LG 2018 UHD/HDR BD player UBK90

[Robert Zohn]

I first learned about LG's 2018 BD player on Flatpanelshd who was the 1st to cover this new product launch.

Flatpanelshed could not confirm USA distribution so I contacted my sources and was able to confirm the USA edition of this new BD player.

Here's our new website page with the .pdf spec sheet. The USA launch is scheduled for the week of 4/22.

[puddles83]

Hi Robert. Would you happen to know if this player will be able to play Dolby Vision content from day one of release - or as with the UP970 would we have to wait for a firmware update at a later time?

Many thanks.

Edit... apologies - just seen the article at flatpanelshd confirming Dolby Vision at launch for this player.

[Robert Zohn]

Yes, it's Dolby Vision ready at launch.

[hotFstop]

Does anyone know of any difference between this new UBK90 and the UP970?

[Robert Zohn]

From what I can tell the build quality is likely better on the UBK90 as it is about .7 lb heaver than the UP970.

Not sure what's different on the remote, but the UBK90 sports a new remote control and some additional audio decoding formats, but again not sure what extra audio decoding or new audio features the UBK90 player supports over the UP970.

I'll compare them once we get our 1st allocation of the 2018 UBK90 and get back here with my findings.

[hotFstop]

Thanks, Robert. Much appreciated.

[RustinCohle]

Hmm, I think I’ll pick this up..

[Robert Zohn]

At last months dealer show in Nashville TN I had the opportunity to see and work with LG's new UBK90 UHD/HDR BD player and the SK10Y Dolby Atmos sound bar system.

The UBK90 decodes HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR. The SK10Y is elegantly designed to match up with any LG OLED TV and the audio performance is excellent. The SK10Y has discrete volume control of the Atmos heights so you can set-up the sound bar to deliver very accurate overhead heights. The optional SPK8 wireless rear speakers completes this very cool Dolby Atmos audio system.

These two new a/v devices have very good build quality and excellent fit and finish.

[sjy1969]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

At last months dealer show in Nashville TN I had the opportunity to see and work with LG's new UBK90 UHD/HDR BD player and the SK10Y Dolby Atmos sound bar system.

The UBK90 decodes HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR. The SK10Y is elegantly designed to match up with any LG OLED TV and the audio performance is excellent. The SK10Y has discrete volume control of the Atmos heights so you can set-up the sound bar to deliver very accurate overhead heights. The optional SPK8 wireless rear speakers completes this very cool Dolby Atmos audio system.

These two new a/v devices have very good build quality and excellent fit and finish.

Hello,
Were you able to confirm whether it plays the low latency version of Dolby Vision used on Sony TVs?

[Robert Zohn]

Thanks for the reminder. LG did not reply to my last email about DV's Low Latency protocol. I'll ask again and get back here with the answer.

[RustinCohle]

Would this be a safe day one purchase or should I wait a few months for reviews to come out? Any potential of this being a flop?

[Robert Zohn]

Just heard back from LG product management and as of this moment the UBK90 is not Low Latency capable.

I did urge LG's management to add the Low Latency mode through a firmware update so the BD player will be compatible with all Sony X1 Extreme processor TVs so we'll see if I have the clout to get this accomplished.

@RustinCohle, so far I have only seen final engineering samples at trade conventions and private dealer meetings so no one can comment on every aspect of this new 4K BD player. However, from what I have seen and experienced with the samples I worked with the UBK90 works beautifully, fast and has very good build quality and fit and finish.

[Staying Salty]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Just heard back from LG product management and as of this moment the UBK90 is not Low Latency capable.

I did urge LG's management to add the Low Latency mode through a firmware update so the BD player will be compatible with all Sony X1 Extreme processor TVs so we'll see if I have the clout to get this accomplished.

I just don’t understand how the world works.

[Show spoiler]Actually I do .

Why would a manufacturer write off a substantial portion of the market? The more we have equipment that only supports some of the different HDR flavors the more confusion it creates for the consumers.

[Robert Zohn]

We ^ agree 100% and I drove that point home very clearly to my LG contacts. Let's see how this turns out.

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Just heard back from LG product management and as of this moment the UBK90 is not Low Latency capable.

I did urge LG's management to add the Low Latency mode through a firmware update so the BD player will be compatible with all Sony X1 Extreme processor TVs so we'll see if I have the clout to get this accomplished.

@RustinCohle, so far I have only seen final engineering samples at trade conventions and private dealer meetings so no one can comment on every aspect of this new 4K BD player. However, from what I have seen and experienced with the samples I worked with the UBK90 works beautifully, fast and has very good build quality and fit and finish.

Just as I suspected, no one else wants to support Sony on the low latency scheme just cause Sony got Dolby to give them something special.
Only Oppo has committed to a low latency update that is out for Dolby testing and certification. What a mess for the rest of the HDR community, and your average civilian wanting to get into 4K UHD displays and movies.

[Robert Zohn]

I absolutely agree 100% and have very strongly urged LG to provide the low latency upgrade via firmware update. The product is ready to ship and does not have low latency at this time.

Much of the blame falls on Dolby for not disclosing to Sony that if they employee low latency no other HDMI DV ready device will work.

I am holding out hope that we'll see this new UHD/HDR player become low latency capable in a update.

[meglos]

Will the player have HDR10+?

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by meglos

Will the player have HDR10+?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, LG is firmly in the Dolby Vision camp.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by meglos

Will the player have HDR10+?

That is a good question. So far only Samsung and Panasonic plan on offering HDR10+. No SACD or DVD-Audio support means I am not interested in this player. SACD and DVD-Audio are niche audio formats that most people are not interested in anymore.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by gkolb

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, LG is firmly in the Dolby Vision camp.

While 100% of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players can play HDR10, this format war between Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10+, and Philips Technicolor HDR is going to hurt sales. All future 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players should be designed to play all 4 HDR formats. At least Panasonic is going to support 3 HDR formats, HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision HDR.