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The best Blu-ray players

From game consoles to 4K UHD spinners, these are the best Blu-ray players

If you’re going to buy a new DVD player, we recommend going all the way with a Blu-ray player. Ultra HD Blu-ray players will future-proof your setup and provide picture quality that’s second to none at an increasingly affordable price point. Whether you’re replacing an old player or upgrading, we’ve got an option for you. Streaming may be popular, but the disc isn’t dead yet.

Sony UBP-X700 Blu-ray player

Best Overall

Why you should buy this: It offers the most immersive cinema-style playback

Who it’s for: Those who want a player that will offer them the best possible 4k Ultra HD viewing experience, regardless of format.

Why we picked the Sony UBP-X700:

Sony’s UBP-X700 is an affordable home theater masterpiece. With excellent video and audio processing, the player will play any of your favorite discs at their maximum possible fidelity. This model offers both Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, which means you’ll be able to enjoy the gorgeous contrast and wide color gamut offered by both of the leading HDR formats.

Add in support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based surround sound (in addition to a wide gamut of other established surround sound formats) and you’ll never have to worry about getting the most immersive experience possible in your home theater.

Knowing that all that technology is available inside the UBP-X700 and you understand why this is our favorite player when it comes to sheer value on the market right now.

Why we love it:

  • Unparalleled sound and picture quality
  • Plays DVDs and Blu-Rays at Ultra HD 4K
  • Features WiFi MIMO technology boosts streaming reliability

Something to consider: While this player’s audio processing is top-notch, those who pay close attention to audio quality may feel that it lacks a bit of weight. 

LG BP350 Blu-ray Disc Player

Best Value

Why you should buy this: Smart functionality along with great picture and sound quality for the full package.

Who it’s for: Anyone who enjoys multiple streaming services, but also wants the picture quality that a Blu-ray player offers.

Why we picked the LG BP350 Blu-ray Disc Player

Those on a budget will certainly appreciate what the LG BP350 Blu-ray Disc Player has to offer. You will undoubtedly be able to keep your current DVD collection and see your movie upscaled to Full HD 1,080-pixel resolution. You can also access online content and say goodbye to pesky wires once you connect it to your Wi-Fi. Moreover, it is Smart Hi-Fi compatible so you can opt to send music from your CD or USB to LG Music Flow Speakers.

Why we love it:

  • DVDs are upscaled and show in full HD
  • Access streaming services and online content with lightning-fast Wi-Fi
  • User-friendly interface makes navigation hassle-free

Something to consider: While this player delivers great image quality at an inexpensive price tag, it cuts on some corners to do so. You may find this player lacking in terms of audio precision and if audio immersion is a big deal to you, you might want to look at other options.

Sony BDP-S6700 Blu-ray player

Best 4K Upscaling

Why you should buy this: It will make standard Blu-ray discs pop on an HDTV or a new 4K TV.

Who it’s for: Viewers who don’t want to make the leap into 4K Blu-ray discs, but want to squeeze the best possible picture out of their current collection.

Why we picked the Sony BDP-S6700

If you don’t know whether you’ll ever make the leap into Ultra HD Blu-ray, but you want to view your current collection at the highest possible quality, there’s no better option on the market than Sony’s BDP-S6700. A standard Blu-ray player that also upscales 1080p Blu-ray content to 4K for the latest generation of TVs, the player takes your now-aging collection and makes it look prettier than ever on your new screen.

It’s also a powerful audio platform, with support for 24-bit hi-res audio formats, and Bluetooth streaming to wireless speakers or headphones using Sony’s LDAC audio codec.

In addition to awesome disc playback, a powerful Wi-Fi chip and Ethernet port enable fast 4K streaming. Finally, Sony’s TV SideView app lets you control your screen from your smartphone, as well as share your entire smartphone screen with your TV (for Miracast-enabled phones), which is great for showing friends and family pictures and video.

Why we love it:

  • Upscaling capability for great resolution on old and new discs
  • Wi-Fi enabled to access streaming services
  • Simple on-screen setup to get the player online easily

Something to consider: This Blu-Ray player sacrifices some build quality to deliver superb image and audio quality. It feels plasticky and a bit too lightweight, which may give a bad first impression.

Panasonic DP-UB420 Blu-ray player

Best UHD Image Quality

Why you should buy this: Outstanding image quality, support for high-res audio files, and 4K VOD streaming.

Who it’s for: People who want to enhance their UHD viewing experience with excellent audio quality.

Why we picked the Panasonic DP-UB420:

When it comes to image quality, the Panasonic DP-UB420 holds no punches. It doesn’t compromise on image detail or wide color handling. It also performs exceedingly well in displaying in-shadow detail. The 4K high-precision Chroma Processor displays stunning color, details, natural textures, and depth. Even when paired with a high-grade system, this Blu-Ray player performs as if it belongs.

You will find this player to be welcoming to the standard Blu-Ray discs you own as they’d still look gorgeous when played with it.  In terms of audio quality, its support for high-res audio files is a big plus. It’s immersive and it has no trouble with the superior Dolby Atmos format.

This player also features full compatibility with Amazon Alexa, giving it a considerable advantage in terms of convenience. The included support for 4K VOD streaming for Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube, coupled with the 4K Direct Chroma upscaling, further boosts this player’s overall value.

Why we love it:

  • 4K Direct Chroma upscaling
  • Wide playback compatibility
  • Features an HDR optimizer

Something to consider: This Blu-Ray player lies on the louder side in terms of operating noise. Certainly, you won’t notice the noise over the surround sound at typical volumes but it’ll tend to go louder with age.

How we test

We begin each model year by bringing in the top-tier televisions from each of the major brands, including Samsung, Sony, LG, and Panasonic. These premium televisions help set the highest standard for the year, managing expectations for each model below them, and providing context among the competitors.

We typically test any media player with a number of these high-end TVs, checking compatibility and performance over a series of weeks or even months in our A/V testing room.

When possible, we’ll place two competing models side by side to analyze picture quality differences, providing real-world context to the specifications provided by each manufacturer.

We make a concerted effort to test every aspect of a given player, making sure to provide the most thorough feedback possible to our readers. After all, you’ll be living with your new player for years to come, and we only want to recommend devices that we ourselves enjoy.

Give your old collection of DVDs and CDs new life, and continue to enjoy the picture and sound quality that Blu-ray discs offer. Paired with almost any TV, these Blu-ray players offer long hours of movie watching and music playing enjoyment.

About the author

Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a recovering audio engineer and musician. Hailing originally from Montana, Ryan studied music composition at the University of Montana, audio engineering at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Arizona, and did a stint in Nashville before transitioning to A/V and Entertainment coverage. When he’s not on the road for the latest speaker, TV, or headphone event, he makes his home in Portland, OR.

Why you should trust us:

The Digital Trends team prides itself in offering expert product recommendations in ways that everyone can understand. Our team of experts are constantly using and reviewing the latest and greatest consumer tech, smart home gadgets, televisions, and so much more to offer insights to help guide your purchasing decision. We have vigorously tested thousands of different products across these categories, and we’ve distilled our lists to bring you the best of the best. If we feel a product does not live up to our expectations, it doesn’t make the list. We are humans though, and realize that not every recommended product will be perfect for everyone, so we do our best to call out important features that may impact your choices. Below our top picks we’ve included additional product information to ensure that you are making the right choice for your unique needs.

The products in this guide have been carefully curated by our team of experts and enthusiasts who understand the value and quality needed for the best options.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…