Blu-ray player reviews: Features explained
HDMI socket
This is a high-definition video socket that connects your Blu-ray player to a suitable HDTV. Many manufacturers claim the HDMI connection will enhance standard DVD pictures when connected to a HDTV. However, we've rarely witnessed many picture quality improvements, when compared to a standard Scart RGB connection.
DVD discs
Blu-ray players are primarily designed to work with high-definition Blu-ray discs. They will not work with the now defunct HD-DVD format, unless the machine is a specifically designed dual player like the LG BH100.
But Blu-ray DVD players will also playback standard DVDs – so there's no need to throw out your old collection just yet.
However, not all DVD discs are the same. There are several different recording formats – DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD Ram – each with slightly different features and capabilities. All Blu-ray machines will play pre-recorded DVDs, either those you rent or buy. For more, see our guide to DVD formats.
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Other types of discs
Most Blu-ray players can also play standard CDs. Some can also play newer types of audio disc (DVD-Audio and SA-CD) which claim to offer better sound quality.
Some Blu-ray models can also play discs containing MP3 files, or those containing Jpeg picture files, so you can show your holiday snaps on your TV screen, for example. DivX is a format commonly used when copying video footage from a computer onto a disc.
However, our tests reveal that Blu-ray players tend not to be as versatile as some of their standard counterparts and it's not unusual to find models that can't play back one or more of these formats.
Bookmarking
Models with bookmarking let you mark favourite scenes or places in a disc so you can quickly find them again. More sophisticated DVD players let you bookmark several discs, and will ‘remember’ your bookmarks even when the disc is removed. However, bookmarking is a facility lacking on many of the new Blu-ray models.
Resume
Resume means the player will start the disc where you stopped it (instead of at the beginning each time). Models with multi-disc resume remember where to start playing the disc even after you’ve removed it and reinserted it. Just like bookmarking this feature hasn't been included on many new Blu-ray players.
Surround-sound
All Blu-ray players can be connected to external surround-sound decoders (such as Dolby Digital 5.1), amplifiers and speakers so you can experience ‘cinema-like’ surround sound.
Virtually all DVDs have the surround-sound tracks on them. If you intend to use the Blu-ray player with a surround-sound system, you’ll need one with a digital output that’s compatible with the surround-sound amplifier. There are two types of output, coaxial (wire) and optical (fibre optic) so make sure you get the correct type.
Black level control
This adjusts the picture's black level. This is useful for watching movies with particularly dark sequences, such as the film The Matrix. LCD TV pictures can often look a bit washed out, so any boost from the DVD can be especially helpful.
Auto power-off
If you leave your player switched on when not in use, this handy energy-saving feature will switch it into standby after a given period of idleness.
Still confused? Check out our TV jargon buster.