Why isn't the XBOX ONE S a good 4K-UHD Blu-ray Disc Player?

[BluRayHiDef]

I've been told in the past that the XBOX ONE S isn't a good 4K BD player. So, I'd like someone to explain why that's the case. Is its inferiority relative to dedicated players due to software or hardware limitations? If the latter, I'm surprised that the ONE S' specs aren't good enough to decode and process mere video data that it reads from a disc considering that it can render games in real time. I'm genuinely curious.

[JohnAV]

Well looking at recent comments on AVS they kinda flesh out why people not that excited.

I've changed my tune a bit and I'm actually considering a Sony UBP-X800. I only have a Xbox One S for 4K HDR Blu-ray. It's looking like the Sony UBP-X800 does all the same as the Xbox plus SACD and DVD-A. So, I might get it and sell my Xbox.

I realize the Xbox might have better support for updates, but there are some things I don't like about it - navigating with a controller, some bugs/glitches, etc.

Anyone have a good argument for keeping my Xbox?

I agree with you on the inconvenience of navigating via the controller. Here are two media remotes that are inexpensive. I bought the PDP and it works great.

To me the only downside of the Xbox is the lack of Dolby Vision support. Everything else is positive. Price, gaming, streaming apps, Atmos/DTS;X support, HDR 10.

If I didn't play any games on my Xbox, then I wouldn't really need one. Since I can get disc play back and streaming apps on many other devices. And they all use much less power. But for me, the primary purpose of my XBOnes is for gaming.

On AVS forums the X Box S is not all that active. There are users, but its not something I would say falls into a videophiles range of interest. But it certainly is a UHD BD player with the benefit of being a game console. Personally not my thing, as I play games on PC's.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Well looking at recent comments on AVS they kinda flesh out why people not that excited.







On AVS forums the X Box S is not all that active. There are users, but its not something I would say falls into a videophiles range of interest. But it certainly is a UHD BD player with the benefit of being a game console. Personally not my thing, as I play games on PC's.

None of those critiques pertain to picture quality, which is what I was expecting.

[BozQ]

As I mentioned in the other thread, I do encounter occasional stutters while playing discs, both 1080p and 4K. Didn't try with 3D.

And it also doesn't bitstream Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 via optical output.

It is otherwise a decent player for the price.

[HDTV1080P]

The XBOX One S is ideal for people that play videogames, and the ability to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies is a bonus. People should only purchase the XBOX one S if they are looking for a top of the line videogame system, if one is not into videogames they would be better off buying a standalone 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player from OPPO or Sony that also handles SACD's and DVD-Audio discs.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

The XBOX One S is ideal for people that play videogames, and the ability to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies is a bonus. People should only purchase the XBOX one S if they are looking for a top of the line videogame system, if one is not into videogames they would be better off buying a standalone 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player from OPPO or Sony that also handles SACD's and DVD-Audio discs.

I play games on only my PC and PS4 Pro. Hence, for me, my ONE S is a dedicated 4K player. I don't care for SACDs or DVD-audio discs and haven't found any evidence that the ONE S produces inferior picture quality.

[HDTV1080P]

All 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players in general have the exact same picture quality when playing native 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs with HDR10. The difference in picture quality is in the Dolby Vision HDR that OPPO UDP-203/UDP-205 offers and some 4K Blu-ray players do a better job at upscale standard 1080P Blu-ray discs, 1080i Blu-ray discs, 720p Blu-ray discs and 480i DVD discs to 3840 x 2160P.

[PayForYourGas]

Its a good player that sometimes has a few hiccups. I FINALLY saw some stuttering when playing The Fifth Element (UHD) last night. Other than that its been great. Also, you can buy the official Xbox One media remote for $16 if using a controller bugs you...otherwise the Samsung smart remote controls it just fine as well if you have a 2016+ TV.

For the price, its really hard to beat as its a very good media streamer as well.

[Geoff D]

Check the HDTVtest review of the OPPO, in it they specifically mention colour decoding problems with the xbox: http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/oppo-...1705024457.htm

[chip75]

Isn't playback with the Xbox not much more than an App? It's not hardware based, so whilst that offers room for substantial upgrades, Microsoft would have to invest time and money in doing so.

I was tempted to pick one up the other day, as I was going to buy a Xbox controller for my PC (so for £160 extra it would be a reasonable UHD BD player), but it seems to be too hit and miss considering I'm not a huge living room gamer (and I have a backlog of PS3 games because of it).

[PayForYourGas]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Check the HDTVtest review of the OPPO, in it they specifically mention colour decoding problems with the xbox: http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/oppo-...1705024457.htm

I saw this too and I'd be willing to bet 95% of people would not even notice.

[i_max2k2]

Originally Posted by PayForYourGas

I saw this too and I'd be willing to bet 95% of people would not even notice.

I guess I'm one of those, I bought the Xbox one S, after selling my Xbox One, primarily for the cheap UHD drive, now, after almost an year, I want to sell it because, of the constant stuttering I can see while watching UHD discs, its usually once or twice on average during a 2 hour viewing. I have pretty decent PC, which I use to play games on at 4k and XBox doesn't have any exclusives which don't get available on pc anyway. So at this point I want to get rid of it, to get Dolby Vision and decent UHD play back experience. Still trying to decide which player I want to put my money on. I don't have any issues controlling the Xbox one S, since I use a Logitech Harmony Elite (which btw is an awesome universal remote), so my biggest fuss with One S are lack of DV and less then optimal playback for UHD.

[PayForYourGas]

Originally Posted by i_max2k2

I guess I'm one of those, I bought the Xbox one S, after selling my Xbox One, primarily for the cheap UHD drive, now, after almost an year, I want to sell it because, of the constant stuttering I can see while watching UHD discs, its usually once or twice on average during a 2 hour viewing. I have pretty decent PC, which I use to play games on at 4k and XBox doesn't have any exclusives which don't get available on pc anyway. So at this point I want to get rid of it, to get Dolby Vision and decent UHD play back experience. Still trying to decide which player I want to put my money on. I don't have any issues controlling the Xbox one S, since I use a Logitech Harmony Elite (which btw is an awesome universal remote), so my biggest fuss with One S are lack of DV and less then optimal playback for UHD.

Oh I understand noticing the stuttering issue; I was talking about the inaccurate color issue that was brought up in a review of a $500 (lol, gtfo) 4k blu ray player.

[grodd]

X-Box has color decoding problem and overall playback problems especially with 3D. I like my X-box, but its one of the worst for Blu-rays.
I would say the worst part is that its had such a hard time playing 3D discs. My friend has the same problem, terrible.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PayForYourGas

I saw this too and I'd be willing to bet 95% of people would not even notice.

OP asked for reasons, he got reasons. That it was broached in the OPPO review is neither here nor there.

[PayForYourGas]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

OP asked for reasons, he got reasons. That it was broached in the OPPO review is neither here nor there.

That's fine. I'm just stating that it IS a good 4k blu ray player, as evidenced by pretty much every review out there BUT the one linked. Its not perfect, and I would recommend a standalone player to anyone who doesn't care about gaming or already has a good streaming box.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Check the HDTVtest review of the OPPO, in it they specifically mention colour decoding problems with the xbox: http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/oppo-...1705024457.htm

Sounds like something that can be fixed via a software update. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if it already has, because there's an option in the XBOX ONE S' video settings to toggle RGB color output on or off depending on whether you choose RGB or limited. Hence, I'm assuming that if the latter option is chosen, then the chromatic data that's read off a disc won't be converted to RGB, which should prevent the issue described in the article.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

Sounds like something that can be fixed via a software update. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if it already has, because there's an option in the XBOX ONE S' video settings to toggle RGB color output on or off depending on whether you choose RGB or limited. Hence, I'm assuming that if the latter option is chosen, then the chromatic data that's read off a disc won't be converted to RGB, which should prevent the issue described in the article.

I dunno if it has or it hasn't been corrected but someone else said the same thing, that you just turn it to YCbCr and all should be correct, right? But, as the article says, the YCbCr output is yet another conversion of the already-converted RGB signal rather than being YCbCr direct from source. This all ties in to the player being a game console first and foremost: it operates its native video processing in RGB, so naturally this is what non-RGB video signals need to be converted to for it to be able to handle them. Make sense?

[i_max2k2]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I dunno if it has or it hasn't been corrected but someone else said the same thing, that you just turn it to YCbCr and all should be correct, right? But, as the article says, the YCbCr output is yet another conversion of the already-converted RGB signal rather than being YCbCr direct from source. This all ties in to the player being a game console first and foremost: it operates its native video processing in RGB, so naturally this is what non-RGB video signals need to be converted to for it to be able to handle them. Make sense?

I understand this, but Microsoft being primarily a software company sucks at its own devices, with the kind of beta groups they have you'd think software coming out would be flawless, it ever really is.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I dunno if it has or it hasn't been corrected but someone else said the same thing, that you just turn it to YCbCr and all should be correct, right? But, as the article says, the YCbCr output is yet another conversion of the already-converted RGB signal rather than being YCbCr direct from source. This all ties in to the player being a game console first and foremost: it operates its native video processing in RGB, so naturally this is what non-RGB video signals need to be converted to for it to be able to handle them. Make sense?

I don't think that's the case, because the YCbCr setting is separate from the RGB/Limited setting, meaning that it can be activated or deactivated independently of the RGB/Limited setting.

Furthermore, I don't think that Microsoft would ignore such a serious issue as the one described in the article after being made aware of it; it's been months since that article was written, and numerous updates for the XBOX ONE S' Blu-Ray app have been released since then.