Sony UBP-X800 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[movielover1069]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Interesting. I know you have a radically different TV but I'd love to know your SDR settings and such if you ever feel like typing them out.

Where did you ever get the idea that I have a radically different TV? I have the Sony XBR55X930D which I just bought a few weeks ago. Nothing radical about it. For SDR I have it set to Vivid which for me, gives me the most satisfying picture. I'll check all the other settings and let you know when I have time.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by movielover1069

Where did you ever get the idea that I have a radically different TV? I have the Sony XBR55X930D which I just bought a few weeks ago. Nothing radical about it. For SDR I have it set to Vivid which for me, gives me the most satisfying picture. I'll check all the other settings and let you know when I have time.

I just meant it's not the same brand or brightness, that's all.

[movielover1069]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I just meant it's not the same brand or brightness, that's all.

Not the same brand and brightness as what? You mean yours? What do you have?

[radewagon]

Just thought I'd pop in and give my impressions on this machine. I bought it yesterday and hooked it up to my Sony X850B. It's a 4K set but it's not HDR compatible (it has the best 3D I've seen, though).
- It's finicky. When I updated the firmware. It said it would restart when it was done, but it never did. The light went off like it was going to, but I actually had to unplug it just to restart it. I was worried it was messed up but when I loaded it up again and checked to see if it was updated, it said that it had the latest update.
- Still finicky. The wifi connectivity seems spotty. Sometimes it takes a few seconds after startup for it to properly connect (my last sony player had this problem too)
- Still finicky. It turned itself off when I was moving it around to check the serial number. It was weird. Maybe a safety mechanism.
- AND.... The HDR to SDR conversion is a revelation. 4K movies look absolutely stunning on my non-HDR screen when set to the "narrow" field in the conversion options (available while playing the movie).

Seriously, I feel like this player has made the need for HDR almost completely irrelevant to the point that I think that the argument about the move to HDR being more of a boost to video quality than the jump in resolution might actually be an argument made under false pretenses. The HDR UHD discs and the Samsung 4k player were clearly, it now seems, short-changing the results of the resolution bump by not properly preparing the signal for TVs that lacked HDR.

Now, I'm not saying that HDR isn't, most likely, awesomer than not having HDR. But I am saying that 4K without HDR might be a pretty good place to be if the player you have properly converts your signal to SDR.

TLDR; If your TV is 4K but doesn't have HDR, toss out your old Sammy 4K player and get the Sony.

[Chuck_IV]

Just picked one of these up on Saturday. I was originally holding out for the LG player to go with my LG UH7700 but I ended up exchanging the LG UH7700 for a Samsung KS8000.

Since I no longer needed a player with DV, I went with the Sony and love it so far. The thing is built like a tank, compared to some other players. It played the first UHD disc great(John Wick). It also seems fast.

Only thing I am a bit disappointed in is the lack of any front panel display, other than a tiny green power light(the front looks like it should have a display but doesn't). The lack of apps doesn't bother me because the KS1000 has a lot of apps built in anyways.

I'll update if I see anything strange but I feel like this was a good buy.

**EDIT**
Realized I put KS1000 when it should have said KS8000

[StingingVelvet]

Epic post, sowwy

I think I figured out what happened with my color after a long, long session of switching back and forth with different settings. Changing to 4:4:4 and deep color DOES improve the color, definitely switches it to a wider gamut. I tested certain scenes over and over like the opening of Into Darkness and scenes with the pink lady in Order of the Phoenix. I actually think this might be true in SDR mode as well, though I did less testing there.

However, the reason I was thrown off after a few days is because while switching to 4:4:4 and deep color enhances the colors, it does not enhance color luminance, which I think is my entire problem. I assume this is all about limited HDR not putting enough light behind colors depending on the scene, which is what I originally assumed and smart people suggested. I kept trying to convince myself this wasn't the core issue but I think it is. Bumping color up a few notches seems to fix it, but then in another scene with more natural luminance it makes the color look boosted, so I don't think it will ever look "right" to me.

I'm going to focus on playing with SDR conversion the next few days. Other than black crush it looks amazing, and maybe there's some secret fix for that. I know some boost contrast and such to make the luminance look better, but I just hate the gamma change that results.

Originally Posted by movielover1069

Not the same brand and brightness as what? You mean yours? What do you have?

Samsung KU6300, it maxes out at 500 nits. HDR10 is designed around 1,000 nits. I believe I googled your TV before and it had full HDR, so if you're seeing the same washed out color as me then who the f' knows.

Originally Posted by radewagon

TLDR; If your TV is 4K but doesn't have HDR, toss out your old Sammy 4K player and get the Sony.

I plan to play with SDR on the Sony more in the next few days. It does look great, but I also thought it had a good bit of black crush. If you could post your settings that would be cool, would give me an idea where you're coming from with it.

[HeatEquation]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Epic post, sowwy

I think I figured out what happened with my color after a long, long session of switching back and forth with different settings. Changing to 4:4:4 and deep color DOES improve the color, definitely switches it to a wider gamut. I tested certain scenes over and over like the opening of Into Darkness and scenes with the pink lady in Order of the Phoenix. I actually think this might be true in SDR mode as well, though I did less testing there.

However, the reason I was thrown off after a few days is because while switching to 4:4:4 and deep color enhances the colors, it does not enhance color luminance, which I think is my entire problem. I assume this is all about limited HDR not putting enough light behind colors depending on the scene, which is what I originally assumed and smart people suggested. I kept trying to convince myself this wasn't the core issue but I think it is. Bumping color up a few notches seems to fix it, but then in another scene with more natural luminance it makes the color look boosted, so I don't think it will ever look "right" to me.

I'm going to focus on playing with SDR conversion the next few days. Other than black crush it looks amazing, and maybe there's some secret fix for that. I know some boost contrast and such to make the luminance look better, but I just hate the gamma change that results.



Samsung KU6300, it maxes out at 500 nits. HDR10 is designed around 1,000 nits. I believe I googled your TV before and it had full HDR, so if you're seeing the same washed out color as me then who the f' knows.



I plan to play with SDR on the Sony more in the next few days. It does look great, but I also thought it had a good bit of black crush. If you could post your settings that would be cool, would give me an idea where you're coming from with it.

What's your brightness setting on your TV? For Samsung, for both the KS and KU series, brightness should be set to 45 or 46. If you have it set lower, that's probably why you have black crush.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by radewagon

Just thought I'd pop in and give my impressions on this machine. I bought it yesterday and hooked it up to my Sony X850B. It's a 4K set but it's not HDR compatible (it has the best 3D I've seen, though).
- It's finicky. When I updated the firmware. It said it would restart when it was done, but it never did. The light went off like it was going to, but I actually had to unplug it just to restart it. I was worried it was messed up but when I loaded it up again and checked to see if it was updated, it said that it had the latest update.
- Still finicky. The wifi connectivity seems spotty. Sometimes it takes a few seconds after startup for it to properly connect (my last sony player had this problem too)
- Still finicky. It turned itself off when I was moving it around to check the serial number. It was weird. Maybe a safety mechanism.
- AND.... The HDR to SDR conversion is a revelation. 4K movies look absolutely stunning on my non-HDR screen when set to the "narrow" field in the conversion options (available while playing the movie).

Seriously, I feel like this player has made the need for HDR almost completely irrelevant to the point that I think that the argument about the move to HDR being more of a boost to video quality than the jump in resolution might actually be an argument made under false pretenses. The HDR UHD discs and the Samsung 4k player were clearly, it now seems, short-changing the results of the resolution bump by not properly preparing the signal for TVs that lacked HDR.

Now, I'm not saying that HDR isn't, most likely, awesomer than not having HDR. But I am saying that 4K without HDR might be a pretty good place to be if the player you have properly converts your signal to SDR.

TLDR; If your TV is 4K but doesn't have HDR, toss out your old Sammy 4K player and get the Sony.

Dude, I've been banging the SDR drum for almost a year now (with time off for bad UHD behaviour) and while I'm happy that you're happy you're forgetting one massive point: it's entirely because these discs are mastered in a different EOTF than standard gamma and with a wider colour gamut that they look so much better (for the most part) than the regular BD version, even when converted to SDR.

So, while having an HDR display might not seem the be-all-and-end-all of the UHD experience, having the content itself actually mastered in HDR is still key to the whole thing - it just depends on how good the SDR conversion actually is. I've measured the output from my Panny in SDR 2020 and the curve is nothing whatsoever like conventional gamma, it even tracks the PQ EOTF fairly closely up to a certain point of luminance.

[movielover1069]

Originally Posted by HeatEquation

What's your brightness setting on your TV? For Samsung, for both the KS and KU series, brightness should be set to 45 or 46. If you have it set lower, that's probably why you have black crush.

What should the Brightness setting be on Sony TVs?

[HeatEquation]

Originally Posted by movielover1069

What should the Brightness setting be on Sony TVs?

I don't have a Sony so I can't say with any certainty, but rtings usually has good settings. Try this: http://ca.rtings.com/tv/reviews/sony/x930d/settings

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by Chuck_IV

Only thing I am a bit disappointed in is the lack of any front panel display, other than a tiny green power light(the front looks like it should have a display but doesn't).

Interesting. Because many people prefer no display @ all from all their audio/video components...like me for example.

And earlier yesterday I was reading in one of the Oppo 203's threads from the Internet on how to totally disable the front panel display. You can (Off), but every time you perform an operation from the 203 the display lights up in full brightness for few seconds. Many of us we would love to shut it down completely, @ all times.

* The only solution: https://www.amazon.com/LightDims-Dim.../dp/B01DX1IW2U

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Interesting. Because many people prefer no display @ all from all their audio/video components...like me for example.

And earlier yesterday I was reading in one of the Oppo 203's threads from the Internet on how to totally disable the front panel display. You can (Off), but every time you perform an operation from the 203 the display lights up in full brightness for few seconds. Many of us we would love to shut it down completely, @ all times.

* The only solution: https://www.amazon.com/LightDims-Dim.../dp/B01DX1IW2U

Unbelievable!

I just don't understand what the problem is with a digital display. Besides being informative I like having small lights coming from my equipment. I can't imagine no lights coming from it at all like everything is off. When not using it I sometimes leave my PS4 Pro in standby mode on purpose, just to get that orange glow from it. Same with the Wii, I loved that flickering blue light when there was an update or something.

Oppo owners are lucky enough to have a digital display and then they go out of their way to disable or block it??

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by DJR662

Unbelievable!

I just don't understand what the problem is with a digital display. Besides being informative I like having small lights coming from my equipment. I can't imagine no lights coming from it at all like everything is off. When not using it I sometimes leave my PS4 Pro in standby mode on purpose, just to get that orange glow from it. Same with the Wii, I loved that flickering blue light when there was an update or something.

Oppo owners are lucky enough to have a digital display and then they go out of their way to disable or block it??

Owe well, it would be nice if we would all be the same; loving the same things, the same women and the same cars.

I like red hair and Ferrari. ...Not too bright, just perfect, completely dim.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by HeatEquation

What's your brightness setting on your TV? For Samsung, for both the KS and KU series, brightness should be set to 45 or 46. If you have it set lower, that's probably why you have black crush.

I had it on 44, changed it back to 45 and it helps a tad. Any higher the blacks start looking grey to me. I have boosted it way up to see though and the detail is there, just hidden in heavy blackness. It's interesting.

Originally Posted by DJR662

I just don't understand what the problem is with a digital display. Besides being informative I like having small lights coming from my equipment. I can't imagine no lights coming from it at all like everything is off. When not using it I sometimes leave my PS4 Pro in standby mode on purpose, just to get that orange glow from it. Same with the Wii, I loved that flickering blue light when there was an update or something.

Oppo owners are lucky enough to have a digital display and then they go out of their way to disable or block it??

I know it's on because, like... I'm watching a movie on it. I don't need a distracting light show to tell me it's on. In fact I hate the thing even has that little green light. Gonna cover it with electrical tape once I get around to it. I want my media room as pitch dark as possible when viewing a film. I also find the constant reminder of how long the movie's been on for distracting.

[radewagon]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I plan to play with SDR on the Sony more in the next few days. It does look great, but I also thought it had a good bit of black crush. If you could post your settings that would be cool, would give me an idea where you're coming from with it.

Nothing special, really. I always just turn off all post processing mumbo jumbo and then run the ol' Disney Wonders Disc. Right now, on my Sony 55X850B I've got:

Backlight: 7
Contrast: Max
Brightness: 45
Color: 57
Tint: G1
Sharpness: 50

And except for the aforementioned HDR to SDR conversion settings, I turn off any extra stuff on the player as well (though, honestly, I don't remember if the new Sony UBP even has black correction or noise reduction type nonsense.... it probably does).

[Adam_ME]

I got a region free version of this player last Friday and finally had a chance to play around with it last night. So far, I'm impressed. It loads quickly. It plays everything my region free Oppo 103 did, and it's far easier to switch regions on this unit. The picture quality does look at least slightly better than the Samsung K8500, and the remote is 100 times better.

The apps still need work. The Netflix one is great. Better than on my Samsung or Roku Ultra. But hopefully Amazon(with HDR) and VUDU(with UHD) get added soon. My goal was to consolidate my Samsung K8500 and region free Oppo 103 into one unit and I've done that. But I'd love to be able to ditch the Roku Ultra as well.

BTW, I have most of the video settings on Auto and the picture seems pretty sharp on my Samsung 65JS9500. Are there any recommended tweaks for those who have this player and a similar TV?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by radewagon

And except for the aforementioned HDR to SDR conversion settings, I turn off any extra stuff on the player as well (though, honestly, I don't remember if the new Sony UBP even has black correction or noise reduction type nonsense.... it probably does).

It does, in the options button menu during playback.

[Member-167298]

I may buy this to replace my X Box One S.

Does anyone use this Sony player with a 3D LG OLED? If so, has anyone had connection issues when trying to play a 3D disc?

When I try to play 3D discs from my X Box One S I have to unplug the HDMI chord and / or turn off and on my TV just to get the signal to be recognized.

[elwaylite]

Sony updated some apps today and added some.

[elwaylite]

Pic of new apps. Also Amazon still doesnt want to give me UHD on UHD programming, not sure why.