Samsung 4K UHD Blu-ray Player UBD-K8500

[Dreamliner330]

I do not like Samsung as a brand but was forced into the K8500 due to lack of alternatives. I had issues with audio sync when I was using a non-HDCP 2.2 receiver and had to use the 2 HDMI cables. Now that I have a HDCP 2.2 Denon X6300 Atmos receiver, I can use one HDMI cable and haven't had any audio issues since.

Regarding some having issues; I genuinely believe heat is the death of electronics. My PS3/PS4/K8500/etc are all on little rubber feet to elevate the bottom about .25 inch off the shelf. Then at the back of the shelf I have large fans keeping airflow blowing over all the electronics so everything is cool to the touch. So far so good.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by HeatEquation

I just remembered that this player streams Netflix at native 24p, which most other devices do not. So it should be nice watching content in 4K HDR at native 24p.

Roku Ultra is 60fps and Netflix 4K HDR on it looks identical as on this player. No visible difference in frame rate

[dlbsyst]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Roku Ultra is 60fps and Netflix 4K HDR on it looks identical as on this player. No visible difference in frame rate

Whether you can "see a difference" really depends on the capability of your set to display 24hz correctly. Many 4K sets are 60hz and cannot. My set is 120hz and can so I definitely see a difference from 60 and 24 fps content.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by dlbsyst

Whether you can "see a difference" really depends on the capability of your set to display 24hz correctly. Many 4K sets are 60hz and cannot. My set is 120hz and can so I definitely see a difference from 60 and 24 fps content.

I have an oled tv, I can watch Netflix from the Samsung, from the Oled, or from my Roku 2, and they all look the same as far as motion goes. The only difference is that Oled does a better upscaling

[goombatommy]

I've had this player since September and so far it's pretty good. Plays 4K UBD's pretty quickly, image looks sharp and sound is pretty good. However, I have a few issues.

Regular Blu-Ray:

-Regular blu ray playback is "meh". I think it's been mentioned here before (maybe/maybe not, but definitely elsewhere), but whenever you play a regular blu ray that has a red scene on a dark backdrop (father/son scene from Force Awakens), there's significant ghosting that occurs; particularly on Han and Ben's faces.

-Audio volume while playing regular blu rays is significantly "lower" versus my 4 year old LG Blu Ray player.

Remedy for the above two issues - simply using my 4 year old LG blu ray player which resolves both of them.

4K UBD:

-I've yet to find anyone else with this particular issue and it may be tricky to explain, but at random with no rhyme or reason, sometimes I get a line that runs from the bottom of the screen to the top; somewhat slowly. It happens ONLY playing 4K UBD discs; not with regular blu rays. I've tried two different TV's and different cables - issue still persists. It's very rare but when it does, it's just very weird.

Overall I think it's a pretty good blu ray player, especially considering I got it for $190. I'm probably going to wind up getting an Oppo 203 and putting the K8500 into my bedroom.

[Atomic4877]

Originally Posted by goombatommy

I've had this player since September and so far it's pretty good. Plays 4K UBD's pretty quickly, image looks sharp and sound is pretty good. However, I have a few issues.

Regular Blu-Ray:

-Regular blu ray playback is "meh". I think it's been mentioned here before (maybe/maybe not, but definitely elsewhere), but whenever you play a regular blu ray that has a red scene on a dark backdrop (father/son scene from Force Awakens), there's significant ghosting that occurs; particularly on Han and Ben's faces.

-Audio volume while playing regular blu rays is significantly "lower" versus my 4 year old LG Blu Ray player.

Remedy for the above two issues - simply using my 4 year old LG blu ray player which resolves both of them.

4K UBD:

-I've yet to find anyone else with this particular issue and it may be tricky to explain, but at random with no rhyme or reason, sometimes I get a line that runs from the bottom of the screen to the top; somewhat slowly. It happens ONLY playing 4K UBD discs; not with regular blu rays. I've tried two different TV's and different cables - issue still persists. It's very rare but when it does, it's just very weird.

Overall I think it's a pretty good blu ray player, especially considering I got it for $190. I'm probably going to wind up getting an Oppo 203 and putting the K8500 into my bedroom.

The K8500 player is definitely good for the prices that it is selling for now. I had an launch unit and enjoyed it. I could ended up selling it and getting a Oppo udp-203. I couldn't get over the small remote and red push. Also, subtitles did not seem to work on several disks. It would say subtitles not available, but with the udp-203 all disks subtitles work even the ones that didn't on the Samsung.

[gates70]

Originally Posted by Atomic4877

The K8500 player is definitely good for the prices that it is selling for now. I had an launch unit and enjoyed it. I could ended up selling it and getting a Oppo udp-203. I couldn't get over the small remote and red push. Also, subtitles did not seem to work on several disks. It would say subtitles not available, but with the udp-203 all disks subtitles work even the ones that didn't on the Samsung.

I have both the OPPO and the Samsung and I will never go back to playing movies on the Sammy. I keep it only for the Netflix lol

[eddievanhalen]

I don't like the new firmware update, how one geta to fastforward faster than X2.

[HeatEquation]

I noticed that when streaming content on this player there's no Picture Mode setting (as there is when watching blu ray discs.) Do those settings not apply when streaming, or are they just not available to alter?

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by gates70

I have both the OPPO and the Samsung and I will never go back to playing movies on the Sammy. I keep it only for the Netflix lol

Why?

While I don't doubt the Oppo is probably better than a device made by Sammy, with regular Blu-ray, for movies, the Oppo was much ado about nothing. There really wasn't anything, for movies, the Oppo did better than a PS3.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by HeatEquation

I noticed that when streaming content on this player there's no Picture Mode setting (as there is when watching blu ray discs.) Do those settings not apply when streaming, or are they just not available to alter?

They are not available on streaming sources

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by eddievanhalen

I don't like the new firmware update, how one geta to fastforward faster than X2.

You need to press and hold the fastforward button for X3, X4, X5

[gates70]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Why?

While I don't doubt the Oppo is probably better than a device made by Sammy, with regular Blu-ray, for movies, the Oppo was much ado about nothing. There really wasn't anything, for movies, the Oppo did better than a PS3.

The Sammy locked up at times...it has a red push on BD's...some other quirks as well.

[goombatommy]

Originally Posted by gates70

The Sammy locked up at times...it has a red push on BD's...some other quirks as well.

When you say "Red Push on BD's", you are referring to the issue I mentioned about, the "ghosting" effect with red on dark scenes?

With that being said, would you consider there to be a bump in PQ/AQ with the Oppo 203 over the K8500? I like what I hear about Oppo's support and constant updates which are a huge plus as well. That alone can sell me.

[HeatEquation]

Originally Posted by goombatommy

When you say "Red Push on BD's", you are referring to the issue I mentioned about, the "ghosting" effect with red on dark scenes?

With that being said, would you consider there to be a bump in PQ/AQ with the Oppo 203 over the K8500? I like what I hear about Oppo's support and constant updates which are a huge plus as well. That alone can sell me.

I've watched content on both. If you set up your K8500 correctly, there isn't any significant upgrade in PQ with the Oppo.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by HeatEquation

I've watched content on both. If you set up your K8500 correctly, there isn't any significant upgrade in PQ with the Oppo.

Do you have suggestions for settings on the K8500?

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by HeatEquation

I've watched content on both. If you set up your K8500 correctly, there isn't any significant upgrade in PQ with the Oppo.

I agree, and also I dont see any red push on the Samsung. I also have a Sony BD6500 hooked up to the same AVR and blurays look exactly the same on both

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Do you have suggestions for settings on the K8500?

Set Deep Color off, first and foremost

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Set Deep Color off, first and foremost

Lemme know all your settings. Curious to see how they compare. I also have a 6500,btw.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Lemme know all your settings. Curious to see how they compare. I also have a 6500,btw.

I love the 6500. The most reliable player I've ever owned