Sharp BD-HP52U

Sharp BD-HP52U

Like many of the latest Blu-ray players, Sharp's BD-HP52U ($299.99 list) handles high definition video with aplomb, and also does a good job upconverting standard-def DVDs. Sharp HDTV owners will appreciate this player's Aquos Link functionality, but even though you can update its firmware to enable Netflix streaming, this player still lacks many of the Web-based services found on competing models, and is relatively slow when it comes to loading your Blu-ray discs. It's also expensive for a midrange Blu-ray player. Measuring 2.3 by 17.1 by 8.7 inches (HWD), the BD-HP52U is only slightly deeper than the LG BD570 ($299.99, ), but much smaller than the Vizio VBR200W ($199.99, ). At the center of the front panel is a large round disc activity indicator similar to the one found on its predecessor, the BD-HP50U ($399.99, ). Off to the right is a disc tray Open/Close button, adjacent to the disc tray itself, which is hiding behind a fold down door. The left side of the panel includes Power, Play, Stop, and Pause buttons, but as is the case with Sony's BDP-S570 ($249.99, ), forward and reverse buttons are missing.