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The Question:: UHD Blu-ray player or Roku 4? (1 Viewer)

Kyrsten Brad

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As the coming of UHD Blu-ray unfolds before our eyes, I'm now once again in a bit of a quandary. Should I wait for a UHD Blu-ray player which should have the capability to interface with 4K digital services (like Vudu 4K) like a Roku 4 or just get the Roku 4?
Weighing heavily in this decision is the fact that my Vizio M50-C1 has only one enhanced HDMI port for 4K to go with 4 other regular HDMI ports.

Those in the know, please advise.
 

ManW_TheUncool

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Why not just use the streaming apps already on your TV, if you're considering relying apps on a UHD BD player? Do they not work well enough?


Most BD players' streaming apps aren't great even now -- and none of them offer meaningful expandability for apps AFAIK. IF you want something nice for streaming, you usually need a dedicated box like a Roku or something more elaborate like a PS3 (and unfortunately, Sony doesn't have a PS3-equiv this go around like w/ the launch of BD).


Most likely, by the time the dust settles, you'll have upgraded all this gear again anyway... assuming all the 4K formats actually survive (and UHD BD may or may not to be honest).


I see various former early adopters say they're gonna wait it out (for the dust to settle) this time around, but that may well spell the doom of the new UHD BD format.


Personally, I'm in no rush to adopt another new format (and I was an early-ish adopter of DVD and slightly later, just-before-end-of-format-war adopter of BD). I'm perfectly happy w/ quality BDs projected to 100-120" on my modest 1080p FP setup, and really, I highly doubt 4K would cause me to double-dip on that many discs (or feel compelled to stream low bitrate 4K) anyway -- seems like it'll only matter for future releases and select few major catalog titles that could realistically make use of it.


Also, the new AACS2.0 DRM being implemented in UHD BD (I just found out about) adds one more downside to the format. Not sure if it's been discussed at all on HTF -- I searched and didn't find anything -- but I gotta think that would rankle a few early adopters here... :huh:


_Man_
 

DavidMiller

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I bought a Roku 4 and I have pre-ordered Samsung UHD player.


There are a few challenges, downloaded 4K movies would be close to UHD movies in quality. However, the only service that offers that is M-Go and only on Samsung. So if you want the best quality you should wait for the UHD disks. The costs for streamed or downloaded movies are about the same as the disks.


So I have streamed 4K on both my TV directly (Samsung) and via Roku 4 and both seem to be about the same level. However, you do get better sound through the Roku 4. I can't comment about the players because they are not going to be out until 3/1.
 

DaveF

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Roku 4 is available now for $120. When are the new 4k blu-ray players available and what's their pricing?

You're pitting cheap, streaming, right now against expensive, media, later. I think this is a false dichotomy. The answer is clearly Roku 4 now, UHD later.

As for port limitations, that's what AVRs are for, to switch devices :)
 

DavidMiller

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I now have both devices. I think they do a similar job streaming 1080p and 4K material. The Samsung player does stream from Network and attached USB devices as well. Interface is easier to use on the Roku 4.
 

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