Panasonic DMP-UB700 review

'The best bang for buck 4K UHD Blu-ray performance'

Editor's Choice

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We rate the DMP-UB700 a first-rate Blu-ray player. There are clear differences with the more expensive UB900, but these mostly center on build quality and audio spec – video-wise there's nothing significant between the two. 

Here's a bit of bad news, though: at present, there’s no news on an American or Australian release for the DMP-UB700, which means US and AU movie fans won't be able to try out this amazing UHD player out for themselves. 

Admittedly, the deck looks expensive next to something like the Xbox One S, but if you're after the best value dedicated 4K disc player available, then take the savings on the table and run.

We liked

The Panasonic DMP-UB700 is cut from the same engineering cloth as the more expensive DMP-UB900, and plays UHD discs with similar accuracy. 

Detail and colour performance are superb – and that includes regular Blu-rays too. It also wins points for offering 4K iterations of Netflix and Amazon. It even does a cracking job with High-Res Audio files.

We disliked

Panasonic has jettisoned refinement when it comes to finish and build quality with the UB700, and the dumpy little remote control has the ergonomic appeal of a potato. Audiophile pretentions have largely been abandoned, though not entirely.

Final verdict

When it comes to 4K UHD image quality, the DMP-UB700 effectively sets a new benchmark for price and performance. Streaming service support, with HDR-enabled 4K Netflix, is well worth trumpeting and the player does a swell job with 24-bit audio, be it with FLAC or DSD files. 

We would've liked universal disc support to be included, but that's probably not going to come until Sony launches its rival 4K disc spinner. In the meantime, though, if you haven't got the quid to drop on Panasonic's higher-end player, and you live in the UK, the UB700 is the UHD BRP you need to audition.

Steve May
Home entertainment AV specialist

Steve has been writing about AV and home cinema since the dawn of time, or more accurately, since the glory days of VHS and Betamax. He has strong opinions on the latest TV technology, Hi-Fi and Blu-ray/media players, and likes nothing better than to crank up his ludicrously powerful home theatre system to binge-watch TV shows.