Sony UBP-X700 - Best Budget 4K Player with Dolby Vision

The Sony UBP-X700 successfully bridges the gap between entry-level and mid-range 4K Blu-ray players by offering a key premium feature—Dolby Vision HDR—at a budget-conscious price. This makes it an ideal choice for owners of Dolby Vision-capable TVs from brands like LG, Sony, and Vizio who want to experience dynamic metadata HDR without a significant investment. The player delivers a crisp, detailed, and natural-looking picture with 4K discs, and its upscaling of standard Blu-rays is effective. A notable bonus for audio enthusiasts is its support for Super Audio CD (SACD) playback, a format often reserved for more expensive players. The UBP-X700 also functions as a competent smart player, with built-in Wi-Fi providing access to popular streaming services like Netflix, though its app selection is not as comprehensive as dedicated streaming devices. The inclusion of dual HDMI outputs offers flexibility for separating audio and video signals.

However, the player has notable quirks. The most frequently cited drawback is the need to manually toggle Dolby Vision support in the system settings depending on the disc being played, an inconvenient and easily forgotten step. It also does not support the competing HDR10+ format, which may be a consideration for Samsung or Panasonic TV owners. The chassis is lightweight and plasticky, reflecting its price point. For those seeking a simple, affordable, and feature-rich entry into high-quality 4K disc playback, particularly with a focus on Dolby Vision, the Sony UBP-X700 represents compelling value, despite its operational idiosyncrasies.