Panasonic DMP-BDT320 review

Perhaps the most radical change from last year is the remote control, which has seen the majority of its buttons replaced with a touchpad. It’s incredibly responsive and straightforward to use to navigate the menu systems, which have been reskinned to better suit the new controls. To use the touchpad to control video playback you have to press the Keys button first, which can be fiddly.

The standard remote control layout has gone, replaced with a single large touchpad instead.

Start-up times have significantly improved from last year’s model, so you can be watching a Blu-ray less than 20 seconds after sliding it into the player. This is partly due to the Smart Eco sensor, which drops the player into a low power state after 30 minutes of inactivity, then wakes it up if someone walks past its sensor – it doesn’t have to dire up from off each time.

The number of image settings is also impressive, letting you adjust picture modes, upscaling, sharpness and colour as well as brightness and contrast. The player can also output side-by-side 3D as well as the standard sequential variety, so you’ll also be able to use it with a wide range of TVs and projectors.

There’s plenty to like about the DMP-BDT320, most notably its revamped design. We aren’t convinced that the touchpad remote control is a step in the right direction, but some people may find it more user-friendly than a remote filled with buttons. This is a great mid-range player that might take some getting used to, but its image quality is fantastic.