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The best 4K Blu-ray players let you watch movies and TV shows at home with the best picture quality possible. Streaming services are popular, but Blu-rays have a better bitrate and give you more realistic and detailed video. Blu-rays have other perks, like the fact that you really own your movie collection and that they come with beautiful box art and behind-the-scenes extras. Movie fans don’t need to be told that getting one of the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players is a must.
Streaming services, on the other hand, are becoming more popular and DVD players are becoming less popular. This is a shame, since one of the best Blu-Ray players and one of the best TVs are the best ways to watch a movie at home. Streaming services put almost an infinite amount of material at our fingertips, but physical media is still the best way to get your hands on something. Blu-rays have better sound and picture quality, don’t need to be connected to the internet to play, and can’t be taken out of your library without warning. If you want to get the most out of your discs, you’ll need a good 4K Blu-ray player. We’ve put together a list of our favorites right here.
Best 4K Blu-ray Players Comparison Table
| Model | Resolution | HDR Support | Connectivity | Disc Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic DP-UB9000 | 4K Ultra HD | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB | Blu-ray, DVD, CD |
| Sony UBP-X700 | 4K Ultra HD | HDR10, Dolby Vision | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB | Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD |
| Sony UBP-X800M2 | 4K Ultra HD | HDR10, Dolby Vision | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB | Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD |
| Sony BDP-S1700 | Full HD (1080p) | No | Ethernet, HDMI, USB | Blu-ray, DVD, CD |
| Panasonic DP-UB150 | 4K Ultra HD | HDR10, HDR10+ | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB | Blu-ray, DVD, CD |
Panasonic DP-UB9000
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| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | DP-UB9000 |
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| HDR Support | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, FLAC, WAV, AAC, MP3 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB |
| Disc Compatibility | Blu-ray, DVD, CD |
| Streaming Services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu |
| Dimensions | 17.2 x 16.9 x 3.8 inches (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 14.3 pounds |
The DP-UB9000 is Panasonic’s best 4K Ultra HD Best 4K Blu-ray Players. If you have a high-end TV and want to get the most out of it, this is the one to get. It’s beautifully made, has great features, and doesn’t hide the fact that it’s high-end. It is made of heavy metal and has a high-end look and feel. It’s not just a good-looking face.
The DP-UB9000 is also the first UHD deck from Panasonic that works with all of the most important HDR formats, including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. When we tried out the DP-UB9000, we were just as pleased with its sound as we were with its picture. It has high-quality DACs, audio outputs for two channels and 7.1 channels, and support for Hi-Res Audio. With all of its smart features, the UB9000 checks almost every box for us.
The Good
- Exceptional audio and video quality.
- It works with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ to make images look bright and real.
The Bad
- Compared to other models, the price is pretty high.
Sony UBP-X700
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | UBP-X700 |
| Brand | Sony |
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| HDR Support | HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, FLAC, WAV, AAC, MP3 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB |
| Disc Compatibility | Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD |
| Streaming Services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu |
| Dimensions | 17 x 10.4 x 2.8 inches (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 4.19 pounds |
We liked the Sony UBP-X800 Best 4K Blu-ray Players when it came out in 2017 because it was a “brilliant, beautiful 4K UHD player at a sensible price.” But it was missing one important thing: it didn’t work with the Dolby Vision HDR standard. The Sony UBP-X700, which came out a year later, is an Ultra HD Blu-ray player that now supports Dolby’s HDR tour de force, which is 12-bit and polished scene by scene.
But this doesn’t work with HDR10+. But other than that, this Blu-ray player is great. It has a clear, natural-looking picture and great details, so your best movies and TV shows will look great. But the best part is that it costs only $259.99/£229, which isn’t too much.
The Good
- Offers great video upscaling to improve the quality of content that isn’t 4K.
- It works with a number of audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The Bad
- Doesn’t work with Dolby Vision HDR.
Sony UBP-X800M2
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | UBP-X800M2 |
| Brand | Sony |
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| HDR Support | HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, FLAC, WAV, AAC, MP3 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB |
| Disc Compatibility | Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD |
| Streaming Services | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu |
| Dimensions | 17 x 10.5 x 2 inches (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 8.4 pounds |
This Sony is in the middle of the market Best 4K Blu-ray Players. It is a bit more powerful than those at the low end of the market, but it also costs a bit more. It doesn’t have a screen on the player itself, but the fact that it can play DVD-A and SACD more than makes up for that. It even has Bluetooth, which lets you stream music to a pair of wireless headphones. This is great for watching movies late at night.
The only big problem is that it doesn’t support HDR10+, but for most people, that won’t be the end of the world. Other than that, it can do a lot of different things. You have to manually turn on Dolby Vision for material that supports it, which is a bit annoying (it should just work), but this player gives you a clear, interesting picture and a musical, fun sound. Another great choice for the same price.
The Good
- A Blu-ray player that can play discs from different regions, or “regions.”
- The build quality is great, and the design is sleek.
The Bad
- The price is higher than some of the competition.
Sony BDP-S1700
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | BDP-S1700 |
| Brand | Sony |
| Resolution | Full HD (1080p) |
| HDR Support | No |
| Audio Formats | Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, FLAC, AAC, MP3 |
| Connectivity | Ethernet, HDMI, USB |
| Disc Compatibility | Blu-ray, DVD, CD |
| Dimensions | 9.1 x 7.8 x 1.5 inches (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 1.81 pounds |
If you get the majority of your Best 4K Blu-ray Players video through a media streamer or smart TV and all you need is an affordable player to take care of your older Blu-ray and DVD collections, the Sony BDP-S1700 Blu-ray player may be able to perform the job in a way that is basic and dependable for you. It offers a user interface that is easy to navigate and has satisfactory performance when it comes to video.
This player allows you access to the standard definition versions of a broad variety of streaming services, including as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu; but, it can only connect to your home network over Ethernet connections and not through Wi-Fi connections like most other players can.
The Good
- It has a low price, which makes it a good way to start watching Blu-rays.
- The design is slim and small, so it can fit in smaller spaces.
The Bad
- It doesn’t work with HDR or 4K Ultra HD formats.
Panasonic DP-UB150
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | DP-UB150 |
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD |
| HDR Support | HDR10, HDR10+ |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, FLAC, WAV, AAC, MP3 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB |
| Disc Compatibility | Blu-ray, DVD, CD |
Budget price doesn’t always mean limited features Best 4K Blu-ray Players. The Panasonic DP-UB150, a powerful player for clever shoppers, is one example. The UB150 can decode HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG right away, assuring that most HDR viewing will be excellent. Panasonic’s 4K Chroma processing and HDR Optimizer enhance image quality. We also like the player’s 4K upscaling.
Panasonic’s High-Res Audio Playback puts you in the center of your favorite music and movie soundtracks on the UB150. The Panasonic DP-UB150 functions more like a mid-tier 4K player than a budget choice, albeit lacking Dolby Vision support and streaming apps for web content.
The Good
- It plays 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays well and costs a reasonable amount.
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) is supported so that contrast and color are better.
The Bad
- It doesn’t support more advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos.
FAQs
A: A 4K Blu-ray player is a type of disc player specifically designed to play Ultra HD (4K) Blu-ray discs. It is capable of delivering high-resolution video and audio content, providing a superior home theater experience compared to standard Blu-ray players.
A: Yes, you can use a 4K Blu-ray player with a non-4K TV. Most 4K Blu-ray players are backward compatible and can play standard Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CDs. However, to fully enjoy the benefits of a 4K Blu-ray player, including the 4K resolution and HDR capabilities, you need a 4K TV that supports these features.
A: No, 4K Blu-ray players can vary in terms of features, performance, and pricing. Different brands and models offer various additional functionalities, such as built-in Wi-Fi, streaming apps, support for specific audio formats, and connectivity options. It’s essential to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing a 4K Blu-ray player.