We were very impressed with the previous Blu-ray players from Panasonic, the DMP-BD35 and BD55 when they first appeared in mid 2008. For us they were the first Blu-ray players that were really worth having. Not only did they have the latest Blu-ray profile, BD-LIVE, but they were also the first players to perform well with standard DVDs. The last point was important as many people were looking to replace their ageing DVD players with a Blu-ray player, and simply add another box to their living room.
With not even 9 months gone, Panasonic have replaced the two players with replacements in the form of the DMP-BD60 and the DMP-BD80. Whilst not quite as groundbreaking as the BD35 and BD55, they still represent a significant step forward in Blu-ray players, and both players are good value. Read the full Panasonic DMP-BD60 review and the DMP-BD80 review in the Blu-ray players section.