The 4K UHD Blu-ray player market hasn’t exactly been flourishing as of late. Key players like Samsung, LG, and Oppo have exited the market entirely, and Sony has just discontinued its last standalone player as of last month.
That being said, there are still some excellent 4K UHD options out there to choose from, even if the total number of contemporary players is now on the smaller side. From high-end reference-grade hardware to relatively affordable disc players, there’s still something out there for everyone.
Here are my personal picks for some of the very best consumer-grade 4K UHD Blu-ray players currently on sale (or soon to be on sale). Some of these are well-known in the physical media space, while others are more niche on the whole.
Panasonic DP-UB820
A tried-and-true classic
The Panasonic DP-UB820 is arguably the most well-known and critically acclaimed 4K UHD player on this list. It features comprehensive support for formats, with reference-grade video processing to boot. Powered by Panasonic’s Hollywood Cinema Experience (HCX) processor, the DP-UB820 features Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 7.1-channel analog audio outputs, and more. It makes easy work of just about any 4K UHD disc you throw at it, always playing back content in a reliable fashion.
Sony UBP-X700
A budget-friendly pick
The UBP-X700 is a well-known 4K UHD Blu-ray player from Sony that has recently been discontinued. That being said, you can still find units for sale across certain retailers, though this is unlikely to remain the case for much longer. The UBP-X700 is full-featured for the price, with Dolby Vision, HDR10, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and SACD playback compatibility. It also features dual HDMI outputs, an Ethernet port, coaxial digital audio, and built-in Wi-Fi.
Magnetar UDP800 MKII
A heavy-duty workhorse
Magnetar has made a name for itself with its high-end and reference-grade 4K UHD equipment. The UDP800 MKII is a heavy-duty workhorse of a player, though it’s also a rather expensive one. Notably, the player features a metal body with a double-layer chassis structure, with isolated internal compartments designed to cut down on magnetic interference and vibrations. Aside from 4K UHD playback, the UDP800 MKII can also accept Blu-ray 3D discs and SACD. It features dual HDMI ports, balanced XLR and RCA analog stereo outputs, and much, much more.
Krovatar KBU-500
The new kid on the block
The newest 4K UHD player on this list, the KBU-500 is a high-end model from Krovatar that features plenty of bells and whistles. Pricing has yet to be confirmed for the model, but a release is expected sometime in December. Aside from featuring an aluminum-alloy chassis, there’s also an OLED front-panel display here, which has higher contrast than most competing solutions on the market. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are both on deck, as is Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. DVD-Audio compatibility is also present here, and you’ll also find optical/coaxial digital audio outputs.
Panasonic DP-UB9000
A higher-end DP-UB820
If you’re a fan of the Panasonic DP-UB820 but would prefer a 4K UHD player with a bit more pep in its step, look no further than the DP-UB9000 from the same company. The DP-UB9000 is reference-class, with a heavy-duty build quality comprising a 2-layer chassis, steel plates, and aluminum front and side panels. It features the same HCX processor as the DP-UB820, as well as the same HDR Optimizer and surround sound decoding via HDMI. There’s also 4K High-Precision Chroma Processing on board, as well as high resolution audio playback support, dual HDMI outputs, balanced XLR stereo outputs, and 7.1-channel analog audio outputs.
