The Sony BDP-S6700 has all the attributes required to be the standout option among the best blu-ray players. There's outstandingly strong picture quality and the option to watch 3D discs or stream video from hundreds of services. This Blu-ray player also upscales DVD and Blu-ray discs and plays them in a higher-resolution format. The only real downside is that it doesn't play 4K Blu-ray discs, which many newer Blu-ray players are capable of. While this model was original released in 2013, it's still capable of producing good quality pictures and sound, although it does lack for more modern features.
Sony BDP-S6700 review: Picture quality
During our hands-on testing with the BDP-S6700, we watched the film Gravity. Our disk was a multi-format copy, so we watched and compared both the 4K and 3D versions of the film using a 4K and 3D-compatible Sony HDTV. The BDP-S6700 effectively converted the 2D 4K version to 3D. This feature may not be necessary for everyone, but it is a nice extra touch.
Its upscaling boosts the quality of your Blu-ray and DVD discs to near-4K quality. The blu-ray player does a fine job producing a sharp image – blacks were deep and colors vibrant, especially on a 4K television. It also has HDMI Deep Color.
We also tested each player’s boot time, and this unit took 14.8 seconds to turn on. This is a few seconds behind the other Blu-ray players we tested, which generally took around 12 seconds to boot up. This Sony blu-ray player also runs apps a lot smoother than other players. Others we tested suffered from frequent hiccups and had long load times.
Sony BDP-S6700 review: Essential details
Measuring in at 10 x 7.6 x 1.5 inches and weighing just 2 lbs, Sony’s BDP-S6700 is lightweight and small enough to fit in your entertainment center. It does feel a little cheap since it’s mostly made of plastic, but it doesn’t look ugly. Despite being black, the case doesn’t pick up a lot of fingerprints. There are just two buttons on the front – one for power and the other to engage the disk tray. This machine would be better if it had a display on its front, but unfortunately, this is becoming an uncommon feature on Blu-ray players. During playback, there is some noise but not enough to hinder your viewing experience.
This player is an updated version of the BDP-S6500, but this model supports wireless Bluetooth connectivity with LDAC. This means you can watch movies with wireless headphones. Like most other players, it can connect to the internet over WiFi or by Ethernet. The WiFi is dual band, so you get twice the bandwidth.
It has just one HDMI input and a coaxial audio output. Underneath the power button on the front, there is a single USB port you can plug an external hard drive into to play your stored video and photo files.
Sony BDP-S6700 review: Features
If you have a smartphone, you can download a mobile app that lets you use your phone as a remote control. The included remote is a little too small, which makes it uncomfortable to hold. Fortunately, the buttons are reasonably positioned, and it’s operable in the dark. It also has nice small touches like a Bluetooth pairing button and a button to fire up Netflix.
The BDP-S6700 supports 24p on VUDU, Amazon and Netflix. Many Netflix and Disney Plus shows are available in 4K as well. This player comes with 16 apps pre-loaded for use which means you can't add more later.
Sony BDP-S6700 Review: Technical specifications
As previously mentioned, this unit has just one coaxial audio output. Audiophiles would benefit from a second HDMI port for outputting audio. The BDP-S6700 supports Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio, and you can hook it up to a soundbar or an AV receiver for impressive surround sound. It works with newer Dolby Atmos upward-firing speakers.
Since it’s DLNA compatible, you can upload your music, photos and video to the cloud and access them wirelessly. Sony has a SongPal Link smartphone app that lets you play your music from the Blu-ray player to multiple rooms throughout your home with compatible speakers, though we didn’t test this functionality.
Formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, ALAC and DSD are compatible and can be played via the USB port. You can play standard CDs with the player as well.
Sony offers support for the BDP-S6700 through several channels. Along with the device's one-year base warranty, you can get troubleshooting advice from Sony’s phone, email and live chat agents, along with information on the company’s website.
Should you buy the Sony BDP-S6700 blu-ray player?
The Sony BDP-S6700 is quite simply one of the best Blu-ray players on the market today, thanks to its impressive picture quality, expansive app catalog and ability to upscale video to near-4K resolution. It’s easy to use and set up and can even convert 2D videos to 3D. It is an older model, and this limits the feature-set somewhat, but if you are looking for a Blu-ray player that simply performs and displays a great picture, this is a good option.
