Denon's 2009 Blu-ray lineup includes three new models. The $699 DBP-2010CI is the middle child, offering a few more audio and control options than the $499 DBP-1610 but lacking the top-shelf features of the reference $4,500 DVD-A1UDCI. We have not performed a hands-on review of the DBP-2010CI, but here is an overview of the player's features. This Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player supports BonusView/picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live Web functionality, and it offers both onboard decoding and bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, plus multichannel analog audio outputs. This player uses Anchor Bay's VRS video processing chip. It does not support any type of video-on-demand streaming or download service, such as those offered by Netflix, Amazon, and CinemaNow. (The entry-level DBP-1610 omits the VRS processing chip and multichannel analog audio outputs.)

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In terms of video connections, the DBP-2010CI offers HDMI, component video, and composite video outputs (no S-video). This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI, and it includes a Source Direct mode that allows it to output all discs at their native resolution. The setup menu includes an A/V Sync function and a nice selection of picture adjustments, including contrast, brightness, gamma, sharpness, and noise reduction.

Audio outputs include HDMI, coaxial digital (no optical), and both 2- and 7.1-channel analog. The inclusion of multichannel analog audio outputs makes this model a good choice if you own an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver. The player has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. You can set the speaker size, level, and distance for the analog outputs, and the player features 24-bit/192-kilohertz D/A converters, an independent audio block design, and a Pure Direct mode that shuts down unneeded video circuitry to achieve higher-quality audio.

The DBP-2010CI's disc drive supports the following formats: BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, JPEG, MP3, WMA, and Divx. The back panel features an Ethernet port for BD-Live Web features, as well as quick firmware updates. The player lacks internal memory, so the addition of an external storage device is required to download BD-Live features; an SD card slot is provided for this purpose. The front-panel SD card slot also supports playback of AVCHD, JPEG, MP3, and WMA files. Finally, the DBP-2010CI sports both RS-232 and IR in/out ports for integration with an advanced control system (the entry-level DBP-1610 model has IR in/out ports but not RS-232).

Click to Page 2 for The High Points, The Low Points and The Conclusion.