Buy The Best Blu Ray Player

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Blu-ray Know-How
Find The Best Blu-ray Player For You
Best Three Blu-ray Players

Latest research shows that 6.5 million of us, 60% of us who own HD Ready TVs, think we're watching high-definition films when we actually aren't. Rather confusing, right? Find out how to fix this by reading our jargon-busting guide to Blu-ray.

By Emily Peck

Around 27% of us believe that an HDTV shows everything in high definition, but this isn't the case. There's no point splashing out on a new high-definition TV if you haven't got the goods to back it up - it's a bit like buying a gorgeous Aga but not learning how to cook. The crystal clear truth is that you need to team an HD TV with an HD set-top box or Blu-ray player to view movies at their sharpest and most impressive. With all the major Hollywood studios on board it looks like Blu-ray is set to be the movie format of the future and the good news is that price is no longer a barrier. You can now pick up a Blu-ray player for as little as £70 to team with your new HDTV.

What Is Blu-ray?

This new format gives your favourite films a whole new look, with five times the picture quality of DVD discs. And it's not just about the visuals - it gives you the option to listen in uncompressed surround sound, just as the director intended, if you team it with a home cinema kit. You may already have Blu-ray if you're a keen gamer - the PlayStation 3 offers you a game console, Blu-ray, DVD and CD player all in one.

What More Do You Need To Enjoy HDTV?

As well as an HD-Ready or Full HD TV and Blu-ray disc player, you'll need an HDMI cable. Short for 'High Definition Multimedia Interface', it's the digital equivalent of an analogue SCART cable. These cables transmit high-definition images and up to 7.1 channels of surround sound from your Blu-ray player or PS3 to your HDTV and surround sound speakers. Some Blu-ray players come with one, but if you have a PS3 you may have to buy one.