A quick market survey will reveal that a Netflix subscription has become a minimum standard with Blu-Ray players. Additionally, most of these players allow access to Pandora and Picasa and they also have some pay-per- view plan wherein you can stream movies from sites like Amazon or Vudu. Basically, every effort has been made to incorporate all modern forms of home entertainment into a single device.

What to look for in a Blu-Ray player?

One would imagine that video quality would be the key factor while choosing a Blu-Ray player. Truth be told, every Blu-Ray player out there excels in that department almost uniformly. Therefore, one can’t really make a decision based on just the picture quality. Interestingly, it is the additional features like Wi-Fi connectivity, ability to stream videos etc. which make all the difference. That’s why big players like LG and Sony have come up with innovative features to stay ahead in the competition. Price is also an important consideration when it comes to buying a Blu-Ray player. You can find a decent player for about a $100 while high end Blu-Ray players can cost up to $500. The choice will depend eventually on your budget and personal requirements.

Considering these factors, we have put together a list of the best Blu-Ray players out there. We have tried to choose players from different price ranges since this will help you compare their features along with their costs.

1. Sony BDP-S380- Priced at close to $110, the Sony BDP-S380 offers complete value for money. It has a sleek design with a matt black finish and the video processing is surprisingly fast. The networking options are great, you can access Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon, Pandora. Slacker etc. On the flip side, the video processing can get a little sloppy at times, but, it is still ideal for casual use around the house. You can also try out other Blu-Ray players like LG BP620 and Panasonic DMP-BDT 220, which fall in the same price range.

2. LG BD 670- The LG BD 670 has a very simple and minimalistic design, but it’s performance sets it apart from many others. Both the video processing and 3D are exceptional with no jerks or breaks in between. The player comes with in-built Wi-Fi connectivity allowing the users to connect to a variety of online streaming platforms. Price wise, it falls somewhere in the mid-range section (it is priced at close t0 $250), but we can assure you that your money will be well spent.

3. Sony Play Station 3- Yes, we know that the Sony Play Station 3 is a gaming console, but, the good news is that is doubles up as a Blu-Ray player as well. So, it has all the features of a normal Blu-ray player like Wi-Fi connectivity and other networking options. But, it goes a step ahead since you can use it for all your gaming interests as well. To top it all off, it is quite affordable at $250. If you are willing to spend some extra money, you can also try Oppo BDP-93 and LG BD 690, both of which come highly recommended.

A thunderous surround sound experience is absolutely essential if you want to get the most out of your home theater system. It doesn’t matter how big your TV is, or how you pop your popcorn, without the right sound, you can never be fully immersed into your movies/games.  AV Receivers (or AVRs as they’re often called) are integral to premium surround sound, and we’ve got a crash course to help you purchase the right AVR.

Supported Formats

First and foremost, you’re going to want to rule out any AVRs that don’t support today’s most popular audio formats. Just about any modern AVR will support audio formats like DTS and Dolby Digital, but that’s not enough. Blu-ray movies now feature lossless audio tracks which require DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby Digital TruHD. You’ll absolutely want to make sure any AVR you’re considering supports both of those. LPCM support can also be especially useful if you play your content from a PC of some sort.

Apart from audio formats, you’ll also want to make sure your AVR supports the right video formats. You’ll more than likely want to ensure it plays nice with 1080p sources. Even more useful, some AVRs even support upscaling SD and 720p sources to 1080p before sending it to your TV. Most AVRs today support 1080p (though a handful only support 1080i, so be careful). Lastly, if you have a 3D TV and you enjoy 3D videos, make sure you AVR supports 3D video signals.

Inputs and Outputs

Most AVRs have a handful of video inputs of various types (generally a few HDMI ports, some composite connectors, and a few component connections) and a single HDMI output. That single HDMI output connects to your TV. The rest of your home theater equipment connects to the AVR, so make sure it has enough inputs for all of your gear. 

Audio inputs are important too. The HDMI connections are able to carry 7.1 channel audio and HD video in the single cable, but other input types need other options. Optical inputs are ideal if HDMI isn’t an option (this is often used by music devices, some gaming systems, and most component sources). Composite sources will typically need the usual RCA connections, though some allow optical or coaxial audio. The key is to make sure any AVR you consider has room enough to connect all of your devices at once.

Channels and Features

Just about every modern AVR on the market today will meet all of the requirements above and can range anywhere from $200 to several thousand. The main difference in price comes from the number of audio channels they support and the extra features they include.

Most media features 5.1 channel sound (5 speakers and a subwoofer), but a 7.1 channel AVR is a wise choice for future upgrades. A 7.1ch AVR works fine with a 5.1ch setup. They’re about the same price anyway. Other options are 7.2 channels (7 speakers and 2 subwoofers), 9.1, and 9.2. These are generally much more expensive.

Other features that have an effect on price are things like network connectivity for DLNA support, iPod and USB ports, integrated WiFi for multiroom audio, and FM or Satellite radio inputs. Of course component quality has a large impact on price as well, but our thousands of expert reviews can help you sort that out. Also, the more features an AVR has, the more complicated it can be, so they use GUI Setup Menus to help; however, some GUIs can be much worse than others. Our User Reviews can help you there.