The BD8002 ($1,999.99) was Marantz's first Blu-ray player and remains the flagship model. This is a Profile 1.1/BonusView Blu-ray player, which means it contains the secondary audio and video decoders needed for picture-in-picture playback. However, it does not support BD-Live Web functionality. The BD8002 uses Silicon Optix's Realta HQV video processor, so it does a better job upconverting standard DVDs and offers a more comprehensive set of video adjustments.

On the video side, the BD8002's back panel features HDMI 1.3a, component video (with both BNC- and RCA-style connectors), S-video, and composite video outputs. For HDMI, the output-resolution options are Auto, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, and 1080p/24. While many players must be set up to output either 1080p/60 or 1080p/24, the BD8002 offers separate 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 modes, so you can easily switch between the two for comparison. For component video, output-resolution options are 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i, and the BD8002 uses Analog Devices' 12-bit/297-MHz video digital-to-analog converter. The menu includes a number of advanced video adjustments, including digital noise reduction, advanced gamma correction, sharpness, hue, white level, black level, chroma, and more.

For audio, the BD8002 offers HDMI, coaxial and optical digital audio, and two- and 7.1-channel analog audio outputs. The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders, and it will also pass these formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. It can pass 7.1-channel PCM audio over both HDMI and the analog audio outputs. The player uses 24-bit/192-kHz audio digital-to-analog converters; for music lovers, it includes a Pure Direct mode that shuts down unneeded video circuitry to achieve higher-quality audio through the analog audio outputs.

The BD8002 supports BD, DVD, CD audio, MP3, WMA, JPEG, and Divx playback through its disc drive, and it has an SD card slot through which you can view JPEGs and listen to MP3/WMA audio files. Because it is not a Profile 2.0 player, it does not have an Ethernet port, so you can't access BD-Live Web features or perform quick firmware updates. The player offers both RS-232 and IR input and output ports for integration into an advanced control system.

Highs Points
• The BD8002 offers excellent performance with both Blu-ray discs and standard DVDs.
• The player has onboard high-resolution audio decoding and passes these formats in bitstream form over HDMI.
• It can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• The SD card slot allows for easy playback of digital music and photos.
• Build quality is excellent, including the use of BNC-style connectors for component video.

Low Points
• The BD8002 is not Profile 2.0 and lacks an Ethernet port.
• It is expensive.

Conclusion
There are certainly less-expensive Blu-ray players on the market that offer similar if not more functionality than the BD8002, but this product is obviously targeted at the high-end market. Its thorough assortment of audio decoders and connections gives it the flexibility to work with most A/V receivers; however, if you already own a receiver with high-resolution audio decoding, you might consider the step-down BD7003 ($799.99). If you want the ability to access Web content on Blu-ray discs, you should look elsewhere; but, if audio, video, and build quality are your top priorities, the BD8002 deserves a look.