I remember it vividly. It was movie night, the culmination of a long week. We had the popcorn ready, the lights dimmed, and the family gathered on the couch to watch a blockbuster we’d all been waiting for. We fired up our favorite streaming service, navigated to the movie, and hit play. For the first twenty minutes, it was cinematic bliss. Then, it happened. The dreaded buffering wheel. The picture quality dropped to something resembling a 2005-era cell phone video, then froze completely. A frantic router reset and several tense minutes later, the magic was gone. The immersion was shattered, replaced by a shared sense of frustration. It’s a scenario that has become all too common in an age dominated by streaming—a reminder that our access to high-quality entertainment is often at the mercy of our internet connection and the whims of licensing agreements that see beloved films vanish overnight.
This is precisely why a dedicated Blu-ray player remains an essential component of any serious home theater setup. It’s about reclaiming control, ensuring that when you want to watch a movie, you experience it in the highest possible fidelity, with no interruptions, no compression artifacts, and no buffering. It’s about owning a physical copy of the art you love. The Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player is a direct answer to this need, a device built with one primary purpose: to deliver an uncompromised, high-quality playback experience for your entire disc collection.
- SONY USA AUTHORIZED - SONY BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player Dolby Digital TrueHD/DTS and DVD Upscaling
- Stunning Picture Quality – Enjoy Full HD 1080p playback for Blu-ray discs and DVD upscaling that enhances standard DVDs to near-HD quality for a sharper,...
What to Consider Before Buying a Blu-ray Player
A Blu-ray player is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for unlocking the full potential of your high-definition television and surround sound system. In a world saturated with compressed digital streams, a Blu-ray player provides access to uncompressed video and lossless audio, presenting movies exactly as the directors and sound engineers intended. It’s the bridge between your physical media collection—those cherished Blu-rays, DVDs, and even CDs—and your modern entertainment setup. The main benefits are clear: superior picture quality that streaming struggles to match, immersive high-resolution audio that brings cinematic soundscapes to life, and the sheer reliability of offline playback. You’ll never have to worry about your internet speed or data caps ruining a pivotal scene again.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the frustrations of digital-only media: the cinephile who obsesses over visual detail, the audiophile who demands pristine sound, the film collector who values ownership, and families living in areas with inconsistent internet. It’s for anyone who has invested in a quality TV and wants to feed it the best possible signal. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who have completely divested from physical media and are perfectly content with the convenience and “good enough” quality of streaming platforms. For those users, a dedicated streaming device like an Apple TV or Roku might be a better fit, offering a wider array of apps and a different user experience.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Modern entertainment centers can be crowded. Measure the space you have available. Players like the Sony BDP-S1700U feature a compact, space-saving design, making them easy to integrate into tight spaces without dominating the shelf or requiring a major setup overhaul.
- Video & Audio Performance: The primary job of a Blu-ray player is playback quality. Look for support for Full HD 1080p, which is the standard for Blu-ray discs. Also, check for high-resolution audio format support, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, which are essential for getting true, lossless surround sound with a compatible receiver. DVD upscaling is another critical feature, as it enhances your older standard-definition discs to look better on a modern HDTV.
- Connectivity: A modern player should have at least one HDMI output to connect to your TV or AV receiver. Additional ports like a coaxial digital audio out, a front-facing USB port for playing media from a flash drive, and an Ethernet port for firmware updates and BD-Live content are all valuable additions that increase the device’s versatility.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: The user interface should be simple and intuitive, allowing you to play a disc or access media files without navigating through complex menus. Look for features like a “quick start” mode that reduces boot-up time. Long-term care is minimal, usually just requiring occasional dusting and ensuring the device has proper ventilation to prevent overheating.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player stands out in several areas, particularly in its focus on core performance and simplicity. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD as well as DVD discs
- Compact Size: Space-saving design allows this Blu Ray DVD player for tv to fit neatly in narrow spaces and on thin racks. Dimensions: Approx. 9 5/8" W x 1...
- See the unrivalled visual clarity of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Unboxing the Sony BDP-S1700U: Simplicity and Purpose in a Small Package
Upon receiving the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player, the first thing we noticed was its refreshingly minimalist and compact packaging. Inside, everything was neatly organized and straightforward. There’s the player itself, a sleek and surprisingly lightweight unit with a very small footprint—measuring just over 9 inches wide. Alongside it were a compact remote control (with an included AA battery), the power cord, and, notably, a bundled Deco Gear 6FT 4K HDMI 2.0 Cable. The inclusion of a quality HDMI cable is a fantastic touch, as it means you have everything you need to get started right out of the box, saving you from a last-minute trip to the store.
The player itself feels well-built despite its light weight. The chassis is a matte and gloss black plastic, understated and designed to blend seamlessly into any entertainment setup without drawing undue attention. The front panel is clean, featuring only the disc tray, a USB port, and physical buttons for power and eject. It’s a design philosophy that screams function over flash, and we appreciate it. It eschews the unnecessary bulk and distracting lights of older players for a design that is practical and modern.
Key Benefits
- Stunning Full HD Picture Quality with TRILUMINOS Color
- Exceptional DVD Upscaling Breathes New Life into Old Collections
- Immersive High-Resolution Audio Support (Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD)
- Blazing Fast “Super Quick Start Mode” for near-instant operation
- Convenient front USB port for versatile media playback
- Bundle includes a quality 6FT 4K HDMI cable
Potential Drawbacks
- No built-in Wi-Fi or smart streaming applications
- Does not support 4K UHD Blu-ray disc playback
Putting the Sony BDP-S1700U to the Test: A Cinematic Deep Dive
A Blu-ray player lives and dies by its performance. It’s not about the number of bells and whistles, but how well it executes its fundamental task: playing discs with the highest possible fidelity. To truly understand its capabilities, we put the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player through a series of rigorous tests, pairing it with a 65-inch 4K OLED TV and a 7.1 channel surround sound system. We evaluated everything from its core video and audio prowess to its everyday usability and speed.
The Visual Experience: Full HD Brilliance and Masterful DVD Upscaling
We started with a visually dense Blu-ray, “Blade Runner 2049.” The Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player immediately impressed. The Full HD 1080p output was razor-sharp, rendering the neon-drenched cityscapes and desolate, orange-hued landscapes with breathtaking clarity. Fine details, like the texture of Officer K’s coat or the intricate holographic advertisements, were perfectly resolved without any noticeable compression artifacts. This is where Sony’s TRILUMINOS color technology truly shines. The color palette was vibrant and rich yet felt incredibly natural and accurate, avoiding the oversaturation that plagues lesser players. The deep blacks and brilliant highlights were handled with a competency that allowed our OLED display to perform at its best.
This stellar performance was confirmed by user feedback. One owner, using the player on a massive 120-inch projector screen, noted how fantastic movies looked, a testament to the player’s ability to output a clean, robust signal that holds up even when magnified to a colossal size. If it looks great on a screen that large, you can be confident it will look spectacular on your television.
But perhaps the most surprising and impressive feature was its DVD upscaling. We have a vast library of beloved DVDs that simply aren’t available on Blu-ray. We popped in the extended edition of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” The player’s upscaling engine went to work, taking the 480p standard-definition source and intelligently scaling it to near-1080p quality. The result was remarkable. While it can’t magically create detail that isn’t there, it significantly sharpens edges, smooths out jagged lines (jaggies), and reduces noise, making the film far more watchable on a large, modern screen. The difference between the player’s upscaled output and a TV’s native upscaling was night and day; the Sony did a much cleaner, more refined job. This feature alone makes the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player an invaluable tool for anyone with a cherished DVD collection they’re not ready to part with.
An Auditory Journey: Decoding Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
A truly cinematic experience is as much about what you hear as what you see. The Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player is equipped to handle the best audio formats physical media has to offer, supporting both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. These are lossless, high-resolution formats that deliver the exact studio master recording to your home theater system. We connected the player to our AV receiver via HDMI and selected “Mad Max: Fury Road” for our audio test, a film renowned for its aggressive and immersive sound design.
The experience was visceral. As the cacophony of roaring engines, explosions, and Junkie XL’s relentless score filled the room, the player flawlessly passed the DTS-HD Master Audio track. Every sound was distinct and precisely placed within the 7.1 channel soundscape. The dialogue remained crisp and clear amidst the chaos, anchored to the center channel, while the roar of the War Rig thundered from the subwoofer with gut-punching impact. This is the kind of dynamic range and clarity that compressed streaming audio simply cannot replicate. Switching to a more nuanced soundtrack, like the orchestral score from “Interstellar,” the player revealed its subtlety, rendering the delicate strings and soaring organ pieces with warmth and spaciousness. For anyone who has invested in a decent soundbar or a full surround sound system, this player’s ability to decode high-resolution audio is a non-negotiable feature that pays dividends every time you press play.
Performance and Usability: The ‘Super Quick Start’ and USB Advantage
Beyond picture and sound, the day-to-day experience of using a device is critical. This is where Sony’s engineering focus on user experience becomes apparent. The “Super Quick Start Mode” is not a gimmick; it’s a game-changer. From a standby state, the player boots up and has the disc tray open in less than a second. We timed it repeatedly. This eliminates the frustrating wait times associated with older players and gets you to your movie almost instantly.
The front-facing USB port is another highlight, transforming the player into a capable little media hub. We plugged in a USB drive loaded with a variety of files. The player’s simple, grid-based interface made navigation effortless. It played our H.264 MP4 and AVI video files without a stutter, displayed our family photos as a crisp JPEG slideshow, and handled our MP3 and WAV music library with ease. This versatility is perfect for quickly showing off vacation photos on the big screen or playing a downloaded video file without needing to hook up a laptop. Given its flawless performance in this area, it’s easy to see why anyone looking for a player with reliable USB playback would find the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player to be a top contender. For those who value this level of flexibility, we highly recommend you see the full feature list for this versatile player.
The remote is simple and uncluttered, with responsive buttons and a logical layout. The on-screen user interface is equally spartan but effective, prioritizing speed and ease of access over flashy graphics. This is a player designed for people who want to put a disc in and press play, and it excels at making that process as seamless as possible.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our positive experience with the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player is widely echoed by the broader user community. As we noted, one user who pairs the player with a massive 120″ projector screen describes it as “one of the best for home theater,” praising how good movies look. This confirms our findings that the picture quality is robust enough for even the most demanding large-format displays. Many others praise its simplicity, its lightning-fast startup speed, and the remarkable quality of its DVD upscaling, often expressing surprise at how much better their old movie collections look.
However, to provide a balanced view, it’s important to note the common criticisms, which align perfectly with the player’s intentional design limitations. Some users, accustomed to all-in-one smart devices, expressed disappointment over the lack of built-in Wi-Fi and streaming apps like Netflix or Hulu. This is a crucial point for potential buyers: the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player is a dedicated disc spinner, not a smart media hub. It is designed to do one job and do it exceptionally well, assuming you already have streaming capabilities through your smart TV or a separate device.
How Does the Sony BDP-S1700U Stack Up Against the Competition?
No product exists in a vacuum. To give you the clearest picture, we’ve compared the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player against three notable alternatives, each catering to a slightly different user need.
1. Samsung BD-J5700 Curved Blu-ray Player
- 2 Channel Dolby/DTS Decoding
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
The Samsung BD-J5700 is a direct competitor that takes a different approach by including built-in Wi-Fi and a selection of popular streaming apps. This makes it an appealing option for those seeking an all-in-one device for a secondary room, like a bedroom, where a separate streaming stick might be redundant. However, this added connectivity often comes at the cost of the snappy performance found in the Sony. Users might find its interface and app-loading to be slower. The choice here is clear: if you absolutely need Wi-Fi and apps in your Blu-ray player, the Samsung is a viable contender; if you prioritize pure playback speed and performance, the Sony BDP-S1700U has the edge.
2. Sony BDP-S590 3D Blu-ray Player Wi-Fi
- 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Full HD 1080p playback
- Built-in Wi-Fi, Digital Audio Output(s): 1 Optical (Rear), 1 Coaxial (Rear)
This older model from Sony’s own lineup offers a glimpse into features that have since become more niche. The BDP-S590 includes both Wi-Fi and 3D Blu-ray playback capabilities. For the shrinking audience of home theater enthusiasts who still maintain a 3D-capable TV and a collection of 3D discs, this player remains a sought-after item, often on the secondhand market. For everyone else, the newer S1700U is the more logical choice. It offers a more modern, streamlined experience and faster performance for standard 2D playback, which constitutes the vast majority of available content today.
3. LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player
- 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc playback provides the ultimate in audio/video quality with a stunning 4K picture and state-of-the-art audio. Pop in a 4K Ultra HD...
- 4K streaming content - this internet-ready LG device is capable of delivering an uncompromising Ultra HD 4K streaming experience. (Additional subscriptions...
The LG UBK90 represents the next step up in the world of physical media. This is a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player designed for users with a 4K TV and a desire for the absolute best video quality possible. It not only plays 4K discs but also supports premium HDR formats like Dolby Vision, offering superior brightness, color, and contrast over standard Blu-ray. This is the clear choice for the dedicated videophile who has invested in a 4K ecosystem. However, it comes at a significantly higher price point and is overkill for those whose collection is primarily 1080p Blu-rays and DVDs. The Sony BDP-S1700U offers the best performance for the 1080p format at a much more accessible price.
Final Verdict: Is the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player the Right Choice for You?
After extensive testing, we can say with confidence that the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player is an exceptional piece of hardware that knows exactly what it is—and what it isn’t. It is not a smart hub or a streaming media center. It is a pure, focused, and high-performance disc player for the modern era. Its strengths are profound: it delivers a gorgeous Full HD picture, provides immersive high-resolution audio, brings old DVDs back to life with superb upscaling, and operates with a speed that puts many of its competitors to shame.
This player is the perfect choice for the film lover who values the superior quality of physical media and already has a smart TV or streaming device to handle apps. It’s for the collector who wants a reliable, no-fuss machine to enjoy their library of Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs. Its simplicity is its greatest asset, offering a plug-and-play experience that just works, every single time. If you are looking for a workhorse player that prioritizes performance above all else, look no further.
If you’ve decided the Sony BDP-S1700U Blu-ray DVD Player is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API