Blu-ray Players / Sony BDP-S1700U vs Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Sony BDP-S1700U vs Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Panasonic's HCX processing and HDR10+ at a mid-range price.
Wins overall by 1.5 points
Quick Verdict
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 1.5 points. Panasonic's HCX processing and HDR10+ at a mid-range price.
The Sony BDP-S1700U and Panasonic DP-UB420-K are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and the Sony BDP-S1700U is $183 cheaper than the Panasonic DP-UB420-K ($114.99 vs $297.99). On Features, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads (7.0 vs 4.5/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. On Picture Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads (7.5 vs 5.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling. On Disc Format Support, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads (6.0 vs 4.0/10) — 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 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 | Sony BDP-S1700U | Panasonic DP-UB420-K |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.99 | $297.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2019 |
| Disc Formats | Blu-ray, DVD, VCD and CD, plus recordable variants. No 4K UHD Blu-ray and no SACD | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and CD. No SACD and no DVD-Audio |
| HDR Formats | None — this is a 1080p SDR player | HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. No Dolby Vision |
| Dolby Vision | No | No |
| SACD Playback | No | No |
| Audio Formats | Dolby TrueHD and DTS lossless support; Atmos and DTS:X passthrough is not confirmed | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream over HDMI; the detailed bitstream matrix is not published |
| HDMI Outputs | 1 | 1 |
| Analog Outputs | None — coaxial digital audio only | None — optical digital only |
| Streaming Apps | Wired streaming apps are present, but Sony does not publish the app list | Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Video |
| Upscaling & Processing | DVD upscaling to near-1080p | HCX processor with 4K upscaling |
| Network | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi | Both Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet |
| Region Free | No — Blu-ray Region A and DVD Region 1 as sold | No — Region A and Region 1 |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.5 — a 2.0-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-UB420-K leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.0 — a 1.0-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-UB420-K leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.0 — a 2.0-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-UB420-K leads clearly here, 6.5 against 6.0 — a 0.5-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-UB420-K leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.0 — a 2.0-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-UB420-K leads clearly here, 7.0 against 4.5 — a 2.5-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-UB420-K leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-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 BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Sony BDP-S1700U and Panasonic DP-UB420-K are level here, at 8.0/10 each. performance and features relative to price is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Sony BDP-S1700U if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $183 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
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).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 7.5/10 here (disc playback quality and HDR handling).
- • Disc Format Support matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 6.0/10 here (how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 6.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • 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).
Pros & Cons
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
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Sony BDP-S1700U or Panasonic DP-UB420-K 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 Sony BDP-S1700U or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores higher on Features (7.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Sony BDP-S1700U or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores higher on Picture Quality (7.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling.
Which is better for Disc Format Support, the Sony BDP-S1700U or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores higher on Disc Format Support (6.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Sony BDP-S1700U or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores higher on Connectivity (6.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Is the Sony BDP-S1700U worth the price difference over the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Sony BDP-S1700U is the cheaper option at $114.99 versus $297.99. 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 Sony BDP-S1700U is the better fit if you mainly care about budget. The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the better fit for 4k-uhd or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Sony BDP-S1700U vs the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Sony BDP-S1700U ships with a 12-month warranty; the Panasonic DP-UB420-K 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
Sony UBP-X700U — $299.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.