Sharp BD-HP35U

Sharp BD-HP35U

You don't always get what you pay for. Sometimes, an expensive device can be overshadowed by its less pricey competitors. At $299.99 (list), the 3D-enabled Sharp BD-HP35U is certainly priced to be a premium Blu-ray player. It even has the stylish chassis of a premium Blu-ray player. Unfortunately, beyond its shiny surface and hefty price tag lie some issues that make the player pale in comparison with its $200 competitors. The front of the 2.0-by-15.9-by-7.8-inch (HWD), 5.1-pound player is flat, black, and glossy. A ring of blue LEDs in the center and a small LCD on the left side of the front panel serve as notification lights for the BD-HP35U. The disc tray comes out of the right side of the front panel. Power, Tray Open/Close, and Playback Control buttons sit on the top edge of the left side of the panel, giving you some control without the remote. Finally, there's a USB port under the buttons, ready to accept a flash drive or the included Wi-Fi dongle. The outputs on the back of the player are barebones: HDMI and optical audio are the only outputs, joined by a second USB port and an Ethernet jack. It's odd to see a Blu-ray player without some sort of analog output like component video.