Blu-Ray Players

Type of streaming services

Type of streaming services lists streaming services such as Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, and Pandora Internet Radio that are available with latest firmware update at the time of testing. Internet connection is required and some services require subscription. Services may be added or removed with future firmware updates.

WiFi capability

This feature allows your player to connect to the Internet or to a home network without the use of a wired Ethernet connection. This is convenient when your Internet connection isn't near your entertainment setup, which would otherwise require you to run a long cable from room to room. A growing number of Blu-ray players can use WiFi to connect to other DLNA-compliant devices in the home, enabling you to access digital music, videos, and photos stored on a computer or networked storage device and play them on the TV. Some players have built-in WiFi capability, while others come with a WiFi dongle (external adapter) that you plug into the player's USB port. In both cases, we denote WiFi as a standard feature. Still other players require you to purchase the WiFi dongle separately; in that case we indicate that WiFi is optional.

DLNA compatible

DLNA-enabled devices like Blu-ray players can receive digitally stored content like music, pictures, and videos over a home network connection--wireless or wired--from other compatible devices. The devices can include a computer, TV, DVR, set-top box, printer, and cell phone. For example, a computer running Windows 7 is already DLNA-enabled and will allow a DLNA-enabled Blu-ray player (with a built-in network connection) to "pull" digital photos and videos from the computer, with no additional software needed. DLNA stands for Digital Living Network Alliance, an industry group that developed the standard and certification process covering how those media devices interact.

Plays 4K Ultra HD BD (Blu-ray) discs

It is the commercial Ultra high-definition video disc format. All Ultra HD Blu-ray players can play these types of discs.

Plays BD (Blu-ray) discs

It is the commercial high-definition video disc format. All Blu-ray players can play these types of discs.

Plays BD-R discs

Lets you play Blu-ray Recordable (BD-R) discs recorded on a PC or a BD recorder when they become available. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays BD-RE discs

Lets you play Blu-ray Record/Erase (BD-RE) discs recorded on a PC or a BD recorder when they become available. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays DVD-R discs

Lets you play DVD-Recordable (DVD-R) discs recorded in DVD Video mode burned on a PC or a DVD-R recorder. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays DVD+R discs

Lets you play DVD-Recordable (DVD-R) discs recorded in DVD Video mode burned on a PC or a DVD-R recorder. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays DVD+RW discs

Lets you play DVD+ReWritable (DVD+RW) discs recorded in DVD Video mode burned on a PC or a DVD+RW recorder. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays DVD-Audio discs

Lets you play discs formatted in DVD-Audio, one of two competing audiophile music formats. DVD-Audio discs encode the music so that it can be output in either two or up to six channels. Both this and the other competing format, Super Audio CD (SACD), also claim to offer better sound quality than CDs can deliver. Note that while program material formatted in DVD-Audio will only play on Blu-ray and DVD players that specify DVD-Audio capability, some DVD-Audio discs also contain a Dolby Digital or DTS version of the program playable on any Blu-ray or DVD player.

Plays SACD discs

Lets you play discs formatted in Super Audio CD (SACD), one of two competing audiophile music formats. SACD discs contain a stereo (and possibly also a multichannel) version of the music content. Both this and the other competing format, DVD-Audio, also claim to offer better sound quality than CDs can deliver. Note that while SACD-formatted program material will only play on models that specify SACD capability, some "hybrid" SACD discs contain a second version of the program in standard CD format, playable on most Blu-ray, DVD or CD players.

Plays CD-Audio discs

Lets you play commercial CD-Audio discs.

Plays CD-R audio discs

Lets you play CD-Recordable (CD-R) audio discs burned on a PC or a CD recorder. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays CD-RW audio discs

Lets you play CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) audio discs burned on a PC or a CD recorder. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays MP3 audio files

Lets you play MP3 files stored on a removable memory device (USB flash drive or SD card) or CD using a computer and a CD burner. Some memory devices or discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Plays WMA files

Lets you play Windows Media Audio compressed audio files that have been copied onto CD-R/RW discs. Some discs may not play on a particular player for one reason or another.

Reads JPEG image files

Can read JPEG compressed picture image files that have been copied onto CD-R/RW discs. Some discs cannot be read on a particular player for one reason or another.

4K UHD Load Time

4K UHD load time is the length of time in seconds that the model took to load our test 4K UHD Disc, measured from the time of pressing the 'load' button to the time the first video information is displayed onscreen. Depending on discs, load time may vary from our result.

Blu-ray load time range

Blu-ray load time range is the range in seconds that the model took to load different test Blu-ray discs, measured from the time of pressing the 'load' button to the time the first video information is displayed onscreen. Depending on disc, load time may vary from our result. Java-encoded Blu-ray discs may take longer.

DVD loading time

DVD load time is the length of time in seconds that the model took to load our test DVD, measured from the time of pressing the 'load' button to the time the first video information is displayed onscreen. Depending on discs, load time may vary from our result.

Web browsing

Web browsing mainly assesses browser capabilities, including, multitouch, flash video, link selecting, as well as the phone's ability to handle more than one browser and multiple Web pages. It also considers data connections, such as 3G, 4G, and WiFi.

Dimensions (HxWxD, in.)

The height, width and depth in inches needed to allow for the unit, rounded up to the nearest 0.25-inch. For convenience, we already added two (2) inches to the depth (or the side if that's where the connectors are located) to allow for cable connections.

HDMI input

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a relatively new form of digital audio/video connection found on TVs, monitors, Blu-ray players, DVD players, receivers, cameras and digital TV tuners. HDMI has become the preferred connection method instead of component, etc., as it carries audio and video signals on the same cable. HDMI supports a range of standard- and high-definition video formats, although it can vary for each product. HDMI supports up to eight channels of uncompressed, 24-bit/192kHz audio. HDMI version 1.3, doubled the bandwidth of its predecessor (HDMI 1.2), and added support for 30-, 36- and 48-bit color depth and a new "xvYCC" color standard, as well as the new Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master lossless audio formats (See "Dolby True HD" and "DTS-HD Master Audio") used in Blu-ray discs. HDMI version 1.4 added full support for 3D television, an audio return path, and ethernet network connection. Some Blu-ray discs, in order to be viewed in high-definition, will require that the Blu-ray player and the HDTV/display be connected using an HDMI cable as a copy-protection measure. HDMI allows content providers to limit the quality of the component video outputs, and your ability to record the content.

HDMI output

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a relatively new form of digital audio/video connection found on TVs, monitors, Blu-ray players, DVD players, receivers, cameras and digital TV tuners. HDMI has become the preferred connection method instead of component, etc., as it carries audio and video signals on the same cable. HDMI supports a range of standard- and high-definition video formats, although it can vary for each product. HDMI supports up to eight channels of uncompressed, 24-bit/192kHz audio. HDMI version 1.3, doubled the bandwidth of its predecessor (HDMI 1.2), and added support for 30-, 36- and 48-bit color depth and a new "xvYCC" color standard, as well as the new Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master lossless audio formats (See "Dolby True HD" and "DTS-HD Master Audio") used in Blu-ray discs. HDMI version 1.4 added full support for 3D television, an audio return path, and ethernet network connection. Some Blu-ray discs, in order to be viewed in high-definition, will require that the Blu-ray player and the HDTV/display be connected using an HDMI cable as a copy-protection measure. HDMI allows content providers to limit the quality of the component video outputs, and your ability to record the content.

USB port

USB port lets you connect a flash drive for multimedia playback such as music and photos and for BD-Live data storage to download extras like games and movie trailers.

Optical digital audio out

Digital-audio outputs are important only if your home-theater system lacks HDMI connections. As an alternative, you can pipe the digital audio signals--both stereo and multichannel--from the Blu-ray or DVD player, or television set-top box into a digital receiver. Optical digital audio interconnects, also called Toslink cables, send digital audio signals as pulses of light over optical fiber rather than an electrical signal over coaxial cable. Digital-audio, via optical or coax, supports multichannel Dolby Digital and DTS audio, but not the more advanced formats available over HDMI. Most optical cables use the small, squarish Toslink connector, but there's also a smaller mini optical connector, which looks a lot like a standard 1/8-inch mini-plug. When choosing your Blu-ray or DVD player, consider the models that have the outputs to match the inputs on your digital receiver or external, digital decoder. Most Blu-ray and DVD players have digital audio outputs--coaxial, optical, or both.

Coaxial digital-audio out

Digital-audio outputs are important only if your home-theater system lacks HDMI connections. As an alternative, you can pipe the digital audio signals--both stereo and multichannel--from the Blu-ray or DVD player, or television set-top box into a digital receiver. Coaxial digital audio interconnect, also called SPDIF cable, sends digital audio signals over a coaxial cable. This coaxial cable is the same as a composite-video cable -- both use common RCA connectors. Digital-audio, via coax or optical, supports multichannel Dolby Digital and DTS audio, but not the more advanced formats available over HDMI. When choosing your Blu-ray or DVD player, consider the models that have the outputs to match the inputs on your digital receiver or external, digital decoder. Most Blu-ray and DVD players have digital audio outputs--coaxial, optical, or both.

Memory card slot

This lets you connect an SD, SDHC, SDXC cards for multimedia playback such as music and photos and for BD-Live data storage to download extras like games and movie trailers in some players.