Group test: Blu-ray systems

The price of standalone Blu-ray players might be plummeting, but to get the complete hi-def home cinema experience you'll need a sound system to go with it. Finding the perfect combination of receiver and speakers at the right price can be a difficult task, and first-timers might find the set-up process tricky. So why not try an all-in-one Blu-ray system?

Not only do you get all the bits you need in the box, but they take seconds to set up and in most cases you don't have loads of boxes and cables cluttering up your AV cabinet. After a slow start there are now loads of hi-def systems to choose from, and we've rounded up four for your consideration…

Overview Price: £600 More info: LG Electronics Key features: 1000W 5.1 channel output; Profile 2.0 (BD Live); You Tube access; 1080/24p output; Virtual Sound Matrix (VSM); 1080p DVD upscaling; Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital and DTS decoding; Dolby Pro Logic II; LG Simplink; AM/FM radio tuner Sockets: HDMI output; 2 x HDMI inputs; optical and coaxial digital audio inputs; analogue stereo input; component video output; composite video output; remote control ports; USB port; iPod dock Playback: BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD, DVD-RW/-R, DVD+R/+RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DivX, AVI, MP3, WMA, JPEG LG HB954PB There are many words that can be used to describe this 5.1-channel system from LG, but modest is not one of them. The floorstanding front speakers use LG's gorgeous 'Champagne Flute' design, which describes their curvy, elegant shape, long stems and circular bases. They're joined by a pair of bookshelf-style rear speakers dressed in a matching blue-tinted black finish, a horizontal centre speaker and a passive sub. The stylish Blu-ray/receiver unit offers 1,000 watts of total power output and an extensive range of other features, many of which can be found on LG's standalone Blu-ray players. Chief among these is the ability to download BD Live content and access YouTube videos over its Ethernet connection. But equally alluring is the hidden iPod dock on the front of the unit (which feels more robust than Panasonic's) and a USB port which supports playback of DivX, AVI, MP3, WMA and JPEG files. On the back you'll find two HDMI inputs for channelling other hi-def sources through the system and two digital audio inputs. The HB954PB performs all the other duties you'd expect from a Blu-ray player, including Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio decoding, 1080/24p video output and 1080p DVD upscaling. On the audio processing side you get LG's familiar Virtual Sound Matrix (VSM) which is supposed to expand a 5.1 soundstage to 10.1! The player loads tricky Blu-ray discs in around 30 seconds, and the system's sound quality is excellent. It's been tuned by audio guru Mark Levinson and as a result the sound is smoother and more polished than most one-box systems. There's loads of detail, high frequencies are sharp without sounding harsh and vocals are crisply conveyed. It's surprisingly powerful too, which means you don't need to turn it up very loud to make an impact. If there's a flaw, it lies in the bass, which is a tad loose and overpowering, but on the whole the LG is highly impressive. And while pictures don't measure up to the Pioneer in terms of depth and detail retrieval, they still retain the wow factor you look for from Blu-ray, making this a great all-rounder.

Verdict Plus points Classy looks; picture and sound quality; features; sockets; fast disc loading Minus points Not the punchiest bass

Overview Price: £635 More info: Panasonic Key features: 1000W 5.1-channel output; Profile 2.0 (BD Live); Viera Cast; Smart Setup; 1080/24p output; Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital and DTS decoding; Dolby Pro Logic II; PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus; P4HD; Deep Colour; High Clarity Sound; Whisper Mode Surround; Center Focus; 96kHz Surround Re-Master; 148.5MHz/12-bit video DAC; 192kHz/24-bit audio DAC; Noise Reduction; Viera Link; optional wireless rears; FM/AM radio tuner Sockets: HDMI output; component video output; composite video output; 2 x optical digital audio inputs; analogue stereo input; Ethernet port; wireless terminal; iPod dock; SD card slot; USB port; headphone jack Playback: BD-ROM, BD-RE, BD-RE DL, BD-R, BD-R DL, DVD, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW/-R/-R(DL), DVD+RW/+R/+R(DL), CD, CD-R/-RW, DivX, MP3, AVCHD, JPEG

The combined Blu-ray player/AV receiver sports an SD card slot, USB port and an iPod dock, which pops out from the middle of the fascia. Plug in your player and you can browse your music lists onscreen or view videos and photos.

On the back there are no HDMI inputs but one output that sends 1080p video to your display at 24 or 50Hz. You get two optical digital inputs for external sources and a terminal that lets you add an optional transmitter for wireless rear speakers.

Unusually, Panasonic has used bamboo for its cones, and says it has several advantages over regular cones. Sadly the cabinets in which they're housed are hollow and flimsy. You also get a surprisingly compact passive Kelton subwoofer.

Like Panasonic's latest standalone players, the SC-BT205 supports BD Live and Viera Cast, which lets you watch YouTube videos and browse photos on Google Picasa. There's no Wi-Fi so these features are delivered over a cumbersome Ethernet connection. You can also play DivX, MP3 and JPEG files from USB stick or disc, and pleasingly the system decodes Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio tracks.

Discs are much slower to load than the Samsung and LG systems, but once they're loaded the picture quality will blow you away, thanks largely to the presence of P4HD and PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus. These combine to deliver scintillatingly sharp detail and natural colours, the quality of which is second only to the Pioneer. Images are bold, crisply defined and boast punchy blacks.

And despite our reservations over the speakers' build quality, the BT205 musters impressive sound quality. With HD audio tracks, its competent detail handling offers plenty of insight and although the sub is a bit overbearing at times, its bass output is muscular and surprisingly well controlled. Aligned with the generous feature set, this performance makes the SC-BT205 a tempting proposition.