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
Bottom Line:
Inexpensive option for Xbox owners is a poor choice for home theater fans analog-only video outputs make for poor image quality.
PC World Rating:
72 (Good)
- Price when rated: $600
- HD DVD player
- Maximum resolution: 1080i
- No HDMI port
- Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 27, 2007
Bottom Line:
Mediocre design and a tendency to add a reddish cast to skin tones reduce the attractiveness of this pricey Blu-ray player.
PC World Rating:
75 (Good)
- Price when rated: $1300
- Blu-ray Disc player
- Maximum resolution: 1080p
- HDMI 1.1
- No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 27, 2007
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.
PC World Rating:
77 (Good)
- Price when rated: $1500
- Blu-ray Disc player
- Maximum resolution: 1080p
- HDMI 1.2
- No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 27, 2007
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.
PC World Rating:
79 (Good)
- Price when rated: $1000
- HD DVD player
- Maximum resolution: 1080p
- HDMI 1.3
- Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 27, 2007
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.
PC World Rating:
79 (Good)
- Price when rated: $500
- HD DVD player
- Maximum resolution: 1080i
- HDMI 1.2a
- Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 27, 2007
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.
PC World Rating:
80 (Very Good)
- Price when rated: $600
- Blu-ray Disc player
- Maximum resolution 1080p
- HDMI 1.3
- Secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: December 04, 2006
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.
PC World Rating:
80 (Very Good)
- Price when rated: $1000
- Blu-ray Disc player
- Maximum resolution: 1080p
- HDMI 1.2
- No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 23, 2007
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.
PC World Rating:
81 (Very Good)
- Price when rated: $800
- Blu-ray Disc player
- Maximum resolution: 1080p
- HDMI 1.2
- No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 27, 2007
Bottom Line:
First Blu-ray player ever released offers great image quality and nicely designed menus, but the audio output sounds muddy.
PC World Rating:
82 (Very Good)
- Price when rated: $800
- Blu-ray Disc player
- Maximum resolution: 1080p
- HDMI 1.1
- No secondary video decoder for picture-in-picture
- Last Rated: March 27, 2007
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