Expert Review:
Buyers looking for an affordable Blu-ray player that offers built-in Wi-Fi and excellent performance should place the Panasonic DMP-BD85K at or near the top of their list. This Blu-ray player comes bundled with a USB Wi-Fi dongle and supports several media streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, and Picasso, as well as access to local weather and other internet services. The on-screen menus provide easy navigation and fast access to the various services. However, DLNA features are not included in the North American model, which will be a downside for some.
This Blu-ray player shines when it comes to video and audio performance. Video quality is excellent with Blu-ray movies and the player supports 1080p/24p playback; it also does an excellent job with DVD upscaling. The DMP-85K also supports DivX/DivX HD video files, which can be played back from a disc or through the USB port. Audio buffs will appreciate the various audio connectivity options including 7.1 channel audio outputs, allowing those with older receivers to enjoy Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Boot times and disc loading times are speedy and show a significant improvement over previous models.
If you’re looking for a solid performing Blu-ray player that packs a lot of features for the price, the Panasonic DMP-BD85K is an excellent choice. While it doesn’t boast all the features found in some competitors and is not 3D capable, this player’s combination of audio and video performance, connectivity, features, and overall value is still hard to beat.
