4K region free blu ray player - Sony UBP-X700 or LG UBK90

[NormanBatesStuffedBird]

Any thoughts?

I have a LG C1 (soon to be G3) and looking here https://www.220-electronics.com/.

[Naiera]

Do yourself a favour and get a Panasonic.

[NormanBatesStuffedBird]

Originally Posted by Naiera

Do yourself a favour and get a Panasonic.

Any recommendation on the model?

I'm seeing this Panasonic DP-UB820-K as one people reference. If so, i see there are a lot of video outputs i can adjust. Safe to assume if I was playing HDR/DV content I would leave that to the TV? I know these are basic questions but want to make sure I understand correctly before making the purchase.

[Naiera]

The Panny 820 has a lot of options for adjusting HDR10 and Dolby Vision (both are types of HDR), but seeing as you have an OLED, that would, indeed, probably be best left to the TV. You could, of course, play around with it when you receive the player.

The 820 is more expensive than the players you mentioned initially, but I promise you that you'll be able to feel the difference. I've had the Sony X700 and 800s before, and the Panasonic DP-UB820 is just on an entirely different level. Probably the only true mid-range UHD player on the market. Everything else is cheapo shit or expensive AF, such as the Panasonic UB9000 or those expensive Oppo-like players.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by NormanBatesStuffedBird

Any thoughts?

I own a X700 region-free from 220 (C2 primary setup) and a stock Region A UBK90 (C8 secondary setup).

The LG has been the better player from a UHD stability perspective, more or less playing everything I've thrown its way, but lacks Direct playback and is not the best for DVDs. This is not an issue for me as both of my setups feature two players, and this player is paired with a region-free Sony S3700 from 220, which has been aces to date for region-free discs, Blu-ray and DVD.

The X700 has a better UI and has exhibited zero issues with A & B Blu-ray discs and is superior for its Direct option and DVD playback, but has choked on two or three UHD discs. This player is paired with a Region A Panny 820, which has been the best player IMHO for UHD playback in my experience (including the Oppo 203/205).

[fredreed]

First off they are not region free unless you get a multi region free 4K Blu ray player. I wouldn't go with a Panasonic no way. Panasonic 4K Blu ray players are the worst ever. I have had enough of them. They are terrible. Unless they come out with new ones I would stick Sony for now but now the 700M unit that unit has nothing but playing issues.

[Naiera]

What the hell have you been smoking? Panasonic’s UHD players are without a doubt better than Sony and LG’s, and this thread is specifically about buying region free (switchable) players from a vendor that sells such players.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Naiera

The Panny 820 has a lot of options for adjusting HDR10 and Dolby Vision (both are types of HDR), but seeing as you have an OLED, that would, indeed, probably be best left to the TV. You could, of course, play around with it when you receive the player.

The 820 is more expensive than the players you mentioned initially, but I promise you that you'll be able to feel the difference. I've had the Sony X700 and 800s before, and the Panasonic DP-UB820 is just on an entirely different level. Probably the only true mid-range UHD player on the market. Everything else is cheapo shit or expensive AF, such as the Panasonic UB9000 or those expensive Oppo-like players.

Is the 820 overly fussy about smudges? I have the 420 and I really like it overall but it seems *really* touchy about the disc being clean.

[NormanBatesStuffedBird]

Thanks, everyone. Sounds like I should either bite the high cost and do the region free pan 820 or the Sony x700.

[Naiera]

The Sony X700 is such a cheap POS compared to the Panny 820

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by octagon

Is the 820 overly fussy about smudges? I have the 420 and I really like it overall but it seems *really* touchy about the disc being clean.

That’s normal for the format itself. 100 GB discs are really pushing the limits of what’s possible with optical media, so all players, cheap and expensive, are sensitive, but obviously some more than others. Unfortunately, it seems like some players of the same type are more sensitive than others, so some people end up with a good one and others are unlucky.

[JasonBluRay1978]

I have an LG 4k player, and it has never had a problem playing any 4k disc, no freezes, skips, etc. I don't know if I just got lucky or if other LG players are that good, I have read the Panasonic players are the best, but I have no first hand knowledge of that. I can say that personally my LG has been great and plays every DVD/blu ray/4k I have with no problems.

[stvn1974]

Originally Posted by Naiera

The Sony X700 is such a cheap POS compared to the Panny 820

The Sony X700 is the cheapest POS compared to other cheap POS models.

[sa5150]

I'm looking for a region free modified 4k uhd player as well . Currently have a sony 800m2 , is silent and rock solid . and using a old sony region free bluray player . Im fine changing brands but what makes the panny as people are saying soooooooo much better ? I have 2 oleds tvs if that makes a difference . When I made my 4k purchase a few years ago I went with what upconverted dvds the best and was built great and that's why I picked the Sony 800m2 (at a steal of a price $150) after returning a Panny 820 (3 times the price ) for being noisy and just plastic and light didn't feel like I got my money's worth . Didn't notice any difference in PQ and dvds looked worse . My budget is no more then $300 . I would love to just modify my 800m2 but have no soldering skills and really do not want to mess anything up . one shop told me to bring it in and drop off , come back in a week charge me $150 , way too much I think and a hassle , I live near chicago .

[Sango]

Originally Posted by NormanBatesStuffedBird

Any recommendation on the model?

I'm seeing this Panasonic DP-UB820-K as one people reference. If so, i see there are a lot of video outputs i can adjust. Safe to assume if I was playing HDR/DV content I would leave that to the TV? I know these are basic questions but want to make sure I understand correctly before making the purchase.

UB-820 is a good option as I purchased it for a family member. I personally have the UB-9000 (mk1). I would say, best to let the player handle the HDR to TV because of its HDR optimizer. Depending the setup, your results will vary, but to my understanding, the HDR optimizer for player is very good because it maintains the average picture level as much as possible.

Originally Posted by sa5150

When I made my 4k purchase a few years ago I went with what upconverted dvds the best and was built great and that's why I picked the Sony 800m2 (at a steal of a price $150) after returning a Panny 820 (3 times the price ) for being noisy and just plastic and light didn't feel like I got my money's worth . Didn't notice any difference in PQ and dvds looked worse . My budget is no more then $300 . I would love to just modify my 800m2 but have no soldering skills and really do not want to mess anything up . one shop told me to bring it in and drop off , come back in a week charge me $150 , way too much I think and a hassle , I live near chicago .

Depending on the VP used for SD and BD content, these two PQ will vary.

For my Panasonic 820 and 9000, the UBD is superior. For DVD I noticed some deinterlacing issues such that my Oppo 83 works best for DVDs because it has the Anchor Bay VRS VP. For BD, I am not sure but I think the Oppo 103D may work better for it has both SI VRS VP and Darbee VP but did not notice anything I would point out on the Panasonics.

As per modifying to region free, I would opt for a non-solder solution if possible even thou I have soldering skills. I previously have soldered a region free mods to my Panasonic DVD-RP82 back in the day. Unfortunately one does not exist for either 820 or 9000, so I have not thought much about it and also the stop/menu trick allows the unit to play different BD Regions (not DVD regions).

My Oppo UBP-203 has the JVB Digital region free hardware mod which plugs into the board of the unit. I do not know if I want to purchase the hardware mod for the 83 thou if it is still available. That said, I have user the Superdisc to make the 83 DVD region free.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by Sango

UB-820 is a good option as I purchased it for a family member. I personally have the UB-9000 (mk1). I would say, best to let the player handle the HDR to TV because of its HDR optimizer. Depending the setup, your results will vary, but to my understanding, the HDR optimizer for player is very good because it maintains the average picture level as much as possible.



Depending on the VP used for SD and BD content, these two PQ will vary.

For my Panasonic 820 and 9000, the UBD is superior. For DVD I noticed some deinterlacing issues such that my Oppo 83 works best for DVDs because it has the Anchor Bay VRS VP. For BD, I am not sure but I think the Oppo 103D may work better for it has both SI VRS VP and Darbee VP but did not notice anything I would point out on the Panasonics.

As per modifying to region free, I would opt for a non-solder solution if possible even thou I have soldering skills. I previously have soldered a region free mods to my Panasonic DVD-RP82 back in the day. Unfortunately one does not exist for either 820 or 9000, so I have not thought much about it and also the stop/menu trick allows the unit to play different BD Regions (not DVD regions).

My Oppo UBP-203 has the JVB Digital region free hardware mod which plugs into the board of the unit. I do not know if I want to purchase the hardware mod for the 83 thou if it is still available. That said, I have user the Superdisc to make the 83 DVD region free.

Is there a plug in mod for the Oppo 103D to go region free on BD and DVD ?

How about the Sony 800m2 ? Plug in mod ?

Apparently no one knows nothing on a board with everyone who thinks they know everything .

[Chareth]

Originally Posted by Naiera

The 820 is more expensive than the players you mentioned initially, but I promise you that you'll be able to feel the difference.

I'm looking to get the Panasonic UB-820 myself, modded for region-free DVD and Blu-ray from Gattiweb.

I don't yet have a 4K TV but am planning ahead. The remote on my current Laser region-free Blu-ray player is driving me nuts so I figure I'll run the 820 to my 2010 HD Samsung TV as a Blu and DVD player until I can upgrade my TV (any issues you see with this plan, please let me know).

Saw a post elsewhere on the site that modding a 4K player for region-free DVD and Blu is unwise. Any validity to that?

[Naiera]

I don't know why that would be.

[JWgrayhawk]

Originally Posted by Chareth

I'm looking to get the Panasonic UB-820 myself, modded for region-free DVD and Blu-ray from Gattiweb.

I don't yet have a 4K TV but am planning ahead. The remote on my current Laser region-free Blu-ray player is driving me nuts so I figure I'll run the 820 to my 2010 HD Samsung TV as a Blu and DVD player until I can upgrade my TV (any issues you see with this plan, please let me know).

Saw a post elsewhere on the site that modding a 4K player for region-free DVD and Blu is unwise. Any validity to that?

One issue I can see is shortening the life of your expensive 820 using BDs and DVDs; it might make more sense to get a cheap BD player to use until you get a 4K TV.

Only thing I've read about region-modded players that would give me pause is that you have to pay the Mod company for new firmware every time Panasonic issues a firmware update; the Mods require different firmware, so they need to re-write that to incorporate the update changes. Not a big cost, but could add up if there's a lot of updates. Though that wouldn't seem to be a problem with Panasonic.

Again, it might make more sense to get a cheap BD player region-modded. UHD discs are region-free.

[Chareth]

Originally Posted by JWgrayhawk

One issue I can see is shortening the life of your expensive 820 using BDs and DVDs; it might make more sense to get a cheap BD player to use until you get a 4K TV.

Yeah, this was on my mind but I wondered if I was being overcautious - perhaps I wasn't then. Having a single player for everything would be ideal, but not if it's creating points of vulnerability.

I've had two players in my setup in the past and it's not a huge hindrance. I could get a modded BD/DVD player for a third of the price to save me from the annoying Laser player, and then get an unmodded 820 once I upgrade my TV. The two together would actually cost about the same as the modded 820.

And then there's the firmware issue too - had no idea about this.

Thanks so much for the advice - really valuable!