Sony UBP-X700 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[grayskale]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Does this player have Dolby Vision right out of the box or do you need to do a firmware update?

Depends - if you bought the ones manufactured in 2018 - right out of the box then it won't have DV (the box won't have the DV logo). The latest firmware (x.284) enables DV on these units.

Subsequent units after that in 2019 and onwards came with DV (these boxes has the DV logo).

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Is this a reasonably reliable player? All I do is watch 4K, Blu-ray, DVD discs. I don't stream or use any other type discs.

I've been using mine for about a year with no problems. Have used it for UHD, Blu-ray, and CD playback. There were a few discs (less than 10) that had playback problems but wiping the discs down seemed to fix that.

[slimjean]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Is this a reasonably reliable player? All I do is watch 4K, Blu-ray, DVD discs. I don't stream or use any other type discs.

I found it to be a great player and still use it.

The only issue I have is that the menus on 4K's are a little wonky. Meaning it would load up with a picture but no way to pick the menu at all.

You just eject disc and on reload it would be fine.

Though the 800x2 blows it away IMHO because of build quality and no menu issues.

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Thanks for the help!
And one more question. LOL. The Dolby Vision has to be manually turned on and off? Even on the newer models? And how is that done? Is there a button on the remote or do you have to go in the menu every single time and turn the Dolby Vision on and off? Thanks again.

Yes you need to turn it on and off manually by going into 'screen settings' and toggling the Dolby Vision output on or off.

[bubaglobalj]

My plan is to buy this device in Germany and import it to North America. I am using it as a 4K player on my other TV, but the whole point of doing this is to be setup for region B. A couple questions:

Are there any flaws in my plan?

My understanding is that the power adapter is external, so could I just purchase a cord with a power updated that compatible in north america and use that?

If I use the cable and power adapter it comes with can I just use a conventional travel adapter to connect it, or do I need a power converter?

Any help is appreciated.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by bubaglobalj

My plan is to buy this device in Germany and import it to North America. I am using it as a 4K player on my other TV, but the whole point of doing this is to be setup for region B. A couple questions:

Are there any flaws in my plan?

My understanding is that the power adapter is external, so could I just purchase a cord with a power updated that compatible in north america and use that?

If I use the cable and power adapter it comes with can I just use a conventional travel adapter to connect it, or do I need a power converter?

Any help is appreciated.

I can’t remember the actual power supply rating (whether it says 100-240V) as it’s been more than 2 years ago I used an X700. If it does, all you need is just the plug. If it says 200V-240V, you will need the appropriate plug AND a step up transformer with 110V in - 220V out (usually cost around $30 on eBay).

I use the exact same route as you but using different players. All my life I’ve always used two players for two different regions. Be it BD and (now) UHD BD.

[waxlion]

So I’m considering getting this, but some of the comments about it freezing are making me reconsider. I currently have a disc based PS5 but I feel like I have to reset the HDR settings all the time (even then, I’m not sure I have it set up right). I have a Sony TV that can display Dolby vision.

Is it worth upgrading and to this player specifically?

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by waxlion

So I’m considering getting this, but some of the comments about it freezing are making me reconsider. I currently have a disc based PS5 but I feel like I have to reset the HDR settings all the time (even then, I’m not sure I have it set up right). I have a Sony TV that can display Dolby vision.

Is it worth upgrading and to this player specifically?

Well, this is a question that only Sony fans can answer.

[Panson]

Originally Posted by waxlion

So I’m considering getting this, but some of the comments about it freezing are making me reconsider. I currently have a disc based PS5 but I feel like I have to reset the HDR settings all the time (even then, I’m not sure I have it set up right). I have a Sony TV that can display Dolby vision.

Is it worth upgrading and to this player specifically?

X700 is essentially a 3 lb piece of plastic that's prone to heat. Suggest getting the 8 lb metal-build X800M2, that's maybe 20% costlier.

[waxlion]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Well, this is a question that only Sony fans can answer.

Don’t really HAVE to have a Sony player, this one was just recommended to me by a friend as a mid-level, decently priced unit. He sent me along a link to a pricier Panasonic player as the preferable choice.

[swordspirit80]

I have this blu-ray player connecting to a 75H8G Hisense TV. I've tried directly to the TV and through my Samsung soundbar. Either way, I experience a flickering on the top and bottom of the screen when ONLY playing discs with Dolby Vision. If I turn off Dolby Vision on the player and use just HDR, there is no issue. I can STREAM Dolby Vision with no issues. It only happens when trying to do Dolby Vision from disc. Anyone else experience this? If so, were you able to resolve it? Thanks!

[Panson]

Originally Posted by swordspirit80

I have this blu-ray player connecting to a 75H8G Hisense TV. I've tried directly to the TV and through my Samsung soundbar. Either way, I experience a flickering on the top and bottom of the screen when ONLY playing discs with Dolby Vision. If I turn off Dolby Vision on the player and use just HDR, there is no issue. I can STREAM Dolby Vision with no issues. It only happens when trying to do Dolby Vision from disc. Anyone else experience this? If so, were you able to resolve it? Thanks!

I can't help, since my HT chain doesn't support Dolby Vision. I can only commiserate for you and many others. Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear/read of another Dolby Vision fail.

I had high hopes of including Dolby Vision in my next major system upgrade. That possibility has severely dimmed (pardon the pun). You'd think, with Dolby Vision being introduced in 2014, that smoother affiliation would've been achieved by now.

Good luck with your Dolby Vision issue.

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by swordspirit80

I have this blu-ray player connecting to a 75H8G Hisense TV. I've tried directly to the TV and through my Samsung soundbar. Either way, I experience a flickering on the top and bottom of the screen when ONLY playing discs with Dolby Vision. If I turn off Dolby Vision on the player and use just HDR, there is no issue. I can STREAM Dolby Vision with no issues. It only happens when trying to do Dolby Vision from disc. Anyone else experience this? If so, were you able to resolve it? Thanks!

I can only suggest checking your TV's HDMI settings to ensure they're set to 4:4:4.

[PeppaP]

Originally Posted by waxlion

So I’m considering getting this, but some of the comments about it freezing are making me reconsider. I currently have a disc based PS5 but I feel like I have to reset the HDR settings all the time (even then, I’m not sure I have it set up right). I have a Sony TV that can display Dolby vision.

Is it worth upgrading and to this player specifically?

I had an X700 and in the end the freezing of random discs at random times got too annoying so I returned it for a refund. Some discs would be fine but others a nightmare and it spoiled the enjoyment of watching a 4K disc wondering if there’d be a problem. If there was, sometimes unplugging the player would solve it (which is annoying even if it worked) other times the film had to be finished by watching the blu ray. I replaced it with a Panasonic UB450 player in August last year and everything I’ve watched has been fine with no issues, including discs that had problems on the Sony. The Panasonic works well with my Sony 4K TV and automatically detects Dolby Vision without needing to switch it on/off in the settings.
Although some people will tell you the X700 is a great player I wouldn’t recommend it at all. I always cleaned discs before playing them, raised the player up on feet to try help keep it cool but nothing worked for me. I think it’s the luck of the draw whether you get one that’s reliable or a nightmare but for me it isn’t worth the risk.

[waxlion]

Originally Posted by PeppaP

I had an X700 and in the end the freezing of random discs at random times got too annoying so I returned it for a refund. Some discs would be fine but others a nightmare and it spoiled the enjoyment of watching a 4K disc wondering if there’d be a problem. If there was, sometimes unplugging the player would solve it (which is annoying even if it worked) other times the film had to be finished by watching the blu ray. I replaced it with a Panasonic UB450 player in August last year and everything I’ve watched has been fine with no issues, including discs that had problems on the Sony. The Panasonic works well with my Sony 4K TV and automatically detects Dolby Vision without needing to switch it on/off in the settings.
Although some people will tell you the X700 is a great player I wouldn’t recommend it at all. I always cleaned discs before playing them, raised the player up on feet to try help keep it cool but nothing worked for me. I think it’s the luck of the draw whether you get one that’s reliable or a nightmare but for me it isn’t worth the risk.

Seems to be a common enough thing to where I think I'm going to stick with my PS5 for now and save up for a panasonic.

Thanks!

[andantelise]

Does anyone know whether upscaling to 4K adds any unwanted processing?

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by andantelise

Does anyone know whether upscaling to 4K adds any unwanted processing?

I haven't noticed any. Just make sure Picture Mode is set to Direct. One thing I do notice is that when it's set to 4K upscale, SD content often takes a few seconds to kick in when switching from HD or 4K. When I was watching the Godfather trilogy deleted scenes the other night, at one point the signal even cut out completely and I kept having to skip back because it would miss the first few seconds when starting some of the clips.

[Farerb]

I decided to order this player and it should arrive this week.

[Ray Jackson]

All of a sudden my x700 won’t go to the menu screen if I turn it on with a disc already inside. It just goes to a black screen.

Instead I have to eject the disc and reload it to get to the menu screen so I can play it. Then it works.

And I just finished watching a movie and it went to a black screen instead of the menu screen.

I haven’t even had this thing for a year.

Anyone know what the problem may be?

[sapiendut]

Have you tried resetting the player to factory? Sometimes this help.