Whilestreaming serviceslike Netflix and Disney+ represent quick and convenient ways to indulge in your preferred film , a 4 K Blu - ray player is still one of the proficient direction to watch out movies . A 4 K Blu - ray disk is able to take for up to around 100 GB of datum and does n’t bank on an internet connection for playback . It truly is a male plug - and - play component , and some players even come withan HDMI cable television service !
Most 4KBlu - ray of light playersare optimise to execute the late HDR and surround codecs , include format likeDolby VisionandDolby Atmos . Some models can even decode hi - res music formats . Of course , you may be wondering what ship’s company makes the best 4 K player , which is why we ’ve put together this roundup to highlight all the best 4 super C Blu - ray players you could purchase properly now .
Best overall 4K Blu-ray player
Panasonic DP-UB420
Panasonic has a long and healthy track disk of create some of the all right mid- to high - tier Blu - light beam thespian , and the UB420 is the latest in its card of connoisseur - flair hardware . The UB420 comes lade with the recent prime video recording codecs , include HDR10 + , HDR10 , and HLG formatting . Colors and overall reverberance are adopt a stride further by Panasonic ’s Hollywood Cinema C.P.U. , which deliver a intensity - enrich 4 K image .
For those who are looking to chuck the distant control , Panasonic has set about you hatch . ThePanasonic UB420is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant . Just link the role player to Wi - Fi and you ’ll be able to work / break , stop , rewind / tight fore , and view media menus using nothing more than your voice .
Best budget 4K Blu-ray player
Sony UBP-X700M
It ’s surd to find a 4 K Blu - ray player for less than $ 200 , but if you ’re trying to make as frugal of a musician purchase as potential , we advocate the Sony UBP - X700M. This example covers all the basics , including Dolby Vision and HDR10 accompaniment , and can decode auditory sensation formats all the means up to Dolby Atmos and DTS : X. You ’ll also be able-bodied to take on everything from 4 K and traditional Blu - ray disc to DVDs and CDs .
Should you determine to use the X700 M for streaming , you ’ll be able to access pop apps like Netflix , Hulu , and Amazon Prime Video once the role player is relate to Wi - Fi ( or hardwired to your router via Ethernet ) . Do keep in brain that while you ’ll be able to stream 4 K content through the Netflix and Prime Video apps , the only app to boast HDR support is YouTube .
The X700 M even include a front - face up USB port if you want to tie in a split second drive with pic , videos , or music on it . While more advanced 4 K player are more adept at decoding hi - res audio frequency ( the X700 M does n’t indorse any lossless formats ) , if you ’re look to get a great 4 K Blu - ray player for less , this is the model you should corrupt .
Best for audio enthusiasts
Sony UBP-X800M2
There was alot to like about the original Sony UBP - X800 , but most notable was its role of both Dolby Atmos and DTS :X alongside Sony ’s first-class Digital Sound Enhancement Engine ( DSEE HX ) , which allowed it to offer cinema - level sound in your plate . combine , these trait offer odd sound recording .
The only job was the want of Dolby Vision support , but Sony discipline that mistake for the newer UBP - X800M2 , make it a high - octane choice that needs to be in any serious nursing home theater setup . You ’ll make up handsomely for the elevate fidelity , but it ’s worth the peace of judgment knowing your UHD Blu - ray accumulation will always look and sound its best .
With the aforementioned DSEE HX support , theSony UBP - X800M2is the best option for those who like to pipe a destiny of music through their plate field of operations system . The Blu - shaft participant neatly unpacks compressed audio formats like MP3 and FLAC , among others , todeliver hi - fi soundthat ’s far more nonfigurative than others are capable of . It almost make us forget that Oppo ’s UDP-203 ever existed . Almost .
Most fun 4K Blu-ray player
Microsoft Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X is the quintessential all - in - one corner that can take over a aliveness way . you could roleplay video games at resolve up to 4 K with HDR10 for lifelike gloss , and then take hold of some popcorn to wind up down and view your favorite movies in arresting detail .
You might think that a play console would skimp on connexion , but the Series X features three USB 3.0 ports , 5GHz Badger State - fi , an Ethernet port , S / PDIF ports , and a unmarried HDMI 2.1 embrasure .
Unlike most other Blu - ray players , the Xbox Series X never stops evolving . It has short ton of streaming apps in the Xbox Store , all regularly updated with the latest user experience and features . Netflix offers Dolby Vision documentation , for illustration , which not even the Blu - ray phonograph recording instrumentalist inside can yet claim . organization updates also number in more regularly than traditional Blu - ray actor , often with sweeping alteration that only sum to the experience such as when Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos eventually showed up ( albeit in limited form ) .
While we consider it depraved not to pair your beautiful 4 green TV with a console that take full advantage of it , you may also desire tocheck out the PS5 . A competitor to the Xbox Series X , the PS5 sport a build - in 4 super C Blu - ray drive , along with telling hardware spec , speedy execution , and gorgeous next - gen graphics .
Best premium 4K Blu-ray player
Panasonic DP-UB820
Similar to the Panasonic DP - UB420 Blu - ray participant on our leaning , but takes it to the next horizontal surface with support for Dolby Vision and , of course , HDR10 + , HDR10 , and HLG as well . It ’s a step down from Panasonic ’s flagship $ 980 stateless person - UB9000 , but has the same digital processing features , meaning the color and contrast are stunning , especially on Dolby Vision Blu - ray disc . Panasonic ’s HCX ( Hollywood Cinema Experience ) processing is here , too , which can take the 4:2:0 colouration from your Blu - rays and reproduce in unbelievable 4:4:4 colour content , which , again , equals an amazing picture .
The DP - UB820 also supports high - res audio frequency with a digital - to - analog converter ( DAC ) that delivers up to 32 - bit/192kHz audio for bang-up sound recording , and it even support a bunch of audio formats for listening to music , such as WAV , FLAC , MP3 , AAC , WMA , and AIFF . Your streaming Service like Netflix , Amazon Prime , and Hulu , can be accessed through the UB820 , and it even works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice command .
Also consider
Panasonic DP-UB150
Budget - pricing does n’t needfully have to translate to a product ’s suite of features . This is especially true in the case of the Panasonic DP - UB150 , a unnerving actor with the savvy shopper in mind . the right way off the bat , the UB150 is capable of decoding three leading HDR codecs — HDR10 , HDR10 + , and HLG — ensuring that most of your HDR viewing will be top - nick . to boot , Panasonic ’s 4 K Chroma processing and HDR Optimizer are onboard to take picture tone to the next point . We also know how well the player handles 4 chiliad upscaling .
The UB150 is a seemly role player for audio playback , too , thanks in part to Panasonic ’s High - Res Audio Playback , designed to down you flavour - pat in the middle of all your best-loved songs and movie soundtrack . While there ’s no Dolby Vision support and a lack of streaming apps for those concern with web subject , thePanasonic DP - UB150gets you more than just the bare necessary , function more like a mid - tier 4 K player than a low - price budget pick .
Frequently Asked Questions
As you may guess , not all 4 K Blu - ray musician are created equal , so it ’s authoritative to know what features and specifications are significant to you when shopping . We commend keeping an oculus out for the pursual :
Video and audio quality
4 K Blu - ray participant are incredible at delivering the sort of word picture and voice the movie maker who made your pet movie would want you to hear and see ( in most cases ) . Still , if you ’re looking to use the player for Dolby Vision , Dolby Atmos , or hi - reticuloendothelial system audio , you ’ll want to be extra aware when it comes to format livelihood . Even some of the best 4 K Blu - beam of light players do n’t support every individual exclusive modern AV codec .
HDR10 should be your spare minimum for HDR livelihood , and the player you buy should at least be able-bodied to deal both Dolby and DTS traditional surroundings formats . If FLAC is important to you , you ’ll want to take out up the player spectacles to check that this data formatting ( and others ) are cover by the player you want to buy .
Connectivity
When it come in to wiring up your 4 K Blu - ray player to your television or Ab system , it ’s substantive to live what kinds of ports you ’re divvy up with . Ideally , you ’ll grab a 4 K player with at least one HDMI 2.1 connectedness for the rank best film and sound . HDMI 2.0 might be okay for some setup , though , especially if you ’re running older HD or UHD hardware .
If you have advanced audio needs that require freestanding audio outputs , you ’ll want to ensure the player you ’re interested in has whatever digital or analog ports you ’re look for . Some innovative models even carry a second HDMI port for splitting your audio and telecasting link . And if you plan on hooking up a USB heartbeat driveway to regard pic or spiel movies or music , you ’ll want to sustain the 4 super acid player has a USB port wine , too .
Streaming capacity
While most modern TVs , secret plan consoles , and consecrate cyclosis gimmick give you entree to apps like Netflix , Disney+ , and YouTube ( and we ’re uncoerced to wager you own one or two of these constituent already ) , Blu - beam musician are another class of hardware with web - connected capability .
If you ’d like to use your 4 K participant for cyclosis , you ’ll need to make trusted the player you ’re looking to buy funding the apps you need to apply . You ’ll also want to keep this in mind : not all work up - in Blu - beam player apps hold 4 G and HDR streaming . Lastly , if you ’re plan on hardwiring the player to your router for firm cyberspace , you ’ll need to make certain the player actually has an Ethernet port .
We here at Digital Trends have year of AV expertise under our belt ammunition . While we have n’t formally tested most of the 4 K Blu - ray players on our list , our expert have put 100 of TVs , soundbars , cyclosis equipment , and other Ab peripheral through tight evaluations . And many of these machine share the same essence features and specification that you ’ll want to look for in a 4 K Blu - ray player .
We did test the Xbox Series X , though , which is a great 4 KiB Blu - irradiation player option that also doubles as a cutting - edge biz cabinet !
