You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Going backward with tech and buying physical media. Despite having the fastest Virgin media package we still get an unreliable service. Buffering is a nightmare and streaming is not perfect.
Started with cheap Bluray bundles on ebay and using the Xbox connected to a 4k projector to play the discs. Now we are moving our buying obsession onto 4k discs.
Xbox is huge and would like a stand-alone unit.
Any recommendations from actual use?
Do you have a budget?
Around £250-£300, but flexible if needed. But not flexible enough for the Panasonic DP-UB900 🙂
I have a Panasonic Ub820, picture and sound is fantastic - but then they all should be as it is just piping data off a disc. It can do hdr tone mapping which I believe is very useful if using a projector (I don’t use it as my tv does this).
I can hear the disc spinning if that bothers you. I think the really expensive ones just buy better build quality which should result in a quieter drive.
I bought an LG something or other (has 90 in the name) from facebook selling pages for £50. Looked brand new - there are loads second hand for peanuts as people dropped them for streaming..
+1 on physical media. While most of the time I watch backups I’ve made of them from my NAS there are some things that don’t back up well and out come the Blu-ray Discs. Dr Who, Fringe I am looking at you.
I don’t have any 4K Blu-ray player recommendations. I just use a PS5. Still, if I were looking for one I’d just pick something reasonably priced from whatever is available used or at richer sounds. What HiFi w⚓️y aside there’s probably not that much to distinguish the playback quality if they have things like HDR, THX, and Dolby licenses.
Do make sure you use the finest 0% oxygen high-throughput virgin unicorn hair HDMI connectors though. 😉
Maybe sort out the internet connection you’re paying for too?
The Virgin 1 Gbps package we had was reliable and effective for all our internet needs. But 50Mbps upload was not good enough. BRSK came along with more for less.
Covered a lot on this site, but putting the virgin ‘super hub’ in modem mode and using our own routers made the WiFi much better than Virgin’s router could manage.
LG UBK90 is good for the money
Surely all Blu Rays are basically the same?
It's just a digital stream off the disc, put through the required codec and the resulting digital signal sent via HDMI to the TV and amplifier?
The only difference will be in the performance of the TV and amplifier?
I've got a Sony basic one which is okay, but it's started struggling with the transition on the disc about half way through a film when it starts to stutter for about 30seconds or so. Really annoying and I'm now in the market for a new one as well...
Not that many 2nd hand units, unfortunately.
Thanks for the input. Do any have the full steaming suite of Apps like the firestick does?
Streamed 4k is very compressed beast compared the full fat 4k on a blu ray...
full fat blu ray will always give you the best picture and sound track
I think the sony 800M2 is generally thought to be the best of the 'midrange' players. Good build quality and plays everything including SACD which I wish mine did. My LG is good for picture and sound and has a few basic apps but i've never used them. Good to have optical out if you want to bypass the internal dac.
i have a Sony UBP-X700 4k UHD HDR and up to now very pleased. Very compact, feels a bit plastic compared to my previous Sony Blu Ray and you only have the option of controlling it using the remote but no complaints about picture quality and everything works as it should. I got it from John Lewis just under a year ago. £229
Another +1 for physical media. As a film fan I still buy them primarily because I find the choice of films on streaming platforms to be seriously limited.
I'd highly recommend the Sony UBP-X800M2 player, or anything Panasonic within budget.
Despite having the fastest Virgin media package we still get an unreliable service. Buffering is a nightmare and streaming is not perfect.
I'd be investigating why that is, TBH.
It is a not a constant issue, but I dont like to pause once started on a movie😐
Fingerprints play havoc with 4K discs, beware 🙄
Got a Panasonic UB820, seems fine
We got the Sony UBP-X800M2 for £190 on Ebay, new in sealed box. It feels really solid and so much quicker/quieter than the xbox, also dont have to have mini fridge like unit on the table. Had an issue with the projector looking for a signal when using the options button and then a blank screen.and was thinking the worst of the Ebay supplier. Thought we had a conflict between Sony and Optoma :). It was the 4K HDMI hub/switch disconnected and all is ok, which was weird.
Quality is ace, The 50p Blu Rays look really sharp which is a bonus. Back to the future 4K disc "ace quality but rubbish CGI" was my son's first comment 🙂 Bean bag sofa topped up & B&M visisted to fill up the Coke fridge with fizzy pop. Its a 4k movie day on Sunday- Goonies, ET & Back to the Future 2&3 (we don’t have 1)