R_volution Chassis DIY-X700

The Sony UBP-X700, one of the world’s most widely used 4K Blu-ray players, owes much of its success to its Dolby Vision compatibility and a value-for-features ratio that is hard to beat. But its external power supply — a simple 12 V switching power adapter — remains a well-known weak point in the home theater community. The Chassis DIY-X700, designed by French company R_volution (Groupe Archisoft, Paris), aims to address this compromise: a complete brushed aluminum chassis that houses the Sony’s motherboard and optical drive, while supplying them with a linear power supply of significantly higher quality.

The concept: keep the Sony electronics, change everything else

The DIY-X700 is not a Blu-ray player. It is an enclosure into which the internals of the Sony UBP-X700 are transplanted: the motherboard and optical drive. The interface, menus, and features (Dolby Vision, HDR10, SACD playback, streaming) remain strictly identical. No Sony component is modified, no firmware is altered. What changes is the power source feeding these circuits — and that is precisely where the improvement lies.

The original switching power supply generates high-frequency noise and jitter that interfere with audio and video signals. Replacing it with a linear power supply aims to reduce these disturbances and deliver a cleaner signal at the HDMI output. R_volution uses the same linear power supply technology here as that integrated into its flagship media player, the PlayerPro 8K TV.

A linear power supply calibrated for audio and video

The 81 W toroidal transformer is made from oxygen-free copper (OFC), a classic choice in high-end audio power supplies for its low resistance and conduction properties. Regulation relies on two stages: a Toshiba linear regulator for the main circuit, and a Lintec ultra-low-noise low-dropout (LDO) regulator. This combination delivers stable, filtered current even under variable load during 4K UHD disc playback.

On the capacitor side, R_volution has selected Nichicon and Nippon Chemical models for the audio circuits, and WIMA components for the video circuits. These Japanese and German manufacturers are benchmarks in their respective fields, commonly used in professional audio equipment and high-end amplifiers. The expected result: deeper blacks, more stable color reproduction, improved film grain rendering, and better audio timing on multichannel tracks.

Accessible assembly, no soldering required

The term DIY (Do It Yourself) may sound daunting, but the process comes down to four steps: open the Sony UBP-X700, unscrew the motherboard and optical drive, install them in the new chassis, then connect the supplied ribbon cables and wiring. No soldering is required. R_volution provides a detailed manual and a video guide to assist with the assembly. Allow one to two hours of work.

Please note: the operation voids the original Sony warranty. However, the DIY-X700 kit comes with its own 2-year warranty, covering the chassis and all supplied components.

Home automation integration and rack mounting

The chassis retains the original Sony player’s IR codes. The included remote control (larger than the original, with additional buttons) works immediately out of the box — and more importantly, this IR compatibility allows direct integration into home automation control systems: Crestron, Control4, RTI, Savant, Logitech Harmony, SofaBaton, SwitchBot, Philips Pronto, Elan, and URC are all supported without any specific configuration.

Rack mounting ears are included in the kit. For rack installations, a dedicated ground connector eliminates ground loops that can introduce noise into the signal — a detail that shows R_volution designed this product for professional integrations as much as for home use.

Dimensions and kit contents

Measuring 43 × 28.23 × 7.17 cm and weighing 5 kg (unboxed), the chassis adopts a standard hi-fi component form factor. It is considerably larger than the compact original Sony enclosure (32 × 4.5 × 21.7 cm, 1.4 kg), reflecting the space occupied by the toroidal transformer and power supply circuits.

The kit includes: the complete chassis with integrated linear power supply, an IR remote control, a 1 m 4K HDMI cable, a rack mounting kit, internal ribbon cables, and four mains power cables (EU, US, UK, AU plugs). The Sony UBP-X700 player is not included and must be purchased separately.

Technical Specifications

The R_volution Chassis DIY‑X700 is an upgrade kit designed to transform the Sony UBP‑X700 Blu-ray player into a true audiophile home theater source. Thanks to a premium linear power supply and high-quality electronic components, this chassis significantly improves picture quality and audio performance.

Highlights

• Simple DIY kit to install, no technical skills required
• Linear power supply with 81 W toroidal transformer
• Picture improvement: contrast, colors, sharpness
• More precise and dynamic digital sound
• Premium chassis for high-end integration
• Compatible with home automation systems (Crestron, Control4, etc.)

How It Works

• The kit allows you to:
  • Open the Sony UBP-X700 player
  • Remove the motherboard and optical drive
  • Install the components in the new chassis
  • Connect the supplied cables
• Quick installation, guided by manual and video.

Power Supply

• Type: linear power supply
• Transformer: oxygen-free copper toroidal, 81 W
• Regulation:
  • Toshiba (main)
  • Lintec (low-noise LDO)
• Power consumption:
  • During playback: 12 W
  • In standby: 0.5 W

Audio and Video Performance

• Cleaner signal thanks to reduced electrical noise
• Improvements include:
  • Deeper blacks
  • More accurate colors
  • Increased digital audio precision
• Wide multichannel audio dynamic range

Audiophile Components

• Audio capacitors: Nichicon and Nippon Chemical
• Video capacitors: WIMA

Control and Integration

• IR remote control included, Sony compatible
• System compatibility: Crestron, Control4, RTI, Savant, Logitech Harmony
• Rack mounting possible, ears included
• Dedicated ground connector for interference reduction

Chassis and Dimensions

• Dimensions: 43 × 28.23 × 7.17 cm
• Weight: 5 kg (excluding packaging)

Operating Conditions

• Temperature: 10 to 30 °C
• Humidity: 30 to 70 %

Box Contents

• IR remote control
• 4K HDMI cable (1 m)
• Rack kit
• Power cables (EU / US / UK / AU)