Blu Ray players, providing the ability to "broadcast" and record audio and video content in the highest possible quality, are gradually losing their once-high popularity among active users of advanced devices. Today, we will not only find out whether the loss of buyers' interest in Blu-ray players is justified by assessing the relevance of their technical characteristics, but also tell you how to correctly choose a high-quality device by giving an overview of the top models included in the rating of the best technology in 2019.
Content
About product
The history of creating players to reproduce high-quality images began in the 2000s. It was during this period that the Japanese Toshiba Corporation released the first Blu Ray player, which instantly attracted the attention of customers not so much with its innovative design as with the manufacturer’s innovative ideas related to expanding the player’s usual functionality.
The design of modern Blu Ray gadgets externally is a device that is very reminiscent of traditional DVD players: the function buttons are located on a compact, most often plastic case, and the front and rear “inputs” allow you to play video or audio content from disk or USB media. The main difference between the bluetooth devices is considered not only their ability to “read” high-class digital file extensions, but also record video of the highest quality format.
Translating the above into numbers, we can formulate that, by acquiring a player of the type in question, the user is able to watch video in 1920x1080 resolution at a frame rate of 24 p, as well as listen to audio content in quality comparable to a “studio” sound, usually Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, loading subtitles, “alternative tracks”, optional add-ons if necessary through the built-in BD Live function.
In addition to a large number of initial functions of the “premium” technology of this segment, modern manufacturers have endowed their product with the ability to correctly convert the extension of the “output” signal to the maximum possible - 1080p.
Given the long stage of "formation" of the considered type of devices, for the convenience of their identification, peculiar "classes" were created, called Profile specialists. This is about:
- Profile0 (playback exclusively Blu Ray discs);
- Profile1 or BonusView (the option of "broadcasting" auxiliary audio tracks on BonusView disc media has been added);
- Profile0 (BD Live function has appeared, allowing the user to get the necessary additions through the built-in Wi-Fi module).
It is a mistake to assume that all modern players of the segment in question belong to Profile 2.0. Many manufacturers, along with leading-edge player models with the BD Live option, still offer their customers Profile 1.1 specification products that are still in demand.
How to choose
Given the traditionally high cost of Blu Ray products, the buyer needs to clearly understand how to choose a really high-quality device. For the purpose of a reasonable investment of finances in the purchase of a "luxury" player, the potential user is strongly recommended to familiarize themselves with the list of basic criteria below, which are considered to be decisive in the choice of equipment of the segment in question.
- Type of supported file formats. It is logical to assume that the larger the number of extensions supported by the player, the higher its cost. This is true, but saving on premium technology is not worth it.The optimal choice would be a Blu Ray gadget with support for a wide range of basic digital formats, not only video but also audio, as well as text files, in particular MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, APE, WAV, MKV, AVCHD, MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX, VideoCD, DVD-Audio, SACD, JPEG.
- Type of compatible media. In this case, as in the situation with the ability to “read” various formats, a direct dependence of the cost on their direct quantity can be traced. Indeed, high-quality equipment is able to work correctly, at least with the main types of disk media, namely BD (Blu-ray Disc), Blu Ray 3D, BD-R, BD-Re, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R , CD-RW.
- Built-in decoders for converting audio and video. When analyzing the presented range of Blue Ray devices, it is advisable for the buyer to give preference to a gadget that "recognizes" or, if necessary, decodes any sound "track" or "broadcast" picture. The most popular and especially important decoders are Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD, MPEG2, MPEG4, Xvid, WMV9, VC-1, H264.
- The available interfaces. The vast majority of high-frequency players of the latest generation imply the presence of interfaces that are important for the correct functionality. Among them, the determining ones are:
- a number of various digital “outputs” (stereo, optical, coaxial and so on);
- LAN
- Wi Fi
- USB port (s).
- Additional options. A pleasant "bonus" for the user of the Blu Ray player will be the availability of:
- 3D video playback capabilities;
- karaoke and the necessary microphone jack;
- remote control options using a smartphone;
- BD Live service support;
- “Quick start”;
- functions of subsequent software updates;
- child protection systems;
- option to increase the "broadcast" image.
For a kind of generalization of the above information, it is advisable for the buyer to carefully study the following list of the best players that provide their user with good sound and a 4K image.
The best models
OPPO BDP-105D
- Power Consumption: 55 W
- Built-in Storage Capacity: 1 GB
- Available decoders for audio conversion: Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD
- Supported formats: FLAC, WAV, MKV, AVCHD, MPEG4, DVD - Audio, SACD, HDCD, Picture CD
- Compatible media type: BD (Blu-ray Disc), Blu Ray 3D, BD-R, BD-Re, DVD R, DVD RW, CD-R, CD-RW
- Dynamic Range: 110dB
- Additional options: Internet access; support for BD-Live; zoom function (ZOOM); smartphone control; Smart TV the ability to update software; quick start function; two HDMI cables, 2 stereo audio outputs, 5.1 CH audio output, 7.1 CH audio output, audio optical output, audio coaxial output, headphone jack
- user-friendly interface, understandable even for a novice user
- high-quality assembly of the overall design and individual functional elements
- high-quality video and audio stream playback
- the inability to use some built-in online services outside the country of origin (USA)
- periodic “freezing” of the system, eliminated exclusively by forcibly rebooting the device
- lower sound quality at coaxial output through the DAC and at the input via an HDMI cable
A reliable Blu Ray player, created primarily for watching movies in Ultra HD quality, thanks to its versatile functionality and the convenience of interface management, is able to give its user maximum comfort in use with minimal energy consumption.
Pioneer BDP-LX88
- Power Consumption: 40 W
- Available decoders for audio conversion: Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS - HD
- Supported formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, APE, WAV, MKV, AVCHD, MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX, VideoCD, DVD-Audio, SACD, JPEG
- Compatible media type: BD (Blu-ray Disc), Blu-Ray 3D, BD-R, BD-Re, DVD R, DVD RW, CD-R, CD-RW
- Video DAC: 12 bit (148 MHz)
- Additional options: progressive scan; 2 HDMI cables, 2 stereo audio outputs, audio optical output, audio coaxial output; DLNA; support for BD-Live; zoom function (ZOOM); control using a functional cable such as HDMI; software update option
- high quality image reproduced from any type of media
- build quality of the gadget and materials used in its manufacture
- built-in “dynamic sound reduction” system
- high price compared to some other products of the segment in question
- lack of built-in Wi-Fi module
- lack of ability to correctly interact with files on disk media
Bluure player from a trusted manufacturer, ideally combining a stylish appearance, taking into account the use of shock-resistant materials in the manufacture of the case and excellent quality of the image displayed on the screen.
Sony BDP-S5500
- Power Consumption: 11 W
- Available decoders for audio conversion: DTS-HD MasterAudio
- Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, JPEG
- Compatible media type: BD (Blu-ray Disc), Blu-ray 3D, BD-R, BD-Re, DVD, DVD R, DVD RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
- Video DAC: 12 bit (148 MHz)
- Additional options: Internet access; Smart TV HDMI cable audio coaxial output; DLNA; 24p True Cinema support; child protection system; smartphone control; quick start function
- built-in Wi-Fi module
- compact design dimensions
- high quality video playback content, even “broadcast” via Wi Fi
- limited number of digital formats available for correct operation of the device
- ill-conceived remote control functionality
- incorrect operation of the Smart TV option
The budget Blu Ray player from the world-famous corporation for the production of high-quality equipment is ideal for those who are better off buying a gadget simpler, but will use all its functions than an expensive device with a number of options that are impossible for correct operation in "real" devices
fishing.
Sony BDPS6500
- Power Consumption: 12 W
- Built-in decoders for audio conversion: DTS-HD MasterAudio
- Supported formats: MP3, AAC, FLAC, AVCHD, VC-1, MPEG2, MPEG4, XviD, SACD, JPEG
- Compatible media type: BD (Blu-ray Disc), Blu-ray 3D, BD-R, BD-Re, DVD, DVD R, DVD RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
- Available Interfaces: USB Type A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
- Additional options: Internet access; Smart TV HDMI cable audio coaxial output; DLNA; 24p True Cinema support; child protection system
- a wide range of digital formats correctly reproduced by the device
- accurate transmission of the frequency range of the audio and video content played on the screen
- the ability to work with "drives" of any volume
- the inability to view information about the downloaded file
- insufficient number of digital outputs
- low extension of the main function menu interface
A high-quality device capable of not only qualitatively reproducing a “picture” from a sufficient number of digital media, but also accurately transmitting the frequencies of the audio stream accompanying it, for example, when watching movies or clips.
LG BP450
- Power Consumption: 12 W
- Built-in decoders for audio conversion: DTS-HD MasterAudio
- Supported formats: MP3, WMA, MKV, AVCHD, MPEG4, XviD, JPEG
- Compatible media type: BD (Blu-ray Disc), Blu-ray 3D, BD-R, BD-Re, DVD, DVD R, DVD RW, CD-R, CD-RW
- Available Interfaces: USB Type A, Ethernet
- Additional options: Internet access; Smart TV HDMI cable audio coaxial output; DLNA; support for BD-Live; child protection; control via a functional cable such as HDMI; software update option
- the presence of basic functionality inherent in this segment of technology
- compact body sizes
- acceptable price
- incorrect operation of some kodaks, which does not allow the correct playback of files of individual extensions, in particular MKV
- lack of the ability to "broadcast" audio and video content from CD media
- insufficient basic supported formats
A Blu-ray player that perfectly copes with its direct functionality for playing high-resolution video with low power consumption and reasonable cost in the modern consumer market.
Summing up the above, we can make an unambiguous conclusion about the absence of visible reasons for the decrease in demand for Blu Ray players, not counting their high prices in comparison with conventional players presented by manufacturers today.Given the advice on choosing the equipment of the segment in question, given in this article, it will not be difficult for the buyer to choose a high-quality device for playing video content in the highest quality at an affordable cost and low energy consumption of the gadget.
