While most believe that the heyday of physical media is dead , it ’s still alert and thriving , and if you want the best characterisation and level-headed performance at home , buying the best 4 K Blu - ray player will put up you that .
As while cyclosis is convenient , it does n’t offer the full performance . picture and audio stream are compressed , and for many streaming help , you ’ll need to pay extra to get 4 K HDR support . With a strong-arm magnetic disc , you own it and no one can take it away from you .
When it comes to prove 4 K Blu - ray musician , we assess a number of thing to see their tone . We wait at their build tone , how well-fixed they are to operate and the features they back up . We also ensure that what does appear on silver screen is a close expression of what the film or TV serial should look like , and that the 4 cat valium player does n’t add anything that take away from the image .
4 K Blu - ray players are a neat origin for 4 K content , but to get the best out of them , take a look at ourbest TVor check out ourbest projectorpage . Also have a look out ourbest surround audio speakerset - ups for immersive speech sound
Best 4K Blu-ray player at a glance
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How we test Blu-ray players
We learn a flock of 4 green Blu - rays , obviously . But before we get to the viewings , there ’s the matter of stop up things in , and we spend fourth dimension see to it out whether a 4 K Blu - ray player has the bare - bones undivided HDMI , or matching HDMI to classify out audio and vision , plus multi - channel analogue audio recording output . All that stuff matters if you ’re going to position up a home movie house .
When we do get to the saucer , we wish how quickly the disk tray loads , and whether it rattles . We care about payload time , how rapidly you go from saucer interpolation to get to the main menu . While thing load , we ’ll also take the clip to scour the spec sheet to go over for data format compatibility .
Then it ’s time to watch 4 KB Blu - rays , and we pay attention to the photo and sound quality . No , they ’re not the same . The discs all put out the same selective information but every 4 K Blu - beam histrion march them differently . We look out for the unspoilt equilibrium of detail , subtlety , vibrancy and realism . If there are promises such as Dolby Atmos , we bear exceptional care to the preciseness of effects placement .
After all this , we sweat the modest stuff . Is the remote easy to utilise , particularly in dark rooms ? Is the system port easy to navigate?rnFinally , every element is judged against the monetary value . If a machine represents good value in general , we ’ll be a picayune more soft on a unfit remote control . Pricier machines , however , had well be arresting .
Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player
Pros
Cons
Magnetar UDP900
Magnetar UDP800
Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player
Sony UBP-X700
Panasonic DP-UB450
Panasonic DP-UB150
Trusted Score
TheDP - UB9000flagship 4 K Blu - ray player is Panasonic ’s most ambitious player , and for AV enthusiasts , investing in this 4 kB role player is a no - brainer .
The displaced person - UB9000 deliver an excellent UHD telecasting operation courtesy of its image processing tech , and HDR reenforcement that cover HDR10,HDR10+andDolby Visionformats . The images it grow feature astounding item and sovereign smoothness thanks to its second generation HCX , and we found the actor perform a open line of upscaling HD Blu - ray discs too .
Our reviewer tested the instrumentalist with a mid - range TV and find the final result convincing , so pairing with apremium TVshould elicit even good performance from the Panasonic musician .
This Pana thespian also boast a level of construction that exceed its Mary Leontyne Price ; disc - loading speeds are decent while loading is placid and quiet . Connectivity covers dualHDMIoutputs ( one sound only ) , two USBs ( one is the faster v3.0 ) , and optical and coaxial digital audio output , as well as a full 7.1 analogue communication channel output . There ’s also balanced Neutrik XLR stereo connectors and Ethernet on hand to indorse the internal Wi - Fi .
When it issue forth to audio it vocalise dependable – not quite audiophile in quality as theMagnetar UDP900 , but it imprint nonetheless . If you ’re wait for DVD - Audio and SACD supporting , you should consider theMagnetar UDP800 .
Reviewer : Steve MayFull Review : Panasonic DP - UB9000
There are n’t many new 4 K Blu - shaft of light players these days but a late burst from Reavon and Magnetar has add up unexampled simulation . TheUDP900from Magnetar is expensive , but we find oneself it to be an exceptional role player too .
It is built like a armored combat vehicle but also sports an elegant design . It ’s a player to make space for and you ’ll sure enough need to a solid surface to set it on as it weigh 15.5 kg . On the rear are double HDMI outputs , as well multi - channel analogue outputs for those who require to connect a sound system to the musician . The distant control is backlit so it can be used in the dark .
It ’s a oecumenical magnetic disk spinner , so whatever physical media you have it can play it , and withHDR10+andDolby Visionplayback , it support all the HDR formats too . Strangely , there ’s no wireless connectivity , but it seems Magentar wants to keep the focal point on physical media rather than streaming . We ’re not going to complain about that .
Its very dewy-eyed to set - up and engage , and playback is incredibly quiet during performance . We could scarcely hear the disc spinning .
The actual video performance offers impressive upscaling to 4 KB , bringing out the safe in Blu - rays . Our commentator matte up he was determine a scene equivalent to HDR thanks to the MediaTek chipset ’s processing . The look of 4 yard discs will bet onyour TV of selection , but we find the performance to be superb .
Its audio functioning is also very impressive , delivering a uncontaminating , detailed legal transfer with precise stereo image with analogue music . This is a high - destruction 4 K role player at a huge cost , but it ’s deserving it in our impression . For a less expensive but still premium 4 K player , have a smell at Magnetar ’s ownUDP800 .
Reviewer : Steve WithersFull Review : Magnetar UDP900
For habitation cinema enthusiast theMagnetar UDP800is one of the best participant available , and it ’ll be able to care all your strong-arm metier too .
You could go for the even more expensiveUDP900 , but the only advantage is that you ’ll get analog 7.1 audio support . Otherwise the UBP800 will do fine .
It ’s an graceful and well built player , weighing half as much as the UDP800 at 8 kg . The remote mastery is backlit , helpful if you ’re view in a sour room , although we ’re not tender of the button size which makes it tricky to apply .
As it ’s a ecumenical saucer spinner it can play any disc you have , whether that ’s CD , DVD , DVD - Audio , SACD , Blu - ray , 3D Blu - ray , and UHD Blu - ray . In terms of HDR it supports HDR10,HDR10+andDolby Visionplayback . With audio tracks it is compatible with DSD64/128 , multichannel DSD64 , and 192kHz/24 - minute PCM formats , and also supports medium formats such as MKV , AVI , MP4 , WAV , FLAC , and APE .
reboot up and cargo times were very ready , and we found the Magnetar a simple and leisurely instrumentalist to go . Picture tone calculate on your TV ’s capabilities , but we bump the UDP800 relays incisively what ’s on the record with first-class faithfulness . Conversion of Blu - ray and DVD discs is practically unflawed , and while there are controls for neuter the performance , we ’d advise against them .
In term of sound , it ’s an excellent performer too . It cover all the various discs our reviewer threw at it with no issues . The analog audio performance is olympian , offer clean , elaborate delivery with exact stereoscopic picture imagination .
Reviewer : Steve WithersFull Review : Magnetar UDP800
If you own a TV that support eitherDolby Vision , HDR10+or both , but do n’t have the budget for a mellow - end player , then a 4 green player below £ 500 / $ 500 such as thePanasonic DP - UB820warrants closer investigation over its less expensiveDP - UB450sibling .
It has the same second generation HCR processor that’sincluded in the flagship mannequin , which helps to produce a brilliant performance with UHD discs , as well as making standard Blu - ray discs look beautifully crisp . semblance are more exact and elaborate than they are on rival disc spinner , and with Panasonic ’s Optimiser feature , luminosity and contrast can be boosted without washing out the image . Our referee found that feature made viewing HDR cognitive content in a bright elbow room more comforting to view .
pictorial matter quality is complemented by a enough selection of streaming apps , though the user interface is not the good . It ’s also a classy frontman for aDolby Atmoshome movie house . When playing cadmium we found it was deserving experiment with the Digital Tube up - sampler . It feature a number of filter that mime the warmth of tube elaboration and it made our commentator ’s CD aggregation strait more homely .
Build quality is o.k. , and more in - keeping with Panasonic ’s entry - level players , missing out on the premium metallic element cease the flagship UB9000 sport . We found the player looked presentable enough for the asking cost . A remote is provided but if gets lost in the lounge then there are manual buttons for power and magnetic disc lading on the player itself .
referee : Steve MayFull Review : Panasonic DP - UB820
Despite its less expensive build quality , theUBP - X700retains many of the features in the discontinuedUBP - X800but actually include support forDolby Vision HDRthis meter . We trust it ’s a great selection for anyone who wants an Ultra HD Blu - ray histrion that can deliver splendid video recording and sound recording .
We found impression operation to be terrific . UHD discs were flawlessly procreate in minute detail , with the wider colour gamut andhigh dynamical range(HDR ) of 4 atomic number 19 discs all perfectly rendered by the Sony . Images are sharp and elaborated with natural looking colours and no apparent artefact . Our reviewer found the spinner even perform brilliantly with SDR message , getting the upper limit out of every picture element .
The UBP - X700 is a digital rapture ( no analog turnout ) , which mean there is noDAC inside , just a digital signal being delivered either viaHDMIor the coaxial digital yield . Choose HDMI and there ’s the welfare of lossless audio and immersiveDolby AtmosandDTS : Xsoundtracks . While the X700 is not the audiophile ’s pick , we found it was more than equal to of delivering a quality experience whether with CDs , SACDs or streaming .
The drawback at this price compare to more premium players is that the X700 ’s mental synthesis feel fragile compare to theUBP - X800M2 . It ’s a largely plastic player , but this is unlikely to be a concern if you ’re not put the player out in the open .
Reviewer : Steve WithersFull refresh : Sony UBP - X700
TheDP - UB450is the trashy player that featuresHDR10+andDolby Vision , making it a consumer - friendly musician for anyone on the hunt for an affordable 4 K Blu - ray player .
Our reviewer did n’t find the anatomy quality to be great . It ’s light , and the metal form palpate thin , and it looks rather anonymous . Like theUB820 , there are a pair of mightiness and disc loading clit if the remote gets lose .
Connectivity is not as panoptic as the spinner above , with just duplicate HDMI connections for freestanding video recording and audio signal , Ethernet LAN and a coaxial digital yield . There ’s no array of 7.1 - canal analogue line - outs for home cinema speaker set - ups , nor are there any streaming apps in the UB450 ’s sparse menu port .
The drop in monetary value have in mind that the UB820 ’s HCX Processor is no longer among the features , but our reader still found picture timber to be proficient for the money , although it lacks the sharpness and precision of the step - up Panasonic player . Its HDR10 performance is n’t quite as good as theSony UBP - X700 , but its implementation of Dolby Vision is much more friendly .
Our reviewer felt that audio was well answer , delivered in a crisp and clean manner , handlingDolby Atmossoundtracks without event . And with audio files , the UB450 does well enough , deliver good level of clarity and detail .
referee : John ArcherFull Review : Panasonic DP - UB450
Like the rest of Panasonic ’s affordable 4 thousand spinners , we ground theUB150‘s build quality to be hunky-dory . It ’s a tidy , compact and anon. looking unit of measurement that ’s acceptable for the price but is distinctly useful in coming into court . The disc campaign can be noisy during playback and the remote is a small and chunky matter that wo n’t favour those with big hands .
It ’s not packed with connectivity pick with only oneHDMIport on its rearward and ethernet LAN in place of any Wi - Fi support . Like theUB450 , there are no stream apps let in but 3D andHi - Res audioare supported .
There ’s noDolby Visionbut there isHDR10 + , so to get the most from this player , consider pairing it with a Samsung , Panasonic or Philips TV that supports HDR10 + . Watching Alita : Battle Angel on a Samsung QLED , our reader found the UB150 spin rich , saturated and vibrant colours for a cinematic face , though like the UB450 it ’s is n’t the most refined or subtle of pictures compared to more expensive effort . Upscaling is good with a decent semblance performance .
TheDolby Atmosperformance sounds big , though it is not as nuanced as the rivalSony X700 . CD playback is all right too , showcasing good measure of detail and clarity .
Reviewer : Kob MonneyFull Review : Panasonic DP - UB150
Yes they can trifle older disk formats .
presently we study the Panasonic DP - UB9000 as the good 4 special K player with its HDR financial backing and picture lineament .
Yes , 4 K Blu - ray musician support multi - realm for 4 K discs , but for standard Blu - beam they restrict to the region in which they were bought .
Test Data
Full Specs
