Sony UBP-X800 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[ChicagoMike]

Originally Posted by maverick22

And....back up to $249.99 at Best Buy.

Amazon and abt.com have it for $198. Best Buy should price match, right?

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

8-bit + Hi-FRC (dithering) isn't the worst way in the world to actually broaden the scope of the panel's range, I reckon that plenty of sets which are sold as having "10-bit" panels are actually dithered 8-bit.

I think that's why so many were confused over on AVS about this model. Ift would help if LG (and other manufacturers) were honest about the specs. If it's 8-bit with dithering but it works, then just tell us. LG cut corners by using an 8-bit panel and they knew the set wasn't premium certified for 1000 nits, but they lie/give false information when contacting them about the specs. That just leads to customer confusion over compatibility. I certainly think we have the right to know what kind of panel we're buying.

[mar3o]

Does the x800 suffer from forced DNR when sending out 1080p like the S6500 does?

The latest word in there is avoid all 4k upscaling players from Sony until the issue is resolved or we know more about it. Apparently, it forces DNR when outputting 1080p video on their upscaling player/s. When sending 4k the DNR is disabled, but when sending 1080 it's forced on, perhaps by mistake.

You can read about it here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=298106

[eddievanhalen]

I think it's right the opposite and it applies some kind of DNR or softenning when upscaling 1080p to 4K. With my 49" Samsung set picture looks softer and fuzzier when the X-800 upscales than when I set it to output video on its original resolution, then the Samsung 4K HDR set does the upscaling and picture looks clearer and sharper, that is at least my experience.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by eddievanhalen

I think it's right the opposite and it applies some kind of DNR or softenning when upscaling 1080p to 4K. With my 49" Samsung set picture looks softer and fuzzier when the X-800 upscales than when I set it to output video on its original resolution, then the Samsung 4K HDR set does the upscaling and picture looks clearer and sharper, that is at least my experience.

Well that's not ideal either. Either way, I worry Sony is currently having some kind of issue with forced DNR on some models for some outputs. I never would have thought Sony players would have an issue like that but hearing about the S6500 has me wondering which players and which output modes I can trust. Maybe that's another reason to hold off on this player.

Could it be the Samsung is doing some kind of artificial sharpening? I don't trust Samsung one bit to know what they are doing.

[joebp415]

I just bought this Sony 4K player 2 weeks ago and I love it..played 4K movies and 1080 movies and both look great..paid $200 at Best Buy ..I got rid of the Samsung 4K player..all kinds of issues with that..maybe because I have all Sony.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by joebp415

I just bought this Sony 4K player 2 weeks ago and I love it..played 4K movies and 1080 movies and both look great..paid $200 at Best Buy ..I got rid of the Samsung 4K player..all kinds of issues with that..maybe because I have all Sony.

The worse DVD player I've ever owned way back in the day was a Samsung. The worst blu-ray player I ever owned was a Samsung. My experience over the years with Samsung TVs has consistently been the worst experiences in my life regarding electronics/home theatre. I'll never spend money again on a Samsung home theatre product. I haven't had a day's worth of trouble yet with my LG UHD TV (knock on wood). The only problem I've had with Panasonic players is my last one died after just under 2 years of use. The fact that this Sony x800 is built so well is part of the reason I keep considering it, but I have to consider my current setup and what's best for me right now. I'm hoping that next year's model doesn't drop 3D or drop the build quality.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Even rtings posted conflicting information about my model. I spoke with somebody in PM on AVS that was close to the design department supposedly in some capacity and he told me that despite what LG claims, it is actually an 8-bit panel that uses dithering to achieve the billion colors the model claims.

When I called LG and asked them directly before I bought the set, they told me twice (over chat and phone) than my model reached 1000 nits in HDR and was a true 10-bit panel. It's been proven that the set does not come anywhere close to 1000 nits, and that leaves me to doubt the rest of what LG told me. Even now if you ask them, they will tell you it's 10-bit. There was quite a bit of discussion about the set on AVS and whether it was 8-bit or 10-bit. Based on what I've been told and screenshots from the service menu, I believe it is in fact an 8-bit.

My Samsung 6300 was a 10-bit panel but it still didn't have wide color, and I think that's a big reason UHDs looked like shit on it. I'd definitely make sure before investing.

[Steven_qt]

Looks like this player will be on sale tomorrow (Nov 8) at Fry's Electronic for $149.99 for one day only.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by Steven_qt

Looks like this player will be on sale tomorrow (Nov 8) at Fry's Electronic for $149.99 for one day only.

How did you already get that? If it came today I want to be ready early for tomorrow.

Thanks! I assume that’s with their promo code. Man, I doubt anyone will beat that on BF! What do ya’ll think? I personally can’t stand Frys for past horrible customer service experiences. Only way I go there is for deals like this where no one else can touch them price-wise.

Is the build date on the outside of the box?

Thanks

[joebp415]

Wow..you can’t beat $150 for a Sony 4K player..I remember when blu-ray first came out and the first blu-ray player was by Sony and I bought it for my parents who had a Sony xbr tv and they still have both and still running and looking great

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by joebp415

Wow..you can’t beat $150 for a Sony 4K player..I remember when blu-ray first came out and the first blu-ray player was by Sony and I bought it for my parents who had a Sony xbr tv and they still have both and still running and looking great

I happened to use both of my older Sony products tonight (LG UP970 in process of getting replaced), and both still work great. One is a fat PS3, and the other is a regular old blu-ray player.

Lack of DV and not being able to play 50i discs (or so I was told - not sure how a huge deal that is but thinking about it) only things holding me back with the 800.

I really wish BB was having it for $150. Have a feeling it will be for BF there though.

Edit: Bingo, I was right, B.B. will have it for $149.99 Black Friday!
2nd edit: it looks like it already is $149.99 (unless some sort of pricing error)!

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

This player is currently $149.00 at Best Buy. How is their Geek Squad Protection Plans compared to other Extended Warranties? https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-ub...?skuId=5748620

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by Optimus-Prime-Rox

This player is currently $149.00 at Best Buy. How is their Geek Squad Protection Plans compared to other Extended Warranties? https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-ub...?skuId=5748620

Wanting to know this too. Seems like all these 4k players have issues going on.

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

This player is currently $149.99 on Amazon.com right now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

My Samsung 6300 was a 10-bit panel but it still didn't have wide color, and I think that's a big reason UHDs looked like shit on it. I'd definitely make sure before investing.

Well the HDR modes in my set do have the usual wide color options, so I'm assuming it does indeed offer wide color gamut. It's plastered all over the box and their marketing, so they would be set up for a nice lawsuit if it was found out it's not true. They lie over the phone about the 10-bit panel but nowhere do they actually claim in writing it's 10-bit.

[mar3o]

Well, I tried testing my LG TV last night with my blu-ray player set up to YCbCr 4:4:4, deep color on auto (it's either off or auto), and 24p upscaling set to 4k. I also enabled wide color in my TV. I tested Disney's Christmas Carol (2D) since it has smooth clean animation, and I saw no issues. It looked pretty spectacular. The TV certainly didn't freak out. I'm assuming the TV was receiving deep color since it was set to auto on the player and wide color was enabled on the TV, but I don't think there's a way to check to see if the TV is really receiving wide color. The TV did confirm it was receiving a 2160p image. So I'm assuming my TV can handle the 12-bit 2160p image the x800 puts out. I've tested as much as I can with my current equipment.

[zarquon]

Originally Posted by Optimus-Prime-Rox

This player is currently $149.00 at Best Buy. How is their Geek Squad Protection Plans compared to other Extended Warranties? https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-ub...?skuId=5748620

Crap, I just bought this last week when they had it on sale for for $200; I wonder if I could get a price adjustment, considering I'm still within the 2 week return period, and I could just return and re-buy...?

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by zarquon

Crap, I just bought this last week when they had it on sale for for $200; I wonder if I could get a price adjustment, considering I'm still within the 2 week return period, and I could just return and re-buy...?

You should be able to just bring your receipt in and they can do it.

How are you liking the player? I can’t make up my mind to go with this or the Philips that may get DV if my replacement LG ends up having the noise issue still.

[Neonxeon]

Originally Posted by Optimus-Prime-Rox

This player is currently $149.99 on Amazon.com right now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

Welp, can't beat that. Pulled the trigger, 4K here I come.