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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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Is a $5,000 CD still worth opening now?
For the last two and a half years, approximately, the benefits of opening a certificate of deposit (CD) account have been clear. These accounts offered interest rates exponentially higher than they had been in 2020 and 2021, for example. The rates on these accounts were fixed, meaning that savers could rely on a predictable return despite any volatility in the wider rate climate during their CD term. Depending on the initial deposit, then, savers could earn hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest, simply by opening an account at the right time, with the right lender.
But is now still the right time to do so? Inflation has steadily dropped from the decades-high point it was at in June 2022. Multiple interest rate cuts have since been issued in response, the latest of which is widely expected for when the Federal Reserve meets for the final time in 2024 on December 17 and 18. Against this backdrop, then, savers may be pondering the benefits of opening a CD. While a $5,000 deposit, for example, may have been a clear choice a year or two ago, some may be wondering if a $5,000 CD is still worth opening now. Below, we’ll explain why it may still be.
See how much interest you could be earning with one of today’s top CDs here.
Is a $5,000 CD still worth opening now?
In simple terms: Yes, a $5,000 CD can still be worth opening for many savers right now. But the details matter. For example, a $5,000 deposit into a short-term CD may not be valuable for some savers. These accounts, which mature in under 12 months, have interest rates slightly higher than their long-term counterparts. But long-term CDs, which have terms ranging from 18 months to 10 years, will allow savers to lock in today’s high rates for years to come, making them a smart way to protect your savings against any future rate cuts.
To better understand why a $5,000 long-term CD would be better than a short-term one now, it helps to compare the returns each account can offer savers. It’s possible to find a 6-month CD with a rate of 4.50% now. 2-year CD rates, meanwhile, top out around 4.25%. But the lower rate won’t negate the higher earnings, thanks to the extended earning potential. A $5,000, 6-month CD would make $111.26 upon maturity while the 18-month CD would earn $434.03. That’s almost four times the interest, made with the same effort as it would take to open the shorter term.
The key consideration, then, becomes a personal one. Can you afford to keep your money untouched in a long-term CD? If you can’t and open one anyway you’ll be penalized for withdrawing your money early. That could mean forfeiting all of the interest earned to that point, depending on the individual lender’s fees. The same considerations apply to short-term CDs, too, although those accounts are typically easier for the average saver to see through to maturity. Only you will know which is best for your situation.
Start exploring your short-term and long-term CD options here.
What about high-yield savings accounts?
If you’re concerned about your ability to lock your money away, regardless of the term length, a high-yield savings account could be a valuable alternative to investigate. These accounts operate like traditional savings accounts do, albeit with much higher interest rates. The catch, here, is that rates are variable and likely to fluctuate and potentially decline as additional Fed rate cuts are issued. And the most attractive accounts are usually via online banks, so you may need to move your funds from your regular branch to take advantage of the higher rates offered elsewhere.
Learn more about your high-yield savings account options here.
The bottom line
Interest rates haven’t dropped so low that a $5,000 CD is no longer valuable. Savers will just need to be a bit more strategic in their approach than they have been in recent years. For many, that may mean opening a long-term CD versus a short-term one. Others, however, may be best served by forgoing their CD options for high-yield savings accounts. It’s critical to take action soon, however. Today’s interest rates won’t remain this high forever so it makes sense to start earning more on your money as soon as possible.
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