Sony UBP-X700 review: a brilliant budget player that’s great for Dolby Vision
DA Gadgets Sony
UPB-X700
review:
One
minute
review
The
Sony
UBP-X700
is
an
affordable
4K
Blu-ray
player
($199
/£199
/
AU$369
at
the
time
of
writing
six
years
on
from
its
release)
that
supports
Dolby
Vision
HDR
and
Dolby
Atmos
and
DTS:X
soundtracks.
It
also
supports
a
wide
range
of
media,
including
3D
Blu-ray
discs,
SACDs,
DVDs
and
CDs
and
has
Wi-Fi
for
streaming
from
apps
such
as
Netflix
and
Prime
Video.
Performance-wise,
the
Sony
UBP-X700
is
an
all-around
brilliant
player.
It
doesn’t
quite
manage
the
jack-of-all-trades
excellence
of
the
Panasonic
DP-UB820,
but
it
delivers
superb
4K
images
with
punchy
color,
accurate
and
refined
textures
and
contrast
up
there
with
the
best
4K
Blu-ray
players,
especially
when
fed
Dolby
Vision
discs.
Upscaling
is
generally
effective
–
more
on
Blu-ray
rather
than
on
the
lower-resolution
DVD
format
–
and
while
it
does
enhance
certain
colors
and
applies
some
artificial
cleaning
to
film
grain,
the
UBP-X700
still
offers
excellent
image
reproduction,
especially
compared
to
the
Panasonic
DP-UB154
–
a
solid,
similarly
priced
player.
The
UBP-X700
effectively
handles
Dolby
Atmos
soundtracks
and
has
balanced
and
accurate
sound
reproduction.
CD
playback
is
also
effective.
The
UBP-X700’s
interface
is
easy
enough
to
navigate,
although
a
little
on
the
plain
side.
A
good
number
of
settings
for
video
and
audio
are
provided.
Design-wise,
the
UBP-X700
is
compact,
making
it
ideal
for
smaller
spaces,
though
its
physical
design
is
plain
–
an
LED
display
with
playback
info
would
have
been
welcome
–
and
its
remote
feels
very
dated.
It’s
tough
to
argue
against
the
value
of
the
UBP-X700
as
it’s
an
overall
fantastic
performer
for
an
affordable
price.
Pairing
this
with
one
of
the
best
TVs,
particularly
one
of
the
best
OLED
TVs
such
as
the
Samsung
S95D
or
LG
C4,
will
lead
to
a
match
made
in
heaven.
The
Sony
UBP-X700’s
home
page
is
a
little
on
the
plain
side
(Image
credit:
Future)
Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Prices
&
release
date
Release
date:
January
2018
Prices:
$199
/
£199
/
AU$369
The
Sony
UBP-X700
is
a
mid-range
model
in
Sony’s
4K
Blu-ray
player
lineup,
sitting
below
the
Sony
UBPX-800MKII.
At
the
time
of
its
release
in
2018,
the
UPBX700
was
priced
at
$249
/
£249
/
AU$399.
Several
years
on
prices
have
dropped
overall,
with
the
UBP-X700
sitting
at
roughly
$199
/
£199
/
AU$369
at
the
time
of
writing,
though
it
has
previously
sold
for
as
low
as
$149
/
£149
/
AU$225.
Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Specs
Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally
HDR
support
Dolby
Vision,
HDR10
Audio
support
Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TrueHD,
DTS:X,
DTS-HD
Music
support
CD,
Hi-res
audio
playback
including
DSD,
ALAC,
FLAC
Connectivity
Coaxial
Audio
Output
(s):
1
(Rear),
Ethernet
Connection
(s):
1
(Rear),
HDMI
Output
(s):
2
(Rear),
USB
Input
(s):
1
(Front)
Dimensions
(W
X
H
X
D):
12.5
x
1.7
x
8.5
(inches)
/
320
x
45
x
217
(mm)
Weight
3lbs
/
1.4kg
The
Sony
UBP-X700
offers
a
good
number
of
connections,
including
dual
HDMI
and
coaxial
digital
audio
outputs
(Image
credit:
Future)
Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Features
Dolby
Vision
HDR
support
Dolby
Atmos
and
DTS:X
support
Built-in
Wi-Fi
and
streaming
capability
The
Sony
UBP-X700
supports
4K
Blu-ray,
regular
Blu-ray,
DVD
and
3D
disc
playback.
It
also
plays
not
only
audio
CDs
but
SACDs
–
a
disc
format
the
more
premium
Panasonic
DP-UB820
and
many
other
4K
Blu-ray
players
don’t
support.
The
UBP-X700
supports
the
Dolby
Vision
and
HDR10
high
dynamic
range
formats,
but
not
HDR10+.
For
comparison,
the
cheaper
Panasonic
DP-UB150
supports
HDR10+,
but
not
Dolby
Vision,
while
the
pricier
Panasonic
DP-UB820
supports
both
Dolby
Vision
and
HDR10+.
For
audio,
the
UPBX700
supports
Dolby
Atmos
and
DTS:X
soundtracks
(bitstream
only)
and
can
decode
Dolby
TrueHD
and
DTS-HD
soundtracks.
There
is
also
support
for
High-res
audio
file
formats
including
ALAC,
DSD
and
FLAC.
The
UBP-X700
isn’t
as
well
stocked
with
connections
as
more
premium
4K
Blu-ray
players
such
as
the
DP-UB820,
but
has
two
HDMI
ports
–
one
for
video
and
audio
and
one
audio-only
–
as
well
as
a
coaxial
digital
audio
output.
There
is
also
an
Ethernet
port
and
a
front
USB
port.
Built-in
Wi-Fi
allows
access
to
streaming
services
including
Netflix,
Prime
Video
and
YouTube,
and
there’s
BBC
iPlayer
for
UK
customers.
In
terms
of
performance,
navigation
was
easy
enough
without
any
stutter
or
slowdown.
A
good
number
of
settings
are
provided
for
both
picture
and
sound,
including
a
4K
upscaling
setting
with
three
different
modes,
a
Digital
Music
Enhancer,
audio
dynamic
range
control
and
more.
One
frustration
I
had
involved
the
player’s
Dolby
Vision
menu
setting.
With
Dolby
Vision
turned
on,
the
UBP-X700
indicated
it
was
displaying
Dolby
Vision
movies
even
when
it
wasn’t
–
even
leaving
it
on
when
watching
regular
Blu-ray
discs
without
HDR.
I
could
see
no
obvious
related
picture
issues,
but
it
was
still
frustrating
having
to
turn
this
on
and
off
as
there
are
some
SDR-specific
picture
settings
to
improve
quality
which
are
locked
when
Dolby
Vision
HDR
is
activated.
If
you
regularly
switch
between
4K
and
standard
Blu-ray/DVDs,
that’s
something
worth
bearing
in
mind.
Features
score:
4.5
/
5
The
Sony
UBP-X700’s
color
display
is
fantastic,
filled
with
vibrancy
as
shown
here
on
La
La
Land
(Image
credit:
Future)
Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Performance
Short
disc
load
time
Bold,
vibrant
colors
Effective
4K
upscaling
The
UBP-X700
demonstrated
surprisingly
short
load
time
for
a
cheaper
4K
Blu-ray
player.
Loading
a
disc
into
the
disc
tray
to
seeing
the
first
logos
on
screen
took
roughly
30
seconds
–
some
5-10
seconds
faster
than
the
Panasonic
DP-UB820
and
nearly
30
seconds
faster
than
the
Panasonic
DP-UB154.
For
testing,
the
UBP-X700
was
connected
to
a
Panasonic
MZ1500
OLED
TV.
Starting
with
4K
Blu-rays,
the
UBP-X700
demonstrated
excellent
picture
quality.
In
La
La
Land
(HDR10
format)
colors
were
bright
and
vibrant,
with
plenty
of
dynamic
punch
throughout.
Colors
with
the
Sony
had
a
more
vivid
look
than
with
the
Panasonic
UB820
and
UB150,
both
of
which
had
a
more
natural,
subdued
appearance.
This
isn’t
to
say
colors
were
oversaturated
on
the
UPBX700,
but
they
definitely
had
a
glossier
look
than
on
the
Panasonic
players.
I
did
notice
during
the
‘A
Lovely
Night’
scene
in
La
La
Land
that
the
UBP-X700
favored
a
cooler
color
palette,
accentuating
the
blues
and
purples
of
the
night
sky
in
the
background.
The
colors
were
still
accurate
and
crisp,
but
it’s
worth
noting.
Moving
on
to
The
Batman
on
4K
Blu-ray
in
Dolby
Vision,
the
UBP-X700
demonstrated
superb
black
levels
and
contrast,
with
the
opening
crime
scene
showcasing
a
great
balance
between
the
lights
in
the
room
and
hallways
and
the
darkened
floors
and
walls.
Shadow
detail
was
also
excellent,
with
details
in
clothing
maintained
even
in
the
darkest
shots.
Moving
onto
standard
Blu-ray,
I
used
the
same
scene
from
The
Batman
to
test
the
effectiveness
of
the
UBP-X700’s
upscaling.
Although
it
was
not
as
good
as
the
Panasonic
UB820,
the
UPBX700
still
did
an
impressive
job.
Textures
were
a
touch
softer
and
contrast
wasn’t
quite
as
good
as
you’d
find
on
more
premium
players,
but
the
Sony’s
upscaling
did
improve
the
overall
sharpness
of
the
picture.
The
UBP-X700
even
did
a
decent
upscaling
job
with
a
DVD
of
The
Amazing
Spider-Man,
improving
textures
and
colors.
It
was
more
effective
here
than
the
Panasonic
UB154
but
not
as
effective
as
the
Panasonic
UB820.
I
also
analyzed
how
much
film
grain
the
UBP-X700
left
intact
with
older
movies.
Watching
a
Blu-ray
of
Thief,
particularly
shots
at
dawn
in
the
opening,
the
UBP-X700
did
maintain
some
grain
but
there
was
less
present
compared
to
the
same
scene
played
through
the
Panasonic
UB820.
I
also
found
this
to
be
the
case
when
watching
4K
Blu-rays
of
The
Batman
and
La
La
Land.
Film
purists
may
want
to
make
note
of
this.
For
audio,
I
had
no
issue
playing
Dolby
Atmos
soundtracks
through
the
UBP-X700.
I
also
tested
a
CD
in
the
UPB-X700
and
found
no
issues
with
stutter
or
load
times.
Performance
score:
4.5
/
5
The
Sony
UBP-X700
has
short
loading
times
of
under
30
seconds
from
when
the
disc
is
inserted
to
first
logos
appearing
on
screen
(Image
credit:
Future)
Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Design
Very
light
and
compact
No
front
LED
display
Old-school,
cheap
remote
The
UBP-X700
is
a
lightweight
and
compact
player
compared
to
the
wider
and
deeper
Panasonic
UB820
and
UB154,
making
it
more
versatile
for
smaller
spaces.
It
feels
less
premium
and
uses
cheaper
materials
than
players
such
as
the
UB820,
but
looks
and
feels
sturdy
enough
for
the
price.
One
thing
to
note
is
there
is
no
front
LED
display
to
notify
of
timing
while
watching
a
movie,
a
feature
found
on
the
Panasonic
UB820.
Timing
and
other
info
can
be
shown
on
your
TV
by
pressing
the
info
button
on
the
remote,
however.
The
UPBX700
features
two
HDMI
ports
and
a
coaxial
digital
audio
output
alongside
an
Ethernet
and
a
front
USB
port.
This
is
a
respectable
number
of
connections
and
while
it
doesn’t
match
up
to
more
premium
players,
it’s
more
than
found
on
the
budget
Panasonic
UB154.
The
small
supplied
remote
feels
a
little
dated
and
cheap.
While
I
wasn’t
expecting
a
premium
remote,
I
found
the
smaller
buttons
to
be
a
little
more
difficult
to
use
compared
to
those
found
on
Panasonic
player
remotes.
Design
score:
4
/
5
The
Sony
UBP-X700
has
a
small,
cheap-feeling
remote
(Image
credit:
Future)
Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Value
While
the
Sony
UBP-X700
isn’t
going
to
beat
the
workhorse-like
Panasonic
DP-UB820,
it
does
offer
great
performance
and
a
good
number
of
features
including
Wi-Fi
for
streaming,
which
is
a
rare
feature
in
an
affordable
player.
At
$199
/
£199
/
AU$369
–
even
dropping
as
low
as
$149
/
£149
/
AU$369
–
the
UBP-X700
is
great
value
for
money
and
while
it
lacks
the
full
HDR
support
of
the
Panasonic
DP-UB820,
Dolby
Vision
is
an
excellent
feature
in
a
cheaper
player.
Value
score:
4.5
/
5
Contrast
in
the
Sony
UBP-X700’s
picture
is
also
very
rich
(Image
credit:
Future)
Should
you
buy
the
Sony
UBP-X700?
Buy
it
if…
Don’t
buy
if
it…
Also
consider
Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally
Row
0
–
Cell
0
Sony
UBP-X700
Panasonic
DP-UB820
Panasonic
DP-UB150/154
Reavon
UBR-X100
Price
$239/£219/AU$319
$499/£349/AU$769
$199/£149/AU$299
$799/£799/AU$1,399
HDR
support
Dolby
Vision,
HDR10
Dolby
Vision,
HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG
HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG
Dolby
Vision,
HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG
Audio
support
Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TrueHD,
DTS:X
Dolby
TrueHD,
Dolby
Atmos,
DTS:X,
DTS-HD
Master
Audio
Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TreuHD,
DTS:X,
DTS:HD
MA
Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TreuHD,
DTS:X,
DTS:HD
MA
Connectivity
2x
HDMI,
1x
USB,
1x
optical
output,
2x
HDMI
output
(1x
Audio,
1x
Audio/Video),
Digital
optical
output,
Analogue
audio
LR
output,
Analogue
Audio
7.1
ch
output,
Wi-Fi,
LAN,
2x
USB
1x
HDMI,
1x
LAN,
1x
USB
(2.0)
2x
HDMI,
2x
USB,
1x
optical
output,
1x
coaxial
output,
The
Sony
UBP-X700’s
settings
menu
(Image
credit:
Future)
How
I
tested
the
Sony
UBP-X700
Tested
using
a
variety
of
discs
formats
including
4K
Blu-ray,
Blu-ray
and
DVD
Tested
with
Panasonic
MZ1500
OLED
TV
To
test
the
Sony
UBP-X700,
I
connected
it
to
the
Panasonic
MZ1500
OLED
TV,
which
supports
Dolby
Vision.
For
picture
quality
testing,
I
primarily
used
reference
scenes
from
4K
Blu-ray
discs
I
use
for
testing
TVs
such
as
The
Batman,
La
La
Land,
Top
Gun:
Maverick
and
more.
I
also
used
a
Blu-ray
version
of
Thief
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
film
grain
accuracy.
I
used
standard
Blu-rays
and
DVDs
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
upscaling
ability
and
a
CD
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
audio
playback.
I
also
tested
the
UBP-X700’s
software
by
navigating
through
different
menus,
testing
response
times,
and
exploring
the
level
of
settings.
I
also
streamed
content
via
Netflix
and
BBC
iPlayer
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
streaming
capabilities.
