Audio T Verdict
The Sony BDP-S1700K is a refreshingly straightforward Blu-ray player for anyone who still wants to enjoy a physical film and music collection without paying for 4K Ultra HD features they may never use.
At its core, this is a Full HD 1080p player. It handles Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD and even Super Audio CD, making it considerably more versatile for physical media than its modest size and price might suggest.
Standard DVDs benefit from Sony's Precision CinemaHD upscaling, while 24p True Cinema allows suitably mastered Blu-ray films to be output at their native cinematic frame rate when used with a compatible television or projector.
There is a useful front USB socket too, with support for a wide range of video, music and photo files including FLAC, ALAC, AIFF and DSD audio.
Networking is deliberately simple. There is an Ethernet socket for wired internet access, but no built-in Wi-Fi. For a permanent home cinema installation this is not necessarily a disadvantage - a wired connection is usually stable and avoids adding another wireless device to the system - but customers who cannot run an Ethernet cable should take note.
Connection to a television or AV receiver is handled through HDMI, while a separate coaxial digital audio output is useful for compatible amplifiers and DACs. There are no analogue audio outputs and no optical digital connection.
The most important limitation is equally straightforward: this is not a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. It does not play UHD Blu-ray discs and should not be bought for HDR10 or Dolby Vision disc playback. Sony's UBP-X700K is the logical step up for those features.
For a second system, bedroom television, smaller home cinema or anyone with a substantial collection of regular Blu-rays, DVDs, CDs and SACDs, the BDP-S1700K does exactly what many people still need from a disc player without unnecessary complication.
Sony BDP-S1700K Full HD Blu-ray Disc Player
The Sony BDP-S1700K is a compact Full HD Blu-ray Disc player designed for Blu-ray, DVD and music-disc playback, with USB media support and wired network connectivity.
Key features include:
- Full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc playback
- DVD-Video playback
- DVD upscaling through Sony Precision CinemaHD processing
- 24p True Cinema
- Deep Colour support
- Super Audio CD playback
- Standard audio CD playback
- CD-R and CD-RW playback
- Front USB media playback
- FLAC playback
- ALAC playback
- AIFF playback
- DSD file playback
- Wired Ethernet network connection
- HDMI output
- Coaxial digital audio output
- BRAVIA Sync HDMI control
- Parental control
- Child lock
- Automatic standby
- Compact 230mm-wide chassis
Full HD Blu-ray - Not 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
The BDP-S1700K is designed for conventional Blu-ray Disc playback at up to Full HD 1080p resolution.
It does not play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.
If you own or intend to buy 4K UHD discs, or require HDR10 and Dolby Vision disc playback, consider the Sony UBP-X700K 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player instead.
Full HD 1080p Blu-ray Playback
Blu-ray provides substantially greater video resolution than standard DVD.
The BDP-S1700K can output compatible Blu-ray material at Full HD resolution through HDMI, making it suitable for modern 1080p televisions, projectors and 4K displays that still include conventional HDMI inputs.
A 4K television can still display the player's 1080p output, with the television performing any additional scaling required to match its native panel resolution.
Why Blu-ray Can Still Look Better Than Streaming
A well-authored Blu-ray Disc remains a very good source for Full HD film playback.
A physical disc does not depend on the speed of your internet connection once playback has started, and Blu-ray can use substantially more data than heavily compressed online video.
That can help preserve:
- Fine picture detail
- Texture
- Fast motion
- Dark-scene detail
- Surround-sound quality
The final result will of course depend on the quality of the individual disc transfer, display and complete system.
24p True Cinema
Many films are photographed at approximately 24 frames per second.
Sony's 24p True Cinema feature allows compatible Blu-ray material to be output at the appropriate 24p frame rate when connected to a suitable television or projector.
This avoids unnecessarily converting film material to a different video cadence before it reaches the display.
Deep Colour
Sony specifies Deep Colour support within the BDP-S1700K's HDMI video processing.
Compatibility ultimately depends on the source material, HDMI connection and display being used.
Precision CinemaHD Upscaling
Standard-definition material such as DVD has considerably fewer pixels than a Full HD display.
Sony's Precision CinemaHD Super Scaler processes lower-resolution video before output through HDMI, allowing DVDs and other compatible material to be presented at a resolution better suited to a modern television.
Upscaling does not create the missing picture information of a genuine Blu-ray master, but it can make a DVD library look cleaner and more presentable on a modern screen.
DVD Playback
The BDP-S1700K supports a broad selection of DVD media, including:
- DVD-Video
- DVD-R
- DVD-RW
- DVD-R Dual Layer
- DVD+R
- DVD+RW
- DVD+R Double Layer
Recordable-disc compatibility can depend on the way a disc was authored and finalised.
CD Playback
The BDP-S1700K also works as a conventional CD player.
Supported disc types include:
- Audio CD / CD-DA
- CD-R
- CD-RW
Audio can be sent digitally through HDMI or the rear coaxial digital output to a compatible amplifier, AV receiver or DAC.
Super Audio CD Playback
One of the more unusual features at this price is Super Audio CD compatibility.
The BDP-S1700K supports SA-CD playback in addition to conventional CD, making it useful for customers who still own SACD titles or hybrid SACD/CD releases.
Connection and output format will depend on the receiving equipment and player settings, so HDMI is generally the most versatile connection when integrating the player into a home cinema system.
A Useful Music Player Too
If your system already contains a good DAC or AV receiver, the BDP-S1700K can perform double duty as a disc transport for CDs as well as a Blu-ray and DVD source.
The separate coaxial digital output is particularly useful for stereo systems where the television or AV receiver is not the preferred route for CD playback.
HDMI Output
A rear HDMI connection carries digital video and audio to a television, projector, soundbar or AV receiver.
For most installations this should be the primary connection.
HDMI carries:
- Full HD video
- DVD-upscaled video
- Digital audio
- HDMI-CEC control information through BRAVIA Sync
Connecting Through an AV Receiver
For a conventional surround-sound system, connect the BDP-S1700K to a compatible HDMI input on the AV receiver and then connect the receiver's HDMI output to the television or projector.
This allows the receiver to handle the audio while passing the video signal onwards to the display.
The exact available sound format depends on the disc, player settings and capabilities of the connected AV receiver.
Connecting Directly to a Television
The player can alternatively be connected directly to a television by HDMI.
This is the simplest arrangement when:
- Television speakers are being used
- A soundbar is connected separately through the TV
- The TV routes audio to an external system through ARC or eARC
- No AV receiver is installed
Audio-routing capabilities depend on the television and connected sound system.
Coaxial Digital Audio Output
A separate RCA coaxial digital output allows the BDP-S1700K to send digital audio to compatible equipment without using HDMI.
This can be useful with:
- Stereo integrated amplifiers with coaxial digital input
- Standalone DACs
- Older AV receivers
- Digital pre-amplifiers
Use a proper 75-ohm digital coaxial interconnect where possible.
The Coaxial Socket Is Digital
The rear RCA-style connector is a coaxial digital audio output.
It is not a conventional analogue left/right audio connection and should not be plugged into an Aux, CD or other analogue RCA input.
No Analogue Audio Outputs
The BDP-S1700K does not provide conventional stereo analogue RCA outputs.
If your amplifier accepts analogue audio only, you will need a suitable external DAC between the player's coaxial digital output and the amplifier.
No Optical Digital Output
There is no Toslink optical output.
Digital audio connections are therefore:
Check the available inputs on older soundbars and amplifiers before purchase.
Dolby TrueHD
Sony specifies Dolby TrueHD decoding within the BDP-S1700K.
Dolby TrueHD is a lossless audio format commonly found on Blu-ray discs.
For home cinema use, HDMI provides the most flexible connection between the player and a compatible AV receiver or sound system.
DTS
DTS audio decoding is also supported.
Available output behaviour depends on the selected player settings, disc and receiving equipment.
Front USB Media Playback
A USB socket on the front panel allows compatible storage devices to be connected for local media playback.
The player supports a surprisingly broad range of music, video and photo file formats.
High-Resolution Audio Files
Supported audio file formats include:
- AAC
- WMA
- LPCM
- FLAC
- AIFF
- ALAC
- DSD / DSDIFF
- Dolby Digital files
- Vorbis
This makes the BDP-S1700K more useful as a local media player than its Blu-ray-focused description might suggest.
DSD File Playback
Sony specifies support for DSDIFF and DSF files.
As with SACD playback, the final digital output format and compatibility depend on the connected equipment and player configuration.
FLAC, ALAC and AIFF
Lossless music libraries stored in common formats such as FLAC, ALAC and AIFF can be accessed from compatible USB media.
This provides a simple way to play locally stored music without turning on a separate computer.
Video File Playback
The BDP-S1700K supports a wide range of common video containers and codecs from compatible media.
Published support includes variants of:
- MPEG-1
- MPEG-2
- MPEG-4 AVC / H.264
- AVCHD
- VC-1
- WMV9
- Motion JPEG
- MKV
- MP4
- M2TS
- MTS
- MOV
- AVI
File compatibility can vary according to the codec, profile, bitrate, resolution and way a file was encoded, even when the filename extension appears on the supported list.
Photo Playback
Compatible image files can also be displayed through the player.
Supported formats include:
External USB Hard Drives
The BDP-S1700K can work with compatible external USB storage, but there are some important format restrictions.
Sony specifies:
- FAT32 file systems supported
- NTFS file systems supported
- exFAT not supported
- MBR partitioning supported
- GPT partitioning not supported
- Only the first partition of a multi-partition drive is recognised
USB Drive Not Recognised?
If an external hard drive is formatted as exFAT or uses GPT partitioning, the BDP-S1700K may not recognise it.
Do not reformat a drive without first backing up any important files because formatting permanently removes the existing data.
Wired Ethernet Connection
A rear Ethernet socket connects the player to a home network and compatible internet services.
For a fixed home cinema installation, wired networking has some practical benefits:
- Consistent connection
- No Wi-Fi password setup on the player
- Reduced dependence on wireless signal strength
- Less susceptibility to a congested wireless environment
A suitable Ethernet cable and home router or network switch are required.
No Built-In Wi-Fi
The BDP-S1700K does not contain a Wi-Fi network connection.
Internet and network functionality requires the rear Ethernet port.
Ethernet Required for Network Features
Do not buy the BDP-S1700K expecting it to connect directly to your wireless router over Wi-Fi.
If online functions are important, make sure a wired network connection can reach the player.
Online Entertainment
The BDP-S1700K's network platform can provide access to compatible online content and services where supported.
However, streaming platforms are third-party services and their availability can change independently of the hardware manufacturer.
If access to a particular streaming application is essential, check current compatibility before purchase rather than relying on an older product brochure or review.
Already Have a Smart TV?
Many modern televisions already provide a much broader and more frequently updated selection of streaming applications.
For many customers, the BDP-S1700K's main value will therefore be physical-disc and USB playback rather than replacing the smart platform built into the television.
BRAVIA Sync
BRAVIA Sync uses HDMI-CEC to allow compatible Sony equipment to communicate through the HDMI connection.
Depending on the television and system configuration, this can simplify everyday control by allowing related products to respond to common power and playback commands.
Parental Control
Parental-control settings can be used to restrict access to suitable disc material where supported by the content.
This is particularly useful where the player is installed in a family room or children's television system.
Child Lock
Sony also provides a child-lock function for additional control over player operation.
Automatic Standby
The BDP-S1700K can enter standby automatically after a period of inactivity.
Sony specifies automatic low-power operation after approximately 20 minutes.
Low Power Consumption
Power consumption is modest:
- Approximately 8.5W during operation
- Approximately 0.3W in standard standby
Network and HDMI-CEC standby functions can alter the exact standby consumption according to configuration.
Compact Chassis
The BDP-S1700K is considerably smaller than a conventional full-width Hi-Fi or AV component.
It measures approximately:
- 230mm wide
- 39mm high
- 194mm deep
At approximately 0.8kg, it is also extremely light.
This makes it particularly easy to accommodate beneath smaller televisions or alongside compact AV systems.
Allow Space for Cables
The published 194mm depth describes the player itself.
Remember to allow additional space behind the unit for:
- HDMI plug and cable
- Coaxial digital cable if used
- Ethernet cable
- Power connection
A tightly enclosed shelf should also provide suitable ventilation.
BDP-S1700K or UBP-X700K?
Choose the BDP-S1700K When
- Your discs are conventional Blu-ray and DVD
- Full HD 1080p is sufficient
- You want a compact affordable player
- SACD playback is useful
- A wired Ethernet connection is practical
- You do not need HDR disc playback
- You do not own 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs
Choose the UBP-X700K When
- You own 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs
- You want native 4K disc playback
- HDR10 is required
- Dolby Vision is required
- 4K upscaling is useful
- Built-in Wi-Fi is important
- You are building a more ambitious 4K home cinema
The Sony UBP-X700K is the logical alternative for customers who need 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and HDR capability.
Using the BDP-S1700K with a 4K Television
You can still use the BDP-S1700K with a 4K television.
The player outputs its conventional Full HD material and the television scales that signal to the native resolution of its panel.
What it cannot do is read the separate 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc format.
Using the Player with an AV Receiver
The BDP-S1700K makes a useful source for an AV system where conventional Blu-ray and DVD remain important.
A typical connection is:
- BDP-S1700K HDMI output to AV receiver HDMI input
- AV receiver HDMI output to television or projector
- AV receiver decodes and amplifies the soundtrack
The Sony range at Audio T includes compatible AV and television products for customers building a complete Sony system.
Using the Player in a Stereo Hi-Fi System
For customers more interested in CD and SACD than surround sound, the BDP-S1700K can also form part of a stereo system.
If the amplifier or DAC has a coaxial digital input, connect the player's coaxial output directly.
Where the amplifier has analogue inputs only, an external DAC is required.
Can It Replace a Dedicated CD Player?
Functionally, it can play CDs and offers a useful coaxial digital output.
Whether it replaces a dedicated Hi-Fi CD transport or player depends on the system and priorities.
A specialist CD player may offer:
- More substantial mechanical construction
- Dedicated front-panel controls
- Analogue outputs
- A larger display
- Different digital-output implementation
The Sony's strength is versatility rather than pretending to be a specialist high-end CD transport.
Who Is the BDP-S1700K For?
Well Suited To
- Existing Blu-ray collections
- DVD collections
- CD collections
- SACD collections
- 1080p televisions
- 4K TVs where UHD discs are not required
- Bedroom and second-room systems
- Compact home cinemas
- AV receivers
- Stereo DACs with coaxial input
- USB music and video playback
- Wired home networks
Check Before Buying
- No 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback
- No native 4K disc output
- No HDR10 disc playback
- No Dolby Vision disc playback
- No built-in Wi-Fi
- Network features require Ethernet
- No analogue RCA audio output
- No optical Toslink output
- Streaming-service availability can change
- USB exFAT drives are not supported
- USB GPT partitioning is not supported
- HDMI cable requirements should be checked for your installation
Key Features
- Full HD Blu-ray Disc player
- 1080p video output
- BD-ROM playback
- DVD-Video playback
- DVD-R playback
- DVD-RW playback
- DVD-R Dual Layer playback
- DVD+R playback
- DVD+RW playback
- DVD+R Double Layer playback
- CD-DA playback
- CD-R playback
- CD-RW playback
- Super Audio CD playback
- Precision CinemaHD Super Scaler
- DVD upscaling
- 24p True Cinema
- Deep Colour
- Dolby TrueHD decoding
- DTS decoding
- Front USB input
- USB video playback
- USB music playback
- USB photo playback
- FLAC support
- ALAC support
- AIFF support
- DSD file support
- AAC support
- WMA support
- LPCM support
- JPEG support
- PNG support
- GIF support
- BMP support
- Wired Ethernet
- No built-in Wi-Fi
- Rear HDMI output
- Rear coaxial digital audio output
- No analogue audio output
- No optical digital output
- BRAVIA Sync
- Child Lock
- Parental Control
- Auto Standby
- 8.5W operating power consumption
- 0.3W standard standby consumption
- 230mm width
- 39mm height
- 194mm depth
- Approximately 0.8kg weight
- Remote control supplied
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sony BDP-S1700K?
It is a compact Full HD Blu-ray Disc player with DVD, CD, SACD, USB media and wired-network functionality.
Does the BDP-S1700K play Blu-ray discs?
Yes. It is designed for conventional Full HD Blu-ray Disc playback.
Does it play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs?
No. A 4K UHD player such as the Sony UBP-X700K is required for Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.
Can I use it with a 4K TV?
Yes. A 4K television can display the player's Full HD output and scale it to the panel's native resolution.
Does it output 4K?
The BDP-S1700K is a Full HD player rather than a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Its core video output is up to 1080p.
Does it support HDR10?
It is not an Ultra HD HDR disc player. Choose the Sony UBP-X700K if HDR10 Blu-ray playback is required.
Does it support Dolby Vision?
No Dolby Vision UHD disc playback is provided. The UBP-X700K is the more appropriate Sony player for Dolby Vision and 4K Ultra HD discs.
Does it upscale DVDs?
Yes. Sony's Precision CinemaHD Super Scaler processes lower-resolution material for output to modern displays.
Does DVD upscaling make a DVD look like Blu-ray?
No. Upscaling can improve presentation on a high-resolution display but cannot recreate picture information that was not present on the original DVD.
Does it support 24p?
Yes. Sony specifies 24p True Cinema for compatible material and displays.
Does it play CDs?
Yes. Standard CD-DA, CD-R and CD-RW playback is supported.
Does it play Super Audio CD?
Yes. Sony specifically lists SA-CD playback.
Can I use it as a CD transport?
Yes. Its coaxial digital output can feed a compatible DAC or amplifier for conventional digital audio playback.
Does it have analogue RCA outputs?
No.
Can I connect it to an analogue-only amplifier?
You will need an external DAC between the player's coaxial digital output and the amplifier.
Does it have HDMI?
Yes. One rear HDMI output is provided.
Does it have a coaxial digital output?
Yes. One rear coaxial S/PDIF audio output is provided.
Does it have an optical output?
No.
Can I connect it to an AV receiver?
Yes. HDMI is normally the preferred connection for an AV receiver.
Does it decode Dolby TrueHD?
Yes. Sony lists Dolby TrueHD decoding within the BDP-S1700K specification.
Does it support DTS?
Yes. DTS decoding is specified.
Does the BDP-S1700K have Wi-Fi?
No.
How does it connect to the internet?
Through the rear wired Ethernet connection.
Can I use streaming services?
The player provides wired network access to compatible online content and services, but individual third-party app availability can change over time. Check current support if a particular service is essential.
Can I connect it wirelessly to my router?
Not directly. The BDP-S1700K has no built-in Wi-Fi.
Does it have a USB port?
Yes. A front USB connection is provided for compatible local media.
Can it play FLAC files?
Yes.
Can it play ALAC?
Yes.
Can it play AIFF?
Yes.
Can it play DSD files?
Yes. Sony lists DSDIFF and DSF compatibility.
Can it play MKV video files?
Several supported video codecs can use the MKV container, although compatibility still depends on the codec, profile and individual file encoding.
Can it display JPEG photographs?
Yes. JPEG, PNG, GIF and BMP images are supported.
Can I connect an external USB hard drive?
Compatible drives can be used, subject to Sony's file-system and partition restrictions.
Does it support exFAT USB drives?
No. Sony specifies FAT32 and NTFS, while exFAT is not supported.
Does it support GPT-partitioned hard drives?
No. Sony specifies MBR partitioning and states that GPT is not supported.
Can it read several partitions on one hard drive?
The player recognises the first partition of a compatible external hard drive.
Does it support BRAVIA Sync?
Yes. BRAVIA Sync HDMI control is supported with compatible equipment.
Does it have parental controls?
Yes.
Does it have a child lock?
Yes.
How large is the player?
Approximately 230 x 39 x 194mm W x H x D.
How much does it weigh?
Approximately 0.8kg.
How much power does it use?
Sony specifies approximately 8.5W during operation and 0.3W in standard standby.
Is a remote control supplied?
Yes. The UK specification lists Sony remote control RMT-VB500E with two AAA batteries.
Should I buy this or the UBP-X700K?
Choose the BDP-S1700K if conventional Blu-ray, DVD, CD and SACD cover your needs. Choose the UBP-X700K if you want 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, HDR10, Dolby Vision and a more ambitious 4K home cinema source.
Related Sony Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Sony Blu-ray player demonstrations
- Television and projector matching advice
- AV receiver setup
- HDMI connection guidance
- Coaxial digital audio setup
- Surround-sound configuration
- DVD and Blu-ray playback advice
- SACD and CD integration
- USB media setup
- Wired network guidance
- Comparison with 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players
- Complete home cinema system advice
- Ongoing setup and after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss the Sony BDP-S1700K, compare it with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player or get advice on connecting it to your television, projector, AV receiver or Hi-Fi system.