UHD 4K Bluray Players

[Autopilot]

Does anybody have any recommendations for a UHD 4K Bluray player at all? I gave in to temptation on one of the other TV threads on here and bought the LG OLED55B6 so need a UHD Bluray player to go with it

I've had a quick look at the Panasonic DMPUB700 and the Samsung UBDK8500 but all seems much for much if you ask me!

It's going to live in a cabinet so aesthetics aren't too important and while I don't want to kill my bank balance, if there's a significant reason why a more expensive player is better than a £250 - £300 model then I wouldn't be completely adverse to spending a bit more!

Thanks.

[Boozy]

I have the 8500 all be it the US version and it's cracking, very quiet and does a great job of upscaling regular Blue Ray disks, I have some 3D IMax films and they're stunning in UHD.

[kingston12]

I have got the K8500 and it is great for the money (albeit I got mine for £140 in a deal before Christmas).

Build quality is not up to much, and it does have a fan but neither of these things will bother you if it is going into a cabinet.

[mp3manager]

The Oppo's are good but you do pay for it though. The 203 is £649 but I'm waiting for the 205 which is due soon and likely to be over £1k.

[KamSandhu44]

I had the Samsung, good player, a bit rubbish for streaming media of a NAS. I never got it to play HD audio from a movie stream. If that is not important to you, then its a great player.

I sold it on and have now got an Oppo 203, as you'd expect, far far better than the Samsung.

[kingston12]

mp3manager said:

The Oppo's are good but you do pay for it though. The 203 is £649 but I'm waiting for the 205 which is due soon and likely to be over £1k.

What do they do better than the Samsung/Panasonic ones? Genuine question as I use an Nvidia Shield for all of my streaming but may be interested in getting a different UHD Blu Ray player if it is that much better.

Edited by kingston12 on Thursday 9th February 17:07

[mp3manager]

kingston12 said:

What do they do better than the Samsung/Panasonic ones? Genuine question as I use an Nvidia Shield for all of the my streaming but may be interested in getting a different UHD Blu Ray player if it is that much better.

Build quality, custom chips, better firmware/feature support than the mainstream brands.

[KamSandhu44]

kingston12 said:

What do they do better than the Samsung/Panasonic ones? Genuine question as I use an Nvidia Shield for all of the my streaming but may be interested in getting a different UHD Blu Ray player if it is that much better.

Currently there are no streaming apps on the Oppo. Only network streaming. The Oppo is able to handle HD audio streams, so Dolby TrueHD (inc Atmos) and DTS-HD MA. The Samsung can't, not sure about the Panasonic. Also the fact the Oppo produces a stunning picture.

A issue with the Panasonic (definately the 900, not sure about the 700)is that it outputs a 12bit picture. This has been causing issues with some setups.

[mp3manager]

KamSandhu44 said:

Currently there are no streaming apps on the Oppo.

I don't think it's in their plans to put streaming apps on the 203/205.

I certainly never use the apps on my BDP-83, so I understand where they're coming from.

From the FAQ

Does the UDP-203 have any built-in streaming services such as Netflix or VUDU?
In order to provide a premium user experience with quick start-up times and fast response, the UDP-203 is designed with a purist approach in mind for disc and file playback, and so it does not carry internet video and music streaming apps. Instead, an HDMI 2.0 input port that supports UHD resolution is available for users to connect an external streaming device. This approach affords users the flexibility to choose from a wide range of streaming devices and easily upgrade as streaming technologies evolve, while still taking advantage of the UDP-203's audio and video processing capabilities.

[Chris Stott]

I have the Samsung 8500. Picture quality with 4k/HDR discs is stunning.

[legzr1]

Chris Stott said:

I have the Samsung 8500. Picture quality with 4k/HDR discs is stunning.

+1.

Not really sure what the oppo offers for three times the price.

The Samsung is a bit 'plasticky' and the tiny remote is a joke but not sure of the point in 3mm milled aluminium casework on a player that sits under the TV and is barely touched.
Better remote available for £7 too.

I prefer to output raw data and allow the TV to upscale any BR or streamed 1080 content.

[davek_964]

I have the Panasonic and an very happy with it.

[kingston12]

KamSandhu44 said:

Currently there are no streaming apps on the Oppo. Only network streaming. The Oppo is able to handle HD audio streams, so Dolby TrueHD (inc Atmos) and DTS-HD MA. The Samsung can't, not sure about the Panasonic. Also the fact the Oppo produces a stunning picture.

A issue with the Panasonic (definately the 900, not sure about the 700)is that it outputs a 12bit picture. This has been causing issues with some setups.

Thanks both.

I guess it is about box count for me. In the system with the K8500, I run it alongside an Nvidia Shield TV because the Samsung doesn't play local files well (no HD Audio, poor interface).

It sounds as though the Oppo solves that problem, but then I'd lose the Netflix/Amazon 4K/HDR from the Shield...

[Chris Stott]

legzr1 said:

Chris Stott said:

I have the Samsung 8500. Picture quality with 4k/HDR discs is stunning.

the tiny remote is a joke... Better remote available for £7 too.

Only used the Samsung remote to set it up... I have a Harmony One that runs the TV, Sky Q, Samsung and soundbar... great piece of kit.

[Pupp]

Oppo 203 here and very impressed... apart from mine has no Region 1 DVD capability. Only have a few so no biggie but was surprised

[KamSandhu44]

kingston12 said:

Thanks both.

I guess it is about box count for me. In the system with the K8500, I run it alongside an Nvidia Shield TV because the Samsung doesn't play local files well (no HD Audio, poor interface).

It sounds as though the Oppo solves that problem, but then I'd lose the Netflix/Amazon 4K/HDR from the Shield...

You could plug your shield into the hdmi in of the Oppo. It truly is a great machine.

[MintyScot]

I'm personally waiting to see what Sony and LG offer. I believe they are expected before April.

Sony are usually very good, I'm interested in LG as they plan on adding Dolby Vision support.

The more choice there is the more likely you are to get a better deal.

[VEX]

I have two of the oppo 203 with the multi region / zone adaptation for clients.

I have a 'free' Samsung at home so it will be interesting to see what improvement I see on my demo disc's

V.