Of the competing high definition video formats, HD DVD certainly got off to a much quicker start than Blu-ray. While Toshiba launched its second generation of HD DVD players this year, Sony, Panasonic and others have finally released their first Blu-ray players. Judging by the improvements made by Toshiba from first to second generation, we will be looking forward to the next wave of Blu-ray players, especially since the number of new Blu-ray titles is outpacing those available on HD DVD. For now, though, we give the edge in both picture quality and price to the latest HD DVD models. Whether you're looking to make the plunge into the world of Blu-ray or HD DVD, or are simply looking to update for your standard DVD player, we have the lowdown on a range of the latest home DVD players available.


Toshiba HD-A2

Priced at under $400, the entry-level unit in Toshiba's second wave of HD DVD players is not only less expensive but also sports a new, slimmer design and improved disc loading times. Toshiba has even redesigned the remote control to make it far more user friendly. Most importantly, though, Toshiba has eliminated the glitches that plagued the first generation models while maintaining the excellent picture quality that had us purring about HD DVD in the first place. Of course, there is no guarantee that HD DVD won't go the way of Betamax and that the HD-A2 won't be obsolete in a short time. But with the more affordable price tag and the unit's excellent upscaling performance, you are at least risking far less with this second generation player.

Toshiba HD-A2

Sony BDP-S1

Priced at about twice the cost of the Toshiba HD-A2, Sony's first Blu-ray player offers both some disadvantages and some benefits over the rival format. The BDP-S1 outputs at 1080p resolution while the Toshiba HD DVD players are limited to 1080i, although we suspect most people will find the difference in picture quality negligible. Perhaps more importantly, considering the limited titles yet available on either format, the BDP-S1 offers 1080p upscaling for standard definition DVDs. Unfortunately, however, it cannot play audio CDs and also lacks an Ethernet port for home networking. We would certainly hold off to see if the second generation Blu-ray models address these shortcomings and reduce the price. However, for those determined to adopt the Blu-ray format without further delay, the stylish BDP-S1 delivers stunning video and audio performance.


Philips DVP5982

At the opposite end of the price scale with an MSRP of under $90, the Philips DVP5982 is a feature rich DVD player that offers upscaling to 720p and 1080p for the best possible image quality from your existence library of DVDs. The unit handles just about every format disc you can throw at it and the USB connection means you can view content such as DivX and Xvid from a PC or storage device without the need to even burn to a disc. Despite some complaints about the clunky remote and less than intuitive menu system, the Philips DVP5982 is a very good value single disc DVD player.


LG BH100

At first glance, the LG BH100 appears to be the smartest device since the major electronic manufacturers decided to go their separate ways on Blu-ray and HD DVD. This player supports both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats and delivers excellent quality video from both types of disc as well as standard DVDs. Unfortunately, the $1,300 price, limited feature set and operational glitches prevent us from embracing the obvious appeal of the BH100 more enthusiastically. The player is not compatible with audio CDs, cannot support HDi interactive features and, most disappointing of all, cannot support the latest high definition soundtracks. While the LG BH100 will enable you to enjoy the superior picture quality of Blu-ray and HD DVD, the sound quality will be limited to that attainable from a standard DVD.

Philips BDP9000

Philips BDP9000

Despite the $1,000 price tag, we believe that the Philips BDP9000 is the best value of the other brands' Blu-ray players. The quality of Blu-ray playback is comparable to anything we've seen, although the audio options are limited for a player in this price bracket. The BDP9000 offers upscaling to 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolutions via HDMI, and even comes included with an HDMI cable. The unit also offers a 10 in 2 multi format memory card slot for access to just about any flash card. Despite its stylish design and a better remote than any other Blu-ray we've seen, the BDP9000 slips up by not offering support for a lot of the high resolution soundtrack formats.