CES 2009

Blu-ray ran into plenty of consumer confusion regarding the differing Blu-ray profiles, but the good news is that almost all (excluding a few Philips players) of the new players we saw announced at CES 2009 are Profile 2.0 compatible. Memorex's new MVBD-2520 doesn't have any of the extra bells and whistles seen on LG's BD390 or Samsung's BD-P4600, but it does look to have the minimum specs to be a solid budget player. Here are the details.

Key features of the Memorex MVBD-2520:

• Profile 2.0 compatible
• Onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD High Resolution decoding
• SD card slot and USB port
• Available in early summer, $200 list price

That's a decent set of features for a Blu-ray player coming out right now, but it's worth noting that Vizio's announced player, the VBR100, is coming in April for $200 as well, plus it includes DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and 7.1 analog outputs. It will take a hands-on review to figure out which $200 player is better, but Vizio is in the lead from the spec sheets.

Philips' flagship BDP7310 Blu-ray player is BD-Live enabled and features DivX and WMV playback.

(Credit: Philips)

With Funai licensing the Philips brand in 2009, things have gotten a little confusing about just what's going on with Philips home audio and video products. But it appears that all the products that Philips announced at CES 2009--including three new Blu-ray players--are true Philips products. Philips had already planned out its 2009 line and Funai Electric will be taking over the production of that line this year.

The three models include the BDP3010 ($229.99), a profile 1.1 model, and two BD-Live capable players, the BDP5010 ($249.99) and the BDP7310 ($299.99). We say capable because the BPD5010 is upgradable to BD-Live, while the BDP7310 will be a Profile 2.0 or Live-enabled out of the box. The BDP7310 also offers DivX and WMV playback. We suspect all of them will carry street prices of less than $200 when they're released this spring.

Note: Philips also announced the HTS-5100B, a home-theater system with a built-in Blu-ray player that's due out in June. No word on pricing of that model.

Home theater is Samsung's game at this year's CES. Though the company did announce the new P3 touch-screen MP3 player, an inch-thick plasma TV, feature-packed Blu-ray home theater systems, and backlit LCD TVs dominated the show.

Samsung unveils P3 touch-screen MP3 player
Photos: Hands-on with the Samsung P3 player
Samsung's slick HT-BD7200 Blu-ray home theater system
Samsung's funky Blu-ray and DVD players
Samsung's PN-B850 series of plasmas get down to an inch thick
Samsung HT-BD1250: 5.1-channel home theater offers Blu-ray, Netflix, Pandora
Samsung HT-BD8200 home theater sound bar includes Blu-ray, Netflix, Pandora
Samsung DVD-H1080: Portable-sized DVD player for the home
HT-BD7200: 2.1 Blu-ray home theater from Samsung
Samsung goes green with the LN-B6000 series of LED-backlight LCDs
Samsung BD-P4600: Wall-mountable Blu-ray player with Wi-Fi add-on
Samsung LN-B8000 LCDs put LED-backlighting and 240Hz in a 1-inch frame
Samsung's step-down LED-backlit LCDs feature Yahoo widgets, 120Hz
Samsung unveils the MBP200 Pico Projector

Editors' note: This post has been updated since initial publication, to include recently announced pricing information.:

Pioneer has been making Blu-ray players essentially since the format's inception, but we don't get around to reviewing many of them because of their hefty price tags.

The company announced three new Blu-ray players here at CES 2009, one of which features Pioneer's Elite label, and the two cheaper models look to be priced competitively with other manufacturers.

Key features of the Pioneer BDP-120:

• Profile 2.0-compatible
• Onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding
• 1GB USB flash drive included
• April release date, less than $300

Step-up features of the Pioneer BDP-320:

• Deep Color support
• Picture control suite (13 additional video adjustments)
• Three noise reduction circuits
• 7.1 analog audio outputs
• Precision Quartz Lock System (jitter-free audio transmission for CD)
• 1GB of internal memory
• April release date, less than $400

Step-up features of the Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD

• RS-232C input
• Designed for custom installer market
• April release date, $600

Most of the features are straightforward, but it's worth looking at some of the step-up features on the BDP-320. Deep Color support can mostly be ignored, as we've yet to see any commercial Blu-ray discs that take advantage of Deep Color.

The additional video adjustments and noise reduction controls are nice for home theater buffs who like to tweak, although we prefer to make adjustments on the display, rather than the player. Pioneer's Precision Quartz Lock System might be a plus for some audiophiles, but we're generally a little skeptical about how audible CD audio jitter is.

The best step-up feature is the 7.1 analog audio outputs, which will enable buyers with older non-HDMI receivers to enjoy Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks at their full resolution.

Last year there were a handful of home-theater-in-a-box systems with integrated Blu-ray, but in 2009, it looks as if the feature will be close to standard. Sharp has announced the BD-MPC series of home theater systems that come complete integrated Profile 2.0-compatible Blu-ray players. Not much additional information was released, but here's what we know.

Key features of the Sharp BD-MPC series:

• 5.1 home theater system
• 720 watts of power
• Blu-ray player included
• Profile 2.0 compatible with an Ethernet jack
• Both models available in the spring with an MSRP of $800

There are two models in the BD-MPC series, the BD-MPC30 and BD-MPC40. The difference between the two models is merely cosmetic, with the BD-MPC30 featuring a black synthetic finish and the BD-MPC40 has black wooden cabinets.

Sharp's Blu-ray home theater system - photos

(Credit: CBS Interactive)

We've already seen the entry-level LG BD370, but now we've gotten a glimpse of the step-up Blu-ray player in LG's 2009 line-up: the BD390. The BD390 includes all of the features of its little brother--DVD upscaling, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio, BD-Live/Profile 2.0 support, and the ability to stream online video from Netflix, YouTube, and CinemaNow. But it also adds some nice upgrades: built-in Wi-Fi (so you're not limited to wired Ethernet), 1GB of on-board memory (no need for a USB stick to access BD-Live features), and 7.1-channel analog outputs (maximum compatibility with older, non-HDMI AV receivers). Look for the BD390 to hit stores in June 2009. Pricing isn't official, but the player should sell for around $400 according to LG.

LG BD390: Photos of the Netflix-enabled Blu-ray player with Wi-Fi

Vizio is best known for its low prices on HDTVs, but the company is branching out into Blu-ray with the new VBR100 player. From the specs, the biggest selling point is the $200 price tag, and we were surprised to see 7.1 analog outputs available too. Here are the details.

Key features of the Vizio VBR100:

• Profile 2.0 compatible
• Onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio decoding
• 7.1 analog audio outputs
• Optical and coaxial digital audio outputs
• Available in April, $200 list price

Most of the players we've seen here at CES have tried to differentiate themselves with additional content sources, like Netflix streaming or Viera Cast, but there's still a lot of demand for barebones Blu-ray playback.

The 7.1 analog outputs may also be a draw for budget buyers who are planning to keep using their older non-HDMI receivers. We could see these flying of the shelves at Costco if the price starts creeping toward $150.

(Credit: Panasonic)

One of the biggest disadvantages to Blu-ray has been its lack of portability. While DVD players are virtually everywhere and portable DVD players are cheap, when you buy a Blu-ray Disc you're typically limited to watching it in your home theater. The Panasonic DMP-B15 looks to address this; it is the first portable Blu-ray player and it's also designed to be used easily around the house with a built-in stand. Here are the details.

Key features of the Panasonic DMP-B15:

• 8.9-inch WSVGA (1,024x600) LCD screen
• Three-hour rechargeable battery
• Profile 2.0 compatible
• Bitstream output for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio
• HDMI output
• SD card slot
• Optional headrest-mounting bracket for car use
• Access to Viera Cast Internet content, including Amazon Video On-Demand
• Pricing and availability TBD

While the DMP-B15 includes a lot of cool features (HDMI output, Viera Cast), the 3-hour battery life seems pretty limiting, especially if the real battery life is closer to 2.5 hours. That means you'll be racing against the clock to finish watching some longer Blu-ray movies and don't even think about pausing. It's also worth pointing out that the image-quality advantages of Blu-ray are going to be nearly imperceptible on the 8.9-inch screen, even with it on your lap. That being said, it is the first of its kind and it looks to be a decent solution for those with growing Blu-ray libraries who want to take their movies on the go.

Panasonic's new Blu-ray players

(Credit: Panasonic)

It seems weird to put Lo-Fi VHS tapes and 1080p high-definition Blu-ray movies in the same box, but that's exactly what you'll be able to do with Panasonic's DMP-BD70V, which (as far as we know) is the first combination VHS/Blu-ray player. Aside from adding VHS playback, the specs look to be identical to the standard DMP-BD60 Blu-ray player. Here are the details.

Key features of the Panasonic DMP-BD70V series:

• Blu-ray and VHS playback from a single player
• Profile 2.0 compatible
• Onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio Essential decoding
• SD card slot and USB input
• Access to Viera Cast Internet content, including Amazon Video On-Demand

This might be a compelling option for those who still have home movies in VHS format, but this seems like a niche product. It's time to convert your VHS tapes to DVD, everyone. For more information on this player, check out our more in-depth coverage of the DMP-BD60, which is similar but lacks VHS playback.

Panasonic had a stand-out 2008 on the Blu-ray front, with the DMP-BD35 earning the first Editor's Choice award for a standalone Blu-ray player. After mastering most of the basic Blu-ray functions, like BD-Live and high-resolution audio decoding, it looks like the two new players, the DMP-BD60 and DMP-BD80, are mostly incremental updates to the existing Blu-ray players, with the biggest new feature being Viera Cast support.

Key features of the Panasonic DMP-BD60:

• Profile 2.0 compatible
• Onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio Essential decoding
• SD card slot and USB input
• Access to Viera Cast Internet content, including Amazon Video On Demand

Key step-up features on the Panasonic DMP-BD80:

• 7.1 analog audio outputs

You'll also notice these players support DTS-HD Master Audio Essential, rather than standard DTS-HD Master Audio. This new form of the DTS-HD audio codec is mostly the same, but it drops support for some of the more advanced DVD audio formats, such as DTS 96/24, DTS ES, ES Matrix, and DTS NEO 6. However, if a DVD has one of those soundtracks, you won't be left without sound, as it will just revert to standard DTS audio. It also loses support for DTS-ES Matrix and NEO 6 on Blu-ray, but those soundtracks are rare on Blu-ray movies.

Call us spoiled, but even with Viera Cast and Amazon Video On-Demand support, we're disappointed that these players don't have support for Netflix Instant Streaming, which is quickly becoming our favorite value-added feature for Blu-ray. We also had our hopes set on Panasonic including Wi-Fi on these next-generation players--as is included on both the LG BD370 and the Samsung BD-P3600--as not many people have Ethernet connections in their living rooms. Panasonic won the standalone Blu-ray player war in 2008, but it looks like the door is wide open for the competition to make some progress this year.