Help me spend my hard earned

March 3, 2010 3:51 PM

Blu Ray player and PVR/DVR recommendation

I’ve finally got my home cinema set up working and it looks and sounds amazing. It’s time however to update my ancient DVD player which doesn’t have an HDMI output. I'm thinking of replacing it with a standalone blu ray player. Any recommendations in the £150 region (or cheaper, perhaps) gratefully received. I don’t want to buy a PS3 as I am super happy with my Xbox 360 and for half the price of a PS3 there seem to be some very good blu ray players out there.

My PVR – a Wharfedale DTR160 – has an HDMI output but doesn’t seem to be able to cope with 5.1. A recommendation for a new PVR/DVR would also be welcome ideally at the same price point as above.

posted by dmt to Technology (9 answers total)

I will recommend the PS3 only because it has one major advantage over other players - it is very, VERY easily upgradeable. Multiple times now, a new version of the Blu-Ray standard has come out, and the PS3 has upgraded to meet it simply by downloading a new firmware from the console itself. Even if you never use it for games, it's a worthwhile investment. You can also get one gently used, with a small HD, for less than a new one.
posted by GJSchaller at 5:33 PM on March 3, 2010

If you want to go down the rabbit hole researching this: the AV Science Forums, Blu-Ray Player sub-forum.
posted by sharkfu at 6:13 PM on March 3, 2010

Seconding a PS3. Not sure if it still is competitive price-wise with the best Blu-ray players anymore, but it's certainly still the best player out there.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:27 PM on March 3, 2010

I picked up the PS3 Slim for $299 USD right after it came out and I've been loving it ever since. I don't even use it for gaming.
posted by dhammond at 6:30 PM on March 3, 2010

avsforum is a huge wealth of information and hardcore people :)

You could consider the newer networked players, like popcornhour C200 or Dune 3.0. They are a bit pricier, but the general trend to watch tv is to download/play over network. Unless you are unfortunate enough to live in the states. :)

Not as compatible with all bluray disks as a PS3 is, but each firmware update fixes playback issues.
posted by lundman at 11:04 PM on March 3, 2010

I've heard that the PS3 will support 3D Blu-Ray discs, but none of the current dedicated Blu-Ray players will.
posted by w0mbat at 11:50 PM on March 3, 2010

If you can afford 700 bucks, the Cambridge Audio 650BDP is what the people on the forums will tell you is the ultimate machine, and having just ordered one, I hope they're right.
If you want to spend less, it's easy. Get an Oppo.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:05 AM on March 4, 2010

Oppo BDP 80 or BDP 83, that is.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:06 AM on March 4, 2010

Nthing the PS3, because it could potentially kill two birds with one stone. It could be your blu-ray player, and your PVR.
posted by Grither at 6:47 AM on March 4, 2010