17 x 11 inches this 7-pound disc spinner resembles its predecessor, the LG BD390, when it comes to design, but slightly sleek and definitely less bulky despite the hard drive making it blend with any home theater system. The front panel has a hi-tech and glossy finish and flips down automatically with the disc tray being ejected. It almost hides the disc tray as well as the control buttons like the Play/Stop and the USB port. A word of caution though – if you plan on keeping the USB stick inserted, you might not be able to close the front panel.

Though flip-down panels help in maintaining the sleekness of a unit, the fragility of the same sure does pose a question to its durability. Again, the Eject/Power buttons are handily located on the top making access easy (that is if you do not stack another gadget on top of the player). Beneath the front panel is where one can find the handy chapter forward/backward playback buttons. Powering on the unit lights up the bright LCD display, which is clearly readable even across the room. But then, some might find it distractingly bright, especially with watching an online movie, as the player blinks both the red and blue lights, which cannot be dimmed.

The rear of the BD590 Blu-Ray player hosts a set of controls that include the HDMI 1.3a with x.v.Color, composite and component video outs, digital audio outs, 2 channels of analog audio as well as an Ethernet port. Audio connections go on to include coaxial digital, TosLink, and stereo analog. Unlike its predecessor BD390, the BD590 is devoid of 7.1 analogue outputs, a trend that we will continue to see on mass-market players. The BD590 is also adept when it comes to internal decoding of lossless codecs like the DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD including the option to send the same via HDMI as PCM or lossless bitstream. With an Ethernet connection at home, you might want to take advantage of the Ethernet jack provided or simply go wireless using the in-built 802.11n Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, there is no second USB port on the rear, but guess the built-in 250 GB hard drive sure does make external storage a lot less to worry about.

Remote Control:

Well! LG has decided to improve their remote’s design, a total revamp in comparison to its younger brothers – should we say? Featuring a glossy black sleek finish, it seems to be a magnet for fingerprints. The keys are large and well laid out in a straightforward fashion with an easy to find ridge that aids with using the frequently used buttons, especially in the dark; nonetheless it lacks backlighting. It houses the play controls like Play, Pause etc., on a raised crest, which can be easily maneuvered with the thumb by just feeling them. There are also nubs on the Forward and Rewind buttons that are extremely useful (provided you know they exist). Again, the main directional pad is encircled by 6 buttons, giving a cluttered feeling, though it does not pose much of an issue. The BD590’s remote can also be programmed to control your television, but with difficult to reach TV control buttons. For example, the volume control button that you are prone to use a lot is inappropriately located making it difficult to access in the dark especially with the remote lacking backlighting. Pressing the Info/Display button gives out adequate information. A menu pops up allowing you change the subtitles, audio, and even the television’s aspect ratio. It also displays info on movie and music that has been pulled off online.

Having said that, there are a few things that requires some clarity or should we say hitches. Like the info on the time remaining on the movie currently being watched, you might have to do your own math by checking out the time elapsed and the total time. Again, you are better off going through the user manual to figure out what the 4-coloured RGYB buttons mean. If you are guessing that it has something to do with colour configuration – Wrong guess; they help with controlling the BD-ROM menus.
Coming to audio options on the remote there is one to convert everything to DTS, which is particularly handy if you are in possession of a DVD-era receiver that refuses to support contemporary audio formats namely the LPCM and Dolby TrueHD. So in that case, DTS is your best bargain in terms of best-sounding format that your system can handle. Then again, just like any other Blu-ray player, the BD590 is also capable of converting audio to PCM or passing it on unaffected.

User Interface/Setup:

While the setup menu is almost identical to the  BD390, LG has decided to come up with a fancy home menu taking the shape of a floating ice cube design with a white background; looks like we are going to be seeing this pattern on all LG products for sometime now. These cubes take the form of icons for different TV features like Home Link, Netcast, Music, Photo, setup, Movie, etc. The floating motif with the icons bobbing in the watery surface below does give the homescreen a whimsical touch. Well does that mean added functionality? No, not really! In fact, accessing the unit gets a little annoying making the older straightforward version a more preferred choice.

If you fall under that category, the good news is that once you enter Netcast (LG’s suite of streaming service) these floating cubes make way for larger conventional tiles with the corresponding service’s names. Talking about LG’s line of service, they sure have a fairly impressive list that includes CinemaNow, Vudu, YouTube, Netflix, Pandora with AccuWeather and Picasa being new partners for LG in 2010.

The menu screens provide a short description of the different available options, but the descriptions are not always useful. For example, the “TV Aspect Ratio” is merely described as “Helps with setting the TV Screen ratio.” The manual provides a more detailed and thorough description though.

Setting up the wireless internet connection is a literal cakewalk. In case you are fine with the wired option, go ahead and connect it to the LAN port on the rear side. Firmware update is also a quick and hassle free. Disc load times are relatively fast, but a tad slow in comparison to the nifty Sony disc spinners. For eg., upon popping the Wanted Blu-ray, the FBI warning was up in just 29 seconds with prompt responses upon pressing the remote’s Skip Chapter and Pause buttons. With most Java-intensive discs, the main menu was up and running in less than a minute. The robust suite of streaming features works right out of the box. The BD590 also allows DLNA access, such that you can link your system and stream data files – an extremely handy feature for the computer savvies.

Performance:

In terms of playback, LG BD590 HDD Blu Ray Player is absolutely top-notch getting past almost all deinterlacing tests. The images prove to be of pristine quality to such an extent that it even captures occasional less-than-perfect CGIs. With Blacks being the richest that can be seen on Blu-ray, the vivid scenes bring out breathtaking depth, yet being naturally appealing. Yet another impressive feature of the BD590 is it allowing an incremental zoom of BD movies filling the entire 16:9 screen even as it keeps Picture Quality Degradation to the minimum level possible.

With regards to the audio quality, check out The Dar Knight, especially with Warner providing a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track (48kHz/16-bit) – dialogues rendered are crystal clear with the soundtrack being supreme. The surround sound is both engaging and natural giving out a sustained and subtle ambiance. Be it Batman’s voice or the Batmobile’s rumble, the quality of audio was full and intense maximizing the subwoofer’s role. The playback dynamics of music CDs are exceptional with brusque highs and natural bass. Well, the only hitch when it comes to video performance is the upscaling trait, which is a bare minimum when rising from 480i to 1080p. DVD Images are warm with a reddish hue and overall colour lacks vibrancy.

Blu-ray Image Quality:

By and large, the BD590’s image quality is fairly impressive as it came out with flying colours for the most part in all important test patterns. While majority of the hardcore videophile fanatics may favour the slightly better Oppo BDP-83, the rest of the high-definition movie buffs are sure to be perfectly contented with the BD590’s Blu-ray image quality.

Coming to the BD590’s performance on test patterns – the two most vital tests, the video resolution and film tests, something that decides on a player’s performance on the majority of Blu-ray titles, it seemed to pass them with solid ease. Of course, it did stumble on tests like text overlay, most of the cadence tests, and the chroma multiburst test, but these does not really influence the image quality so much. If it makes the videophiles feel any better, as much as the BD590 clips whites in the “standard” mode, it passes all “whiter-than-white” signals in the movie mode without any issue. But then, LG’s new line of players look comparatively slower than the last year models placing the BD590 a step behind the expeditious Sony BDP-S570. So to conclude, the BD590 sure does look lightning-fast with typical use, but cannot be called a speed-demon when compared to its little brother, the BD390

DVD Performance:

In terms of DVD Performance, the BD590 Hard Disk Drive Blu Ray Player seems a little disappointing. In any case, it did pass the 2:2 resolution test with the processing taking a considerably long time (in comparison to the Oppo) to kick start and expel the moiré. Yet again, we will give it a go over the Sony BDP-S570 for performing better in terms of handling alcove video content; nevertheless it would come as no surprise to see videophile buffs favour the Oppo BDP-83 in terms of DVD image quality.

Streaming Video Image Quality:

There is nothing much to complain on Netflix streaming on the BD590, it in fact gives an edge over the Sony BDP-S570, which supposedly has some hitch when it comes to streaming image.

Video Quality:

BD playback sure is impressive in the BD590 with its resolution being more than adequate, although you might have to go for a 1080p resolution from the menu for the first time, with the program not equipped enough to seek optimal resolution. A word of caution though for the videophiles – the BD590 is prone to clip whites in “Standard” mode, but guess if you are not a real stickler it should not really influence your decision on buying the player, which is available for a street price of £156.

Sound Quality:

Similar to most contemporary Blu-ray players, the BD590 comes equipped with onboard decoding rendering high-resolution DTS and Dolby formats. The sound quality or should we say sound transference, to be more precise, to an amplifier can be rated outstanding. Along with performing well with transferring surround sound (5.1) to your audio system, it does a more than decent task of reproducing low quality sound, like majority of the YouTube videos, for instance. The BD590 manages to capture every quaint crackle or pop from any old renditions. Also it plays almost all prevalent audio formats, like CD, CD-R, and CD R/W. Nevertheless, if you are looking at playing your DVD-Audio or SACD discs, guess you have to look out for options, as they are not supported. Yeah! Welcome to “cutting edge technology”.

Speaking of networking, the BD590 is a blend of wow-smarto! Online streaming continues to be LG’s major Pro in their Blu-ray lineup. The BD590 comes with an in-built high-speed Wi-fi boasting of an 802.11n speed. Of course, the internet services list looks impressive, a combination of free and paid – CinemaNow, Netflix, Vudu comes with a fee; Picasa, YouTube, Pandora and AccuWeather comes free. With streaming services being a compelling add-on in any electronic device, consumers are treating Netflix almost as a default power cord. The video quality of Netflix streaming in LG looks to be on par with the TiVo Series 3 DVR, though it takes about 5 seconds or longer to begin a title.

Well the Netcast features remain the same as in last year’s – YouTube, Netflix and Pandora with the addition of Vudu, Picasa and AccuWeather. Vudu is considered the major addition with it providing a pay-per-view option for movie-watching supplementing Netflix’s subscription. Looks like Vudu is a wise alternative to Amazon Video on Demand with its HDX streaming titles having a staunch resemblance to an actual Blu-ray title. Yet another advantage would be the built-in hard drive that allows storing Vudu Movies that were purchased locally – this means better rewind and fast-forwarding and more dependable playback. With Vudu’s DRM polices prohibiting such storage and the rising prices of Vudu movies, this definitely is a big plus.

Check out this new feature that LG has on offer similar to the PlayStation 3 – allowing you to add films to your Netflix queue without the need to venture onto your computer. There are several options made available on the tabbed interface, which goes on to include Comedy, New Arrival, TV etc., which can be immediately streamed or added to your Instant Queue. Of course, it offers no search function, but then with each tab offering 100 titles, if anything more, there has to be something that is worth watching. As much as there are keyboards and mouse being available for players like the BD590, they do not accompany the product. Performing a search on YouTube, for example, is painstaking as you might have to click each letter out via a virtual keyboard. Thankfully, the respective interfaces memorise their login sequences session after session.

The much hyped about integrated HDD:

So for those of you who are wondering why on earth does a Blu-ray player require a 250GB hard drive? Well, for starters, it helps with storing your purchased VUDU files to the drive, as mentioned above. Now VUDU works based on “cloud computing” wherein every content, be it rented or owned, gets streamed online. Nevertheless, the drive is used to transfer files from CDs or USBs thereby copying music, movies or photos onto the drive thus enabling easy playback. Now the on-screen display allows both easy recall of specific files or playback an entire folder/contents in the drive, thus turning your Blu-ray into a media server that an entire family can enjoy. Also data can traverse both ways with transferring files from the hard drive to an attached USB stick. With transferring files to the internal drive, you are given the option of creating folders and organizing files (left to your discretion) by the on-screen menu.

CD Ripping/Archiving:

This is the best ever feature of the BD590 – ability to directly rip CDs onto the hard drive. On popping in a CD, the BD590 gets to work right away with instant download of metadata – Album, Artist, Title, and Track number/order that is obtained from the Gracenote Service. Better still, the BD590 allows you to listen to the CD even as it rips, meaning CD ripping cannot get any better. The automatic tagging of Gracenote is absolutely flawless even with obscure titles. Upon pressing the info button, out pops the option to archive CDs allowing you to choose your tracks/bit rate – loseless or 128, 192, 320Kbps. Well, we endorse the lossless option, especially with majority of the music buffs possessing small CD collections, such that it does not compromise on the audio quality. Post ripping, you can access your music by choosing music option in the main menu and then choosing HDD.

Any day listening to music played directly from the hard disk is way better than streaming the same over a network that is put through buffering and dropouts – even if this means being called old fashioned. Well you might come across some grouses with the UI during navigating the ripped music, leaving you with want of more options in customizing and handling your music collection. Then again, it is never easy to find your way out through anything for that matter, especially with gadgets, isn’t it? Now, if you have already ripped a set of songs on your PC, the BD590 also allows you to copy such digital music from a networked PC. If you are looking at importing all at once, just select the “all music” options, select all and copy them. There is also the option to copy album-to-album – a pretty wise option that saves you the hassle of re-ripping your songs.

Well, to conclude, the BD590 is not for a digital audio buff, whose first preference would obviously be the Squeezebox or Sonos for their dedicated network streaming of music, but instead it is for those non-tech-savvies, who are happy with simple CD ripping in a hassle free manner.

DLNA compliant Player:

The BD590 is a DLNA complaint player i.e., if you have a compatible media server or Windows PC in order to stream music, photos or movie. Well, there is no denying that this definitely is a great feature, but similar to any other Windows-centric technology there is a mile long of exceptions and caveats. That means your success rate can vary based on your experience and how your files are encoded. LG has taken care of this issue too, i.e., for those of you lacking proper software, the spinner comes with the Nero MediaHome 4 Essentials CD that helps to import your system-based media files to the player. We also appreciate the fact that the BD590 contains all third party network services. In fact it particularly pleases to know that it includes the all new Netflix browser, which actually allows you to pick new video content and add the same to your queue as against other systems that does allow access, but requires logging through a PC, if you wish to add additional TV soaps or movies.|

Nevertheless, the following are some of user’s grouses against the BD590 that you might want to check out on:

Though the HomeLink feature helps with loading photos and movie files from your networked PCs, it is believed to not recognise DVD files on your PC. The same goes for AVI files too, a preferred format amongst digital camera video models. Oddly, the network connection is believed to work only one way. Also you are denied access to the 250 GB hard drive (that helped you with recording your CD collection) from any of your networked PCs. This literally means stuff that you record does not really belong to you. So if you cannot create a backup of your archived CDs on a networked PC, then your collection of songs belongs to you only until you possess the unit or until it wears out. It is more like “borrowed music.”  So what good is it anyways? There are also complaints about movies (downloaded or purchased from sites like Vudu) not being accessible with the player being offline, nor can videos from YouTube be saved to the disc for offline playing. Incidentally, the BD590 neither supports 3D nor is it upgradeable, just in case you are keen on getting on that bandwagon.

Features:

Entertainment Takes A Different Shape:

Make the most out of the BD590’s Blu-ray disc playback, which delivers exceptional full HD 1080p video performance. The quick-opening tray is all set to play even before you hit the couch.

Storing Gets Better:

The Media Library integrated hard drive makes storage easy along with instant playback of music, personal videos, photos and VOD content made available via the Vudu movie service.

Entertainment Is Now Just A Tap Away:

NetCast Entertainment Access fetches the best of Internet services straight into your TV, no PC required. This allows for instant access of TV soaps and movies via Netflix, latest Hollywood releases from Roxio CinemaNow, news and weather with Yahoo widgets, music on Pandora along with the world’s largest library of HD movies all in 1080p from Vudu.

Bring Your Memories Live On Big Screen:

The USB Media Host gives you the luxury of viewing a highlight reel of your long cherished family vacation from the comforts of your living room recliner. The USB storage devices allow viewing of your photos king-sized in the big screen or listen to the evergreen music of the 70s.

Don’t Just Hear, Feel It:

What is a picture worth without an appropriate sound? Great pictures need great sound and this is made possible with the BD590’s Superior Audio Performance, which supports surround sound up to 7.1 channels with Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Advanced Digital Out technologies.

Decrease Clutter Increase Possibilities:

Bid goodbye to messy wires with the integrated Wi-Fi Connectivity and take full advantage of the NetCast Entertainment Access with just about any accessible Wi-Fi connection, anywhere in its range.

Get Your Personal Favourites:

The BD590’s My Media is of great help in terms of streaming audio, video or photos from a networked PC/USB drive straight onto your TV as the player is DLNA compliant. For a full list of supported formats, please check out the spec table below.

Power Consumption:

As against the avant-garde Blu-ray players, the BD590 comes devoid of a quick-start mode and hence consumes very little power by default in the standby mode. On the contrary, the Sony BDP-S570 incurs an annual cost of £4.56 owing to its quick-start feature. The other way of looking at this is the BD590 does not give you the option of faster load times, even if you are ready to bear the extra cost of electricity. Also worth mentioning is that despite the BD590 consuming a couple of watts more in comparison to other standalone players (owing to the in-built hard drive), this extra consumption is almost next to nothing over a year and is totally insignificant.

Warranty:

The manufacturer offers a 1 year warranty for parts and 90 days warranty for labour.

Hits:

• Excellent Blu-ray image quality
• Absolutely quiet and slim despite the 250 GB hard disk
• Hi-Def music playback made possible with lossless ripping
• Delivers content fast and crisp across network – thanks to the built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity
• Proves to be a real champ when it comes to playing MKV, DivX, MPEG4 and H.264 video content
• 250 GB hard drive
• DLNA compliant
• Rips CD like a pro directly into the HDD

Misses:

• A decent, but expensive Blu-ray player with just one gimmick
• Lack of quick-start mode slows down the player
• Clunky menus with occasionally lagging interface
• Absence of 3D reduces the player’s prospective shelf life.

Verdict:

To conclude, after having seen what the BD590 has to offer at a street price of around £150, this definitely is not the cheapest player that one might find, it sure is expensive. But we have to admit that the impressive list of features that it has on offer sure does makes it the best option for someone looking to own an all-in-one media storage solution. Frankly though, if you are not very keen on the 250GB hard drive, then go ahead and save £68 and opt for the low priced BD570 with just the same features minus the hard drive.

LG BD590 Blu-Ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	LG
Model Name	LG BD590 Blu Ray Player
Model Number	BD-590
Display type	Front Panel
Dimensions (W x H x D)	16.9 x 2.0 x 11.0 in
Weight	7.0 lbs
Colour/Finish	Black
Supported Media	BD-ROM, BD-RE, BD-R, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW
Wi-Fi Connectivity	Yes
NetCast Entertainment Access	Yes
Internet Features and Streaming Partners	Netflix, Vudu, Roxio, Pandora, YouTube, CinemaNow, AccuWeather, Picasa
Blu-ray Support	Yes
Full HD 1080p Resolution	Yes
Upscale Standard DVDs	Yes
USB Connectivity	Yes
No. of HDMI Ports	1
Express Reaction Setup	Yes
Disc Capacity	Yes
Disc Playback Capability	Blu-ray Disc, BD-R/RE, DVD, DVD±R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW
Video Content Format	DivX®/DivX HD, MPEG4 AVC, HP@L4.1, MPEG2, HP@ML, SMPTE VC1, AP@L3, MPEG2, HP@ML, AVCHD, MKV
Home Link Playable Content Format	DivX®/DivX HD, MPEG2 TS/PS, MPEG1 SS, XVID, MKV, AVI, WMA, MP3, AC3, AAC, JPEG, PNG
SimpLink Connectivity	Yes
Deep Colour Support	Yes
Supported Formats	MPEG-4, MPEG-2, DivX, DivX HD (DVXHD), XviD, AVCHD, WMA, AAC, Audio CD (CD-DA), MP3, JPEG, PNG
Video Capabilities	Digital/Analog Conversion: 162MHz/12bit NTSC Hz: 60Hz Deep Colour HDMI x.v. Colour HDMI Composite Output:480i Component Output: Up to 1080i HDMI Output: Up to 1080p (24 & 60Hz)
Audio Capabilities	Digital Analog Conversion: 192KHz/ 24bit Signal/Noise Ratio: 100db Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby TrueHD Dolby Digital 2 ch Down Mix DTS DTS-HD Master Audio LPCM
Wireless LAN (Internal Antenna)	Wireless Networking Access: Yes Wi-Fi Certified: 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz band only)
Hard Disk Drive	Storage Capacity: 250 GB HD Video: Up to 35 Movies SD Video: Up to 160 Movies MP3: Up to 88,000 Songs
Audio/Video Inputs & Outputs	1 x HDMI Out 1 x Component Video Out 1 x Composite Video Out 1 x Digital Out: Coaxial 1 x Digital Out: Optical 1 x Analogue Audio Out (L/R) 1 x USB port 2.0 In 1 x LAN Port (RJ-45)
Special Features	Home Link (DLNA Client) Blu-Ray BonusView Blu-Ray BD Live MusicID YouTube Picasa Web Albums AccuWeather DLNA Support
Power Consumption	29W
Power Adaptor Voltage	AC120V, 60 Hz
Power Supply	Detachable Cord 2-prong
Remote	Yes – Universal Remote
Warranty	One Year Parts/90 Days Labour

Panasonic, the pioneer of Blu-ray players, has constantly been a step ahead in the Hi-def crusade with recent entrants like Sony, Samsung and LG keeping pace with launch of exciting feature-packed players. Well, Panasonic decides to show its rivals that it is not really as sober as they think it to be, and decides to make the competition all the more challenging. As always, Panasonic is full of surprises for the movie buffs with its lineup of players for 2010, including the 3D-enabled DMP-BDD300 along with its three other brothers (lower end, but no less enticing HD players) DMP-BD65, DMP-BD85 and the BD45.

Well to begin with, this gentle entry-level player is designed keeping the casual movie viewers in mind, at the same time making it affordable for almost anyone to sample on Panasonic’s extolled Blu-ray spinners, but at the cost of sacrificing BD-Live. We do endorse the fact that not everyone favors BD Live, and it is visibly skipped keeping the cost in mind, but with the Korean rivals offering similar priced players that support the feature, do you think it is a wise move Panasonic? Also we are inquisitive to find out how Panasonic managed with a Profile 1.1 player, while we were under the impression of Profile 2.0 being the minimum spec. So, let us go ahead and seek answers to our queries!

In the Box:

Blu-Ray Player, 1 CD-Rom, Remote Control, 2 AA Batteries for Remote Control, AC Mains lead.

Design – A No-Fuss Spinner

Unlike the high-end spinners, the Panasonic DMP-BD45EB-K Blu-Ray Player is a relatively average-looking player with no great looks or eye-catching features, yet simple and tastefully designed in a matt black finish. The player is compact and styled in a clean-cut way to not occupy much of your precious space beneath the TV. With its half-depth design, stacking stuff is not going to be easier, unless the said stuff is itself half-depth. Few things that sure catch the viewer’s attention are the well-made deck, which is incredibly slim with a quite legible and informative display panel with sizeable illuminated digits displaying elapsed time. With the Power and Eject buttons located on the top, it looks kind of weird for the Eject button to be located on the opposite side of disc tray, with the Power button above the tray. There is every chance that people switch the player off, when they really intend loading the tray back. The Play and Stop buttons are located beside the LED screen, on the front. They prove to be real handy with Start and Stop playback, if you are nowhere near the remote.

Slots and controls in DMP-BD45:

With the front being neat and tidy, the SD card slot and USB port sits concealed beneath the disc tray, giving the player a well-balanced uniform look. While the former supports SDXC and SDHC cards along with letting you enjoy your AVCHD footage and JPEG pictures, the latter allows you to enjoy playing JPEG, DivX and MP3 files. The rear is kept plain simple, by saying simple we literally mean simple – that consists of just composite, analogue stereo, HDMI and optical digital audio outputs. There are no component out or multichannel analogue ports, and most important of all no Ethernet terminal. Well! Not to worry guys, the player is equipped to do the rest of the trick that is expected from a Blu-ray spinner like feeding 1080p pictures that are TV compatible in their innate 24 hertz frame rate, conversion of DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD from bitstream format to AV receiver, also converts the same to PCM for receivers devoid of relevant coding.

Navigating the BD45EB-K:

You will be surprised to unearth more goodies on trying to find your way with the Panasonic DMP-BD45EB-K Blu Ray Disc Player. Out pops a menu on the top of the screen giving you the options of Disc, Play, Sound and Picture captions, upon hitting the Display button. The Picture option again branches out to a default preset – Normal, Fine, Cinema and Soft along with providing the ‘User Setting’ that allows you to fine-tune between the given seven picture parameter options and Detail Clarity that takes care of enhancing the sharpness. Likewise the Sound option lets you to choose from an array of presets that includes Night Surround and various Re-Master modes (that aides in enhancing high frequencies) and Dialog Enhancer. What really attracted us is Panasonic’s bright and aggressive onscreen layout. There is definitely no element of uncertainty here with almost all menus positioned rightfully where one would expect them to be. Likewise, the setup menu does not get swamped under choosy layouts or unnecessary sub-menus. Initial setup is a literal cakewalk, thanks to the Easy Setup wizard, which pops on initial booting. Well! Apart from this, nothing major, but for some faint tweaks that Panasonic has decided to make here and there, like the Functions Menu in comparison to the previous models, BD60 and BD80 – the size of the icons is made large with the ‘To Others’ option being moved to the floor. Yes! It is kind of frustrating to see the Setup menu not included in the Functions menu (we have to access it from a superfluous box via the ‘To Others’ option) which makes it really bothersome amidst watching a movie, otherwise there is nothing to complain about the rather spontaneous and receptive GUI.

Disappointing Load-time:

Well! The so-called “quick boot time of 0.5 seconds” claimed by Panasonic is proven otherwise. A word of caution for those of you who look forward to watch a movie within half a second of loading your disc – no such miracle happens here. In fact, it varies from one disc to another from a whopping minute and 4 seconds to a minute and 18 seconds before the player decides to respond, kind of frustrating when you just want something happening! The 0.5 second promise might be true with booting the deck, particularly in the Quick Start Mode. Nevertheless, the snappy menus make up for this and are quick to respond.

Nonfussy Remote Control:

The remote is the conventional Panasonic remote similar to the previous versions with clear, big and hefty buttons, easier to grip with legible labelling. But for the absence of the backlight, it is fairly impressive with almost all the often-used keys mobbed beneath our thumb. Isn’t it a nice feeling to be able to maneuver all core controls without having to look at them?

Features:

Hi-Def Image Quality:

As against MPEG-2 formats used by DVDs, Blu-ray discs uses MPEG-4 AVC and CV-1 video codecs delivering hi-def image utilizing high compression rates with a transfer speed of 48Mbps (three times rapid than a DVD). Such technologies call for improvement in image quality along with providing long-time content playback. Panasonic’s PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus is one such technology that gives out high quality processed images via accurate processing of each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc in a vertical direction. Likewise the colours are reproduced with twice the amount of accuracy as against conventional systems thereby bringing out sharp and vivid colours. There is now further advancement in High Precision 4:4:4 that is responsible for reproducing colour signals with higher resolution in a horizontal direction. The High Precision along with faithfully reproducing Full HD movies in 1080p (just as the filmmakers intend to) also reproduce concert and documentary films in 1080i paying great attention to facts than ever before.

Supported Audio Formats:

The Panasonic DMP-BD45EB-K Blu-Ray Disc Player takes audio to the next level by supporting formats like Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus and dts-HD. DLNA technology comes in relatively handy for the Panasonic Blu-ray spinners and home theatre systems to access files on PCs and DIGAs. The BD45 allows access to media formats like CD-R, CD-RW, BD-ROM and the likes. Likewise the wireless LAN adopter comes to our rescue when it comes to accessing online contents, namely VIERA CAST.

Blu-Ray BonusView:

Exciting interactive entertainment and outstanding Hi-def image quality is just the beginning of Blu-ray revolution. Panasonic brings you your personal backstage pass to the silver screen through their unique feature, BonusView, that allows you to watch your favourite film with its noteworthy moments being described by the director himself or the lead cast.

Picture-in-Picture together with the Audio-Mixing Function:

A second small window is created via the ‘Picture-in-Picture’ function that can be viewed in sync on the screen, wherein directors and the lead casts provide you with an in depth observations on the scene that is being viewed (as mentioned above); even as the ‘Audio-Mixing’ feature allows you to select the soundtrack of your choice that you wish to listen to: one from the gist that is being played in the main window, one from the second small window or both simultaneously. Essentially, this is more like giving you the experience to direct your entertainment, the way you prefer to see it.

Eco-Friendly Design With Diminished Power Consumption:

UniPhier – this gadget of Panasonic does a three-in-one job of being eco-friendly, keeping a tab on power consumption, and designing a compact product. Well! It works this way: With the usage of Panasonic’s UniPhier, a distinct single-chip LSI it is possible to assimilate circuits processing video signal into one single chip. This in turn saves power consumption to a large extent, whilst it is largely eco-friendly and also brings out a compact product as a result of reducing spare parts. Thus the end result is a more environment-friendly gadget, both, by way of saving energy and using minimal materials and natural resources in the construction of the same. Check out this cool feature – once you are done watching or listening, the BD45 Blu-ray disc spinner automatically switches off returning to your TV using the VIERA remote. Likewise upon switching off your TV, the Quick Start function gets turned off and is once again up and running upon switching your VIERA on.

Again, designing such slim gadgets is directly proportional to using minimal materials required for packing and this would mean stacking more boxes on each truck and shipping pallet being used ensuing less CO2 emissions. High time we go Go-Green guys!

Networking with USB Port/SD Memory Card:

Panasonic DMP-BD45EB-K comes equipped with USB port and SD card slot allowing you to enjoy instantly both the motion images (in AVCHD format) and JPEG images recorded via your HD camcorder and digicam respectively. Go on and get innovative in creating a special theme or mood to your precious moments through some enchanting music by playing it on your Blu-ray spinner simultaneously. The slideshow feature is a good idea for you to show off your photo shooting skills even as you sit back and enjoy the same with friends and family.

Multi content Playback:

Entertainment gets even better with the Panasonic BD45’s ability to playback diverse content and media. Not only does the spinner recognises Blu-ray Discs, but can also read CDs and DVDs together with JPEGs, DivX and MP3s using the USB port. So, be it playing the latest blockbuster release, or your all-time favourite MP3 or a slideshow, the BD45 is equipped to handle all state-of-the-art media formats.

Performance:

Video/Audio:

Regardless of being the basic model, the DMP-BD45EB-K Blu-Ray Player is well equipped with a picture technology that can be compared to the other high-end players. This includes the P4HD that is capable of processing 15 billion pixels per second optimizing each of them to bring out the best detail possible with colour reproduction. The other features go on to include diagonal line processing with motion detection along with 1080p DVD upscaling. Also worth mentioning would be the PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus that works in conjunction with the 4:4:4 high-precision signal technology responsible for processing colour data, achieving enhanced precision in comparison to others. The player also plays an array of disc types that include BD-R/RE, DVD-RAM, FreeSat, dual-layer DVD-R etc. Then again, the lack of BD-Live is amply compensated with the BonusView and picture-to-picture interpretation.

There is nothing much to complain about the BD45’s picture quality. With a more than decent 1080p transfer, the lucid and subtle images that are reproduced are more than comparable to any high-end decks. Colours are kept natural yet radiant whilst the details drawn in defining shadows of swaying trees and bushes gives the ultimate picture, ample depth and clout. The dimly-lit scenes, speak of the player’s exceptional capacity to balance between contrast and silhouette detail, which we clearly accredit to the P4HD processing effects. It also flaunts its additional touch of insight and sharpness. The BD45 also seemed to handle Silicon Optix HQV discs fairly well. It is particularly impressive to see it handle the resolution cadences so much so without any jerk or flicker and its knack of locking down Video. The BD45′s pictures are sensational with solid images keeping the digital nasties at bay. Check out the Autobots rip through the air in the finale of Transformers 2. With the images flaunting a mesmerising depth, the BD45 adeptly shuns the jaggies, whilst toggling between diverse video cadences with great composure with stiletto-like sharpness. That being said, DVDs clearly lack that zing of high definition, yet looks fine with chic smooth edges, great eye for detail and compelling colours. Also one cannot complain about hi-def audio tracks – sounds really explosive living up to our expectations. Be it transferring audio as PCM or bitstream, the tracks sound fabulous having a crispy and bassy note to it. Subtle details make their way out of the speakers with great clarity to the dialogue.

Verdict:

The BD45 can be categorized as a base model player that might be the cheapest among the Panasonic range, but price and feature-wise it definitely gets outperformed by its high-end rivals like Sony or Samsung. Well, if you are someone who is just interested in watching movies and does not really care about the extra features, Panasonic is only too happy to oblige. Otherwise, we would not be too surprised if you decide to override it for the Sony BDP-S370 or the LG BD370, which has tons of features to offer for the same or, if anything, a lower price.

Panasonic DMP-BD45EB-K Blu-Ray Player – Technical Specification details

Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model Name	DMP-BD45EB-K
Product Type	Table top, Blu-Ray Disc Player
Dimensions (H x W x D)	4.9 x 43 x 20.7 cm
Colour/Finish	Black
Weight	1.9 kg
Compatible media formats	BD-ROM, BD-RE / BE-RE DL, BD-R / BD-R DL, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
DivX/MPEG4 Compatible	Divx
Video DAC	12bit / 148.5MHz
Audio DAC	24bit / 192kHz
Memory card compatible video formats	AVCHD, JPEG, MPEG-2
Media Load Type	Tray
Video features	NTSCC Signal System PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD) Precise Pixel Generation 16-Level Motion Detection w/Pixel-Based Motion Adaptive Diagonal Processing 3:2/2:2 Pull-Down Progressive Processing i/p Conversion for 1080p- Playback Up-Conversion to 1080p –Playback Digital Noise Reduction – 3D-NR/Integrated NR 1080/24p Playback Deep Colour x.v. Colour Picture Mode – Normal/Soft/Fine/Cinema/User Picture Adjustment
Supported Audio Formats	Dolby digital, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS-HD MA
Playable Media Formats	MP3, JPEG, CD-R, CD-RW, DivX, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, Blu-Ray
Audio details	Decode and Bitstream Output Dialogue Enhancer DTS HD Master Audio Essential/DTS HD High Resolution Audio 96KHz Surround Sound for all Formats Night Surround Mode Dynamic Range Compression
Audio S/N	100dB
Dynamic Range	100dB
Remote control	Yes
Input and output connectors	1 x HDMI output 1 x Video Out 1 x Composite Input 1 x Stereo Audio Input Analog Audio Out 2ch SD Memory Card Slot
Convenient features	VIERA Link (HDAVI Control 5) and Audio/JPEG Navigation Menu
Other	Bonus View Function (picture in picture simultaneous playback) High Precision 4:4:4 color reproduction Convenient operation 0.5 Sec Ultra Fast Booting SD Image Viewer Dual Layer PAL Progressive
Power Consumption	14W In Standby Mode 0.1W In Quick Start Mode 7W
Digital Audio Output	1 Optical
Manufacturer Warranty	1 year

With several brands of Blu-ray players hitting the market, at a price level below £100, it is actually the right time to experiment on HD content, if you were planning on one for a long time now, but had deferred that thought owing to budget constriction. Toshiba BDX2100 Blu-ray players are available for as less as £80 to £95. So, is the bargain worth it or is the low price directly proportional to a low-grade performance? We took a closer look to find out!

After having lost the HD DVD battle to Blu Ray players in early 2008, Toshiba decided to launch its first Blu Ray player, BDX2000, and with a decent response for that attempt, have launched their second Blu Ray Player, BDX2100.

Design:

The BDX2100’s looks can be pretty deceiving, as you unpack it with no great expectations, looking forward to handshake with a fairly ordinarily-looking spinner. Well, Toshiba decides to differ here by not scrimping on the build or design, which is fairly evident from the uniquely styled, feather-light, angular player, which would only be too happy to take its place under your TV rack. Toshiba has taken great care in crafting the deck’s fascia in a glossy, black finish with jutting angles.

Slots and Connectivity:

The front panel of Toshiba BDX2100 Blu-Ray Disc Player looks slick and clean with a wafer-thin tray, scarce buttons along with a tiny LED display along with conventional buttons like Power and Eject, which could prove handy if you are away from the remote and want to access the basic functions. At the bottom, towards the right is the USB port that acts as a proxy for the SD card slot in the previous model – an astute decision, we must add, as this allows for a host of devices to be connected. The connections on the rear are few and kind of disappointing, in fact much lesser than its predecessor, that leaves you with basic choices only. By saying basic, we mean just the HDMI v1.3, composite, coaxial digital and analogue stereo outputs along with an Ethernet port. Though the BDX2000 also featured optical digital audio and component video output, it is not something that we miss in the BDX2100, with HDMI taking care of the key AV duties. That said, you could miss the multi channel analog output, if your AV receiver lacks HDMI input; well, the price explains it.

Getting Started with the BDX2100:

Setting up the BDX2100 Blu Ray Player is a real breeze and was done within minutes, HDMI cable to the rear of the spinner with the other end to the LCD TV, and Voila! There it was, all set to greet us. There was a little bit of disappointment on switching the player on, as it greets with a fairly outdated and scruffy menu that seemed to be designed during the Early Man Era – snazzy graphics, hefty icons. Again, some features like “Deep Colour, 30/36 bit” seemed to have no rational explanation in the user manual, not that the online manual briefed it any better. In short, it gives you a clunky feeling, nowhere near contemporary Blu ray players.

User Interface:

Well, we decided to still be optimistic and look beyond the clumsy-looking menu poking around to unearth some goodies. For starters, the menu looked simple to decipher and get acquainted with. It gets all the more interesting to watch the deck abandon its Home Menu for a totally new design filled with funky graphics and swanky fonts. The well spaced out and rationally structured pages respond indeed quickly to the remote control’s commands. Though it definitely cannot measure up to Sony’s or LG’s striking interface, it is by far a drastic improvement to its predecessor, BDX2000. Also, we were able to probe deep inside the spinner to customise the settings of our choice. While Motion Video Processing allows you to choose between Standard, Cinema, Vivid and Custom options, the Video Processing consists of settings like sharpness, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue along with three options offered by the sharpness setting namely high, medium and low. Check out this cool feature – the “Custom Settings” that allows for adjustments to be made to the picture within the colours in the display – red, blue, green, cyan and yellow, along with a three-stage noise reduction for any picture preset. It also offers another feature – CTI (Colour Transient Improvement) that aims at reducing the manifestation of colour banding. This enhances the images exceptionally on the HDTV providing you with amazing control. Cool huh? But then, you are not allowed to save the settings. So, if you swap to the standard preset and get back to Custom Setting, your settings get back to factory settings by default.

Features:

It is kind of annoying to know that the Ethernet’s forte is restricted to just downloading BD Live. It would have been delightful, if Toshiba had designed an attribute similar to the media streaming feature included in their latest versions of TVs, especially with its rivals (Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic) boasting of DLNA PC streaming features. Although, we do endorse the fact that they have been in the Blu-ray arena for quite sometime now and most of their high-end spinners are way costlier than the humble Toshiba BDX2100. Almost all prevailing Blu ray players boast of FeaturesOnline content with a very few of them lacking the same. Even while the BDX2100 allows for downloading of BD Live to a USB storage device, it does not facilitate on-board memory that helps with saving stuff on the actual player itself, thus refraining you from streaming anything. This kind of glaring omission (non 3D compatible, no VIERA Cast, no Wi-Fi support, no YouTube, no iPlayer) in this day and age is kind weird, especially with the market brimming with Blu-ray spinners with a similar price tag that includes online access. For eg., you get the Sony BDP-S370 Blu Ray Player in the same price range, or some extra bucks, with more than enough features.

Impressive Boot Time:

The BDX2100 sure boots in 15 seconds displaying the same zeal to almost all discs and it is just mater of time before the Sony pictures logo show up. Definitely, beats the record of all its high-end rivals.

Remote Control:

The ergonomically designed remote control is a relatively slim gadget with no bells or whistles. The arrangement of buttons is neat and amply spaced out. The menu direction and disc playback keys are conveniently clustered below the thumb with the remaining keys labeled boldly and clearly.

Performance:

Audio Quality:

Well it is not all doom and gloom for the BDX2100. Looking at the brighter side, it supports all major formats and allows to play audio and video content from external sources through the USB port located on the front panel supporting formats like mp3, JPEG, WMA, M4A, DivX, MKV and AVCHD from Blu-ray discs; a relatively lengthy list for its price and all cheers to Toshiba for having added MKV to the list. Similar to other standard Blu ray players, the BD2100 is also equipped to output DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHDand other HD formats in a bitstream mode.

Video Quality:

Likewise, Toshiba BDX2100 also has the capabilities of playing Blu-ray discs at 1080/24p, meaning you will have the pleasure of watching movies just as they were intended to be watched, hopefully devoid of judder from frame conversion. It would have been great to have the Resolution plus processing feature aboard (which was responsible for bringing out exceptional results on their upscaling DVD decks). Also the video quality is fairly brilliant with moving images being reproduced flawlessly. The all-time favourite “Transformers” was a feast to our eyes and was handled effortlessly and with great ease. DVD upscaling was fair, though not perfect, with blotchy images and muffled sound. Then again, you cannot expect the world with this kind of a price tag.  Toshiba does indeed have a good eye for detail when it comes to characters and costumes with reasonable amount of intensity to blacks and clout to whites. As already mentioned, you can try your hands on ample tweaks to suit your television set, in an effort to enhance the picture.

Special Features:

The BDX2100 supports BD-Live, profile 2.0 giving you access to additional content though the Ethernet connection. This enables you to unravel exclusive downloads and bonus features namely trailers, alternative endings, extra scenes in addition to trivia games and online chat. Viewing photos, listening to music or playback of videos is now possible through the USB port as against the conventional CD/DVD burning. The BDX2100 is also MP3 and JPEG disc compatible. Also check out the REGZA link function which when connected to a REGZA LCD using a HDMI cable allows you to enjoy full HD content that can be controlled via a single remote.

Warranty:

Toshiba offers the BDX2100 a one year warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

Although the BDX2100 cannot be categorised as a perfect Blu ray spinner, there is nothing drastically wrong about it as well, for us to not recommend it – more so for its affordability. It lacks state-of-the-art features and unfortunately for Toshiba their no bells or whistles approach does not get justified by their low price tag, as it is not really hard to find a Blu ray player for the same price, or for some extra bucks like the Sony BDP S370 or the Samsung BD-C5300. So, if you are someone looking at trying your hands on a Blu ray player for the first time or a budget constrained buyer, the BDX2100 might after all be your best bet.

Toshiba BDX2100 Blu-Ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Toshiba
Model Name	Toshiba BDX2100
Form Factor	Tabletop
Dimensions (H x W x D)	4.5 x 43 x 22.5 cm
Colour/Finish	Black
Weight	2.3 kg
Compatible media formats	BD, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-VR format-R/-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD Audio, MP3-Audio, JPEG, VCD, SVCD, DivX, HD-JPEG, AVCHD
Playable File Formats	DivX, XviD, MP3, JPEG
Media Load Type	Tray
BD Profile	Profile 2.0 (BonusView)
Video features	Video Output System – PAL, NTSC Frame Noise Reduction Picture Control – Zoom Up-Conversion via HDMI – 720p, 1080i, 1080p Black Level Shift Deep Colour
Supported Audio Format	Dolby True HD Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus DTS DTS-HD Master Audio
Playable Discs	DVD Video, SVCD, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, CD (Audio), CD-RW, BD-RE, Blu-ray
Audio details	Dynamic Range Control Virtual Surround Sound
Remote control	Infrared Yes,SE-R0377
Input and output connectors	1 x HDMI output with REGZA-Link 1 x Audio line-out (RCA phono x 2) 1 x Digital Audio Output (coaxial, RCA Phono) 1 x Composite video output (RCA Phono) Composite Audio Output 1 x HDMI (HDMI a 19 pin, type A) 1 x Network (RJ-45) USB Port Ethernet (RJ-45) Connection
Convenient features	Trilingular OSD Screen Saver Parental Lock Audio Standby Still Mode
Other Features	AAA Battery for remote control Audio Stream Select Sub-title alert Fast Forward Fast Reverse Forward Slow Frame Advance Title Search Track Search Chapter Search Repeat Title Repeat Track Repeat Chapter Repeat A-B Repeat All
Power Source	AC 120V, 60Hz
Power Consumption	In use/Power Down Consumption – 14/0.4 W
Manufacturer Warranty	1 year manufacturer warranty

With evolution of technology, it comes as no big surprise to see the best hi-fi gadgets getting outdated by not just days, but by hours. That is right, by hours! With the advent of Blu Ray players, HD DVDs have become extinct, and the gaming and home theater connoisseurs seem to have high expectations from the players that are lined up for 2010. That being said, there are yet a sizeable segment of consumers, who are yet to approve Blu Ray players for their price range. Well, Sony decides to stand out from the crowd in this regard, by presenting consumers with a player that fits everyone’s budget. Now, the instant thought that crosses your mind next would be, with the player being affordable, could it be some stripped-down variant of Blu Ray players.  Hold that thought, the BDP-S370 is quite a punch when it comes to features and performance, along with being a perfect combination for the HDTV at home, something that even costlier players do not support. So, let us go ahead and see if the player is as good as what Sony claims it to be.

Design:

The BDP-S370 Blu Ray Player sure does make heads turn with its snazzy geometric, monolithic design in a glossy black, smooth exterior finish, along with its wired and wireless networking attribute. The conventional L-shaped fascia in the regular rectangular box can be quite deceiving until you unpack the S3370, to find a striking player staring at you with its distinct fascinating looks, making it a perfect rack fit for any home theater shelf. The fingerprint-resistant sleek surface is nice and compact, which measures barely over an inch thick. The slim silver buttons speak for themselves, in being contoured and leaves you with an in between feeling of flush mount and real push. While the front left sports a disc tray and a strip running along the bottom with few buttons that aid in skipping tracks and ejecting discs, the right front corner has a single line LED display adjacent to the disc tray with a front USB port. There is only limited control over the buttons on the front with a restriction to enter the menu or switch sources, along with the conventional Eject, Power, Play and Stop buttons. Well, nothing much on the sides, but for some screws gripping the top shelf in place. The display is quite legible (with the option to fine-tune its brightness from the menu) thanks to the Matrix-style display. The rear sports a basic bouquet that includes an additional USB port, video port, optical digital audio out, coaxial digital audio out, 2 channels analog audio, exhaust fan, LAN jack, Ethernet, component/composite video, HDMI etc. Sony has taken good care of port placement, which is fairly convenient and nothing seems to be amiss.

Well, what really attracted us was the DivX HD support, similar to the LG INFINIA TV. Thanks to the built-in LAN jack, that lets us enjoy BD Live and Internet Video along with being Wi-Fi – an optional dongle that Sony offers.  Sony BDP-S370 supports all key Dolby home theater specifications like True HD, DTS-HD Master, DTS and LPCM, up to 8 channel. The all-metal cased player is tastefully designed and well built and weighs a bare minimum of 2 kilos that makes it very portable and convenient to be carried around.

Features:

Sony Blu Ray Players continues to delight its users with its candid features. This 2010, new entry-level player has been packed with high levels of functionality meeting almost all requirements of its users, making it a great package and takes entertainment to the next level. So, let us walk you through some of them.

Getting Started with the Sony BDP-S370:

Well, the first impression begins with the boot up time, which is adjustable by itself. Default time delay could be around 90 seconds, but then this is the first configurable item in your ‘Easy Setup’ screen by enabling the Quick Start mode. Part of the quick start options is also to configure the source of TV output – amongst HDMI/ Component Video/ Video). Talking about menu options, the next one that comes up is the ‘Home’ option that allows configurations for Photos, Video, Audio, Setup and Network. Audio settings once again allow for choice of inputs including Dolby Digital (Optical, Co-axial), HDMI and Downmix as well. Setup options are easily navigable through the directional buttons on the remote and the player allows you to configure parental control as well.

Connected devices could include USB’s as well; through which audio and video files can be played on the BDPS370 Blu-Ray Disc Player. DivX and Xvid formats are supported for video while MP3 formats are supported for the audio files. Slide shows on photos are supported for JPG files in a similar vein.

Navigating the internet for videos is getting easier by the day. Access to the most popular YouTube seems to be best customized in the player where search for videos can happen through the cell-phone like keypad (non QWERTY) and the ‘skip track’ feature allows you to scroll through the results for options. Restrictions on the sites to be visited goes with the ‘white labeling’ kind of principle where you can decide the sites that you need to allow access to, through the player – a pretty cool feature.

We should report that the player does ‘surprise’ when it comes to multi-tasking; particularly in handling scenarios where you could eject a disc or a USB device while playing an Internet video. The Home menu comes up as a surprise to an action that can potentially remain independent of what is being viewed currently.

On the connectivity front, Internet is also available to the Blu Ray player over a wireless connection, but then hang on – you need a proprietary Sony Wireless UWA BR-100 adaptor for the same.

It is worth mentioning, again, that the Quick Start mode is a great feature in the player that greatly reduces startup time to almost a few seconds from what it could be, although it comes with additional power consumption, in the order of 6W on standby.

Full HD 1080 Video Output:

A Full HD 1080p output gets the most out of BDP-S370 Blu Ray player. It is a real feast to the eyes to watch Blu-ray Discs in striking HD resolution or go ahead and upgrade the DVD quality to near HD. Technology combinations like 24p True Cinema, HDMI Deep Colour, and Precision Drive HD serve striking picture quality along with a great amount of detail to the images. If you are a gadget freak and if you wish to appreciate the level of detail that goes into the Autobots in Transformers, you would certainly not be disappointed. Or if you want to enjoy the more colorful Avatar, please yourself.

DVD Upscaling:

Standard resolutions get upscaled to a 1080p image quality with playing conventional DVDs or streaming videos with the inclusion of online functionality (for which you need to purchase a wireless adaptor) in order for the videos to be played directly via internet bypassing a PC.

Multitude Of Connectivity Ports:

The BD-S370 Blu Ray DVD Player is stacked with a whole host of connectivity ports: Line out ports for audio-video, co-axial and optical digital outs, component video, USB on the front and rear (one of which aids in attaching the external hard drive that makes viewing of stored content easier), HDMI  along with a 100 Mbit Ethernet LAN port. It also supports DSD audio output and Dolby Digital, DTS. Well guys, a little disappointing here is that Wi-fi does not come by default, you got to opt for Sony’s optional dongle to enjoy a full wireless experience.

A Nifty Bravia Remote Control:

Check out the all new remote that the S370 boasts of, (model #RMT-B107P) along with the conventional audio-video cable. It is a surprise though that no Component or HDMI cable is included in the box. Downloading a free app called BD Remote, offered by the iTunes Store, allows you to use your iPod Touch or Apple iPhone’s remote as against the regular Sony remote. Downloading the BD remote does not just allows you to use the remote but also gives access to a Blu-ray Disc’s info, namely actor, jacket artwork, production information plus browsing for additional video clips online; something that works real smooth with no fuss, in practice.

Supported Media Type:

Well, Sony has decided to give extra attention in terms of file support (something that was limited or lacking with the previous models) with the S370 being compatible with DivX, DivX HD, MKV and AVCHD files, among others. It also plays JPEGs and MPEGs back.

Additional Features:

BBC On-demand:

This highly significant feature of S370 gives it that significant tag, as this is not featured on any other TV with Sony’s network, with them lacking MHEG. A greater part of iPlayer devices like the Freesat and Freeview boxes are known to deliver a standard-def, low-resolution stuff, as against the astute HD version that Sony delivers.

Treat for Audiophiles:

With almost all Sony Blu ray players serving as a real treat for audiophiles, the Sony BDP-S370 Full HD 1080P Blu Ray Player is no exception when it comes to spinning high-quality SACD discs along with the conventional CDs and DVDs. Well the good news does not end here; streaming a DSD (Digital Stream Direct) signal straight into a compatible home theatre receiver cannot get any easier. Additionally, it is packed with audio decoding for the most recent high bit-rate audio codecs namely DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. Then again, the S370 lacks an iPod dock or connector, (a common feature these days, that current Blu-ray manufacturers choose to exclude). You will require, at the least, a 1GB USB memory stick to access BD Live content from the web. Furthermore, you can either opt to buy an additional USB Wi-Fi dongle and get it connected to your home network or just hard-wire the Ethernet connection post a firmware update that is due later this year.

Gracenote:

The Gracenote Entertainment Database Browser makes it debut here that helps with accessing/downloading tracks and album for DVDs, CDs and Blu-rays, a real bonus with running tracks especially from CDs. Additionally, it allows instant access of comprehensive information of the movies you watch using Gracenote’s Metadata Service. Standard definition DVDs can also be upscaled to achieve the same kind of accuracy, but for few hitches like jerky camera and MPEG noise panning in, in the 50Hz/1080p mode.

XcrossMediaBar:

Menu navigation is swift and smooth and a literal breeze in the S370 with the XcrossMediaBar. Have fun scrolling along, up and down main menus for music, video, photos or settings. It is real quick accessing the user controls and set-up menus with the four-directional control interface of the Xross Media Bar that adds spice to your entertainment.

In The Box:

Player, Remote (Model #RMT-B107P), Instruction Manual, AV Cable, AA Battery, Warranty Card, Two free Blu Ray Movies.

Verdict:

With increasing competition, it has become important for players to start distinguishing themselves, to prove their footing in this space. The BDP-S370 presents itself as a good ‘value for money’ gadget that stands out on two key areas, viz., in being nimble and fast about loading discs and its connectivity to the Internet. The HD support is excellent and the quality of video and audio cannot be faulted one bit. You can argue on the lack of in-built Wi Fi connectivity or sometimes fault the player for not being an efficient ‘multi tasker’; but then, the positives far outweigh them.

Sony BDP-S370 Blu Ray Player  – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Sony
Model Name	Sony BDP-S370 Blu Ray Player
Model Number	S370
Display type	Front Panel
Dimensions (W x H x D)	430 x 36 x 219 mm
Weight	2 kg
Colour/Finish	Black
Media Types supported	CD, DVD, CD-R/RW, BD-RE, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, BD-ROM, DVD+RW, DVD-RW
System features	BD-ROM (BonusView; Profile 1.1) BD-ROM Playback (Single, Dual layer) BD-R/RE Playback AVC-HD 8c/12cm DVD Playback DVD Video Playback Audio CD Playback DVD-R/RW (Video Format) Playback DVD+R/RW Playback CD-R/RW Playback JPEG Playback MP3 Playback
Picture features	Full HD 1080p Precision Cinema HD upscale (DVD upscaling to 1080p) Video D/A Converter 24p True Cinema x.v. Colour Noise Reduction PhotoTV HD Deep Colour Preset Picture Mode
Audio output	Audio D/A Converter DTS-HD Master Audio Decoding Dolby True HD Decoding DTS-HD Master Audio Bit-Stream Output Dolby TrueHD bit-stream Output LPCM (2ch/6ch/8ch) thru HDMI Analog DSD Output DTS bit-stream out Dolby digital bit-stream out
AV Sync	Yes
Bravia Sync	Yes
Network Ethernet	BD Live
Screen Saver	Yes
Upscaling	Yes (up to 1080p)
Child Lock	Yes
Connectivity	Wi-Fi Capability DLNA (Photo/JPEG) BD-Live enabled BAVIA internet video streaming Sony Online Service streaming Etherport
Convenience Features	Quick Setup AV Sync Gracenote @ Metadata Child Lock (Tray Lock) XrossMediaBar™ Screen Saver Audio/Video Bit Rate Indicator Startup Screen
Terminal connectivity	1 x HDMI 1 x Component Video OP 1 x Composite Video Output 1 x Digital Audio Output: Coaxial 1 x Digital Audio Output: Optical 2ch Analogue Audio Output 2 x USB port (Front, Rear)
Power Requirements	110-240V, 50/60Hz
Remote	Yes with TV control RMT-B107P
Warranty	One Year