Product Description

Now you can enjoy the best of 1080p video on your Sharp AQUOS HDTV. Especially designed to work with AQUOS LCD TVs, the BD-HP20U AQUOS Blu-Ray Disc player provides seamless operability via the AQUOS LINK™ function, through the HDMI connection. Performing as if it were all one system, the BD-HP20U's Quick Start feature lets you begin enjoying gorgeous Blu-ray Disc video with the touch of a button in less than 10 seconds.* The BD-HP20U provides outstanding versatility and is compatible with a wide variety of formats including BD-ROM/RE/R, DVD Video, DVD-RW/R and DVD+RW/R. Additionally, the BD-HP20U plays audio CDs as well. With eight terminal outputs including HDMI inputs and 1080p as well as DVD up-conversion to 1080p, you'll enjoy full digital high-definition video and high-fidelity audio. The piano black finish and slim profile design make it the ideal HD source for a large screen AQUOS TV. *Quick Start time may vary depending on movie content, type of video connection, and type of monitor being used.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1283 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Sharp
• Model: BD-HP20U
• Released on: 2007-09-24
• Dimensions: 2.69" h x 13.19" w x 16.94" l, 10.00 pounds

Features

• Full HD 1080p/24 fps video output
• HDMI digital Interface
• 7.1 Channel digital audio output
• Quick Start Mode: enjoy content quickly without delay

Manufacturer's Description -- July 20, 2008
Now you can enjoy the best of 1080P video on your AQUOS LCD TV. Especially designed to work with AQUOS LCD TVs, the BD-HP20U AQUOS Blu-ray Disc player provides seamless operability via the AQUOS LINK function through the HDMI connection. Performing as if it were all one system, the BD-HP20U's Quick Start feature lets you enjoy gorgeous Blu-ray Disc video with the touch of a button in less than 10 seconds1. With eight terminal outputs including HDMI outputs and 1080P as well as DVD up-conversion to 1080P, you'll enjoy full digital high-definition video and high-fidelity audio.

Features

HDMI Output – Simple One Cable Connection
A one cable connection carries complete digital audio and video connection between your HDTV and the BD-HP20 player for the best high definition video and the highest fidelity audio in home theater today. Blu-ray Disc technology brings the multiplex experience right to your home.

Full HD Resolution – An Amazing Home Theater Experience in the Comfort of your Home
The Blu-ray Disc format has full 1080P resolution capability – that's the maximum picture resolution available today. 1080P = 1,080 lines of vertical resolution, progressively scanned.

High Fidelity Audio – Real Life-Like Sound
Blu-ray technology lets you take advantage of the latest surround sound formats such as Dolby TrueHD. This means you will enjoy high quality lossless 7.1 Channel digital surround (48KHz only ) that is bit for bit the equivalent of a master recording.

HDMI Up-Scaling – Backwards Compatible
Even your existing standard definition DVD library can look better than ever because Blu-ray Disc players are backwards compatible with your DVDs. By optimizing standard DVD playback signals to 1080P (when displayed on a 1080P capable HDTV with HDMI technology), the BD-HP20 can deliver more picture and sound quality.

AQUOS LINK Function – Seamless Operation among Sharp Audio Video Products with One Remote Control
Why use two remotes when you can use one? The AQUOS LINK function allows you to control both your AQUOS LCD TV and your AQUOS Blu-ray Disc player together. When you connect your AQUOS LCD TV to the Blu-ray Disc player via an HDMI connection, you will have seamless interoperability between your AQUOS LCD TV and BD-HP20 Blu-ray Disc player.

Quick Start – Enjoy Movie Content Quickly without Delay
A proprietary Sharp technology allows you to enjoy viewing high definition content on your big screen quicker than most other Blu-ray Disc players. Unlike many other Blu-ray Disc players, the BD-HP20 has an impressive startup time allowing you to begin watching your movies in approximately 10 seconds. Quick Start time may vary depending on movie content, type of video connection and type of monitor being used. Blu-ray Disc must also be preloaded for Quick Start operation.

Specifications

Customer Reviews

Sometimes slow, stutters, and dies mysteriously
I bought my BDHP20U in Feb 2008 and it worked OK, if almost glacially slow (minutes to power on, roughly a minute just to open the [empty] tray) until July when, following one of Sharp's software updates (two previous worked great) the machine would no longer power on. Sharp apparently has quite a bit of experience with this kind of thing (not necessarily comforting) and quickly emailed me a link to a FedEx page with shipping labels -- unfortunately they sent it on Wednesday evening (while I was out), and it expired at midnight /the same day/! So it ended up taking TWO WEEKS to explain that I needed replacement shipping labels. Then things went quickly, but they shiped it back to the wrong address and it took three extra days to get it from FedEx.

After all that fun, it worked fine for a few weeks, then one night after watching a movie, it powered down when I asked it to eject the disc I'd just viewed. And it won't power on again. I'm not looking forward to repeating the repair cycle again, especially since it now seems likely I will be doing this every month from now on (if not more often).

It is a good thing that the price on this is coming down, because it certainly isn't worth the $362.49 it cost when I bought it. In fact, I expect to buy another BluRay player (from anyone but Sharp) as soon as I can afford one.

Pass if you are burning your own disks
The player as a player for movies is very good. However, if you are making your own videos and burning them to BD-R disks, this system does not play. I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to get disks to play without any luck. I have the latest firmware and still no luck.

Amazing Player!
After reading some slightly negative reviews, I think it will be unfair if I don't write mine.

I have owned my Sharp for almost 6 months now. Have run the newest BDs available, just yesterday I watched 'vantage point', awesome picture and sound. Loading is pretty fast too, I would say less than 40 secs. Have never faced a single problem whatsoever. Sharp just posted a new firmware but I won't load it unless I see any probs with my existing one. I did play 'Jumper' and I did not have any problem.

Call me lucky or whatever, I would blindly go for another Sharp BD player if I had to make a decision.