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The best Blu-ray players in 2024 make it easy to catch up on your favorite shows
Physical media is far from dead. In fact, it’s a better time than ever to own your favorite TV series and movies, given that they often disappear from streaming services in the blink of an eye. So if you’re someone who collects Blu-ray discs for your home theater setup, you’re going to want to start with a great Blu-ray player first.
A great Blu-ray player can make all the difference when it comes to getting the most out of what you watch. With the advent of 4K and HDR, they’ve evolved to deliver crisp, crystal clear picture and sound quality. So no matter what you buy on Blu-ray, you can enjoy it to the fullest at home with the right player.
But which Blu-ray player should you bring home? Whether you’re a casual viewer or a dedicated film fan, we’ve rounded up some picks.
The best Blu-ray players in 2024
Best Blu-ray player: Panasonic DP-UB820
If you’re looking for the best Blu-ray player for most users, look no further than the Panasonic DMP-UB820. This player has a nice balance of features, performance and value. That makes it the best choice for just about everyone who needs a Blu-ray player.
It has full HDR support for vibrant colors, sharp textures and accurate black tones. Even when you play standard, non-4K Blu-ray or DVD discs, this player’s upscaling ability sharpens and enhances picture quality so it’s almost like seeing your favorites come to life in a new way. It also has Dolby Atmos support so it can fill your room with loud, clear sound.
Aside from connecting it directly to your TV or stereo system, it can use Wi-Fi for video streaming and even has a dedicated HDMI audio output for even higher-quality sound. That means it should mesh well with just about any setup you have going on in your living room with little muss or fuss.
Best premium Blu-ray player: Panasonic DP-UB9000
If you want the absolute best in home entertainment and have an elite home theater setup, the Panasonic DP-UB9000 is the ultimate 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Yes, it’s pricey, and that’s because it’s for the most elite cinephile. That’s why everything about it says “luxury” in many ways.
The heavy metal build and premium design make it clear that this player is in a class of its own. It supports all the key HDR formats, including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. You can also count on it for fantastic audio quality. With high-quality DACs, two-channel and 7.1-channel analogue outputs as well as support for Hi-Res Audio, this player has you covered in terms of audio. To top it all off, the DP-UB9000 comes packed with plenty of smart features.
This level of performance doesn’t come cheap, so you’ll absolutely be paying a pretty penny. But if quality is of the utmost importance to you, this is the Blu-ray player of your dreams.
Best budget Blu-ray player: Sony UBP-X700
Don’t want to spend an entire paycheck on a Blu-ray player? You don’t need to. The Sony UBP-X700 is an affordable player offers an impressive array of features and performance that belies its budget-friendly price point.
Its exceptional picture quality may come as a surprise, given that this player is so afforable. But whether you’re watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster or a classic film, this Blu-ray player can offer a great-looking picture that you can be proud of, even if you’re watching only top-of-the-line 4K releases.
It supports multiple HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10, ensuring that you can enjoy the widest possible range of 4K content. While it doesn’t support HDR10+, this omission is hardly a dealbreaker considering the player’s affordable price point. Despite not being marketed as a hi-res audio player, the UBP-X700 can even play high-resolution audio files and supports various formats such as WAV and FLAC.
For less than $200, you really can’t do better than this Blu-ray player, so be sure to grab it if you want to have high quality at a low price.
Best Blu-ray player and console combo: PlayStation 5 Slim
If you need to play Blu-ray discs but want a multifunction player to handle it, you can’t go wrong with a PlayStation 5, namely the PS5 Slim, which means you can play movies as well as video games from the same device.
As a 4K Blu-ray player, the PS5 Slim is a great space-saving option for anyone who loves video games, movies and TV. It lets you enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows in high definition, then switch over to the latest and greatest games without having to get up and change the disc out given the PS5 Slim’s spacious hard drive.
You don’t need a remote since you can use the included DualSense controller, and given that there are tons of new games always releasing in tandem with films and TV, you can kill two birds with one stone with this device. Plus, you’ll have more space free, without having to have both gaming console and Blu-ray player.
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Will HELOC interest rates continue dropping this December?
Interest rates on both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) have been on a steady decline for most of 2024, providing homeowners a cost-effective way to borrow money when rates on other products surged. HELOCs, in particular, have hit multiple 2024 lows as of late, making them an attractive option for homeowners who don’t want to be burdened with the fixed rate that a home equity loan comes with. HELOCs, on the other hand, have variable rates that will change every month. And homeowners won’t need to pay to refinance to secure the lower rate as the line of credit will adjust independently.
Understanding this dynamic, then, both current borrowers and those homeowners exploring their possible HELOC options may be wondering about the potential for HELOC interest rates to fall further this December and into 2025. While predicting the future of interest rates is exactly that – a prediction – there is a strong likelihood that HELOC interest rates will continue to trickle downward. Below, we’ll explain why.
See what HELOC interest rate you’d be eligible for here.
Will HELOC interest rates continue dropping this December?
HELOC interest rates are driven by a wide range of complex and interrelated factors. Here’s how rates on this product could fall even further this month, even if by a marginal degree:
Inflation could continue to drop. The latest inflation reading for October showed the rate increasing to 2.6%, more than half a percentage point above where the Federal Reserve would like it to be. But if the new report, scheduled for a December 11 release, shows inflation falling again, it could encourage lenders to start reducing their rate offers across products, including those on HELOCs. That said, an inflation reading is only one of a multitude of influencers and it is possible that other economic data could negatively affect HELOC rates, too. But if inflation looks encouraging, lenders may start reducing their HELOC rates in advance of a formal Fed rate cut later in the month.
Explore your current HELOC options online now.
The Fed could continue cutting interest rates. This factor comes in combination with the above one. But a 25 basis point cut to the federal funds rate for when the Fed meets again on December 17 and December 18 is becoming increasingly likely. The CME Group’s FedWatch tool has a cut listed at an 86% likelihood currently. And it will become a virtual certainty between now and then should other economic data encouraging a rate cut be released. That all noted, many lenders may have already started pricing in these presumed rate cuts into their current offers, meaning that what you see listed on online lender marketplaces after December 18 may not be materially different from what you saw listed in the days leading up to the final Fed meeting of 2024.
What about a home equity loan?
Home equity loans are also worth exploring now, albeit with the recognition that they won’t be as cost-effective in a cooling rate climate as a HELOC will be. With their fixed interest rates, borrowers will need to wait for rates to fall significantly to make a refinance worth the time and money. On the other hand, rates on home equity loans are averaging 8.40% now for qualified borrowers, 15 basis points lower than the average 8.55% HELOC rate. And while that may not seem to be much, it can add up to significant savings over a 10 or 15-year repayment period. So it’s worth exploring this home equity borrowing alternative, too, before formally applying for either.
The bottom line
The downward trend HELOC interest rates have been on in the first 11-plus months of 2024 could continue this December, assuming some influencing economic factors break in a certain way. At the same time, home equity loans are slightly cheaper now and they come with the security of a fixed interest rate, which may be attractive for borrowers in today’s evolving rate climate. So explore both before applying – and remember that your home functions as collateral in these borrowing exchanges, making it critical that you only withdraw an amount you can easily afford to pay back to the lender.
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