Samsung 4K UHD Blu-ray Player UBD-K8500

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by ray0414

So im finding some issues with how this player outputs "4k". Some people have discussed possible DNR on these discs. But the problem might be the player itself.

With the mad max disc, heres an upclose facial shot. 1 picture is with the resolution set to "auto", which is defaulting to 4k since it is a 4k disc.

the 2nd picture is with changing the resolution on the player to "1080P".

anyone else see some major differences with the texture of his face and the sharpness of his eyes? there is more detail with the player set at 1080P!






if anybody has the HDMI screen capture and would like to try to replicate this that would be great.

I had exactly the same issues. 4K with HDR looked worse than my pioneer 1080P bluray player. I tried The Samsung for two days and just couldn't get a decent picture so I took it back for a refund.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

I had exactly the same issues. 4K with HDR looked worse than my pioneer 1080P bluray player. I tried The Samsung for two days and just couldn't get a decent picture so I took it back for a refund.

Even on ID4 and Ghostbusters (fairly grainy films to begin with) I could tell an uptick in detail and color on the UHD disc. That's the exact opposite of what you're reporting. Something's not set correctly on yours and ray0414's systems.

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I highly doubt everything was set up in both your TV and the player correctly and you may not have HDMI cables that can actually handle the extra video bandwidth (this is a real problem for some cables as has been documented).

This early generation UHD technology is not plug and play, unfortunately. It takes some particular settings choices and careful calibration. Even many dealers don't have everything properly set.

I have five UHD Blu-ray discs and they all look superior on my 55" Samsung SUHD 8500 (2015 HDR10 compatible model) to the 1080p Blu-ray's given they are from a mix of digital 4k, 35mm, and upconverted 2k sources.

I also bought new Premium Certified HDMI cables just to be certain that my older cables didn't give me grief. They were from Monoprice and not very expensive, but so far so good.

I set up everything correctly and bought a new HDMI cable that can handle the new 2.0a standard. I tested the hell out of it for two whole days trying various settings, various discs etc even buying two more discs off Amazon and The Samsung was worse every time compared to my Pioneer. It's not as if my tv wasn't up to the job as it is brand new and has HDR and the PQ was superb with TV, Netflix, 1080p Bluray etc. At first I thought it was just a case of careful trial and error with the Samsung but the Pionner Bluray player smashed it out of the park every time. The Hobbit BotFA 1080P Bluray looks out of this world as does my 1080P Blurays of The Martian and The Revenant on my Pioneer. I got so effed off with The Samsung I took it back. Even my missus who couldn't give a rats ass about PQ said the Samsung looked worse!

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Even on ID4 and Ghostbusters (fairly grainy films to begin with) I could tell an uptick in detail and color on the UHD disc. That's the exact opposite of what you're reporting. Something's not set correctly on yours and ray0414's systems.

I wish I could have got it looking better but it just didn't happen.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

I set up everything correctly and bought a new HDMI cable that can handle the new 2.0a standard. I tested the hell out of it for two whole days trying various settings, various discs etc even buying two more discs off Amazon and The Samsung was worse every time compared to my Pioneer. It's not as if my tv wasn't up to the job as it is brand new and has HDR and the PQ was superb with TV, Netflix, 1080p Bluray etc. At first I thought it was just a case of careful trial and error with the Samsung but the Pionner Bluray player smashed it out of the park every time. The Hobbit BotFA 1080P Bluray looks out of this world as does my 1080P Blurays of The Martian and The Revenant on my Pioneer. I got so effed off with The Samsung I took it back. Even my missus who couldn't give a rats ass about PQ said the Samsung looked worse!

I don't know what to say, but I also saw UHD with HDR demoed at CEDIA and most of the footage was jaw dropping.

If you witnessed Barco's home 4k laser projector, you would have cried it looked so good.

Sometimes HDR, once dialed in correctly, has a different dynamic look and feel, but once you get used to it, you can see why it can be clearly superior to our old school 8 bit technology.

I can't wait for 12 bit Dolby Vision either!

[webw]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I highly doubt everything was set up in both your TV and the player correctly and you may not have HDMI cables that can actually handle the extra video bandwidth (this is a real problem for some cables as has been documented).

This early generation UHD technology is not plug and play, unfortunately. It takes some particular settings choices and careful calibration. Even many dealers don't have everything properly set.

I have five UHD Blu-ray discs and they all look superior on my 55" Samsung SUHD 8500 (2015 HDR10 compatible model) to the 1080p Blu-ray's given they are from a mix of digital 4k, 35mm, and upconverted 2k sources.

I also bought new Premium Certified HDMI cables just to be certain that my older cables didn't give me grief. They were from Monoprice and not very expensive, but so far so good.

As a person who *owned* the Samsung K8500 and now *owns* the Panasonic UB900, the Panasonic has been just plug and play, at default settings. No messing about for different settings for different films. I did upgrade to HDMI 2.0a cables, but it made no difference from my 8 year old cables. I have experimented with various settings on the Panasonic, but the best picture is with the default settings.

I empathise with the poster below who took his unit back!

[RockyIII]

If we really have to do aouble take to tell the difference between HD 1080 and UHD 2160, it seems to me that the difference is minor to none, between the two

[rroeder]

My experience has been a subtle diff between bluray and UHD, but I don't have HDR or 10 bit color on my TV.

I was hoping for more of a bump in PQ but bottom line is the UHD discs do look great and my Samsung player has worked perfectly(remote aside) after 4 UHD discs and 11+ hours of LOTR's.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by rroeder

My experience has been a subtle diff between bluray and UHD, but I don't have HDR or 10 bit color on my TV.

I was hoping for more of a bump in PQ but bottom line is the UHD discs do look great and my Samsung player has worked perfectly after 4 UHD discs and 11+ hours of LOTR's.

You'll really notice a bump with HDR and 10 or even 12 bit panels that can more closely hit the DCI-P3, or even better, Rec 2020 color gamut targets.

Epson just announced a handful of fairly reasonably priced 1080p projectors that accept UHD signals (called 4k Enhancement via their marketing speak - similar pixel wobulation as JVC's pseudo "4k" projectors). The thing of note, however, is that they support HDR10 based HDR, have 10 bit chips, and supposedly hit 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut. Their upper consumer model MSRP is $2,999.

[rroeder]

I have a 70" Sony and really like the big display, I could def see my next purchase being a projector with 120-130" screen. I have the perfect room, altho it can be bright due to windows against the back wall of our basement.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I have a 70" Sony and really like the big display, I could def see my next purchase being a projector with 120-130" screen. I have the perfect room, altho it can be bright due to windows against the back wall of our basement.

The solution to your window problem: Blackout shades.

Oh, and you can go with a 2.39:1 scope screen since the Epson 5040 has lens zoom, focus, and lens shift preset memory settings. No anamorphic lens required.

[rroeder]

Yeah a projector setup is definitely in my future but my Sony is just a year and a half old, the wife would laugh at me if I proposed a projector setup and room modification right now

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by rroeder

Yeah a projector setup is definitely in my future but my Sony is just a year and a half old, the wife would laugh at me if I proposed a projector setup and room modification right now

I would propose to your wife that you keep the Sony, but use it for every day use. The projector is for "movie night" and big sporting events. Most people don't use them as their main display, since bulb wear and tear and replacement costs are something to consider (unless you buy a pricey laser or LED system).

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I don't know what to say, but I also saw UHD with HDR demoed at CEDIA and most of the footage was jaw dropping.

If you witnessed Barco's home 4k laser projector, you would have cried it looked so good.

Sometimes HDR, once dialed in correctly, has a different dynamic look and feel, but once you get used to it, you can see why it can be clearly superior to our old school 8 bit technology.

I can't wait for 12 bit Dolby Vision either!

I want to be amazed and I want my jaw to drop. But for some reason it wasn't happening. I might buy the Panasonic because I want to see what you see.

[russtcb]

Brought this player home today and hooked it up to my 65KS9500. I watched Deadpool earlier today and ID4 now. Deadpool looked amazing and ID4 looks excellent as well Very happy with the purchase!

[aaronwt2065]

Originally Posted by webw

As a person who *owned* the Samsung K8500 and now *owns* the Panasonic UB900, the Panasonic has been just plug and play, at default settings. No messing about for different settings for different films. I did upgrade to HDMI 2.0a cables, but it made no difference from my 8 year old cables. I have experimented with various settings on the Panasonic, but the best picture is with the default settings.

I empathise with the poster below who took his unit back!

That has been my experience with the Samsung K8500 and my Sony UHD TV. It has been plug and play. No need to fiddle with any settings with different titles once set. They have looked great without a need to change anything.

[aaronwt2065]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

If we really have to do aouble take to tell the difference between HD 1080 and UHD 2160, it seems to me that the difference is minor to none, between the two

The biggest difference is with HDR. That is what really makes UHD BD so much better than their BD counterparts.

[russtcb]

Originally Posted by aaronwt2065

That has been my experience with the Samsung K8500 and my Sony UHD TV. It has been plug and play. No need to fiddle with any settings with different titles once set. They have looked great without a need to change anything.

I've only owned my K8500 for a day and I'm hooking it up to a 2016 Samsung TV, but I've had the same experience. Didn't have to fiddle with anything and the picture looked fantastic.

[RockyIII]

I am excited to see my Sammy 8500 connected to my new Oled C6 next week. Been using the player purely for HD 1080 content this whole time (No UHD TV)...Time to set resolution at 2160 soon

[Dreamliner330]

Does anyone have a guide to best settings for the 8500?

I want the best image, so whatever gets me the least processing/image manipulation is what I'm after.