Which blu ray player

In fact, as a home theater journalist, this is the Blu-ray player I bought for my own entertainment setup — and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

The player also has no issues automatically selecting the proper format that should be played. Wirelessly streaming videos from a DLNA-compatible device, such as a computer or media-enabled hard drive , is also supported.

To spare you the technical details, higher numbers can result in more defined colors and smoother gradients. As for sound, the DP-UB leaves nothing to be desired. Panasonic even offers support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa devices, so you can control playback with your voice if you have a compatible smart speaker.

Though I recommend a standalone Blu-ray player for the best performance, there are a few video game consoles that can also serve as 4K Blu-ray players. If you're a gamer who wants to watch 4K discs through your console, you currently have two main options: the Sony PlayStation 5 standard model or the Xbox Series X.

Both devices have similar Blu-ray capabilities and cost the same amount of money, but the PS5 is our preference when it comes to gaming. It's one of the most powerful next-gen systems on the market, offering advanced features like HDR, ray tracing, and Hz support. The system also uses a fast solid state drive SSD to enable minimal loading times. The PS5 also lacks Blu-ray 3D disc playback.

Still, if you're looking to buy a new console and 4K Blu-ray support is a key feature you'd like to have, the PS5 gets the basics done just fine. It's important to note, though, that you'll need to purchase the standard PS5 model since the cheaper all-digital edition does not include a disc drive.

Unfortunately, PlayStation 5 consoles remain hard to find and stock continues to sell out quickly. Check out our PS5 buying guide for the latest details on how to find a system. Most notably, the format offers superior compression, color, and audio quality. This means you'll get a more stable image with no drops in quality. For instance, you might sometimes notice your videos becoming blocky or fuzzy when streaming movies on Netflix.

If you watch the same video on a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, those issues will be virtually eliminated. This is because videos on a disc can be encoded with more data and presented at higher and more consistent bitrates. In other words, the video never needs to buffer and it will always look consistently good. This enables 4K Blu-ray movies to offer more detail than ever. This process allows for a wider range of colors, contrast, and brightness compared to standard Blu-rays.

If you have the right audio gear, this means you'll get to hear movie soundtracks bit for bit as they were meant to be heard with surround effects in all directions — even from above.

When shopping for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, there are a few key performance specifications and extra features that you should look out for depending on your needs. Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. You can purchase syndication rights to this story here. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. These are the best p and 4K Blu-ray players you can buy.

Even in the streaming age, there are some good reasons to watch movies on the humble Blu-ray player. A hardware player offers the best image and sound quality available, thanks to the enhanced storage capacities of Blu-ray discs. Streaming problems like dropouts, bandwidth caps or buffering are nonexistent.

But if you somehow want those, most of the best Blu-ray players options can also support streaming apps such as Netflix some even in 4K and Hulu. So, are you ready to make the most of your 4K content with the best Blu ray player? Grab an HDMI cable get ready to enjoy the excellent playback and top-notch viewing experience that Blu-ray players have to offer. Throw in a bunch of streaming app services and the Sony Blu-ray player rewards you with a solid performance at a reasonable price.

Chris Heinonen is a senior staff writer reporting on TVs, projectors, and sometimes audio gear at Wirecutter. He has been covering AV since for a number of online publications and is an ISF-certified video calibrator. He used to write computer software and hopes to never do that again, and he also loves to run and test gear for running guides.

What you need to know Who this is for. Our pick. Upgrade pick. Budget pick. Everything we recommend. Why you should trust me. Who this is for. In order to fully explain why 4K Blu-ray video is better, we must define some key terms:. High dynamic range HDR refers to video standards that enable higher contrast ratios—or, starker differences between light and dark areas of the screen—than prior technologies. Dolby Vision, on the other hand, is supported by some streaming services and some 4K Blu-ray discs those discs also include HDR10, though.

You need a Dolby Vision disc, a Dolby Vision—compatible player, and a Dolby Vision—compatible display to take advantage of it. Wide color gamut WCG refers to technology that allows TVs to display a wider range of colors than they could before. Most 4K Ultra HD content has a wider color gamut than regular HD content, matching or besting the color gamut used in theatrical cinema.

How we picked and tested. Flaws but not dealbreakers. There are loads of 4K discs to choose from, so now is a great time to upgrade, and in our experience, picture and sound quality tend to be better than watching a 4K equivalent on Amazon Prime Video or Netflix. Our pick of the best Blu-ray players and 4K Blu-ray players all serve up brilliant picture and sound at their respective price points, and you can find our definitive list below.

These are 11 of the best film scenes to test surround sound. Keep on reading What Hi-Fi? And the results are sensational. The player serves up a wonderfully inviting and immersive picture, bursting with colour and detail.

It also produces a meaty and exciting sound, which compliments the picture perfectly. It's a very good upscaler too, so normal Blu-rays should look the part on your shiny new 4K TV. For the money, you'll struggle to find a better all-round machine, which is why we've placed this What Hi-Fi? Award-winner at the top of our list of the best Blu-ray players. It's one of the most talented 4K players we've seen at this kind of money. Sound quality is equally stirring with its zippy, dynamic character complimenting that class-leading picture.

There's also smart functionality and twin HDMI outputs. This Sony machine is good enough to boost all manner of home cinema systems, so you can buy with confidence. This Panasonic 4K player represents great value for money.

Feature-wise, it's a little sparse, but it's the performance that matters, and on that front it delivers. It can provide 7. There's a lot to admire when it comes to picture quality too - dark details are easily strong enough, while it handles 4K upscaling with aplomb. A great budget buy. This mid-range Sony is a bit more capable - and a bit more expensive - than those at the budget end of the market.

While it lacks a display on the player itself, its feature set more than makes up for it.