In mid-December we reported that LG discontinued its Blu-ray players. A month later, Sony confirmed it would stop producing recordable Blu-ray discs. And just when everyone expected more bad news for the format... could there be some good news? That's the Sony UBP-X700/K, a new player from the Japanese giant, and the first in seven years. Although it's shaping up to be a "reduced version" of the standard UBP-X700, Sony decided to keep the most important parts...
Going back to optical discs is much more than an "act of rebellion". It's also the only way to access high-quality content, and by that I mean a bitrate that streaming services still haven't reached (for example, the complaints about Netflix's 4K are almost endless). But beyond the movies themselves... we need hardware. PlayStation consoles are excellent Blu-ray players, and there are still some dedicated models on the market, however, there's a novelty: the first Sony Blu-ray player in seven years.
UBP-X700/K: Sony's New Player
If its general design looks familiar, it's because the UBP-X700/K is an updated and at the same time reduced version of the UBP-X700 that is still available. So what does it leave behind? Basically everything related to connectivity and streaming, although it retains an Ethernet port on the back. It also lacks Spotify Connect support, Screen Mirroring, and the Video & TV SideView app. The I/O options are limited to two HDMI ports (one exclusively for audio) and a coaxial digital output, ideal for connecting soundbars and other similar accessories.
HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and TrueHD, DTS:X, dozens of formats... everything seems to be there. Personally, I don't think losing online features with the UBP-X700/K is that problematic for the end user, however, there is a negative aspect, which is the price. According to some Japanese sources, the Sony UBP-X700/K will debut in mid-May with $350 on its label (51,700 yen), when the conventional UBP-X700 doesn't exceed €270 on Amazon.
Sources: FlatPanelsHD, Monohika (Japanese), Sony Spain.
