Best All-Around Blu-Ray Player
Expert Review:
The PS3 Slim remains our top pick for best Blu-ray player because it offers more value and entertainment than any other player on the market. Though newer Blu-ray players have closed the gap when it comes to performance and features, the system performs extremely well as a Blu-ray player and doubles as an outstanding game console with a growing library of great games. It supports Profile 2.0 Blu-ray discs and its firmware is easily upgradable via Wi-Fi. Sony has promised that the PS3 will be 3D capable with a firmware upgrade, making it one of the most affordable 3D-capable Blu-ray players on the market.
The PS3 Slim features built-in Wi-Fi and support for Netflix streaming, which provides instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows. While the PS3 doesn't offer all the streaming services as the competition, the PlayStation Network offers plenty of downloadable movies, TV shows, and games. The system is also DLNA-compliant, allowing you to stream video, audio, or photo files from a networked PC.
The PS3 offers excellent Blu-ray image quality and also does a great job upconverting standard DVDs, ensuring that your old movies will look great too. The biggest drawback is the lack of IR support, which means you won’t be able to use a standard universal remote without buying an external accessory. The PS3 also lacks analog multichannel outputs, but all modern AV receivers are equipped with HDMI inputs, so this shouldn’t be an issue for most buyers. Combining excellent audio and video quality, 3D support, and excellent multimedia capabilities with a stellar gaming platform, the PS3 is the best bang-for-the-buck Blu-ray player on the market and a no-brainer for anyone even remotely interested in gaming.
