Shop for video players and recorders

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: With its ability to stream hundreds of audio and video channels (including Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu Plus), the $60 Roku HD would be our top pick for those seeking an ultra-affordable Internet media box -- if not for the fact that it's nearly identical to the slightly cheaper Roku LT. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Internet radio playback, Wireless

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Panasonic DMP-BDT220 is the best Blu-ray value of 2012, with built-in Wi-Fi, tons of streaming-media apps, 3D compatibility, and a simple user interface. Read review

Specs: 3D Blu-ray player, Viera Connect, Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, MLB.TV, Flixster, NHL, NBA, MLS4, YouTube, Skype, Built-in Wi-Fi

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it offers fewer native channels than the competition, the Apple TV is an indispensable living-room companion for anyone who's already invested in the iTunes and Apple hardware ecosystems. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Content streaming, Internet video playback, Digital video playback, Digital audio playback, Digital photo playback, Wired, Wireless, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 83 reviews

The Bottom Line: Thanks to a varied range of content offerings--including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, Crackle, and Pandora--that beats the Apple TV, the Roku 2 XS is the best all-around streaming-media box you can get for less than $100. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Internet radio playback, Wireless, Stereo, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 14 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Roku LT is a killer streaming-media box, offering tons of streaming video content, including favorites like Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, and Pandora, for just $50. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Internet radio playback, Wired, Wireless

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 27 reviews

The Bottom Line: The WD TV Live (2011) offers a solid combination of must-have streaming services and excellent USB and network file support, making it one of the best devices of its kind available for under $100. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Digital audio playback, Digital photo playback, Digital video playback, Wired, Wireless, Stereo, Dolby Digital output, DTS digital output, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony BDP-S590 is a great-looking Blu-ray player with built-in Wi-Fi, 3D compatibility, and tons of streaming-media apps, but it's slow to load discs and has some user interface quirks. Read review

Specs: Blu-ray player, Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, YouTube, Crackle, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Built-in Wi-Fi, 3D

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 32 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a smaller design, more energy-efficient operation, lower price tag, and built-in Blu-ray and multimedia capabilities, the PS3 Slim delivers a compelling package for an affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 Slim - Game console, Blu-ray, IBM Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB XDRAM - Integrated, Charcoal black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Roku 2 HD is a discontinued 2011 media streaming box, but there are newer Roku models that you should consider instead. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Internet radio playback, Wireless, Stereo, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 27 reviews

The Bottom Line: Despite disc-loading speeds that are just average, the LG BD670's built-in Wi-Fi and excellent streaming-media suite make it one of the best Blu-ray player values. Read review

Specs: Blu-ray disc player, Smart TV, Built-in Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3D ready

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: If you want 3D, the LG BP620 has most of the right features, but the absence of Amazon Instant and a dedicated Netflix button hurt its value a bit. Read review

Specs: Blu-ray player, Smart TV, Built-in Wi-Fi, 3D movie playback

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's SMP-N200 streaming-media box packs a lot of functionality, but it's hampered by a subpar user interface. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, WEB browsing, Internet video playback, Digital video playback, Digital audio playback, Digital photo playback, Wireless / wired, Stereo, Dolby Digital output, DTS digital output, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 41 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Logitech Revue with Google TV is loaded with potentially game-changing functionality, but its high price, numerous caveats, and current assortment of bugs make it best-suited to early adopters--at least until promised firmware fixes become available. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, WEB browsing, Internet video playback, Wireless / wired, Stereo, Dolby Digital output, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 22 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it lacks integrated Wi-Fi and is more expensive than the Roku or Apple TV , the WD TV Live Hub's combination of snazzy interface and built-in 1TB hard drive will appeal to advanced users who have a lot of existing files they want to view on an HDTV or stream to other PCs on a network. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Digital video playback, Digital audio playback, Digital photo playback, Wired, Stereo, Dolby Digital output, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 18 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony BDP-S580 has built-in Wi-Fi and more streaming services than all competing Blu-ray players, but its user interface is mediocre. Read review

Specs: Blu-ray disc player, Qriocity, BRAVIA Internet Video, Gracenote, Hulu Plus, Pandora, YouTube, Netflix, Twitter, Built-in Wi-Fi with WPS, GIF playback, PNG playback, JPEG photo playback, Block Noise Reduction, Digital audio playback from USB devices, Digital photo playback from USB devices, 24p True Cinema, Wi-Fi Ready, Video playback from USB devices, Digital video noise reduction, Mobile Device Remote Control, Up to 1080p, Stereo, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, DVD+R, SACD, BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE, CD-R, CD, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-RW

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 68 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Panasonic DMP-BDT210's built-in Wi-Fi, simple user interface, Amazon Instant streaming, and blazing fast disc-loading speeds make it our favorite Blu-ray player of 2011 so far. Read review

Specs: Blu-ray player, VieraCast, Netflix, Amazon VOD, YouTube, Pandora, Twitter, CinemaNow, Built-in Wi-Fi, Skype capable with separate USB TV camera (sold separately), Touch-free sensor to open and close the disc tray, 2D-to-3D conversion video processing, iPhone/Android phone app, Stereo, DTS-HD Master Audio Essential, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE, BD-R DL, BD-RE DL, CD-R, DVD, CD, DVD+RW, DVD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RW

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Blu-ray player, Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, YouTube, Crackle, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Skype, Built-in Wi-Fi, 3D, 4K upscaling, Skype (with optional camera)

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 24 reviews

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Internet radio playback, Wireless / wired, Stereo, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it's a capable streamer the lack of any expandable memory and its limited connectivity really limit its universal appeal. It's also priced too high compared to the most recent Roku offerings. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Digital video playback, Wireless / wired, Stereo, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 43 reviews

The Bottom Line: Thanks to its wide range of content offerings--including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, and Pandora--the Roku XDS is the best all-around streaming media box you can get for less than $100. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Internet video playback, Internet radio playback, Wireless / wired, Stereo, Dolby Digital output, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.3 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Boxee Box by D-Link has some innovative design choices and a promising user interface, but mainstream content is mostly missing in action until future firmware updates are available. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Digital video playback, Digital audio playback, Digital photo playback, BitTorrent P2P client, Wireless, Stereo, Dolby Digital output, DTS digital output, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 212 reviews

The Bottom Line: A low price and growing roster of online content makes the Netflix HD Player a good choice for anyone who wants a quick and easy way to add Netflix--and a variety of other Internet media channels--to any TV. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 18 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you don't already own an Xbox 360, PS3, or Blu-ray player and you're serious about networked streaming, the WD TV Live is one of your best choices for getting content to your TV. Read review

Specs: Digital multimedia receiver, Digital video playback, Digital audio playback, Digital photo playback, YouTube videos playback, Flickr photos playback, Wired, Stereo, Dolby Digital output, DTS digital output, Remote control

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 127 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony BDP-S570 has all the features of other midrange Blu-ray players, plus future 3D support and best-in-class operational speed, but its streaming-video performance over Wi-Fi is spotty. Read review

Specs: Blu-ray player, Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, BRAVIA Internet Video, Slacker Personal Radio, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 3D ready, Up to 1080p, 7.1 channel surround, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, JPEG

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: 3D Blu-ray player, Viera Connect, Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, MLB.TV, Flixster, NHL, NBA, MLS4, YouTube, Skype, Built-in Wi-Fi, Slot-loading drive