Perhaps the most noteworthy thing about the BDX2000 is that it's a Blu-ray player from Toshiba, the primary backer of the once-competing, now-defunct HD-DVD platform. If the death of HD-DVD wasn't official before (it was), it's definitely official now, and I suspect Toshiba brings the BDX2000 to market with mixed feelings. Nevertheless, the company has put together a solid offering for the entry-level category. We have not performed a hands-on review of the BDX2000, but here's an overview of its features. This Profile 2.0 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. The BDX2000 doesn't support any type of video-on-demand platform, such as those offered by Netflix and Amazon. I suppose I should point out that this product will not play HD-DVDs.

In terms of video connections, the BDX2000 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 the Resolution setup menu include separate options for each, so you can easily switch between the two for comparison. The only picture adjustments are black level and noise reduction (for DVD only).

Audio outputs include HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, and stereo analog. As I mentioned, the BDX2000 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. The player lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so the only way to pass decoded high-resolution audio formats is via HDMI. The setup menu includes the ability to adjust speaker size, level, and delay for LPCM output over HDMI.

The BDX2000's disc drive supports BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, MP3, WMA, and JPEG playback. The back-panel Ethernet port allows you connect to the Internet for easy firmware updates and access to BD-Live Web features; this player does not include wireless network connectivity. The BDX2000 lacks internal memory, so the addition of an external storage device is required to download BD-Live features; a front-panel SD card slot is provided for this purpose. The card reader also supports playback of AVCHD, MP3, WMA, and JPEG files. The BDX2000 lacks advanced control ports, such as RS-232 or IR.

High Points
• The BDX2000 supports 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI.
• It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• The SD card slot allows for easy playback of music, photo, and movie files.

Low Points
• The BDX2000 lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so it's not the best choice for someone who owns an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver.
• The player lacks internal memory, and Toshiba does not supply an SD card for this purpose.
• This player does not have wireless network connectivity, nor does it support any type of video-on-demand service.

Conclusion
It seems only fitting that Toshiba's first Blu-ray player is priced in the entry-level category, available for $200 or less. In the early days of the format war, HD DVD was always the better value, and clearly Toshiba still feels that's the way to go. In terms of Blu-ray features, the BDX2000 is right in line with models at this price point; however, it lacks the video-on-demand and/or media streaming that you can find in some other players around this price.