Blu-ray Players / Sony UBP-X700U vs Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Sony UBP-X700U vs Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, plus HDR Optimizer — the enthusiast default.
Wins overall by 1.6 points
Quick Verdict
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 1.6 points. Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, plus HDR Optimizer — the enthusiast default.
The Sony UBP-X700U and Panasonic DP-UB820-K are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and the Sony UBP-X700U is $250 cheaper than the Panasonic DP-UB820-K ($299.99 vs $549.99). On Features, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads (8.5 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. On Connectivity, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads (9.0 vs 6.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. On Upscaling, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads (9.5 vs 7.0/10) — how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display. Overall, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 8.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.8/10 for the Sony UBP-X700U. 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 UBP-X700U | Panasonic DP-UB820-K |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | $549.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2018 |
| Disc Formats | 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 | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and CD. No SACD and no DVD-Audio |
| HDR Formats | HDR10 and Dolby Vision. No HDR10+, which Sony has never supported. HLG is not listed on the US sheet | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG — all four |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| SACD Playback | Yes | No |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream output, plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding to 7.1 channels | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream out, Dolby Digital and TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 | 2 — one for AV and one dedicated audio-only output |
| Analog Outputs | None — one coaxial digital output only | 7.1-channel analog plus stereo analog and optical digital |
| Streaming Apps | None — Sony deliberately removed them from this generation | Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video, plus a web browser |
| Upscaling & Processing | 4K upscaling up to 60p | HCX processor with 4K Direct Chroma Upscaling, 4K upscaling at 24p/25p/50p/60p, and HDR Optimizer |
| Network | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi, and the LAN port is essentially for firmware updates | Both Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet |
| Region Free | No — Region A and Region 1 as sold | No — Region A and 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 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on disc playback quality and HDR handling. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Sony UBP-X700U leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-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-UB820-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-point margin on chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.0 — a 3.0-point margin on HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.0 — a 3.5-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-UB820-K leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.0 — a 2.5-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 UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-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-UB820-K if…
- • Features matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 8.5/10 here (streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 9.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • 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).
- • 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).
Pros & Cons
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
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Sony UBP-X700U or Panasonic DP-UB820-K 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 Features, the Sony UBP-X700U or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Features (8.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Sony UBP-X700U or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Connectivity (9.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Which is better for Upscaling, the Sony UBP-X700U or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Upscaling (9.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Sony UBP-X700U or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Picture Quality (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling.
Is the Sony UBP-X700U worth the price difference over the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Sony UBP-X700U is the cheaper option at $299.99 versus $549.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Features.
What's the warranty on the Sony UBP-X700U vs the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Sony UBP-X700U ships with a 12-month warranty; the Panasonic DP-UB820-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.
Cheaper Option
Panasonic DP-UB420-K — $297.99
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.