Panasonic DMP-BDT230 Pro Reviews

Viewers after the latest and greatest collection of apps should look beyond the DMP-BDT230 and head for a Samsung deck. However, if you're after the very finest picture quality not only from 2D and 3D Blu-ray, but from upscaled DVDs, too, the low-priced DMP-BDT230 is dead centre of the sweet-spot. Rather like its plasma TVs – far and away the finest TVs currently being manufactured – Panasonic's DMP-BDT230 delivers on quality, no question, but what it's surrounded with in terms of user interface design and smart TV apps means that it may be passed over in favour of ultimately less capable decks. That would be a shame since the DMP-BDT230 is a remarkably capable Blu-ray player, and great value, too.

The Panasonic BDT230 works well and it's small enough to slot easily into most home theater setups. It works well, has a wide selection of services, and image quality is as good as you'd expect of a modern Blu-ray player. But with so many solid options available, there's little reason to settle for a Blu-ray player that's going to bombard you with ads.

The prismatic styling of the BDT230 somewhat sets it apart, looks wise, from the competition but it is still, at heart, just another black box. Connectivity options should be sufficient for most with a single HDMI, digital audio out plus USB and Wi-Fi built-in, and the included remote is both easy to use and comfortable in the hand. The menu systems are certainly attractive enough but a bit of an acquired taste, in terms of how they are navigated, and we wish Panasonic would do away with the unnecessary Picture Modes accessible from the Options button. Speaking of superfluous, the included Web Browser is the undoubted lowlight of the BDT230’s feature set with the rest mostly performing very well. There’s a good amount of Video-on-Demand services available, including BBC iPlayer and Netflix, although the latter was subject to lock-ups from its Home screen. Still, in a box inhabiting this price sector, there’s a more than decent set of apps, well executed.

The Panasonic DMP-BDT230 Blu-ray player packs great performance and tons of features into an affordable package.