For Blu-ray disc and physical media fans, the last few years have been full with depressing news. As the digital streaming era gains traction, support for Blu-ray technology has gradually dropped, leaving collectors and home theater enthusiasts with fewer options.
Sony, a major player in the Blu-ray market, stated many months ago that it would discontinue production of recordable Blu-ray discs after an excellent 18-year history. This decision dealt more damage to the format’s future, indicating a move away from physical media and toward cloud-based and digital alternatives.
The situation worsened when LG announced plans to halt Blu-ray discs player manufacture, following in the footsteps of Samsung and Oppo, who had already abandoned the Blu-ray discs hardware market. With major manufacturers pulling back, consumers who prefer physical copies of movies and TV shows have fewer options for new Blu-ray players and recordable discs.
Despite these failures, Blu-ray discs is still a popular medium among cinephiles, offering greater audio-visual quality, real 4K resolution, and collectible editions that digital streaming services cannot match. However, as fewer companies invest in the format, the future of Blu-ray production and innovation becomes questionable.
And, while sales have fluctuated in recent years, usually coinciding with the release of a popular film such as Dune 2 or Oppenheimer, Blu-rays’ popularity has largely fallen. According to predictions, DVD and Blu-ray sales will plummet 26 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year.
But, unfortunately, a beacon of light. According to What Hi-Fi? Sony is producing its first new 4K Blu-ray player in almost five years. However, there is a catch.
Sony Offers a Lifeline
Sony is preparing to unveil the UBP-X700/K, an updated version of its extremely successful UBP-X700 Blu-ray player, which has been a market staple since its initial introduction in 2019. The UBP-X700 has long been a popular choice among home theater aficionados who favor physical material over digital streaming, thanks to its exceptional 4K Ultra HD playback, Dolby Vision support, and high-quality audio performance.
The UBP-X700/K is projected to retain the essential characteristics that made its predecessor popular while also providing potential improvements in performance, compatibility, and durability. While Sony has not officially announced all of the upgrades, the new model is expected to improve the overall user experience by maintaining support for Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and high-resolution audio formats.
The Sony UBP-X700/K looks and works much more identically than its predecessor. It supports both UHD and conventional Blu-ray discs, as well as DVDs. It also supports the newest audio (DTS:X and Dolby Atmos) and visual technologies (HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR). It even ships with the same remote.
However, as FlatpanelsHD points out, the Sony UBP-X700/K is lacking in some aspects compared to its predecessor. Most notably, it lacks built-in Wi-Fi and hence cannot handle video or music streaming services.
This is probably not a significant concern, but since the Sony UBP-X700 debuted, most people have smart TVs and separate media streamers that provide the same capabilities.
The other tradeoff is based on pricing.
Blu-ray Discs: Pricing & Availability
Sony has yet to formally release the pricing for its next Blu-ray player, although speculations claim that it will cost 25% more than its predecessor. If these forecasts are correct, the Sony UBP-X700/K is likely to cost more than $300, making it a more expensive option for home entertainment aficionados.
This price increase raises concerns, especially because early reports suggest that the new model would miss some functionality seen in its predecessor. A higher price tag paired with limited capability may leave some customers unsatisfied. In an era where physical media faces increased competition from digital streaming, fans have hoped for feature enhancements rather than compromises.
Despite these concerns, Sony remains a major player in the Blu-ray market, renowned for its high-quality playback and longevity. If the UBP-X700/K improves performance, image quality, or future-proofing, it may be worth the investment for serious collectors and cinephiles. However, until Sony confirms the full specifications and features, potential purchasers must consider whether the price rise is warranted.
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