Blu-ray Disc standalone players were initially introduced at price points of $1,000 or more, which many consumers and even enthusiasts found to be cost prohibitive. Adoption rates and market penetration of standalone players for either blue laser format (Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD) appears to have been very minimal for 2006. But now it finally looks like the first generation of Blu-ray standalone player models are starting to significantly drop in price. Looking at Amazon.com Blu-ray player listings, we can see that the Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray standalone player has dropped to $599 US, which is 33% off the original price! The Philips BDP9000 has also dropped in price and is now also listed at $599 US. That’s a 25% price cut for the Philips model.
Now that the initial prices are falling a bit, more consumers might be willing to pick up a Blu-ray standalone player. But are these price cuts a “good deal” compared to the competition? Well what is the competition? It seems that Blu-ray standalone products have some steep competition from one of the major players in the Blu-ray Disc Association, SONY. If a Sony PS3 gaming system can now be picked up for as little as $499, why would anyone purchase “just” a standalone Blu-ray player? The answer is that most people would not, which is why the majority of Blu-ray players in consumer homes are embedded within the Playstation 3 console. The “normal” Blu-ray standalone players can not compete with a next generation gaming system + Blu-ray movie player all wrapped in one. Especially since the PS3 has a lower price tag and offers much much more! Blu-ray standalone manufacturers are going to have to make significant, additional price cuts in order to compete with the PS3 Blu-ray all-in-wonder machine. Until then, don’t expect to see many “normal” Blu-ray standalone players in average consumer households, but you can be on the lookout for some PS3’s.
