Top Picks

Source Components

Top Pick of the Year:

Panasonic DP-UB9000 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
(October/November 2019) Read Review

Standalone disc players may be on the decline, but there are still a few standouts to choose from. The most outstanding of all is Panasonic's DP-UB9000, a model that continues the tradition of rugged build quality, high-end audio quality, and high-performance video established by now-gone Oppo Digital. Videophiles will be glad to know it supports all HDR formats, and includes multiple HDR Optimizer settings that can improve the look of Ultra HD sources displayed on projectors. $1,000, panasonic.com

Finalists:

Pioneer UDP-LX500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
(June/July 2019) Read Review

Disc collectors with a large library will be well served by this Pioneer player, a flagship model featuring support for SACD and DVD-Audio discs, along with all important video formats. Flexible setup options are provided to tune HDR sources, and there's onscreen display of metadata info on discs such as MaxFALL (Maximum Frame Average Light Level) and MaxCLL (Maximum Content Light Level). $1,099, pioneer.com

Zappiti 4K HDR media system
(February/March 2020) Read Review

Anyone who has wanted to store their disc collection digitally, and then browse it in multiple rooms via their home network on big screens with a slick, attractive interface, will be pleased to know that the Zappiti 4K HDR media system makes all that possible, and does so at fraction of the price of a Kaleidescape system. $4,739 (as tested), zappiti.com