The Editors' Choice winning Blu-ray player from Panasonic Video
The Editors' Choice winning Blu-ray player from Panasonic Video Transcript
Hey. I'm Matthew Moskovciak from CNET and we're gonna take a look at the Panasonic DMPBBT220. This is a 3D Blu-ray play that's selling for $130 and not only is it the best value in Panasonic's Blu-ray line up, I think it's the best Blu-ray player value on the market. Design actually looks pretty sleek compared to some of the other players on the market and that's because everything is hidden behind a flip down panel which floats up and down automatically when you eject the disc. Under the panel, there are a few playback buttons, a USB port and an SD card slot which is a nice bonus and that a lot of other players don't have. Around back, you'll find just a few simple ports including an HDMI output, optical audio output and Ethernet plus the player has built in Wi-Fi. There's also a USB light port on the back but it's only for use with Panasonic's Skype camera accesory. The main user interface is a little different than other Blu-ray players with a kind of replicating the remote's directional pad on the screen. If you go into Vera Connect, you'll find all the streaming media apps including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, Pandora and Voodoo. The app selection is really solid all around and the simple layout of the home screen makes it easier to use. If you wanna access apps that aren't on the home screen, you'll need to go to another layer of the menu which is a little more confusing but luckily you can customize the icons on the home screen. So you'll rarely need to go into another layer of the menu. The included remote also includes direct access buttons for Netflix and Vera Connect which is a really a nice convenience. Image quality was excellent on Blu-ray movies, DVD's and Netflix but that's to be expected because all Blu-ray players pretty much have the same image quality these days. In terms of disc loading space the Panasonic is a little faster than average. Thanks to its super fast quick start mode that goes from the player being off to playing a movie in under 10 seconds. Altogether, if I had to recommend just one Blu-ray player this year, this would be the one and its essential features like built in Wi-Fi without charging you for extra features that you don't need and it's the only player on the market that has the most essential apps combined with a straightforward user interface. It's the best value for Blu-ray I've seen and that's why it earns the editor's choice award in the Blu-ray category. I'm Matthew Moskovciak and this is the Panasonic DMP-BDT220.
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Panasonic DMP-BDT220 Review
The good: The Panasonic DMP-BDT220 has built-in Wi-Fi, 3D compatibility, and the Viera Connect suite of streaming-media services, which includes Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, Pandora, and Vudu. The user interface for the streaming-media apps is straightforward, plus you can jump right to Netflix with the dedicated Netflix button on the remote. There are a few other minor perks, including Skype compatibility, a front-panel SD card slot, and a superfast quick-start mode.
The bad: Viera Connect doesn't support any subscription music services (like MOG, Rdio, or Spotify) nor does it have Flixster for UltraViolet support. The DMP-BDT220 also doesn't play back DivX or Xvid files.
The bottom line: The Panasonic DMP-BDT220 is the best Blu-ray value of 2012, with built-in Wi-Fi, tons of streaming-media apps, 3D compatibility, and a simple user interface.
Panasonic DMP-BDT220 Specs
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Part number: DMP-BDT220
- Product Specifications
Panasonic DMP-BDT220 Prices
Online stores
| Store | Certified rating | Inventory | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $179.00 |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $179.00 |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $179.00 |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $179.00 |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $179.00 |
