Sub-$200 Blu-Ray Player: Sony BDP-S300

We think that $200 is the price point at which Blu-Ray goes from “enthusiast” to “mainstream”. The Sony BDP-S300 just dipped below that mark, and although you can’t expect it to have all the bells and whistles of players that cost twice the price, you should wonder if you really have the home theater setup that will exploit the high-end features offered by more advanced players like better sound playback, better image filtering and advanced connectivity. That is where the price difference usually is. If you have a 42″ to 50″ display and an average sound setup, this player is probably “good enough”. ($195 on Amazon)