What 4K player to get if most of my collection is blu-rays? - Blu-ray Forum

beck_ · 11-19-2019, 09:36 PM

Just got a 4K TV for the first time and I have seen some people in this forum saying that their blu-ray discs look weird on their players. That's... frightening. If anything I thought I've read that 4k players even make standard blu-rays look better. What's the truth here?

And more broadly, what player should I get that's under $300?

chip75 · 11-19-2019, 09:44 PM

There shouldn't be any issues with Blu-rays played back on 4K players. You should see some benefits as the new players are generally faster than the older BD ones. Picture quality will be down to scaling, choosing whether your TV or player is responsible, but Sonys, Panasonics, LG players do a very decent job.

If your TV has Dolby Vision you may want to get a player that supports that, same with HDR10.

SuperFlyHighGuy · 11-21-2019, 02:27 AM

My experience so far: I finally got a 4K tv so bought the LG UBK90 player a few weeks ago. I have only ever watched blu-rays on a PS3 up to this point. The LG UHD player is so much faster it's crazy, it loads discs almost instantly. I never realized how long it took the PS3 just to load a disc, let alone get to the disc menu screen.

Been watching everything on this player - DVD, BD, and a few UHDs - and it's great. Gets my recommendation, and it's not hooked up to internet nor have I done any firmware updates, all out of the box.

RalphoR · 11-21-2019, 02:32 AM

Sony UBP-X800M2.....on Black Friday.

beck_ · 11-21-2019, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RalphoR

Sony UBP-X800M2.....on Black Friday.

What makes that one better than the only Sony player? Also, I feel I've read that player has 2 HDMI inputs? If I only have two HDMI ports on my TV does that mean it'd have to take both of them?

albertbj · 11-21-2019, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beck_

What makes that one better than the only Sony player? Also, I feel I've read that player has 2 HDMI inputs? If I only have two HDMI ports on my TV does that mean it'd have to take both of them?

The second HDMI output is audio-only for those who need to have separate connections to their TV and receiver (for example, if you have an older receiver that can't pass a 4k signal).

DVD Josh · 11-21-2019, 12:30 PM

It pains me to say this but the Panny 820 produces the best BD picture on 4K I have seen yet.

Matthew.H · 11-21-2019, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVD Josh

It pains me to say this but the Panny 820 produces the best BD picture on 4K I have seen yet.

Nice to hear. I'm picking an 820 tomorrow. Got a 4K TV now so looking forward to trying out some of my 4K discs.

jibucha · 11-21-2019, 04:45 PM

no :: one is for video and the other is for audio (ARC)
note :: they're there for convenience (as desired/required)

Quote:

Originally Posted by beck_

What makes that one better than the only Sony player? Also, I feel I've read that player has 2 HDMI inputs? If I only have two HDMI ports on my TV does that mean it'd have to take both of them?

Ricky G · 11-21-2019, 05:11 PM

This is an interesting question, as I am in the same boat. thanks for asking!

oddbox83 · 11-21-2019, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibucha

no :: one is for video and the other is for audio (ARC)
note :: they're there for convenience (as desired/required)

Nothing to do with ARC, that's for the cable between the TV and the receiver or soundbar.

It for sending full 4K HDR to the TV and lossless audio to the soundbar or receiver in older models that can't pass through 4K HDR or aren't HDCP 2.2 compliant. If it's not required, it can be ignored.

chip75 · 11-21-2019, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Nothing to do with ARC, that's for the cable between the TV and the receiver or soundbar.

It for sending full 4K HDR to the TV and lossless audio to the soundbar or receiver in older models that can't pass through 4K HDR or aren't HDCP 2.2 compliant. If it's not required, it can be ignored.

It does give you the benefit of having a dedicated picture preset for your player even if your AVR is compatible (and you have multiple devices plugged in). I plug the player into the TV and have the audio sent through the AVR. The rest of the household can just use the player (as they don't know how to use the AVR).

Legend293 · 11-21-2019, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beck_

Just got a 4K TV for the first time and I have seen some people in this forum saying that their blu-ray discs look weird on their players. That's... frightening. If anything I thought I've read that 4k players even make standard blu-rays look better. What's the truth here?

And more broadly, what player should I get that's under $300?

I mostly use my 4k player for blu rays. They look just fine. Now DVDs on the other hand look quite bad.

Number 6 · 11-22-2019, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend293

I mostly use my 4k player for blu rays. They look just fine. Now DVDs on the other hand look quite bad.

That's interesting. I'm currently using a Sony UBP-X1100ES connected to a Sony Master Series XBR-55A9G and a Sony UBP-X800M2 connected to a Sony XBR-55X900F. Both players are set to output a 4K signal and do a superb job upscaling. There's a noticeable difference in picture quality with Blu-rays and a significant difference in picture quality with DVDs. Granted the garbage in/garbage out rule applies (source material used for the DVD) on how well a DVD looks but most of my DVDs look damn good.

gkolb · 11-22-2019, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 6

That's interesting. I'm currently using a Sony UBP-X1100ES connected to a Sony Master Series XBR-55A9G and a Sony UBP-X800M2 connected to a Sony XBR-55X900F. Both players are set to output a 4K signal and do a superb job upscaling. There's a noticeable difference in picture quality with Blu-rays and a significant difference in picture quality with DVDs. Granted the garbage in/garbage out rule applies (source material used for the DVD) on how well a DVD looks but most of my DVDs look damn good.

Yes, the Sony 4K higher end TVs (X1* chip versions) do a fantastic job of upscaling HD and SD/DVD discs. (Some problem DVDS can be dodgy...)

I have an Oppo 203 which also helps, but the Sony X800M2 or Panny 820 will do great with HD or SD content.

Legend293 · 11-22-2019, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number 6

That's interesting. I'm currently using a Sony UBP-X1100ES connected to a Sony Master Series XBR-55A9G and a Sony UBP-X800M2 connected to a Sony XBR-55X900F. Both players are set to output a 4K signal and do a superb job upscaling. There's a noticeable difference in picture quality with Blu-rays and a significant difference in picture quality with DVDs. Granted the garbage in/garbage out rule applies (source material used for the DVD) on how well a DVD looks but most of my DVDs look damn good.

I have a *samsung UN55JU6500fxza and a samsung 4k player which is a ubd km85c. Could be my player doesn't do a good enough job. Or maybe just me.

kristoffer · 11-22-2019, 08:39 AM

According to HDTV test Panny have the best upscaler on the market.

11-19-2019, 09:36 PM	#1
beck_ Member Member since:Jan 2012	What 4K player to get if most of my collection is blu-rays? Just got a 4K TV for the first time and I have seen some people in this forum saying that their blu-ray discs look weird on their players. That's... frightening. If anything I thought I've read that 4k players even make standard blu-rays look better. What's the truth here? And more broadly, what player should I get that's under $300?

11-19-2019, 09:44 PM	#2
chip75 Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Oct 2010 Location:Wales 4K collection:304 Blu-ray collection:3100 DVD collection:1783 iTunes collection:230 Trading Score:9	There shouldn't be any issues with Blu-rays played back on 4K players. You should see some benefits as the new players are generally faster than the older BD ones. Picture quality will be down to scaling, choosing whether your TV or player is responsible, but Sonys, Panasonics, LG players do a very decent job. If your TV has Dolby Vision you may want to get a player that supports that, same with HDR10.

11-21-2019, 02:27 AM	#3
SuperFlyHighGuy Blu-ray Guru Member since:Oct 2010 Location:north star 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:498 Trading Score:98	My experience so far: I finally got a 4K tv so bought the LG UBK90 player a few weeks ago. I have only ever watched blu-rays on a PS3 up to this point. The LG UHD player is so much faster it's crazy, it loads discs almost instantly. I never realized how long it took the PS3 just to load a disc, let alone get to the disc menu screen. Been watching everything on this player - DVD, BD, and a few UHDs - and it's great. Gets my recommendation, and it's not hooked up to internet nor have I done any firmware updates, all out of the box.

11-21-2019, 02:32 AM	#4
RalphoR Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Oct 2013 Location:The Forbidden Valley of NE Ohio Trading Score:13	Sony UBP-X800M2.....on Black Friday.

11-21-2019, 12:30 PM	#7
DVD Josh Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jan 2019 4K collection:222 Blu-ray collection:933 DVD collection:229 MA collection:16 Digital collection:373 Trading Score:90	It pains me to say this but the Panny 820 produces the best BD picture on 4K I have seen yet.

11-21-2019, 05:11 PM	#10
Ricky G Special Member Member since:Aug 2019 Location:Texas 4K collection:90 Blu-ray collection:457 DVD collection:3 Digital collection:88 Trading Score:1	This is an interesting question, as I am in the same boat. thanks for asking!

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