August 2022
Blu-ray Players: Meta Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Blu-ray Player rankings posted by key online experts, as of August 2022.
Summary
As of 8 Aug 2022, Sony UBP-X800M2 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed blu-ray player with 7 expert endorsements. 1 experts out of 7 recommended it as the '#1 blu-ray player' this month. It is followed by Panasonic DP-UB820-K and Sony UBP-X700 , with 6 and 6 expert endorsements respectively.
At a glance - August 2022 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Blu-ray Player |
IndieWire
|
AnxietyTech
|
Digital Trends
|
Wirecutter
|
Crutchfield
|
CNET
|
The Master Switch
|
The Techlounge
|
Fix the Photo
|
What Hi-Fi
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $328 |
Sony UBP-X800M2
|
4
|
8
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
|
2
|
- | $420 |
Panasonic DP-UB820-K
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
12
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
|
3
|
- | $198 |
Sony UBP-X700
|
-
|
6
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
6
|
-
|
7
|
2
|
|
4
|
- | $1000 |
Panasonic DP-UB9000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
1
|
6
|
|
5
|
- | $78 |
Sony BDP-S3700
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | $359 |
LG UBKM9
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $297 |
LG UBK90
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $499 |
XBox Series X
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
- | Check price |
Panasonic DP-UB420
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
10
|
- | $98 |
Sony BDP-S6700
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
5
|
8
|
-
|
|
11
|
- | Check price |
PlayStation 5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
8
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
|
12
|
- | $160 |
LG UBK80
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
- | $258 |
Sony UBP-X700M
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
- | $75 |
LG BP175
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Sony UBP-X800M2 #1 in August 2022 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony UBP-X800M2 as #1.
AnxietyTech
|
Pros
Dolby Vision
HDR10
Anti-vibration construction
4K upscaling
Dolby Atmos & DSEE HX audio output
Backwards disc compatibility
|
Cons
Some people find the Dolby Vision playback to overly bright
|
Digital Trends
The best Blu-ray player for music
|
Pros
Very strong format support
Great specs for music and audio
Simultaneous Bluetooth transmission
|
Cons
A bit more expensive than some picks
|
The Master Switch
Best of the Rest
|
Pros
Added support for Dolby Vision
|
Cons
Increased price doesn’t really match the feature set
|
The Techlounge
Amazing Video And Audio In One
|
Pros
Amazing picture quality
Support for 4K Netflix and Amazon
Great sound quality
|
Cons
There is no analog stereo output
|
Fix the Photo
Virtually Silent
|
Pros
Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
High video quality
Good sound quality
Supports rare formats
|
Cons
No Dolby Vision support
No analog audio output
|
What Hi-Fi
A great 4K Blu-ray player for the money,despite a couple of peculiar traits.
|
Pros
Crisp, detailed picture
Rhythmic, musical sound
Supports SACD and DVD-A
|
Cons
Lacks HDR10+
Odd Dolby Vision execution
Could be more vibrant
|
We ranked Panasonic DP-UB820-K #2 in August 2022 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Panasonic DP-UB820-K as #1.
AnxietyTech
This is our top pick when it comes to 4K Blu ray players
|
Pros
HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
Amazing visual and audio performance
Dual HDMI outputs
Fantastic build quality
|
Cons
Doesn’t have XLR outputs
|
The Master Switch
|
Pros
Incredible audio and picture
|
Cons
Highly technical
Streaming options don’t have 4K or HDR
|
The Techlounge
A Great Value For The Money
|
Pros
Super-clear image and audio
Excellent compatibility and support
Great value for the price
|
Cons
Streaming services lack 4K and HDR
Average build quality
Not that user-friendly
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Blu-ray Players.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Blu-ray Players, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for August 2022 ranking
IndieWire
AnxietyTech
Digital Trends
Wirecutter
Crutchfield
CNET
The Master Switch
The Techlounge
Fix the Photo
What Hi-Fi
We ranked Sony UBP-X700 #3 in August 2022 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Sony UBP-X700 as #1.
AnxietyTech
|
Pros
4K picture quality
Upscaling
Smart functionality allows for streaming services
Dual HDMI outputs
|
Cons
No support for HDR10+
|
Digital Trends
The best Blu-ray player overall
|
Pros
Affordable
Includes support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision
Compact
|
Cons
Those looking for all the high-end specs will need to look elsewhere
|
The Master Switch
Perfect for 4K Dolby Vision
|
Pros
HDR support
Great picture
|
Cons
Sound quality feels middling
|
Fix the Photo
Easy to use remote
|
Pros
HDR 10 and Dolby Vision support
Perfect sound rendering
Compact form-factor
Small size
|
Cons
Can’t be used for streaming
A limited number of features
|
What Hi-Fi
A brilliant 4K Blu-ray player,with an attractive price tag to boot.
|
Pros
Crisp, natural-looking picture
Excellent detail and colors
Dolby Vision support
|
Cons
Sound could be grander
No HDR10+ support
|
We ranked Panasonic DP-UB9000 #4 in August 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic DP-UB9000 as #1.
The Master Switch
|
Pros
Unbelievable picture quality
|
Cons
Can be tough to find in the US - you'll need to order from overseas
|
Fix the Photo
Our Choice
|
Pros
Four types of HDR support
Powerful display optimizer
New-generation processor
High-quality components
|
Cons
None
|
What Hi-Fi
A seriously capable 4K Blu-ray player for home cinema enthusiasts.
|
Pros
Crisp, insightful picture
Dynamic expressive sound
Good selection of features
|
Cons
Very little at this price
|
We ranked Sony BDP-S3700 #5 in August 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
AnxietyTech
With full HD playback capabilities,the multimedia player works with a 1080p video resolution.
|
Pros
Region free
HD 1080P
1080p upscaling
HDMI output
Ethernet connection
|
Cons
Setup can be confusing for some
|
The Master Switch
Best Blu-ray Player for Streaming
|
Pros
An intuitive
Accessible way to get digital streaming
|
Cons
You definitely miss out on some options
|
Fix the Photo
Compact design
|
Pros
Direct access to servers
Quick performance
Simple to navigate interface
High-quality sound
|
Cons
No video indexing
No RCA outputs
|
We ranked LG UBKM9 #6 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
The Techlounge
Solid Blu-Ray For The Money
|
Pros
Feature-rich
Dolby Vision
HDR10 compatible
Streaming ready
Good value for money
Solid Ultra HD 4K image quality
|
Cons
None really at this price
|
Fix the Photo
4K Content Streaming
|
Pros
Supports many audio formats
Backward compatibility
Low price
Multi-HDR support
|
Cons
Doesn’t support DTS: X
Dated design
|
We ranked LG UBK90 #7 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked LG UBK90 as #1.
Digital Trends
The best no-frills Ultra HD Blu-ray player
|
Pros
Easy to use
Dolby Vision support
Great audio format support
|
Cons
Not a lot of built-in features
A little pricey
|
The Master Switch
Best Overall Blu-ray Player
|
Pros
Excellent picture
Superb value
|
Cons
No display
No HDMI cable
|
We ranked XBox Series X #8 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
Digital Trends
The most fun Blu-ray player
|
Pros
Very gaming-friendly
4K and HDR support
Plenty of on-board storage
|
Cons
May be more than some are willing to pay
|
The Master Switch
Best Blu-ray Player for Gamers
|
Pros
Dolby Vision compatibility puts this console over the top
|
Cons
Launch-day issues and missing features
|
We ranked Panasonic DP-UB420 #9 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic DP-UB420 as #1.
The Master Switch
A Great Player for Listening to Music
|
Pros
High-res audio support
Excellent audio quality
|
Cons
Build quality issues
|
We ranked Sony BDP-S6700 #10 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
The Master Switch
Best Budget Blu-ray Player Under $100
|
Pros
Strong feature set
Solid picture quality
|
Cons
Poor design
App implementation
|
The Techlounge
A Cheap,But Super-Efficient Blu-Ray Player Packed With Features
|
Pros
Great access to streaming services
Cheap
Strong image quality
|
Cons
It lacks the HDR support
Poor design
No UHD disks support
|
Fix the Photo
Control by smartphone
|
Pros
Powerful Wi-Fi chip
Quick streaming
High-res audio format support
Wireless sound transfer
|
Cons
Doesn’t support Bluetooth
|
We ranked PlayStation 5 #11 in August 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
The Master Switch
|
Pros
Solid picture quality
|
Cons
Lack of Dolby Vision features make this a poor choice
|
Fix the Photo
Stylish
|
Pros
Impressive RAM
High-speed drive
Powerful CPU
A lot of accessories
|
Cons
Expensive
Weighs too much
|
We ranked LG UBK80 #12 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
AnxietyTech
This is our second best 4K blu ray device.
|
Pros
Ultra HD picture quality
3D playback
4K upscaling
Ethernet input and USB port
|
Cons
Does not have smart features
|
The Techlounge
A Simple And Efficient Blu-Ray Player At An Affordable Price
|
Pros
Good value for the money
Great versatility
Excellent picture quality
|
Cons
No support for Netflix and other streaming services
No Wi-Fi
|
We ranked Sony UBP-X700M #13 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best 4K upscaling Blu-ray player
|
Pros
Affordable
Effective upscaling for older media
HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
|
Cons
Not as good as some of our other Sony picks
|
We ranked LG BP175 #14 in August 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Blu-ray Players” rankings.
AnxietyTech
|
Pros
Region free
HDMI output included
1080P quality
DVD up-scaling
|
Cons
No output for surround sound audio systems
|
The Techlounge
It Just Works!
|
Pros
Good image quality
Well implemented 1080p upscaling
Easy to use
Versatile player
Amazing value for money
|
Cons
None
|