Blu-ray Players / Panasonic DP-UB420-K vs Sony UBP-X700U
Panasonic DP-UB420-K vs Sony UBP-X700U
Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Panasonic's HCX processing and HDR10+ at a mid-range price.
Wins overall by 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K wins by 0.1 points, which is not enough to settle it. Sony's first new UHD player in five years — SACD and dual HDMI for $300. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K and Sony UBP-X700U are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and they're priced almost identically ($297.99 vs $299.99). On Features, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads (7.0 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. On Audio Quality, the Sony UBP-X700U leads (7.5 vs 6.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. On Disc Format Support, the Sony UBP-X700U leads (7.5 vs 6.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. Overall, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 6.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.8/10 for the Sony UBP-X700U, though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Panasonic DP-UB420-K | Sony UBP-X700U |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.99 | $299.99 |
| Release Year | 2019 | 2025 |
| Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and CD. No SACD and no DVD-Audio | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, SACD, DVD and CD. No DVD-Audio. Blu-ray 3D support differs between Sony's US and European specification sheets and is unresolved |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. No Dolby Vision | HDR10 and Dolby Vision. No HDR10+, which Sony has never supported. HLG is not listed on the US sheet |
| Dolby Vision | No | Yes |
| SACD Playback | No | Yes |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream over HDMI; the detailed bitstream matrix is not published | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream output, plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding to 7.1 channels |
| HDMI Outputs | 1 | 2 |
| Analog Outputs | None — optical digital only | None — one coaxial digital output only |
| Streaming Apps | Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Video | None — Sony deliberately removed them from this generation |
| Upscaling & Processing | HCX processor with 4K upscaling | 4K upscaling up to 60p |
| Network | Both Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi, and the LAN port is essentially for firmware updates |
| Region Free | No — Region A and Region 1 | No — Region A and Region 1 as sold |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K and Sony UBP-X700U are level here, at 7.5/10 each. disc playback quality and HDR handling is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Audio Quality
The Sony UBP-X700U leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Sony UBP-X700U leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K and Sony UBP-X700U are level here, at 6.5/10 each. chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Connectivity
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K and Sony UBP-X700U are level here, at 6.0/10 each. HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Features
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.0 — a 2.0-point margin on streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Panasonic DP-UB420-K if…
- • Features matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 7.0/10 here (streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback).
- • Upscaling matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 8.0/10 here (how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display).
- • Value matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 8.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
Choose the Sony UBP-X700U if…
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Sony UBP-X700U scores 7.5/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • Disc Format Support matters most to you — the Sony UBP-X700U scores 7.5/10 here (how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio).
- • Your main use case is audiophile.
Pros & Cons
Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Pros
- +The HCX processor is the same picture engine family as Panasonic's flagship, at a third of the price
- +HDR10+ plus HLG and Wi-Fi built in
- +Plays Blu-ray 3D
- +Voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- −No Dolby Vision, which is the main reason to step up to the DP-UB820
- −Single HDMI output with no separate audio out
- −No analog audio outputs
- −Panasonic has announced no successor and has not refreshed this line since 2019
Sony UBP-X700U
Pros
- +SACD playback and dual HDMI outputs at $300 is a genuinely strong audiophile value
- +The newest mainstream disc player on the market, and actually in production
- +Dolby Vision support, which Panasonic reserves for its more expensive models
- +Decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio internally to 7.1 channels
Cons
- −No Wi-Fi, no streaming apps, no Spotify Connect and no screen mirroring — all removed from the previous generation
- −No HDR10+, so HDR10+ discs fall back to HDR10
- −No analog audio outputs
- −Sony's US and European specification sheets disagree on whether it plays Blu-ray 3D
- −In some markets it launched above the old X700's street price for fewer features
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or Sony UBP-X700U better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Features, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores higher on Features (7.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Sony UBP-X700U scores higher on Audio Quality (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Which is better for Disc Format Support, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Sony UBP-X700U scores higher on Disc Format Support (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio.
Which is better for Upscaling, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores higher on Upscaling (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display.
Is the Panasonic DP-UB420-K worth the price difference over the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the cheaper option at $297.99 versus $299.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Features.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the better fit if you mainly care about 4k-uhd or home-theater. The Sony UBP-X700U is the better fit for audiophile.
What's the warranty on the Panasonic DP-UB420-K vs the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony UBP-X700U ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Panasonic DP-UB420-K — $297.99
Premium Option
Sony UBP-X700U — $299.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.