The 7 Best Blu Ray Players
Updated by · How we research
Seven 4K and HD Blu-ray players compared on HDR support, audio outputs and disc formats; the Panasonic DP-UB820 handles both Dolby Vision and HDR10+. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A 4K Blu-ray disc carries several times as much picture data as a 4K stream, plus lossless surround sound that streaming services usually compress. That gap keeps disc players worth buying for movie collectors and home theater owners. The trap is HDR: a player should support the format your TV uses, Dolby Vision or HDR10+, or you lose the best picture.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Panasonic DP-UB820 now leads, and the reason is HDR: it plays both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ and switches between them on its own, so it suits almost any 4K TV or projector. The bigger story is how small this market has become. LG left the disc player business, so the LG UBK90 is gone, and the Sony UBP-X800M2 is no longer available.
The Panasonic DP-UB450 replaces the discontinued Panasonic DP-UB420, and the Panasonic DMP-BD84 takes over from the old Sony BDP-S3700 for HD TVs. The Sony UBP-X700, Sony UBP-X1100ES and Microsoft Xbox Series X stay. The Panasonic DP-UB9000 joins for people who run analog audio gear.
The deciding evidence was each player's list of HDR formats, since a mismatch with the TV costs the most picture quality, along with spec-based buying guides, a UK magazine review of the Magnetar player and owner reports about Sony's manual Dolby Vision switch. Only seven players made it because the rest of what's sold now is refurbished, modified or unbranded.
January 06, 2021:
While 4K Blu-rays are still pretty popular, there aren't as many options available for playing them. We've removed some from Oppo, Sanyo, and Samsung, because as their availability drops, they start to cost far more than they're worth.
The remaining models, however, do a better job than almost all older options. The Sony UBP-X700, for example, does an even better job of handling color and dynamic contrast than its more expensive relative the Sony UBP-X800M2, and if you want the best of both worlds and can afford the investment, the Sony UBP-X1100ES should perform at least as well as both other Sony models.
December 13, 2019:
Physical disc media is far from dead; in fact, if you want a true 4K cinematic experience, for a lot of films, a 4K Blu-ray is the only way to go. If you actually aren't interested in Ultra HD playback, check out the LG BP175, which is relatively affordable and backwards compatible with DVDs and CDs, to help take advantage of your entire collection. Alternately, the Sanyo 8MYS is one of the least expensive with UHD support, although it doesn't have particularly high-end audio processing. The Samsung UBD-M8500 improves not only upon the audio side of things but also in connectivity; its integrated wireless modem makes it easy to access streaming services. The Sony UBP-X800M2 also has built-in Wi-Fi, and though it is a bit more costly, it's also more refined. Rounding out our mid-range selections is the LG UBK90, which comes from one the most respected panel and hardware manufacturers on the planet, but like others in its price range, lacks audiophile-level sound.
Clear on the other side of the spectrum, there are a handful of high-end options that you should consider if you're intent on setting up a world-class home theater system. The Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 is all that most people need, which it had better be, given its high price tag. If you're absolutely serious about audio quality, the Cambridge Audio CXUHD and Oppo UDP-203 are worth a look, as they're packed with costly and powerful components, but they will both set you back quite a pretty penny.
Then there are two devices located right in between those two main groups on the price spectrum. The Xbox One X can provide an incredibly wide-ranging entertainment experience including some of the most fun console games on the market. If you're not interested in joining the Microsoft Xbox ecosystem, the Panasonic UB820 is one of the best 4K Blu-ray players that doesn't cost a fortune. Its output looks and sounds nearly as good as those of the more expensive units but you won't have instant buyer's remorse over the cost.
Special Honors
Magnetar Audio Magnetar is a boutique maker of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players, including the UDP800 MKII and UDP900 MKII, aimed at collectors who also play Super Audio CDs and DVD-Audio discs. Home Cinema Choice gave the original UDP800 its top score. Its players are sold through dealers rather than big retailers, they have no streaming apps, and European units play only region B Blu-rays. magnetar-audio.com
Match The Player To Your TV's HDR
If your TV is 1080p, a 4K player still works and turns the picture down to fit, but you gain little.
HDR, or high dynamic range, is what makes 4K discs look brighter and richer than regular Blu-ray. There are two premium versions, and they don't mix. Dolby Vision is used by LG, Sony, TCL and Hisense TVs. HDR10+ is backed by Samsung and Panasonic. Every 4K player also does basic HDR10, so a mismatch still works, just with a flatter picture (TheaterCalc).
Panasonic's current 4K players handle both premium formats. Sony's skip HDR10+, and on Sony players Dolby Vision has to be turned on by hand in the settings, while Panasonic switches automatically (PlayerFab, a software maker's blog). Some cheaper Panasonic models do HDR10+ but not Dolby Vision, so read the format list before you buy.
If your TV is 1080p, a 4K player still works and turns the picture down to fit, but you gain little. A plain Blu-ray player is enough, and it costs far less. Projector owners should look for HDR tone mapping, which keeps bright scenes from clipping on screens that can't get very bright.
4K Discs, Regular Blu-ray And Region Codes
A 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc needs a 4K Ultra HD player. Those players also play regular Blu-ray, DVDs and CDs, so one box covers an old collection. The reason to bother is quality: a review in Home Cinema Choice notes that 4K discs carry video at 60 to 80 megabits per second, against roughly 10 to 26 for 4K streaming, and they hold lossless surround sound.
Regular Blu-ray discs are locked to a region: A for the Americas and East Asia, B for Europe, Africa and Australia, and C for the rest of Asia. DVDs use regions 1 through 6. Most 4K discs are region-free. A U.S. player won't play region B Blu-rays, and players modified by third parties to play every region usually lose the maker's warranty. Bypassing copy protection to rip discs is restricted under U.S. law.
The choice of makers has shrunk. SlashGear reports that LG left the player business, and most cheap players sold now are unbranded or refurbished. There's no 8K disc format: 4K Ultra HD is the top, and an "8K" player only upscales.
Setting Up For The Best Picture And Sound
Use a certified high-speed HDMI cable for 4K HDR, and turn on your TV's enhanced HDMI mode for that input, or HDR may never switch on (TheaterCalc). Set the player's audio output to bitstream so your receiver or soundbar decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X itself.
Players with two HDMI outputs help when your receiver is older and can't pass 4K. Run one cable straight to the TV for the picture and the second to the receiver for sound.
Keep the player updated over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB, because firmware updates fix playback on new discs. The streaming apps built into disc players tend to be slow, so a separate streaming stick is usually the better way to watch Netflix or YouTube. Give the player room to breathe, and don't stack a hot receiver on top of it.
How we researched this
We compared 14 Blu-ray players and consoles, including every model on the old list, and screened seven in depth. We read each maker's published HDR, disc and connection specs, two spec-based buying guides, a Home Cinema Choice review of the Magnetar UDP800, a report on LG's exit from the player business and patterns in owner feedback, and we checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Blu-ray player still worth buying?
Yes, if you own discs or want the best picture and sound at home. A 4K disc carries several times as much video data as a 4K stream and keeps lossless audio. If you only stream, a player adds little.
Will a 4K Ultra HD disc play in a regular Blu-ray player?
No. A 4K Ultra HD disc needs a 4K Ultra HD player. Those players also play regular Blu-ray discs, DVDs and CDs, so they replace an older player outright.
Is there an 8K Blu-ray player?
No. There is no 8K disc format. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is the highest resolution on disc, and players or DVD players sold as 8K only upscale the picture.
Do I need Dolby Vision or HDR10+?
Get the one your TV supports. LG, Sony, TCL and Hisense TVs use Dolby Vision, and Samsung TVs use HDR10+. Panasonic's 4K players with both formats are the safe choice if you might change TVs.
Are Blu-ray players region locked?
Regular Blu-ray discs are coded for region A, B or C, and U.S. players play region A. DVDs use regions 1 through 6. Most 4K Ultra HD discs are region-free.
