Blu-ray Players / Panasonic DP-UB820-K vs Sony BDP-S1700U
Panasonic DP-UB820-K vs Sony BDP-S1700U
Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, plus HDR Optimizer — the enthusiast default.
Wins overall by 3.0 points
Quick Verdict
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K takes this by a clear 3.0 points. Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, plus HDR Optimizer — the enthusiast default. The Sony BDP-S1700U only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K and Sony BDP-S1700U are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and the Sony BDP-S1700U is $435 cheaper than the Panasonic DP-UB820-K ($114.99 vs $549.99). On Connectivity, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads (9.0 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. On Features, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads (8.5 vs 4.5/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. On Picture Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads (9.0 vs 5.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling. Overall, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 8.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.4/10 for the Sony BDP-S1700U. 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-UB820-K | Sony BDP-S1700U |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.99 | $114.99 |
| Release Year | 2018 | 2025 |
| Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and CD. No SACD and no DVD-Audio | Blu-ray, DVD, VCD and CD, plus recordable variants. No 4K UHD Blu-ray and no SACD |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG — all four | None — this is a 1080p SDR player |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | No |
| SACD Playback | No | No |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream out, Dolby Digital and TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution | Dolby TrueHD and DTS lossless support; Atmos and DTS:X passthrough is not confirmed |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — one for AV and one dedicated audio-only output | 1 |
| Analog Outputs | 7.1-channel analog plus stereo analog and optical digital | None — coaxial digital audio only |
| Streaming Apps | Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video, plus a web browser | Wired streaming apps are present, but Sony does not publish the app list |
| Upscaling & Processing | HCX processor with 4K Direct Chroma Upscaling, 4K upscaling at 24p/25p/50p/60p, and HDR Optimizer | DVD upscaling to near-1080p |
| Network | Both Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi |
| Region Free | No — Region A and Region 1 as sold | No — Blu-ray Region A and DVD Region 1 as sold |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 9.0 against 5.5 — a 3.5-point margin on disc playback quality and HDR handling. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.0 — a 3.5-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 7.0 against 4.0 — a 3.0-point margin on how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 9.0 against 4.0 — a 5.0-point margin on HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 4.5 — a 4.0-point margin on streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.0 — a 3.5-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 BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Panasonic DP-UB820-K if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 9.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • Features matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 8.5/10 here (streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 9.0/10 here (disc playback quality and HDR handling).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 8.5/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • Upscaling matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 9.5/10 here (how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display).
Choose the Sony BDP-S1700U if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $435 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
Pros & Cons
Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Pros
- +The only player near this price that supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ — Sony never does HDR10+
- +HDR Optimizer lets you tune tone mapping to your display, which matters enormously for projectors
- +A dedicated audio-only HDMI output plus full 7.1 analog outputs
- +Best-regarded video processing in the category
Cons
- −The user interface is dated and slow by current standards
- −No SACD or DVD-Audio playback
- −2018 hardware with no successor announced
- −Panasonic's own US store currently lists it as sold out, so this is late-life supply rather than fresh production
Sony BDP-S1700U
Pros
- +The cheapest way to play discs from a brand that still supports its hardware
- +Boots in under a second, which sounds trivial until you use a slow player
- +Genuinely tiny and draws almost no power
- +Replaced both the BDP-S3700 and the old UBP-X700 in Sony's line
Cons
- −1080p only — no 4K UHD Blu-ray support at all
- −No Wi-Fi, so streaming needs a cable
- −Single HDMI output with no separate audio out
- −No SACD or DVD-Audio
- −Sony does not publish which streaming apps are included
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Panasonic DP-UB820-K or Sony BDP-S1700U better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Panasonic DP-UB820-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 Connectivity, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Connectivity (9.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Which is better for Features, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Features (8.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Picture Quality (9.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Audio Quality (8.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Is the Panasonic DP-UB820-K worth the price difference over the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Sony BDP-S1700U is the cheaper option at $114.99 versus $549.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K is the better fit if you mainly care about 4k-uhd or home-theater. The Sony BDP-S1700U is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Panasonic DP-UB820-K vs the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony BDP-S1700U 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.
Premium Option
Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K — $1199.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.