Basic Blu-ray Player Recommendation

[RWTS]

My Samsung Blu-ray player suddenly stopped reading Blu-ray discs (it plays DVDs just fine), so I'm in the market for a new player. I'm way out of the loop because it surprised me how few manufacturers still make them.

I don't need 4K and it's out of my budget anyway. Just need a no-frills model that plays discs. About the only two readily available models from reputable companies here in the USA are the Sony BDPS1700 for $95 and the Panasonic DMP-BD903 for $70. Any advice on which to go with in terms of reliability?

Walmart's house brand Onn has a model for $70. If you've bought one, I'd like to hear your opinions.

Many thanks!


Update: Sony it is. The Panasonic I was looking at this morning on Best Buy's website is no longer available for shipping or pickup at a local store. It seems Best Buy made the decision for me. I'd better grab one while I still can!

Just out of curiosity, is there any particular reason players are so scarce? Is there really so little demand for them? I know physical media is on the decline, but wow...

[Wickerman1972]

I haven't looked for standard blu ray players in a long time. I still have a Sony 3200 that I bought back in 2014. I just assumed that choices were still fairly decent for those. Pickings with 4k players are absolutely slim nowadays though. So slim that I bought a 4k Panasonic player as a backup even though I didn't need it. Started to get a little concerned that in the future I might not be able to find one for a reasonable price if my LG were to stop working. Don't think you can go wrong with either of those choices though as Sony and Panasonic are two of the most reliable brands in the biz.

[RWTS]

This experience has me wondering about the future, too. I've downsized, and due to limited space and limited discretionary income, my purchases are way down. But I still hope there remains a way to watch my discs in the years ahead when the new player gives up the ghost.

[ben6543]

Sony is great I got my player 9 years ago today and it still works great

[RWTS]

That's great to hear. I purchased my Samsung in early 2016, so got just over nine years out of it. Hope your Sony continues to work great for many, many years to come!

[ben6543]

Originally Posted by RWTS

That's great to hear. I purchased my Samsung in early 2016, so got just over nine years out of it. Hope your Sony continues to work great for many, many years to come!

I only use it on the weekends so I think that helps

[Jay H.]

Originally Posted by ben6543

I only use it on the weekends so I think that helps

I have used the Sony player in my office at least 5 times a week for the past 7 years. I've been a Sony guy since the DVD era, and I don't see a reason to change.

[ben6543]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

I have used the Sony player in my office at least 5 times a week for the past 7 years. I've been a Sony guy since the DVD era, and I don't see a reason to change.

Same ive always had a good Sony experience. I had some old Sony headphones that were wired they worked great until I got an IPad and traded up for wireless

[LexInHD]

I pick up players at the thrift stores, all the time. Some are barely used new models and others are old, with some being as old as 1st and 2nd gen. I rarely pay more than $10-$20 for any of them and have paid as little as $6.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by RWTS

Just out of curiosity, is there any particular reason players are so scarce? Is there really so little demand for them? I know physical media is on the decline, but wow...

Physical movie media sales have simply collapsed. Down about 20% per year every year since 2020. In the US 2013 disk revenue and streaming revenue were each about $7 billion. In 2024 disk revenue was under $1 billion while streaming revenue was over $50 billion.

Customers are buying far fewer disks so those far fewer customers are also buying far fewer disk players. It's just not worth it for most large multi-national companies to keep up a production line, engineering, parts, firmware support, etc when the boxes are just going to gather dust in a warehouse. And they're technologically challenging, unlike, say, a turntable for records which uses 70+ year old technology someone can turn out in a machine shop in tiny numbers.

I think you made the right move with Sony. I just bought a region free Sony S1700 because I wanted a region free player that was still in production so would likely still get support for the future. For 4K I went with a Panasonic UB820, which I prefer to my previous Sony 4K player. Panasonic continues to make and sell several 4K player models while Sony seems to be down to only one now.

[RWTS]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

Physical movie media sales have simply collapsed. Down about 20% per year every year since 2020. In the US 2013 disk revenue and streaming revenue were each about $7 billion. In 2024 disk revenue was under $1 billion while streaming revenue was over $50 billion.

Customers are buying far fewer disks so those far fewer customers are also buying far fewer disk players. It's just not worth it for most large multi-national companies to keep up a production line, engineering, parts, firmware support, etc when the boxes are just going to gather dust in a warehouse. And they're technologically challenging, unlike, say, a turntable for records which uses 70+ year old technology someone can turn out in a machine shop in tiny numbers.

All excellent and valid points, and points I knew deep down. Guess I just don't want to admit players may be a thing of the past. It was startling to realize just how few models are in production today... and how they will likely become scarcer in years to come.

On a positive note, the Panasonic player is back in stock on Best Buy's website. I thought it might have been discontinued. Good that there are options, even if limited.