New Ratings: Blu-ray players now on CRO

We've just posted our latest high-def Blu-ray Ratings (available to subscribers), and we're happy to report that almost all the models tested can provide excellent HD and DVD picture quality. In fact, all the models in our Ratings offered excellent high-definition performance, though we did see some differences in how well players handled upconverted film-based programs from standard DVDs.

In addition to models from familiar brands, such as LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony (whose products we've previously reviewed), our latest Ratings include the first Blu-ray players from JVC, Sherwood, and Oppo (pictured), a smaller company whose upconverting DVD players earned strong word-of-mouth among the A/V enthusiast community. Check our Ratings to see how well these newcomers did compared to second- and third-generation models from other brands.

With satisfying HD picture quality now almost a given, it's primarily features that differentiate one player from another. For example, while almost all the new models in our Ratings are BD-Live (or BD-Live-ready) players—meaning they can connect to the Internet to access extra content, such as outtakes, additional directors', or actors' commentaries, or even video games, from a movie studio's servers—some older models lack this feature. All the players in our test have BonusView, a picture-in-picture feature that lets you view additional content in a smaller window while the movie is playing.

We're also seeing more Internet-connected players that can now directly access instantly streaming movies from services such as Netflix or Amazon Video on Demand, or music from streaming Internet radio services such as Pandora. Some models offer wireless access to a home network so you don't need to have a wired Ethernet jack near the player.

Although we have seen Blu-ray prices fall since our last test, the addition of these new features has tempered the types of price drops we initially envisioned. As a result, you can still expect to pay $350 to $500 for a top-rated, BD-Live model from a major brand. A less expensive option is to choose a "BD-Live-ready" model; prices typically start at about $250. These players come with an Ethernet connection, but require you to purchase additional memory (typically a 1GB USB flash drive, which costs $10 to $15) to activate the BD-Live feature. But if you can live without BD-Live, you can save money by choosing one of the BonusView-only players, which typically sell for $200 or less.

But we do anticipate prices dropping this fall, even on full-featured models from major brands, as manufacturing efficiencies come into play and brands compete for market share. We'll be tracking Blu-ray prices over the next several months, especially during November's Black Friday shopping period, when rumors suggest we'll see the first $100 model. So keep checking back here for updates.

Also, we recently changed our Blu-ray testing protocol, adding scores for Blu-ray disc load times and remote control operations. With so many players offering excellent picture quality, we'll continue to adapt our Ratings to include new features or attributes that will help buyers differentiate among the choices.—James K. Willcox