Group test: Budget Blu-ray players

After a slow start, Blu-ray's march toward eventual world domination is picking up pace. Hi-def disc sales are on the rise, there's a growing number of movies on the shelves and the players are getting better all the time. The latest decks are packed with features that weren't available when the format first launched, such as BD Live and BonusView, which means it's now possible to experience Blu-ray in the way its creators intended.

But even more pleasing is that you no longer have to pay through the nose to get yourself a decent Blu-ray player, as some of the latest entry-level models can be found for under £200 if you shop smart online. Here we're taking a look at four budget beauties vying for your cash…

Overview Price: £250 More info: LG Electronics Key features: Profile 2.0 (BD Live); Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and bitstream output; DTS HD Master Audio bitstream output; PCM output; 1080/24p output; DVD upscaling to 1080p; HDMI CEC; plays DivX, AVCHD, MP3, WMA, JPEG; plays BD-R/RE; Deep Colour/xvYCC support; quick booting and loading times Sockets: HDMI v1.3 output; component video output; composite video output; analogue stereo output; optical and coaxial digital audio outputs; Ethernet port; USB port (front) LG BD300 LG's debut hi-def deck (the BD100) played Blu-ray and HD DVD discs, but with the latter format now consigned to home cinema history its successor is Blu-ray exclusive. And like the Panasonic, the BD300 is BD Live-capable from the box, which is great news if you want to do more than just watch the movie. The feature count is excellent. It's equipped with all the video goodies you'd expect, such as 1080/24p output, Deep Colour support and DVD upscaling to 1080p, all available from the HDMI 1.3 output on the rear. The Ethernet port links up to your internet router and lets you access BD Live content, but anything you download has to be stored on a USB flash drive plugged into the front panel. Its audio talents are identical to the Samsung, as it can decode Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital Plus but not DTS HD Master Audio. However, all formats can be transferred as a bitstream over the HDMI connection. Unlike its fellow Korean counterpart, the LG supports MP3, WMA, JPEG and DivX files, and its disc loading times are spectacularly quick by Blu-ray standards - it takes 32 seconds to load up Hellboy II. Picture quality is impressive. Detail is sharply rendered, colours look natural and nuanced, while decent black levels give dark objects a pleasing solidity. But artefacts like moiré noise on camera pans and jaggies on moving diagonal lines stop the LG reaching the same heights as the Panasonic.

Verdict Plus points BD Live support, terrific HD images, multimedia support, fast disc loading and boot-up times Minus points No DTS HD Master Audio decoding, no multichannel analogue outputs

Overview Price: £250/£210 More info: Panasonic Key features: Profile 2.0 (BD Live); Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS HD, Dolby Digital & DTS decoding and bitstream output; PCM out; 1080/24p output; DivX, MP3, JPEG playback from DVD/CD; AVCHD and JPEG playback from SD card; DVD upscaling to 1080p; plays BD-R/RE discs; Viera Link HDMI CEC; PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus; P4HD processing; Deep Colour/x.v.Colour support Sockets: HDMI v1.3 output; component video output; composite video output; analogue stereo output; optical digital audio output; Ethernet port; SD card slot

For that very purpose you'll find an Ethernet port on the rear panel, as well as the obligatory HDMI output (version 1.3 of course). But cost-cutting has led to the omission of any multichannel analogue audio outputs, which leaves the HDMI port as your only way of hearing Blu-ray's HD audio formats - if you want analogue ports, checkout the step-up DMP-BD55.

As for features, how long have you got? Highlights include Panasonic's P4HD processing, 1080/24p output, an SD card slot for storing downloaded extras or playing JPEG/AVCHD files and DivX and MP3 playback from DVD or CD. The deck can also turn Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio into PCM without losing the lossless quality, or you can transfer these formats as a bitstream if you'd rather your amp did the decoding.

In action the BD35 is pure class. P4HD adds cranks up the sharpness of 1080p pictures even further, resulting in images so crisp and colourful you could forget you're even watching a film. It also does a good, if not flawless job of upscaling DVDs to 1080p, making this an early contender for group test champion.