Dedicated 4K-Disc Player For Dolby Vision

[BluRayHiDef]

I recently purchased a TCL 55R617, which supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. However, my current 4K-disc player is an XBOX ONE S, which doesn't support Dolby Vision. So, I'm thinking about getting a dedicated 4K-disc player that does support the format. What do you guys think of the two options listed below? Furthermore, will Dolby Vision even provide a significant enough upgrade relative to HDR10 to warrant such a purchase?

• Philips BDP7502/F7
  
• LG UBK90 4K
  
  Update:
  
  
  [Show spoiler]
  I wound up purchasing the LG UBK90 from Best Buy.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

I recently purchased a TCL 55R617, which supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. However, my current 4K-disc player is an XBOX ONE S, which doesn't support Dolby Vision. So, I'm thinking about getting a dedicated 4K-disc player that does support the format. What do you guys think of the two options listed below? Furthermore, will Dolby Vision even provide a significant enough upgrade relative to HDR10 to warrant such a purchase?

• Philips BDP7502/F7
  
• LG UBK90 4K

Why don't you get one and try it with DV media? Since the LG UP970 is EOL and UBK90 replaced it and the Phillips BDP7502 is another entry lvl player they are likely similar in operational quality. You also now have the petite Sony x700 that is in its initial FW that supports DV also that is reasonably priced.

Links
Philips BDP7502 UHD 4K Player
LG 2018 UHD/HDR BD player UBK90
Sony UBP-X700 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Why don't you get one and try it with DV media? Since the LG UP970 is EOL and UBK90 replaced it and the Phillips BDP7502 is another entry lvl player they are likely similar in operational quality. You also now have the petite Sony x700 that is in its initial FW that supports DV also that is reasonably priced.

Links
Philips BDP7502 UHD 4K Player
LG 2018 UHD/HDR BD player UBK90
Sony UBP-X700 4K UHD Blu-ray player

Is there a huge difference between entry level players and higher level ones? Also, is Dolby Vision as streamed via VUDU as good as it is as played back from a disc? I just sampled the DV stream of Justice League via VUDU and it did not look as good as the HDR10 version as played back from the disc; the colors and highlights weren't as bright.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

Is there a huge difference between entry level players and higher level ones? Also, is Dolby Vision as streamed via VUDU as good as it is as played back from a disc? I just sampled the DV stream of Justice League via VUDU and it did not look as good as the HDR10 version as played back from the disc; the colors and highlights weren't as bright.

I said this in the 203 thread recently

Generally the difference in better players is three fold, the video processing has been optimized to be as accurate as possible against many video tests, the player is more flexible for the owner to use, including audio processing, and finally build quality to the degree that player is reliable for years.

Playing DV content at 25 Mbps (streaming apps iTunes/Vudu) while looking quite good, will display increased compression artifacts on both ends of the brightness range, very bright and dark scenes will show lots of artifacts compared to the UHD media which plays up to 100 Mbps has none essentially.

You also tend to notice somewhat lack of fine detail with playing streaming content versus physical media. More pronounce with streaming HD versus BD’s.

[ROSS.T.G.]

There is a difference in PQ between the Oppo and cheaper players. Very, very minimal but it’s there. The biggest upgrade is upscaling. This is where I noticed the biggest difference. The 203 made DVD watchable.

[gkolb]

Yup, What JohnAV said...

And, the Oppo 203 can now apply Dolby Vision to HDR10 discs to reduce banding and other artifacts on some displays. Brand new feature, more to come in the Oppo thread.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

There is a difference in PQ between the Oppo and cheaper players. Very, very minimal but it’s there. The biggest upgrade is upscaling. This is where I noticed the biggest difference. The 203 made DVD watchable.

I just checked Amazon and learned that the Oppo 203 is over $1000! Is its picture quality really that much better than a player that costs $300 or less? Also, will a dedicated player in the price range of $300 or less be significantly better than the XBOX ONE S for HDR10 and non-HDR 4K?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

I just checked Amazon and learned that the Oppo 203 is over $1000! Is its picture quality really that much better than a player that costs $300 or less? Also, will a dedicated player in the price range of $300 or less be significantly better than the XBOX ONE S for HDR10 and non-HDR 4K?

Those are third party scalpers. Its goes for $549, but Oppo Digital warned all that it was sunsetting the 203/205 in April. Just recently the product has all but dried up except for the possibility of some last production runs. Notification sign up web page. They are also planning to have one or 2 last production runs of the audiophile variation 205 also. ($1299) Notification sign up.

Oppo Electronics is changing the business role of Oppo Digital and the warranty/support via email will continue for a few years.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

I just checked Amazon and learned that the Oppo 203 is over $1000! Is its picture quality really that much better than a player that costs $300 or less? Also, will a dedicated player in the price range of $300 or less be significantly better than the XBOX ONE S for HDR10 and non-HDR 4K?

It won’t look that much better no. Many claim there is no difference in PQ between players which for the most part is true but the Oppo gives you more flexibility. I noticed a very slight uptick in PQ with UHD. Things just looked a hair tighter. Where I really noticed a difference was in standard Blu-ray playback. It does a much better job in upscaling. I was lucky because I bought mine 30 days before they announced they were done. I paid $870 CDN and couldn’t be happier. For people who want their discs to be played back as accurate as possible there is no substitute. Others may not feel the same.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

It won’t look that much better no. Many claim there is no difference in PQ between players which for the most part is true but the Oppo gives you more flexibility. I noticed a very slight uptick in PQ with UHD. Things just looked a hair tighter. Where I really noticed a difference was in standard Blu-ray playback. It does a much better job in upscaling. I was lucky because I bought mine 30 days before they announced they were done. I paid $870 CDN and couldn’t be happier. For people who want their discs to be played back as accurate as possible there is no substitute. Others may not feel the same.

Seems like the higher price isn't worth it.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

Seems like the higher price isn't worth it.

Depends. For some like me yes it is. But most probably not.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

Depends. For some like me yes it is. But most probably not.

Well, based on what you've said, I'll forgo an expensive unit. In regard to an affordable unit (i.e $300 or less), will Dolby Vision as played back from a disc look better than HDR10 as played back from a disc on my XBOX ONE S? Check out my TVs specs, please: https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/tc...ries-2018-r617

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

Well, based on what you've said, I'll forgo an expensive unit. In regard to an affordable unit (i.e $300 or less), will Dolby Vision as played back from a disc look better than HDR10 as played back from a disc on my XBOX ONE S? Check out my TVs specs, please: https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/tc...ries-2018-r617

Yes.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Yes.

How much better? Significantly so or insignificantly so?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BluRayHiDef

How much better? Significantly so or insignificantly so?

Per CNET

This is a broad generalization, and in many cases the choice will come down to the specific content and display. But DV can potentially look better for a few reasons. For one thing, it's currently the only HDR format with dynamic metadata. This means that the brightness levels of HDR content can vary between shots, giving filmmakers finer control over how the image looks. HDR10, right now anyway, has static metadata. This means the HDR "look" can only be determined per movie or show.

In real world this means that the content is more matched to the displays available minimum and maximum brightness levels dynamically, usually represented by increase contrast and detail in brighter and darker scenes.

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Per CNET



In real world this means that the content is more matched to the displays available minimum and maximum brightness levels dynamically, usually represented by increase contrast and detail in brighter and darker scenes.

I guess I'll snag a cheapo with DV and see for myself. I'm a bit unsure, because DV as streamed via Netflix and VUDU looks better than HDR10 as similarly streamed but doesn't look better than HDR10 off a disc. However, logic dictates that DV off a disc should look the best based on the aforementioned observations.

[i007spectre]

I bought the Sony X700 to go with my TCL. Haven't gotten to try DV on it out yet because my receiver cannot pass along DV. But thankfully the 700 has two HDMI outputs.

[nick4Knight]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

I bought the Sony X700 to go with my TCL. Haven't gotten to try DV on it out yet because my receiver cannot pass along DV. But thankfully the 700 has two HDMI outputs.

How have you not tried it out then... You meaning that you haven't gotten a second hmdi cable yet?

[BluRayHiDef]

Originally Posted by i007spectre

I bought the Sony X700 to go with my TCL. Haven't gotten to try DV on it out yet because my receiver cannot pass along DV. But thankfully the 700 has two HDMI outputs.

Don't you have to wait for an update that has yet to be released in order to enable DV on the x700? I don't want to have to wait, especially considering that I have no way of learning about its DV playback quality before buying it.

[BluRayHiDef]

I think I'm going to pull the trigger and get the LG UBK90 from Best Buy; I can have it delivered to me today via same-day delivery. What do you guys think? It can process DV right out of the box, costs only $249.99, and comes with a remote.