Researching prices, specifications and features to
purchase a new Blu-ray player can be hard by itself.
Unfortunately, wading through complex terminology
and specialized jargon doesn’t make the searching
process any easier. Some of the specifications
associated with products are just plain confusing.
We’ve compiled a glossary of terms used to describe
the top Blu-ray players on the market and broken
them down into understandable definitions.
7.1 Channel Audio Output – 7.1 directly
correlates to the number of speakers the Bluray
player will support. If the description says it
has a 5.1 channel audio output, it can support
five speakers. A 7.1 channel audio output can support seven speakers, thus
creatingsurround sound. Surround sound speakers usually include front center, front
left, front right, subwoofer, back left, back right, side left and side right.
24p True Cinema – Standard movies are filmed at 24 frames per second. A Bluray
disc player that has 24 True Cinema is capable of playing back Blu-ray discs at
24 frames per second, the rate at which the film was originally formatted. This
matching of frames per second is associated with a smoother picture with no
disjointed scenes.
1080p – Refers to the quality of resolution available. 1080p means that 1,080
vertical lines of resolution progressively load from the top to the bottom of the screen.
BD-Live – Additional content located on most Blu-ray discs. You’ll need an internet
connection to access these features.
BonusView – A Blu-ray player feature associated with BD-live in which you can
view additional content in a picture-in-picture format. For example, you can watch
director commentary while continuing the actual movie.
Component Video – This cable is needed to transmit analog data to your devices.
The video signal is split into two or more components. If you have an older TV that
isn’t HDMI compatible, you would need this cable in order to connect it to a Blu-ray
player.
TopTen Product List
1 LG BP
2 Panasonic DMP-BDT
3 Sony BDP
4 Samsung BD-F
5 Philips 5000 Series
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Deep Color – This feature is one of the best aspects of Blu-ray and 3D technology.
Deep Color makes the picture crisper by increasing the number of colors a viewer
sees from millions to billions. If the intensified colors bother you, this option can be
turned off.
DivX – A video format that can compress large files while still maintaining high
quality resolution. Not all Blu-ray players are compatible with this data format.
DLNA Certified – The Digital Living Network Alliance is an organization of several
electronic companies that agreed that different devices would work better together if
they were compatible. If a device is DLNA certified, it means that once connected to
your home network, data can be transferred from one device to another.
Dolby True HD – An audio technology that was designed to enhance highdefinition
audio. It is a lossless multi-channel audio codec and replicates the sound
created in a recording studio.
dts HD – An audio technology that supports 7.1 channels of surround sound. It is a
lossless audio codec that can deliver a bit-for-bit representation of the original mixed
audio.
DVD Upscaling – This feature means the Blu-ray DVD player will take a normal
DVD and convert it to play at 1080p resolution.
Energy Star Qualified – To achieve an Energy Star qualification, a Blu-ray player
must use less than 1 watt of energy during standby mode. This is in comparison to
standard players that use up to 10 watts in standby mode. Not only will an Energy
Star qualified Blu-ray disc player save energy, but it will save you money in the long
run.
Ethernet Port – The Ethernet port is an input area located on the back of most
Blu-ray DVD players that allows you to connect your device to your home internet
network. This feature doesn’t enable Wi-Fi because you are physically connected to
the network.
HDMI – High Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI is a connection available with
most Blu-ray players. This connection transmits uncompressed digital data like Deep
Color, dts HD and Dolby True HD. Most Blu-ray players don’t come with an HDMI
cord and it must be purchased separately in order for you to enjoy all of the different
features it enables. HDMI is also the connection needed to enable 3D features on 3D
Blu-ray players (link) and televisions.
LPCM – Linear Pulse Code Modulation. LPCM is a way of encoding audio data
digitally in an uncompressed format. This means better-sounding audio for the
listener.
Optical Digital Audio – A type of digital audio cable that transmits data via pulses
of light instead of copper wire. Optical cables are more reliable because they are
resistant to electromagnetic or radio-frequency interference. Again, these cables don’t
normally come with standard Blu-ray players, so you’ll have to purchase it separately.
Wi-Fi – A Wi-Fi-ready Blu-ray disc player is able to connect to the internet if it's near
a wireless network. If you have internet in your home, simply setup a wireless router
and your Blu-ray player and other Wi-Fi devices will be able to connect to the
internet.
As a consumer, you want to make sure you’re getting the best product for your money.
Don’t let complex terminology trip up your search process.
