Sony UBP-X700 Upgrade: R_Volution Chassis DIY Kit Review | Digitalfernsehen.de
- The market for dedicated UHD Blu-ray players is shrinking, but a new option is emerging for enthusiasts who want to breathe new life into existing hardware.
- While gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X offer 4K Blu-ray playback, R_Volution points out that these systems consume considerably more power than dedicated players.
- The upgrade replaces the UBP-X700’s original chassis and internal components with a more robust and refined setup.
The market for dedicated UHD Blu-ray players is shrinking, but a new option is emerging for enthusiasts who want to breathe new life into existing hardware. French company R_Volution has announced a DIY upgrade kit, dubbed the “Chassis DIY X700,” designed to transform the Sony UBP-X700 into a high-end 4K Blu-ray player. The kit addresses a key weakness of the UBP-X700 – its build quality – while promising significant improvements to audio and video performance.
While gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X offer 4K Blu-ray playback, R_Volution points out that these systems consume considerably more power than dedicated players. Consoles often lack the full disc support offered by players like the UBP-X700, such as the ability to play music CDs. The Sony player, while affordable and offering a comprehensive feature set including a dedicated HDMI audio output, is often criticized for its cost-cutting materials and internal design.
The R_Volution Chassis DIY X700 tackles this issue head-on. The upgrade replaces the UBP-X700’s original chassis and internal components with a more robust and refined setup. The core of the upgrade is a new aluminum chassis housing a linear power supply with a toroidal transformer – components also found in R_Volution’s own PlayerPro 8K TV player. This linear power supply is intended to deliver cleaner, more stable power to the Sony player’s mainboard and optical drive, reducing noise and improving overall signal quality.
The upgrade process is designed to be straightforward, with R_Volution providing step-by-step instructions. Users remove the original components from the UBP-X700 – the mainboard and optical drive – and install them into the new chassis. The kit also includes a new, larger remote control. The transformation is substantial in terms of physical size and weight: the original Sony player measures 32 x 4.5 x 21.7 cm and weighs 1.4 kg, while the upgraded version expands to 43 x 7 x 28 cm and weighs 5 kg.
Beyond the power supply, the chassis incorporates features aimed at minimizing interference. A dedicated grounding connection is included to help prevent ground loops, particularly beneficial in complex home theater setups. R_Volution emphasizes the importance of a clean power supply, noting that even a simple change of interconnect cables can noticeably improve audio and video purity.
The kit’s availability was previewed at the ISE 2026 show in Barcelona, , with an exclusive world premiere at authentic-cinema in Osterholz-Scharmbeck. The R_Volution DIY-X700 is designed for self-assembly, reflecting the “Do It Yourself” nature of the product.
However, this upgrade doesn’t come cheap. While the Sony UBP-X700 itself retails for around
The upgrade addresses a fundamental limitation of the UBP-X700: its basic power supply. By replacing it with a high-quality linear power supply and enclosing the player in a more substantial chassis, R_Volution aims to unlock the full potential of the Sony player’s core components. For dedicated physical media enthusiasts, the DIY X700 kit offers a compelling path to a premium 4K Blu-ray experience without the need to purchase a completely new, and often more expensive, player.