Sony UBP-X700/K Review (Blu-ray/DVD/SACD/CD Transport) (NTTY)

[Kal Rubinson]

To each their own!

Indeed. I guess my cynicism wasn't apparent.

 

[Scytales]

Great review, NTTY !

This device represents a very attractive proposition at an affordable price. It would have been perfect in an all-digital setup with a separate display—provided, however, that it had retained the X800 model's DVD-A compatibility (which would have made it a truly universal disc player) and displayed more detailed information.

 

[RetroStereo]

Interesting, can you please point me to that DoP box? I’d love to be able testing HDMI output, even if that implies PCM conversion of DSD. I’d be interested to know the performances.

The one I purchased was from eBay seller "electriccenter24" - at the time, he had several available. He does not have it listed currently.

If I click on "buy similar" I get "Audio I2S/DSD/Optical/Coaxial HDMI To I2S IIS HDMI/MHL Digital Interface" as a search term and several dozen that look identical from a variety of Chinese vendors appear. Most are priced from ~$90-110.

There is no brand on the box. It has a 5v input. I attached a barrel plug adapter to a USB 2 cable and used an old USB charger.

Edited to add: I've had it about 2 years. It worked from the beginning. I did not have to go into the D90 III menu system to make I²S changes. I did set the Sony for stereo output in the X800M2 menu.

 

[Audioagnostic]

Nice, thanks!

Now I know what I have to buy if my Sony s6700 breaks down...

Looks like this is now the cheapest transport that will play SACD since the s6700 has been discontinued?

This one is about twice as expensive but does 4k unlike the s6700.

 

[trevor_bartram]

Text book just like the Sony Blu-ray player tested here a couple of months ago.

 

[geol]

I have the 6700, which costs half as much; for DVD-Audio, I have an LG 450.

 

[mglobe]

https://www.orei.com/collections/dante/products/tovi-dante-hdmi-arc-encoder-dxa-arc-tx.

I have one of these between my S6700 and my Trinnov NOVA. The 6700 is set up to stream 2ch PCM over HDMI. The Dante is set up at 96k. It works, though I honestly have no idea what is happening in the Dante dongle, nor how good it is.

 

[Vovgan]

The drive is totally silent when playing a CD which I think is really nice for a universal transport. It does not spin stupidly fast and if it does, well it is super silent!

It is not silent at all with 4K blu rays, very noisy. Regular blu rays are ok. I have two of these units.

 

[HalSF]

Picked up a used X700 at a thrift store for $10 and have been just as impressed with it. Good to see this confirmation of its ability as an audio transport.

My least favorite genre of audio component post to read after I’ve doled out several hundred dollars for a new item!

I bought the X700U variant not long ago — I think it might be identical to the X700K in this review as a player, although mine has no WiFi or streaming capabilities (which was a plus for me).

So far it’s been great. As a bonus its upsampling capability for standard DVDs seems to noticeably improve the picture quality.

Thanks for the review..

 

[aagstn]

My least favorite genre of audio component post to read after I’ve doled out several hundred dollars for a new item!

I bought the X700U variant not long ago — I think it might be identical to the X700K in this review as a player, although mine has no WiFi or streaming capabilities (which was a plus for me).

So far it’s been great. As a bonus its upsampling capability for standard DVDs seems to noticeably improve the picture quality.

Thanks for the review..

The one I picked up was manufactured in 2019 so it has some wear on it. The number of 4K discs and players I have picked up cheap at charity shops is criminal. No idea why people just give them away. I will say losing the network capabilities is minor. The latest firmware for the X700 removed all the streaming apps like Netflix. I can still stream from a DNLA server with it though. It is sad these are over $300 now. They used to be under $200 US on sale a few years ago.

 

[aagstn]

Ironically, I just sold the 800 a few days ago. It had promise as a great player, but it kept freezing on 4K discs to the point it became too annoying to work through (hard power cycle to clear the error.) I replaced it with a Panasonic and no problems since. I'm sure the 800 would have been just fine if not for my affinity to 4K UHD media.

It seems that triple layered blu-rays require a well calibrated laser. My X800M2 has yet to freeze on one, but I have read that many people have had that issue. There is probably some variance at the factory that causes players to struggle on that third layer. I also have a Panasonic I use as my main 4K player as those rarely seem to have that issue. I use my X800 and X700 mostly for blu-ray audio and other audio formats.

 

[RetroStereo]

UBP X700 - original version w/WiFi & streaming.
UBP X700/M - original + cables, identical to original except packaging.
UBP X700/U - '25v, USA, no Wifi or streaming.
UBP X700/K - '25v, international distribution, as best I can tell, these two are identical except for marketing destination.
None of the X700 series can rip SACDs.

UBP X800 - early version, serial #100 series can be used to rip SACDs using "server" exploit.
UBP X800 - later version, SACD rip exploit closed, not sure of serial # change point.
UBP X800M2 - cannot rip SACDs.

Edited to add: there are several feature additions on the X800M2. Also, X800 series all play DVD-A.

 

[GPJ]

I've three of the X800, 2 of them rip SACD (correct serial numbers). I use them mainly for audio, the 4K stuff is no concern to me. They do transport and play Bluray Audio, DVD-A, and SACD superbly. Amazing bang for buck, I didn't pay more than $280 for all three over the past 5 years. Hard to beat a SONY Bluray player for optical media.

 

[jimmyjames8]

Just bought a 700U for its supposed improved video processing capability and 3 recently released 4K UHD blu ray disc movies. Haven't watched a one. Have 3 of the 800's. One still in the box. They will play any format 5 "digital disc except HRX. Oddly enough the Marantz SACD 30N will play the HRX discs.

 

[sailor2005]

Interesting, can you please point me to that DoP box? I’d love to be able testing HDMI output, even if that implies PCM conversion of DSD. I’d be interested to know the performances.

I have 2 of such boxes, one with DoP, the other without. Both output DSD on I2S, the one with DoP can output DSD (as DoP and no conversion to PCM) on both the optical and coax outputs. The DoP box is more expensive than the one without. In my case it was about $50 difference. Used them with a Yamaha 1020, Oppo 203, Giec 5300 and Krovatar KBU-300, all playing SACD with output set to DSD.

 

[FranzF]

UBP X700 - original version w/WiFi & streaming.
UBP X700/M - original + cables, identical to original except packaging.
UBP X700/U - '25v, USA, no Wifi or streaming.
UBP X700/K - '25v, international distribution, as best I can tell, these two are identical except for marketing destination.
None of the X700 series can rip SACDs.

UBP X800 - early version, serial #100 series can be used to rip SACDs using "server" exploit.
UBP X800 - later version, SACD rip exploit closed, not sure of serial # change point.
UBP X800M2 - cannot rip SACDs.

Edited to add: there are several feature additions on the X800M2. Also, X800 series all play DVD-A.

I also have X800 with the following serial number.

Any way to tell if this one could rip SACD?

Regards,

 

[bigLP]

Suddenly regretting selling my 800u 1st edition, just back in August on eBay. Hope whoever got it appreciates it! The no analog out was the reason. Too hard to get SACD sound I mistakenly thought I needed without jumping through hoops

 

[anibal66]

Thank you @NTTY for your continued and excellent effort.

Congratulations also to @Sony for their leadership in the category of "Displayless multiformat transports" (pun intended).

 

[trevor_bartram]

I have the 6700, which costs half as much; for DVD-Audio, I have an LG 450.

I have a 1700 ($55), a Panasonic DVD-A110 ($400) & a spare ($20) in case it fails!

 

[RetroStereo]

I also have X800 with the following serial number.View attachment 561241

Any way to tell if this one could rip SACD?

Regards,

I don't know when the physical patch was done. My understanding is that it was relatively early in the initial run. Your serial number is VERY early so it probably will work. It costs nothing to try. All you need is a thumb drive, some easily downloaded code and a networked computer.