What is the best 4k player outside of the Oppo? (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Just bought my first 4k display. It’s a 65″ LG OLED (2018 C8)
Arriving in the next day or so.
I am officially into 4k, though I won’t be watching much of it as it’s just a replacement for the living room television. The Home Theater is where I have the more elaborate sound and screen setup.
This was a simple replacement for my current LG display that finally died.
Anyway…
Trying to get my hands on a second Oppo 4k player. Waiting to hear back from the owner but I may be too late.
What is the next best 4k player to that Oppo?
Thanks in advance!

Continue reading...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Check with Robert Zohn on the Panny units.

https://www.valueelectronics.com/Panasonic_DMP-UB900.php

https://www.valueelectronics.com/Panasonic_UB820.php

 

[Scott Merryfield]

If you do not need high resolution audio playback -- i.e. SACD and DVD-Audio -- then the Panasonic models Robert mentions are your best bet. The UB900 will be about twice the price as the UB820, with the only major difference being better audio DACs. The UB820 is available now, and Panasonic just released a firmware upgrade providing Dolby Vision support. I don't think the UB900 is available until sometime this fall.

I am strongly considering the UB820 as an upgrade to my current Sony X-800 in order to add Dolby Vision capabilities to my setup. It may wait a couple of months, though, as expenses have been high lately.

 

[dpippel]

Scott, the DMP-UB900 is Panasonic's FORMER flagship. The new player is the DP-UB9000 and I believe it will retail for $999 once released in North America.

Ron, if Dolby Vision and HDR10+ aren't a factor for you, I've got a very nice used DMP-UB900 for sale. PM me if interested.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Thanks, Doug. I always get those two model numbers mixed up. Not sure why Panasonic used two model numbers so close to one another.

 

[dpippel]

I agree. It's a bit confusing.

 

[Matt Hough]

The Panasonic 820 shipped without Dolby Vision capabilities, but it has now received its firmware update (ahead of schedule) that brings Dolby Vision to the machine.

If you want a more reasonably priced Dolby Vision-capable player, the Philips 7502 and the LG 90 can do the job. The Sony X700 also does DV, but I believe it's a little more expensive than the Philips and the LG, and the DV must be turned on and off manually with it (the other two have automatic DV/HDR implementation). I have the Philips and have no complaints whatsoever with its handling of UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD discs.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

My new LG supports Dolby Vision so I would need a player supporting that.

Before I bother, I am looking to buy on Amazon but it appears they do not sell it.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

My new LG supports Dolby Vision so I would need a player supporting that.

Before I bother, I am looking to buy on Amazon but it appears they do not sell it.

I would expect Amazon to start selling the UB820 soon. Value Electronics was the first U.S. dealer to get units -- about a month ahead of everyone else. I think Best Buy is slated to have them available around 8/26, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Amazon selling them around the end of the month, too.

 

[dpippel]

I have the UB820 (which is why I'm selling my UB900), and it's a great little player. I'd highly recommend it if you can't find a UDP-203 for a reasonable price Ron.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Just bought the Panasonic UB820 from Value Electronics.

Thank you so very much -- everyone -- for your input in this thread.

 

[Sam Posten]

The second best UHD player is unquestionably the Xbox 1 X.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Just bought the Panasonic UB820 from Value Electronics.

Thank you so very much -- everyone -- for your input in this thread.

The best move on your part.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Looking forward to my first 4k experience. I really haven't seen too much of it outside of the demos we saw in California.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Looking forward to my first 4k experience. I really haven't seen too much of it outside of the demos we saw in California.

You should be impressed.

 

[PMF]

Months ago, I received a notice from OPPO to be on their waiting list; were they to crank out a few final more of their players.
Doesn't seem like that's going to happen. Not a peep since.
So, in moving forward with future planning, are any of the available or upcoming models region-free?
And have any models now or on the horizon yet been deemed as OPPO's equal?

 

[Scott Merryfield]

The second best UHD player is unquestionably the Xbox 1 X.

Unquestionably? What does the Xbox offer that trumps the tone-mapping capabilities, great image quality and excellent video upconversion of the new Panasonic players? I honestly don't pay much attention to gaming consoles, so I am not being sarcastic.

 

[dpippel]

Months ago, I received a notice from OPPO to be on their waiting list; were they to crank out a few final more of their players.
Doesn't seem like that's going to happen. Not a peep since.
So, in moving forward with future planning, are any of the available or upcoming models region-free?
And have any models now or on the horizon yet been deemed as OPPO's equal?

Some Panasonic players can be modified to region-free, but only by purchasing and installing hacked firmware that locks you in to that particular version of the code. When Panasonic releases updates, you then have to wait for the people you bought the region-free firmware from to catch up, if they ever do. I did this with my first UB900 and while it worked, I was not happy with the source of the firmware. They were unprofessional and juvenile. I wouldn't go down that road again.

I think for most folks who want a 4K UHD player AND region-free capability, the best option is to buy an inexpensive region-free Blu-ray player (of which there are many) to handle that duty and a 4K machine for everything else. Oppo really was the best game in town for the "one box to rule them all".

 

[Sam Posten]

Looking forward to my first 4k experience. I really haven't seen too much of it outside of the demos we saw in California.

HDR is much more important than resolution. You can't base HDR off of projectors. FALD and OLED do HDR a million times better than a PJ.

 

[Sam Posten]

Unquestionably? What does the Xbox offer that trumps the tone-mapping capabilities, great image quality and excellent video upconversion of the new Panasonic players? I honestly don't pay much attention to gaming consoles, so I am not being sarcastic.

I wasn't sarcastic, but I WAS being hyperbolic, as is my wont. =)
Video quality is identical. X1X supports DV streams and will be upgraded to support DV disks eventually. There is no reason to use tone mapping unless you are outputting to a projector (Ron is going to OLED with this one). Upconversion can be handled by the end device as good or better than most boxes.

Oh, and you get the best gaming console on the planet bundled in. For 2/3rds the price of Panasonic's box.