Most Popular Video Players and Recorders

  1. Panasonic DMP-BD35
  2. Sony BDP-S350
  3. Sony PlayStation 3 (80GB)
  4. Panasonic DMP-BD55
  5. Sony PlayStation 3 (60GB)
All Video Players and Recorders »

Top Rated Video Players and Recorders

  1. Sony PlayStation 3 (60GB)
  2. Sony PlayStation 3 (80GB)
  3. Sling Media Slingbox Pro-HD
  4. Logitech Squeezebox Duet
  5. Dish Network ViP622 (200-hour DVR)
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overview
overview

THE GOOD
Excellent image quality on HD DVDs; decent upscaling on film-based DVDs; HDMI output when used with Xbox 360 Elite or newer Premiums; relatively inexpensive compared with standalone models; can access advanced multimedia features, just like standalone players; includes remote; adds extra USB port to 360.

THE BAD
Can't decode or pass advanced Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS-HD soundtracks; no analog multichannel outputs; more expensive than a standalone HD player if you don't already own an Xbox 360; adds more bulk and cables to your 360 setup.

THE BOTTOM LINE
The Xbox 360 HD DVD player is an inexpensive way for 360 owners to get high-def movies, but nonowners and audiophiles should stick with standalone HD players.

Go to the Full CNET Product Review »
Copyright © 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
 
Average CNET Reader Rating: 8.1 out of 10

CNET Reader Reviews

  1. November 13, 2006 06:08

    4.5/5
    I have been following the Xbox 360/Playstation 3 war and also the HD DVD/Blu-Ray war for a while, and it has been quite interesting. Im very happy with the Xbox 360 as a gaming console/multimedia center and I have also been leaning toward HD DVD fo...  read more »

    - haliotis_lamellosa

  2. December 2, 2006 05:47
    Excellent
    2.0/5
    It's tough not to be intrigued by the $200 price point of an HD-DVD player in today's market. Having never compared HD-DVD or Blu-Ray against the quality of a standard DVD I was set to return this unit if I wasn't impressed by the picture.

    W...  read more »

    - theSman

  3. November 11, 2006 11:18

    4.5/5
    Just picked this up from GameStop. Watched King Kong...look great. Excellent picture quality. HD-DVD has many visual improvements besides resolution...Color saturation is far superior to DVD and Contrast gives you deep blacks and great hightlights. ...  read more »

    - deitiphobia


All CNET Reader Reviews (86)

Where to Buy

Store In Stock Shipping Price
BestPriceAudioVideo.com Yes

$99.00
Amazon.com Marketplace Yes

$47.99
SoftByWeb Yes

$100.50
* Taxes and Shipping costs are estimates and may vary slightly from stores' exact taxes and shipping costs.

Similar products

  • Panasonic DMP-BD35
    Blu-Ray disc player, Tabletop, Remote control, Stereo, 5.7 lbs
    $249.00 - $299.99
  • Sony BDP-S350
    Blu-Ray disc player, Tabletop, Remote control, DTS decoder, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, DTS-HD decoder, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo
    $238.50 - $384.99
 
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