Sony UBP-X700 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Le Grande Blu]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

Besides Eraserhead, did you state, in your earlier post, that you are unable to get surround from any Blu-ray movies? Also did you try Factory Reset on the player? And have you tried a different HDMI cable? I assume you did both already.

I've tried all the discs I have which I know to have 2-channel surround with no luck. I get full 5.1 from everything which has it. Tried a factory reset also. But really, thanks again for trying to help out.

[suspiciouscoffee]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Blu

Tried it just now, with no luck.

With DTS Neo:6 turned on, did you also have the output set to PCM (and Downmix to Surround not Stereo)?

[Le Grande Blu]

Originally Posted by suspiciouscoffee

With DTS Neo:6 turned on, did you also have the output set to PCM (and Downmix to Surround not Stereo)?

Not having any luck with any the settings recommended here, but in a few days I'll be moving house (and country), so when I get settled in the new home, perhaps reconnecting and resetting everything might get results.
Once again though, thank you for taking the time to try and help out

[jephdood]

Why can I not find anyone selling the 700k? What am I missing?

[Necril]

Originally Posted by jephdood

Why can I not find anyone selling the 700k? What am I missing?

I believe the US version of the 2025 model is called X700U. Seems to be available from most retailers.

[Hbx360]

I am seeing the X700U being sold in Canada now. MSRP is $390 and is $60 higher than it was for the X700.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Originally Posted by Hbx360

I am seeing the X700U being sold in Canada now. MSRP is $390 and is $60 higher than it was for the X700.

This player is everywhere now, and it is currently around 220 on Amazon on a limited deal. I am very tempted. I know Prime Day and whatever are coming up, but I doubt it's gonna go below 200 any time soon, yet you never know these days. I am sure the old one will go to 150-160, but only seller doing those is Beach, and I really don't want to work through them nor do I want an old ass player with steaming apps.

Anybody else interested in the U player? Both on Sony.com and Amazon it's on sale. Around 234 or so after tax, which is still a lot from something this new, but I need a 4K player pretty soon here lmao my movies are stacking up after I sold my PS5 for a Pro model. I probably have enough blurays and streaming to last until Christmas, but what even am I saving I just don't know.

Hard to say how Sony even wants to price this model. Because it has a nice setup in it for all media, and because it's new, I feel like they don't want to go too low on hardware. Feels like 200 is the lowest they will go. They rarely go negative on hardware unless pushed these days because really they need the margins. X700M is ancient, and it's mostly random third parties selling it low.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

Originally Posted by jephdood

Why can I not find anyone selling the 700k? What am I missing?

It is on sale now.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Ahh screw it I just got the player one last purchase before I clear the Amazon card out. I'll hassle CS if it goes lower during Prime Day. It's been 7 months without a 4K player. I can wait no longer.

[jephdood]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyGnome

It is on sale now.

Yep, looks like Best Buy matched it too.

[BluIsGold]

As far as performance goes, is the U any different than the old version? Interesting to see a slight jump in price considering the removal of streaming apps.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Originally Posted by BluIsGold

As far as performance goes, is the U any different than the old version? Interesting to see a slight jump in price considering the removal of streaming apps.

AFAIK there is simply no way to tell other than opening it up and comparing. I would personally HOPE that while much the same it is actually a new chipset with a few improvements. I don't really see the use in announcing a new thing like this 5 years later and keeping the same chipset. But we also know Sony does not want to sell hardware for a loss.

This is hope of course. I will be able to give more info when mine arrives as to noise and general use though.

Still, there is a slight chance it's just rebinned chips they didn't sell lol with a bunch of cut code to get the streaming crap off it.

I'll be testing like 10 100GB discs because if it doesn't play them well then it will be going back.

[hallowdrew]

Please do. I was hoping that a bunch of people who took a chance with the 700U will play the discs that the previous version choked on and report back with the results.

Originally Posted by WhiskeyGnome

AFAIK there is simply no way to tell other than opening it up and comparing. I would personally HOPE that while much the same it is actually a new chipset with a few improvements. I don't really see the use in announcing a new thing like this 5 years later and keeping the same chipset. But we also know Sony does not want to sell hardware for a loss.

This is hope of course. I will be able to give more info when mine arrives as to noise and general use though.

Still, there is a slight chance it's just rebinned chips they didn't sell lol with a bunch of cut code to get the streaming crap off it.

I'll be testing like 10 100GB discs because if it doesn't play them well then it will be going back.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Originally Posted by hallowdrew

Please do. I was hoping that a bunch of people who took a chance with the 700U will play the discs that the previous version choked on and report back with the results.

What were those previous? I can look in my collection for any of them. I'm getting it today, but probably Thursday I will be checking things out due to work.

[hallowdrew]

Come to think of it, what I said was useless because the reliability of the X700 was reported as all over the place. Some people said theirs was perfect, others said only a few discs caused problems, and still others had so many disc probs it drove them batty. I was in the middle group of owners.

The two discs that I can immediately recall as having reproducible freezes on my player were SF's Halloween 6 Producer's Cut 4K and The Fog 4K. Both froze at the very same spot (H6 during the Barry Sims interview and the Fog when the driftwood wet itself in the radio station). The Producer's Cut got a replacement disc (SF blamed a bad batch), too, so that one might not matter.

Originally Posted by WhiskeyGnome

What were those previous? I can look in my collection for any of them. I'm getting it today, but probably Thursday I will be checking things out due to work.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Originally Posted by hallowdrew

Come to think of it, what I said was useless because the reliability of the X700 was reported as all over the place. Some people said theirs was perfect, others said only a few discs caused problems, and still others had so many disc probs it drove them batty. I was in the middle group of owners.

The two discs that I can immediately recall as having reproducible freezes on my player were SF's Halloween 6 Producer's Cut 4K and The Fog 4K. Both froze at the very same spot (H6 during the Barry Sims interview and the Fog when the driftwood wet itself in the radio station). The Producer's Cut got a replacement disc (SF blamed a bad batch), too, so that one might not matter.

I will just have to try the many 100GBs I have. I do not own those discs sorry.

Yes, it is definitely all over the place. And all kinds of things can play into these issues as well, e.g., environment, laser, et cetera. But I still will be testing mine.

Just got it. Seems pretty decent. Nothing special. I do like how the disc compartment has a door so dust will not get into the machine itself. That's nice design there.

It feels pretty cheap, but it looks great and remote feels good. Small as they should be. Will be setting it up here at some point soon. I feel like they crap these out of a Chinese factory for like 35 bucks lol. But I wanted the Sony because it is new and for SACD. To be sure it's solidly designed. The chips don't weigh what they used to, and without metal it's quite light. I'll get back on the noise and 100GB discs soon.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyGnome

AFAIK there is simply no way to tell other than opening it up and comparing. I would personally HOPE that while much the same it is actually a new chipset with a few improvements. I don't really see the use in announcing a new thing like this 5 years later and keeping the same chipset. But we also know Sony does not want to sell hardware for a loss.

One way to tell would be to compare the current firmware version used on the 700U to the previous 700. If the versions numbers are identical there's a very high probability that the internal SOC and pretty much everything else internally is so close there is no need for a different firmware version.

One way the 700U and S1700U differ, of course, is the new U versions no longer supporting any streaming apps. That's not exactly a loss in the age of $30 Roku sticks that perform far better. However, it's one less technologically sophisticated item for Sony to need to support and upgrade over time.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

One way to tell would be to compare the current firmware version used on the 700U to the previous 700. If the versions numbers are identical there's a very high probability that the internal SOC and pretty much everything else internally is so close there is no need for a different firmware version.

One way the 700U and S1700U differ, of course, it no longer supporting any streaming apps. That's not exactly a loss in the age of $30 Roku sticks that perform far better. However, it's one less technologically sophisticated item for Sony to need to support and upgrade over time.

I just got it up and running. I like the player so far as well. I like how the door opens automatically and shields from dust way more than I should lol. Options are pretty standard. No wallpaper or anything like that but not a big deal. Noise I can barely tell it's on honestly. At least in my room. Seems very quiet. Playing Chinatown on a different input atm, and it basically hasn't made a sound.

Software version is currently M48.R.0006 and no update available either.

X700 latest firmware is from 2022 and it is M43.R.0292. So yeah probably a new chipset you would hope, but again ya never know. I am glad the streaming garbage is gone. I do not need anything. I don't even have my LG online much less this thing. If I do want to hook it to my LAN it works fine and BD Live is there if needed.

The pop-up options menu while in a film is low-res and pretty lame, but I won't have to use it much regardless. DV auto switching is something I don't even care about honestly. It's easy peasy to switch it on or off.

All that matters is 100GB discs. And I will have to watch a few of them. Otherwise so far so good, but yeah that was all expected to this point. As I said somebody could do the bare minimum and update font resolution lol at least on the in-movie options menu.

Also, the front end is like the PS5 with that glossy plastic that will scratch just from dust in the air haha. God I hate glossy plastic but whatever. It looks nice enough. i will try not to touch it I guess.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Blu

Does anyone know how to get Dolby Surround from 2.0 channel on this player? I get pro logic on my amp when I'm running my game console, but any blu rays with surround just output as stereo. It's a Denon receiver by the way.

FWIW on the new 700/U player, I just switched the audio channel to 1 and it was the Dolby TrueHD track. Second one was stereo dolby digital. I use headphones directly connected to LG C1 though. Probably something with Denon. I know older Denon's have all kinds of issues with newer equipment though.

[WhiskeyGnome]

Well I only got through about half of Seven tonight. No issues so far. Only thing I don't like is as I said the lower res fonts. Just wish the Sony menu system was a tad more professional. Reminds me of some BIOS settings from like 15 years ago what the hell are they thinking keeping that stuff like that?

Regardless it has been a flawless player so far, but I don't even think I have seen a layer switch. If it is a newer chip then I would think it runs more efficiently or cooler at least.

Some were saying to turn off upscaling, and that fixed things for them. If I run into issues I will try that, but so far on default upscaling, not that it should use anything with a 4K, it has been fine.

Not sure I saw any video settings either like I thought I saw on the last one on some screens people were posting. They may have cut those too. Hopefully they cut all the garbage and the player is just consistent and good now. Wish there was somewhere we could leave feedback. A simple AI upscale of the fonts would do wonders for how they look.

I saw some titles mentioned like LOTR and Starship Troopers and random stuff. Seems like people are all over the place with the last player. Just random random random. Nothing makes much sense. Maybe the player had a poor processor or something. That would make sense. Because say a budget phone from 5 years ago like the Samsung A12 had a pretty poor processor for its time. I would think low-end devices like this also had poor processors, especially one handling APPS.

If the chipset is new then more than likely it runs a lot better plus it has no apps in the background either. I'll watch 2 or 3 100GB discs and then report back. Otherwise this player rocks for the price.

Also, to prevent confusion for anyone wandering in, I am talking about the newer X700/U player that I bought. Any references to the older player are just from reading online.

[Telemachus]

I don't think there's any chance this runs new parts, it's the exact same player with the apps stripped imo, if anything it might run cheaper parts. It should still choke on 100gb discs without cooling just like the old one. If it doesn't at all and more people can confirm it then they likely did fix the flaw.