Best Blu-Ray Players

There is one big decision you have to make before you buy a Blu-ray player. Do you want a player that can play 4K Ultra HD discs or just standard HD Blu-ray discs?

The newer 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players, which can still play the standard HD Blu-ray discs while upscaling the content to 4K, are starting to dominate the market and are great for a home theater. Very few standard Blu-ray players are still being made if any.

For this article we will be focusing on models that play standard Blu-ray discs that may or may not be capable of up-scaling content to 4K to take advantage of 4K Ultra HD TVs. If you want 4K players then see our list of the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players.

Some important features to consider for when shopping for a player include image quality, 3D capabilities, Wi-Fi, streaming services and other apps, HDMI ports, USB ports, and audio outputs.

Below is our list of the top 5 best Blu-ray players. Below these Blu-ray player reviews you will also find a comparison chart with all the important specs of each model to easily compare one player versus another.


9
#1)

Sony BDP-S6700

Our pick for the best Blu-ray player is the $90 Sony BDP-S6700 which packs a ton of features into a single unit including some you won’t find on most other standard Blu-ray players. At publication time it was also the best-selling Blu-ray player on Amazon.

The standard features inlcude 4K upscaling, Wi-Fi, 300+ streaming sources, and USB port. The unique features include multi-room streaming and Bluetooth connectivity with LDAC which lets you use wireless headphones and game controllers.

As for negatives, the Sony BDP-S6700 does lack an digital optical output and there are a few small bugs when using or switching between some of the apps. Some people have also complained that their Bluetooth devices have compatibility issues with this unit.


8.6
#2)

LG BP550

Another option is the $90 LG BP550. Other than lacking 4K upscaling, it has a similar feature set as the Sony BDP-S6700.

One unique feature is the Private Sound Mode which lets you send audio (only from a disc) to your compatible smart phone over Wi-Fi and then you can listen through head phones.

Overall the LG BP550 is a decent player, but there are better or cheaper options.


8.5
#3)

Sony BDP-S3700

If you want to save a few dollars over the Sony BDP-S6700 you could go for the $78 Sony BDP-S3700. This thing is ideal for most people looking for a standard Blu-ray player since it has all the basic functions most people want.

Playback of Blu-ray discs is great, while the interface is easy to use and not laggy. Wi-Fi and your favorite streaming services are included as well.

The downsides to the BDP-S3700 are that there is no 3d playback or 4k upscaling – if you want those features go for the BDP-S7500. However, if you have a 4k TV it will probably already have upscaling built-in.


8.4
#4)

Samsung BD-J5100 (renewed)

Our pick for the best cheap Blu-ray player is the Samsung BD-J5100 which costs just $39 for a renewed version. It seems like only renewed models are available, not brand new ones, but it is still one of the best-selling Blu-ray players on Amazon.

The reason it is cheap is due to a lack of features. It does not upscale to 4K, nor is it 3D compatible. Plus the biggest thing missing is Wi-Fi, but you can connect to the internet via an ethernet cable to have access to streaming services like Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, and Netflix.

We recommend the Samsung BD-J5100 for those of you who just need a cheap, basic Blu-ray player that will only be used to play standard Blu-ray discs.


8.3
#5)

Sony BDP-S1700 (renewed)

Another cheap renewed Blu-ray player available is the $55 Sony BDP-S1700. Video quality on disc playback is excellent.

However, there is no wi-fi or screen mirroring, 3d, or 4k upscaling. The interface can also be a bit lagging at times.


Blu-ray Player Comparison Chart

Blu-ray Player Rating Best Price 4K
Capable
4K
Upscaling
3D
Capable
Web
Browsing
Wi-Fi HDMI
Inputs
HDMI
Outputs
USB
Ports
Optical Digital
Audio Out
Coaxial Digital
Audio Out
Memory Card
Slot
Streaming Services
Sony BDP-S6700 9 $89.88 No Yes Yes No Yes 0 1 1 No Yes No PlayStation Video, PlaystationNow, Amazon, YouTube, Crackle, Slacker radio, Feelin, NetFlix, VUDU, hulu Plus MLB.TV, More
LG BP550 8.6 $89.95 No No Yes No Yes 0 1 1 No Yes No Vudu, Netflix, CinemaNow, Hulu plus, Amazon, Pandora, Youtube, Spotify, Rhapsody, MLB, Viewster
Sony BDP-S3700 8.5 $78.00 No No No No Yes 0 1 1 No Yes No PlayStation Video, PlaystationNow, Amazon, YouTube, Crackle, Slacker radio, Feelin, NetFlix, VUDU, Hulu Plus MLB.TV, iheart radio, More
Samsung BD-J5100 (renewed) 8.4 $38.97 No No No No No 0 1 1 No Yes No Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, VUDU, CinemaNow, HotList, YuppTV, Netflix, Pandora, Rhapsody, AccuWeather, OperaTv
Sony BDP-S1700 (renewed) 8.3 $54.99 No No No No No 0 1 1 No Yes No PlayStation Video, PlaystationNow, Amazon, YouTube, Crackle, Slacker radio, Feelin, NetFlix, VUDU, Hulu Plus MLB.TV, iheart radio, More


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