Onkyo BD-SP309 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed

Published On: August 22, 2011
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Onkyo BD-SP309 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed

Onkyo has released the company's first 3D-capable Blu-ray player with the BD-SP309 Blu-ray player. On top of that, Onkyo has made the BD-SP309 the most affordable Blu-ray player in their current line up.

Onkyo BD-SP309 3D Blu-ray Player Reviewed

By Author: Adrienne Maxwell
Adrienne Maxwell is the former Managing Editor of HomeTheaterReview.com, Home Theater Magazine, and HDTVEtc.com. Adrienne has also written for Wirecutter, Home Entertainment Magazine, AVRev.com, ModernHomeTheater.com, and other top specialty audio/video publications. She is an ISF Level II-certified video calibrator who specializes in reviews of flat-panel HDTVs, front video projectors, video screens, video servers, and video source devices, both disc- and streaming-based.

Onkyo_BD-SP309_Blu-ray_player_review_front.jpgIn May, Onkyo released its first 3D-capable Blu-ray player, the BD-SP309. This also happens to be the least expensive Blu-ray player in the company's current line, with an MSRP of $249. We have not performed a hands-on review of the BD-SP309, but here is an overview of its features. The player supports Blu-ray 3D, BD-Live, and BonusView, and it offers streaming video-on-demand from Netflix and VUDU. You can also stream content from a UPnP-compliant server. The BD-SP309 lacks the THX certification you'll find in the recently announced step-up player, the BD-SP809 ($599).

Additional Resources
• Read more Blu-ray player reviews from the Home Theater Review staff.
• Look for 3D HDTVs in our 3D HDTV Review section.
• Explore more HDTVs in our LED HDTV and Plasma HDTV review sections.

The back panel features an HDMI output, an optical digital audio output, an Ethernet port, and a USB port. It lacks analog A/V outputs, and this player does not offer the dual HDMI outputs you get on the BD-SP809 (which can be beneficial if you own a non-3D-capable A/V receiver). The BD-SP309 has onboard Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus decoding, but it lacks DTS-HD Master Audio decoding; it will pass all of these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode.

The BD-SP309 supports BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, Divx Plus HD, MKV, MP3, and JPEG playback. You can add the player to your home network via the back-panel Ethernet port; it does not offer integrated WiFi or an optional USB WiFi adapter. The BD-SP309 lacks internal memory to store BD-Live content; front- and back-panel USB ports are provided for this purpose. These ports also support media playback. The player lacks advanced control ports, such as RS-232 or IR (both of which are available on the BD-SP809).

Read about the high points and low points of the BD-SP309 Blu-ray player on Page 2.

Onkyo_BD-SP309_Blu-ray_player_review_rear.jpgHigh Points
• The BD-SP309 supports 3D playback, when mated with other 3D-capable components.
• Netflix and VUDU video-on-demand services are included, as is UPnP media streaming.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD decoding and can pass high-resolution audio via bitstream.
• It supports BD-Live and BonusView/PIP.
• The BD-SP309 is the lowest priced Blu-ray player in Onkyo's line.

Low Points
• This model does not include dual HDMI outputs to send separate signals to your 3DTV and A/V receiver.
• It also lacks analog A/V outputs, so it's not the best choice for someone who owns older equipment.
• The BD-SP309 does not support a wireless network connection.
• Web services are currently limited, compared with mainstream manufacturers like Panasonic, Sony, and Samsung.
• The BD-SP309 doesn't offer 2D-to-3D conversion or any advanced adjustment options for the 3D image.
• The player lacks DTS-HD MA decoding, internal memory for BD-Live storage, and RS-232.

Competition and Comparison
Compare the BD-SP309 with its competition
by reading reviews for the Panasonic DMP-BDT210, Sony BDP-S580,
Pioneer BDP-430
,
and Vizio VBR333.
Learn more about 3D Blu-ray players by visiting our Blu-ray Players
section
.

Conclusion
The BD-SP309 is the value-oriented player
in Onkyo's Blu-ray line, and its list of features reflects that. The big
omission in this price range is integrated WiFi or at least the option
to add a USB WiFi adapter. Onkyo's Web platform isn't as extensive as
those of the mainstream manufacturers, but it does include two of the
biggest VOD services, in Netflix and VUDU. Given its lack of dual HDMI
outs, analog outs, and DTS-HD decoding, the BD-SP309 is clearly designed
to be paired with a new 3D-capable A/V receiver (I'm guessing Onkyo
would prefer you choose one of its newest offerings). If you're happy
with the non-3D Onkyo receiver you already own but still want to pair it
with an Onkyo-branded 3D player, the step-up BD-SP809 is the better
choice.

Additional Resources
• Read more Blu-ray player reviews from the Home Theater Review staff.
• Look for 3D HDTVs in our 3D HDTV Review section.
• Explore more HDTVs in our LED HDTV and Plasma HDTV review sections.

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