Philips launches BDP7200 BonusView-enabled Blu-ray player

Philips has announced the second generation in its line of Blu-ray players with the BDP7200, sporting 1080p/24 and Deep Color support, and BonusView (aka Profile 1.1) picture-in-picture capability. The player can also upscale DVDs to 1080p, and control connected devices using the EasyLink HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) protocols. Philips will release the BDP7200 in April for a $349 price, putting it towards the low end on the Blu-ray player price list, but the one thing we wish Philips had let us know was the level of audio codec support, with no mention at all of DTS or Dolby's high-end audio formats.

[Update: Also see our hands-on with the BDP7200.]

Click on for a couple more photos

Gallery: Philips BDP7200 Profile 1.1 Blu-ray player

[James Cameron @ Jan 6th 2008 5:43PM]

Me need a $200 or less Blu-ray player. Make it happen! Lots of BR players could be good a sign.

[Shmoe @ Jan 6th 2008 5:49PM]

Nice affordable price. FOOLS. With the country heading into a recession, normal people will be tightening their pocketbooks and won't be opting to spend money on these over-priced Blu-ray players. HD-DVD is already in the affordable range and would be more likely to sustain sales. If HD DVD dies, forget about affordable HD content on disc.

[Reader @ Jan 6th 2008 6:43PM]

You have it all wrong, once HD-DVD is completely dead HD prices (BluRay) will go down. More companies will be willing to produce HD products, as well as more consumers will be willing to buy HD products, when one of the formats win. BluRay will be produced in mass numbers and someday it will be like DVD.

Thought I should add I was hoping for HD-DVD to win, but I'll take either one. Also, it gives me an excuse to buy a PS3.

[Jeff @ Jan 6th 2008 7:23PM]

Shmoe:

Bitter much?

[Sam Winter @ Jan 12th 2008 9:42PM]

'Shmoe' is a Schmuck. I love how many people have NO UNDERSTANDING whatsoever of basic economics.
When HD-DVD is DEAD, the hundreds of thousands/millions sitting on the sideline will be jumping into HD media thus driving up the sales of BD players. This will cause manufacturers to ramp up their volume, thus reducing costs per unit, and ultimately retail prices. Jesus... Is that so hard to understand? You'll see $200 BD players soon when the chinese players get across the pond...

[Shmoe @ Jan 19th 2008 2:00AM]

Winter: It cuts the other way too. If Bluray would just die now, HD DVD, which is already lower in price, would become even cheaper sooner than Bluray will. Plus, the extra DRM in Bluray hurts chances for managed copy and streaming via Windows Media Center

[SHopkins @ Jan 6th 2008 6:03PM]

With an MSRP of $350 it is likely you'll see this player quickly sink below $300 and sales/promotions may put it under $250, possibly as low as $200 within 6 months. If the audio codec support includes TrueHD and DTS Master then I will definitely consider this as a potential replacement for my BDP1000.

[zargon @ Jan 6th 2008 6:17PM]

If the price is in fact MSRP, then this could be an affordable Blu-ray player. The question now is where does the player fall into the fray of players out the feature wise. With the current round of Blu-ray players being one big mess for the features, no one player being close to perfect. I really hope these players at CES show that the CEs have gotten their heads out of their ass.

Right now, the front runner for best stand alone BD player is the Panasonic DMP-BD30K with the DMP-BD50K possibly shaping up be a worthy replacement. Their is a lot left to be desired in the BD player market and other CEs really need to start stepping up to the plate.