Sony UBP-X800 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[HDTV1080P]

While I prefer Blu-ray players with built in AC to DC transformers like the OPPO UDP-203 and Sony UBP-X800. One negative thing about the Sony UBP-X800 is that it does not have a detachable power cord. If the cord gets damaged on the UBP-X800 one has to get the player serviced to get the cord replaced. All the OPPO players have detachable AC power cords which is a big positive.

[LordoftheRings]

If Sony was to build a a similar player as the Oppo 203, with a three-prong detachable AC power cord, all the jacks on the back, solid aluminum billet faceplate, the way we know Sony can built masterpiece players, ES Series, state-of-the-art SACD sound, it wouldn't retail for only $399.

They can build players for $149, $199, $999, $1,499 ... $2,999, $4,999, $8,999.

The 203 is $549 ($439 refurb, when avail).
The Sony X800 was few times $149. ...Say a difference of $400 more or less, or $350 when the Sony is selling for $199. That price difference buys you more metal, a nicer design, a detachable AC cord, Dolby Vision support, ...all the rest.

The Oppo 203 is nice, and you pay nice money for it too.
The Sony 800 is cute, and you pay cute money for it during the Holidays.
They are both universal 4K Blu-ray players. With the 800 nobody can't say anymore that it's missing DVD-audio or HDCD (203/205 don't play HDCD anymore). So they are both equal now in the universal disc playback department, a first for Sony.

Yes, the AC power cord, and Dolby Vision, and the HDMI input jack, and the two USB 3.0 jacks on the back, and Oppo support. It all adds up to more stuff for more money.

I don't know the number of people who get damaged power cords accidentally, or their dogs or cats chew on them, or a rat, or ...

We're all different, we all use our players differently, more or less use, for few years, and we all upgrade eventually, for various reasons...players die, parts die, transports, lasers, we want new features, we buy a bunch and compare them, ...all that jazz.
Some of us we only buy the most expensive ones, a 205 Modwright with premium tubes and external power supply, some of us we only buy the less expensive ones. Most of us we buy everything between, some with slaved power cords, others with free ones.

[HDTV1080P]

I know the OPPO UDP-203 and UDP-205 do not decode HDCD's. However I was not aware that the Sony UBP-X800 could decode HDCD's. When I find time I need to try a HDCD and see if it decodes it. The spec sheet does not mention HDCD and the professional reviews do not mention it since its like a dead format. However your comment and others online mention HDCD decoding on the Sony. If true, the Sony UBP-X800 handles more optical discs when compared to the OPPO UDP-203 and UDP-205. For some no HDCD decoding on the latest OPPO players was a deal breaker.

[Bodyslide]

My Massdrop purchased x800 arrives today. I'm excited to see how it does.

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by Bodyslide

My Massdrop purchased x800 arrives today. I'm excited to see how it does.

I've got one coming today too.

[Bodyslide]

Man this thing is a beast. It is heavier than I thought. It took me a minute to look in the manual to figure out how to get Dolby Atmos out of it. Will need to play a few movies snd play around with the Apps to see if it will replace the Samsung K8500.

[r.valle]

Any news on when to expect a price drop for this with the new one coming next month? Checking constantly for a drop so ready to buy this!

[Bodyslide]

Massdrop had a deal end of Dec for 129.00, Groupon has a sale going on now for 149.99. Good Luck

https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-cm-...ith-hdmi-cable

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

If Sony was to build a a similar player as the Oppo 203, with a three-prong detachable AC power cord, all the jacks on the back, solid aluminum billet faceplate, the way we know Sony can built masterpiece players, ES Series, state-of-the-art SACD sound, it wouldn't retail for only $399.

They can build players for $149, $199, $999, $1,499 ... $2,999, $4,999, $8,999.

The 203 is $549 ($439 refurb, when avail).
The Sony X800 was few times $149. ...Say a difference of $400 more or less, or $350 when the Sony is selling for $199. That price difference buys you more metal, a nicer design, a detachable AC cord, Dolby Vision support, ...all the rest.

The Oppo 203 is nice, and you pay nice money for it too.
The Sony 800 is cute, and you pay cute money for it during the Holidays.
They are both universal 4K Blu-ray players. With the 800 nobody can't say anymore that it's missing DVD-audio or HDCD (203 don't play HDCD anymore). So they are both equal now in the universal disc playback department, a first for Sony.

Yes, the AC power cord, and Dolby Vision, and the HDMI input jack, and the two USB 3.0 jacks on the back, and Oppo support. It all adds up to more stuff for more money.

I don't know the number of people who get damaged power cords accidentally, or their dogs or cats chew on them, or a rat, or ...

We're all different, we all use our players differently, more or less use, for few years, and we all upgrade eventually, for various reasons...players die, parts die, transports, lasers, we want new features, we buy a bunch and compare them, ...all that jazz.
Some of us we only buy the most expensive ones, a 205 Modwright with premium tubes and external power supply, some of us we only buy the less expensive ones. Most of us we buy everything between, some with slaved power cords, others with free ones.

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

I know the OPPO UDP-203 and UDP-205 do not decode HDCD's. However I was not aware that the Sony UBP-X800 could decode HDCD's. When I find time I need to try a HDCD and see if it decodes it. The spec sheet does not mention HDCD and the professional reviews do not mention it since its like a dead format. However your comment and others online mention HDCD decoding on the Sony. If true, the Sony UBP-X800 handles more optical discs when compared to the OPPO UDP-203 and UDP-205. For some no HDCD decoding on the latest OPPO players was a deal breaker.

As far as I can tell, the Sony UBP-X800 does not support HDCD decoding. All Blu-ray players can play HDCD's with standard CD audio quality. However only certain rare Blu-ray models offer a true HDCD decoding with increased dynamic range in the audio. I looked in the spec sheet, manual, and I installed the latest firmware update, and also no mention of HDCD decoding in the menu. Normally a Blu-ray player has a HDCD menu that allows one to turn HDCD decoding off or on (I doubt the Sony has HDCD that is automatically turned on without a menu selection).


The Sony UBP-X800 does not support HDCD decoding, and Sony never claimed HDCD decoding was supported.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

I know the OPPO UDP-203 and UDP-205 do not decode HDCD's. However I was not aware that the Sony UBP-X800 could decode HDCD's. When I find time I need to try a HDCD and see if it decodes it. The spec sheet does not mention HDCD and the professional reviews do not mention it since its like a dead format. However your comment and others online mention HDCD decoding on the Sony. If true, the Sony UBP-X800 handles more optical discs when compared to the OPPO UDP-203 and UDP-205. For some no HDCD decoding on the latest OPPO players was a deal breaker.

Sorry, I made a small error; no HDCD decoding from Sony.
I knew that but sometimes you type and it comes out not exactly the way you meant.
What I meant is the Sony X800 now plays DVD-Audio, and Oppo doesn't decode HDCD anymore, which makes them equal on disc playability/decoding.

Sure, they both play HDCD encoded CDs, and they sound great, but not decoded to their full potential with that extra dynamic range...tight and define bass, clarity of the mids and highs.

If only Sony would have made it with a detachable 3-way prong AC power cord...they could have charged an additional five bucks to their MSRP...$304.99 instead of $299.99

Now I believe the list price is $249.99 ($50 less than its previous original list price).

[eagle1]

Hey guys, I just bought this player, and I’m looking to import some 3D blu rays. I live in canada and this will be my first time importing. If the disc is region free, is there any reason I should worry with this player?

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by eagle1

Hey guys, I just bought this player, and I’m looking to import some 3D blu rays. I live in canada and this will be my first time importing. If the disc is region free, is there any reason I should worry with this player?

Native 1080P region free Blu-ray discs will play fine on a region A, region B, or region C Blu-ray player. 99.9% of 3D discs are 1080P (some rare ones are 720P which should also work). However watch out for 1080i 2-D Blu-ray discs that are 50Hz. Some Blu-ray players like the OPPO play 1080i 50Hz and 60Hz Blu-ray discs just fine.

[HDTV1080P]

Either the Sony automated firmware update server is down, or there is something wrong with the firmware update software inside the Sony UBP-X800

I am on a 100% wired 1Gbps home network, and when I access streaming services from two separate Sony UBP-X800’s, the streaming services work flawlessly with no problems. Also running the Sony network connection diagnostic test shows everything is working. However on two separate Sony UBP-X800’s, when I try and check for a firmware update over the internet I get the following message pop up on the screen:

“Update via Internet: Connection status cannot be confirmed. Cannot communicate with server. Please try again later.”


Therefore either the Sony automated firmware update server that the Sony UBP-X800 accesses has been down for around a day, or there is some kind of bug that needs to be fixed in the Sony UBP-X800 automated Internet firmware update process.



I have used 2010 model Blu-ray players before where the automated firmware update process works flawlessly. Almost 8 years later and I cannot even get a firmware update on a higher end model Sony Blu-ray player using the players automated firmware update application (After several hours of trying, one out of two players did download the update, but then after the update got the same message “Cannot communicate with the server”, instead of getting a message that one already has the latest firmware update installed).



On one Sony UBP-X800 I could never get the firmware to download, therefore I had to go to Sony’s support website and manually download that latest firmware which is M36.R.0178 that was released on 9-26-2017. However after successfully installing the firmware from a USB stick, when I check for a software update from the players menu, I still am getting the message that the player cannot connect to the server, instead of getting a message that the latest firmware update is already installed.


I am in shock that this problem is occurring on a 2017 model Blu-ray player. Either Sony is having problems with the update server on their end, or there is some type of software bug in the player’s ability to check for a firmware update over a wired connection (And again both players work fine for all the streaming applications). I guess this is one reason people stick with OPPO and Panasonic Blu-ray players since the update process works fine (however even $50 Sony Blu-ray players work fine for automated firmware updates). So far it appears all the other features on the Sony UBP-X800 works flawlessly.

[kazama]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

[CENTER][B][U]I am in shock that this problem is occurring on a 2017 model Blu-ray player. Either Sony is having problems with the update server on their end, or there is some type of software bug in the player’s ability to check for a firmware update over a wired connection (And again both players work fine for all the streaming applications). I guess this is one reason people stick with OPPO and Panasonic Blu-ray players since the update process works fine (however even $50 Sony Blu-ray players work fine for automated firmware updates). So far it appears all the other features on the Sony UBP-X800 works flawlessly.

Same is happening with mine, annoying (I bought it a few weeks ago and it came with the latest firmware though, but when I try to connect to update services I'm getting the same message).

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by kazama

Same is happening with mine, annoying (I bought it a few weeks ago and it came with the latest firmware though, but when I try to connect to update services I'm getting the same message).

Sony needs to fix this issue, this is not acceptable. If this problem is happing on all Sony players then it must be a server problem. I purchase the two Sony UBP-X800's back in November 2017 and they had the old software on them. So I needed to update. But even if someone has the latest software installed, the Sony server is suppose to give a message that one already has the latest firmware installed.


Does Sony have a email address where one can report this problem?

[Ben_UK]

Perhaps they will drop support for the X800 just like they did with the "_90" series of the BD players.

[Cortiz]

So according to Bill Hunt over at the Digital Bits:

Finally today, in news from CES 2018, we’re learning that at least some 4K Ultra HD player manufacturers will be able to update their 2017 player line-ups to HDR10+ compatibility via firmware. Specifically, we’ve learned that Samsung plans to update their M9500, M8500, and M7500 players at some point in the first half of this year. Sony has no plans to do so, of course, as they support Dolby Vision. But we’re waiting to hear back from Panasonic and Oppo, both of whom we suspect are likely to have HDR10+ updates to their players at some point in 2018 as well.We’ll leave you with a look at the cover artwork for several of the titles mentioned above (click to pre-order them on Amazon.com if available)...

Boo So let me get this straight, if what Bill is saying correct, Sony supports DV but no HDR10+ except that none of their current players will get DV via firmware, and only a handful of their upper tiers TV from 2016/2017 will get DV....on top of that, they have no plans to support HDR10+. So basically, anyone that upgraded to 4K in the last year or so, and purchased Sony gear, but not any of their upper tier TV's is outta luck right? None of the above. Well done Sony.

[bookcase]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

So let me get this straight, if what Bill is saying correct, Sony supports DV but no HDR10+ except that none of their current players will get DV via firmware

That was my takeaway and makes non sense.

[HDTV1080P]

OPPO Digital INC is looking into the possibility of adding the Philips HDR format and the HDR10+ format to the UDP-203/UDP-205 (possible future firmware update). However there is a possibility that a new OPPO player model might need to be purchased and maybe older models might not be upgradable.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=14577845&postcount=4965

So far, it sounds like Panasonic is the only 4K Blu-ray disc players that will support both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR. Samsung at this time appears to be exclusively supporting HDR10+ with no announced plans for Dolby Vision HDR. Sony at this time appears to be only supporting Dolby Vision HDR with no support announced yet for HDR10+.

All studios that make 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs support the mandatory 10 bit HDR10 format. However, the last thing consumers need is a format war between the 3 optional HDR formats (Philips HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision HDR). In the year 2019 or 2020 hopefully 100% of all 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players from any manufactory will support all 4 HDR formats. It sounds like Warner and 20th Century Fox will support HDR10+. Now Dolby Vision HDR is officially used in movie theaters and if a movie is natively encoded with a HDR format like Dolby Vision HDR, it should be very easy to port that movie to a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc that is encoded with 12 bit Dolby Vision HDR.



With audio codecs like PCM, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master audio, Dolby ATMOS, and DTS X, all Blu-ray players are required to be able to bitstream those audio codecs. The problem with the BDA making Philips HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision HDR optional HDR formats, is that consumer electronics companies can choose what HDR format that they want to support (Which causes a HDR format war for Blu-ray players and displays).


Even though the Philips HDR format is officially part of the BDA approved formats, so far no studios have announced support for the Philips HDR format. There is always a possibility that the Philips HDR standard could go unused.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

However, the last thing consumers need is a format war between the 3 optional 12 bit HDR formats (Philips HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision HDR).

HDR10+ is 10 bits, not 12 bits. Not sure about Phillips/Technicolor or SL-HDR.