High-Definition Players

The Samsung BD-P1000 leads the pack with its well-rounded design and strong image quality, but other players follow close behind--including the relatively bargain-priced Sony PlayStation 3, and one of our top image-quality performers, the Sony BDP-S1.

Melissa J. Perenson

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Last Rated: March 27, 2007	BEST BUY! 1. Samsung Samsung BD-P1000 Price when rated: $800, Blu-ray Disc player, Maximum resolution: 1080p, HDMI 1.1, No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: First Blu-ray player ever released offers great image quality and nicely designed menus, but the audio output sounds muddy. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices
Last Rated: March 27, 2007	2. Philips Philips BDP9000 Price when rated: $800, Blu-ray Disc player, Maximum resolution: 1080p, HDMI 1.2, No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: This Blu-ray device offers well-rounded image performance at a good price, but it has mediocre audio capabilities and a poor manual. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices
Last Rated: March 23, 2007	3. Sony BDP-S1 Price when rated: $1000, Blu-ray Disc player, Maximum resolution: 1080p, HDMI 1.2, No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: Sony's BDP-S1 is slow and lacks frills, but it's a great performer: It tied with the Pioneer Elite BDP-HD1 for top audio and video honors, and costs $500 less than that player. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices

Last Rated: December 04, 2006	4. Sony Sony PlayStation 3 Price when rated: $600, Blu-ray Disc player, Maximum resolution: 1080p, HDMI 1.3, Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: Multifaceted game console doubles as a competitive Blu-ray player with terrific high-def video; but its lack of DVD upscaling dragged down its overall performance. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices
Last Rated: March 27, 2007	5. Toshiba Toshiba HD-A2 Price when rated: $500, HD DVD player, Maximum resolution: 1080i, HDMI 1.2a, Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: The cheapest stand-alone player we tested, this HD DVD model produces good audio; but resolution maxes out at 1080i resolution, and the unit won't display some movie scenes optimally. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices
Last Rated: March 27, 2007	6. Toshiba Toshiba HD-XA2 Price when rated: $1000, HD DVD player, Maximum resolution: 1080p, HDMI 1.3, Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: Expensive HD DVD player offers strong image performance and a broad range of features; it's the only model other than the PlayStation 3 we tested with HDMI 1.3. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices

Last Rated: March 27, 2007	7. Pioneer Electronics Pioneer Elite BDP-HD1 Price when rated: $1500, Blu-ray Disc player, Maximum resolution: 1080p, HDMI 1.2, No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: This Blu-ray model tied for the best picture and sound, but its subpar user interface and sky-high price hold it back. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices
Last Rated: March 27, 2007	8. Panasonic Panasonic DMP-BD10 Price when rated: $1300, Blu-ray Disc player, Maximum resolution: 1080p, HDMI 1.1, No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: Mediocre design and a tendency to add a reddish cast to skin tones reduce the attractiveness of this pricey Blu-ray player. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices
Last Rated: March 27, 2007	9. Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Price when rated: $600, HD DVD player, Maximum resolution: 1080i, No HDMI port, Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture Bottom Line: Inexpensive option for Xbox owners is a poor choice for home theater fans analog-only video outputs make for poor image quality. Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices	Check Latest Prices