|
|
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Best Blu-ray Movie Deals
|
Best Blu-ray Movie Deals, See All the Deals » |
Top deals |
New deals
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() $80.99 11 hrs ago
| ![]() $49.99 2 hrs ago
| ![]() $38.99 1 day ago
| ![]() $26.99 2 hrs ago
| ![]() $34.99 | ![]() $15.22 | ![]() $14.35 6 hrs ago
| ![]() $33.99 2 hrs ago
| ![]() $29.99 | ![]() $24.99 | ![]() $31.99 | ![]() $17.85 20 hrs ago
|
![]() |
#1 |
Power Member
|
![]()
A few days ago in the UK subforum, I mentioned to avoid this player due to undefeatable spatial filtering that kills detail. I returned this, the top-end 4K upscaling player, for the cheaper Sony BDP-S3600, which is free of any noise reduction controls - and is free of this problem.
It's not visible all the time, but the player kills detail in darker regions of the picture, even when all of the video processing controls (Smoothing, Dark Filter or whatever it's called, IP NR Pro, etc) are turned off. It kills detail seemingly on a block-by-block basis, making even well compressed discs look like shoddy YouTube videos. It turns out that the player does NOT do this is the video output is 4K - when operating in this mode, the video controls menu disappears entirely, which suggests that the chipset in the player is not capable of running the extra NR features when the output is 3840x2160p (thank goodness). My theory is that the detail reduction was not deliberate and that some kind of noise reduction feature was inadvertently left running. I tried to speak to Sony engineers about this at CES, but wasn't able to, so I had to give up trying to reach them and bought the cheaper model instead. Anyway, the pictures: I would rather grab frames digitally from the video output of the player instead of take photos of a TV, but that involves bypassing HDCP which is neither easy or legal. So, I used a Sony A6000 camera on a locked-off tripod with the same manual picture settings for each photo. The BD used is THE TERMINAL, chapter 16. I used this because it's a mostly very well encoded title with an extremely well resolved film grain texture. http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/121572 Bottom line: * if you have a 1080p (or 720p) display, it's best to avoid the 4K upscaling Sonys. I don't know which players have this problem, and don't feel like buying them all to find out! * if you have a 2160p display, the detail reduction filter won't be activated. Just make sure the player is outputting in 2160p ("4K") mode. Last edited by David M; 10-24-2017 at 02:43 AM. |
![]() |
Thanks given by: | arou54 (10-24-2017), Baron Blood (08-07-2019), benedictopacifico (12-18-2017), Canada (04-20-2019), Cheese (01-25-2018), chip75 (10-24-2017), Cocodon (10-25-2017), eChopper (01-29-2018), Fat Phil (10-25-2017), Geoff D (10-25-2017), HeavyHitter (11-27-2017), Indiana Jonezzz... (10-26-2017), Keyser Soze. (10-25-2017), lemoncurry? (10-25-2017), rickardl (10-25-2017), SixSpeedSamurai (01-29-2018), Splatterpunk (11-02-2017), syrup (12-13-2017), Vanguard (10-25-2017) |
![]() |
#4 |
Blu-ray Ninja
|
![]()
Interesting (and worrying) reading. Thanks David.
I always use sony equipment but thankfully I have the S5500 which has no 4K upscaling. Will be holding onto that until I splurge on an X800/UHD TV combo. EDIT: No 4K upscaling on the S5500. It's a good little machine. |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 | |
Expert Member
|
![]() Quote:
Phew! |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Power Member
|
![]()
The 1080p Sonys I've looked at have all been fine in terms of image fidelity. Having said that, after this incident, they're no longer one of my trusted brands that I would recommend almost unreservedly. Here's hoping this was a one-off issue.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Blu-ray Ninja
Jun 2010
Scotland
|
![]()
I saw your original post about this in The Thing thread, this is really unfortunate news as I have 2 of these players! I presume if I was to set the output in the player to 4K, on my 1080p TV, it would simply not play anything, or would it just default back to outputting 1080p direct? I wondered if it might bypass the noise reduction by outputting at 4K as you said, then because I have a 1080p TV, it would just downscale it back to 1080p, without the NR.
I wonder if this could be fixed with a firmware update? Last edited by Indiana Jonezzz...; 10-25-2017 at 02:45 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Senior Member
|
![]()
I bought a modded S6500 back in August to replace my modded Samsung J5100 when I applied a firmware update to it, and it killed the ICOS mod.
Looking at the comparison screenshot, my player shows the exact same thing. Although you do have to look pretty close to see it. However, DVD playback, whether its a NTSC disc or PAL disc, is atrocious. It straight up looks like DNR, wiping away all grain and detail. I messed around with the settings for what seemed like hours. Even though my TV is only 1080P, the 4K upscaling did nothing to change DVD playback. Though I did not test it for Blu-rays. I can test this when I get home. Bottom line, avoid the S6500 unless the 4K upscaling on an actual 4K TV fixes DVD playback. If someone could test this, I would be most interested. (Also, if anyone knows why a firmware update would kill a HD-ICOS mod on the J5100, I would be interested in that as well. Even possible to fix?) |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 | |
Blu-ray Grand Duke
|
![]() Quote:
But I would imagine you'd receive a no signal or out of range pop-up. |
|
![]() |
Thanks given by: | Indiana Jonezzz... (10-26-2017) |
![]() |
#10 | |
Senior Member
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
Thanks given by: | chip75 (10-26-2017), Indiana Jonezzz... (10-26-2017) |
![]() |
#11 |
Power Member
|
![]()
I'm going to push some contacts at Sony and see if I can get this escalated. The more I look at it, the more I'm convinced that it's an accident. A firmware update could surely fix it.
|
![]() |
Thanks given by: |
![]() |
#12 | |
Blu-ray Ninja
Jun 2010
Scotland
|
![]() Quote:
I was going to watch the Arrow version of The Thing tonight using the player, but I won’t be able to quite appreciate its true glory. I’d heard it was very well encoded too, no idea who did it though. ![]() |
|
![]() |
Thanks given by: | Geoff D (10-28-2017) |
![]() |
#13 |
Senior Member
|
![]()
Here is a comparison shot of DVD playback on the S6500 vs my Samsung J5100. Its the 2006 DVD release of the unaltered Star Wars. Its shows the weird 'DNR' thing the best because the image is so grainy and noisy. The S6500 smooths it out, and not in a good way. Funny enough, the photos make it look like the Sony looks better, but in motion, its quite the opposite.
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/122382 My apologies for the awful quality, I have no equipment to capture digital screenshots. But the difference in the pictures I hope is evident. |
![]() |
Thanks given by: | Indiana Jonezzz... (11-02-2017), syrup (12-13-2017) |
![]() |
#14 | |
Blu-ray Ninja
Jun 2010
Scotland
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#15 | ||
Blu-ray Samurai
|
![]() Quote:
Quote:
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
Senior Member
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
Thanks given by: | Indiana Jonezzz... (11-03-2017) |
![]() |
#17 |
Senior Member
|
![]()
Cool, i'd love to see what your player does. Maybe mine is just buggy? I figure if all players did this, people would be up in arms about it already.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#18 | |
Blu-ray Count
|
![]() Quote:
I'd like to know if this issue is confirmed or not. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#19 |
Blu-ray Count
|
![]()
I need to know if this affects the Sony BDP-S6700. Can this be confirmed either way for this player?
Bhphotovideo lists the BDP-S6500 as discontinued, and lists the BDP-S6700 as the replacement. Maybe the replacement isn't affected? It seems like virtually the same player though, so I'm wondering if any faults with the 6500 carried over to the 6700? Last edited by mar3o; 11-04-2017 at 08:19 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 | |
Senior Member
|
![]() Quote:
If you have no need for 4K upscaling, then I would suggest the S3600 like what David M said. Its cheaper and is a solid little player. |
|
![]() |
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|