4k UHD players discussion thread

petetherock

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This thread is meant to talk about the new Ultra High Definition players.

Finally there is source to play 4k discs that will give the new 4k TVs a good showing.

Bear in mind that your TV needs to be HDMI 2.0a, and HDCP 2.2 capability, plus HDR equiped to enjoy the real 4k in it's fullest glory.

Don't know what these terms mean?

It's best to read up first!


No longer do you need to watch silly demos off youtube - it's questionable whether they are really 4k anyway.
 

petetherock

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petetherock

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Where can you buy 4k discs?

Well as usual SG is slow to adopt new tech, so you have to buy from UK / USA, via Amazon. There is no region coding for UHD discs. Currently they come with the BR disc too, which is region coded.
 

86technie

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Hope I am welcome to this discussion coming from a audio visual
experience background as well as a brief experience
working as a retail sales promoting TV and AV equipment before I quit.

OK, nowadays people like to always have the top end of the line TV.
However whenever I promote TV, I always ask them

What is their content? | SG Market Trend


Where can you buy 4k discs?

Well as usual SG is slow to adopt new tech, so you have to buy from UK / USA, via Amazon. There is no region coding for UHD discs. Currently they come with the BR disc too, which is region coded.


If it's Torrent videos, youtube downloaded videos and etc.
You may not get the full 4K or let alone full 1080p.
So long can watch and presentable that's what majority perceive.

Without investing in proper paid contents to get the full experience.
Sorry I have to get this out of my chest as why I quit the retail AV sales.
Was primary I don't like having to entertain people walking into the store with downloaded shows/movies to try on the demo TV sets.

When people ask why is it the quality so terrible, is not the TV
but the content.
It's a trend here in SG, they can spend a lot of money on a 4K TV.
The content can be either free or low cost as possible.
Even if they wish to buy CDs, they often go for the lowest cost
which is DVD.

Blu ray turns them off due to the high price of $39.90 onwards
as compared with DVD at $19.90.
Because of the high price, people don't understand how different
Blu ray and DVD is other than the price.

I did one movie screening using Blu ray format movie and everyone
was blown away by the picture and sound quality.
They ask me where did I download the movie from, I told
them sorry it's not downloaded but I brought a Blu ray movie disc
than they start to walk away.

Long term CD shop TS video -> HMV -> Laserflair has shut it's doors,
if not laserflair will be the first to bring in 4K UHD Blu ray.

Laerflair has always known to import movies from all over the world.
Whether US, Asia like China/HK and etc. they can bring it here.
It's a big blow for movie fanatics like myself with them exiting.

Sometimes I really don't understand one can spend few thousand dollars on a TV but want free contents.
Bottom of the line, if you don't want to invest in proper contents
like Blu ray for your TV.
You need not go for 4K but just a regular monitor will do.

Even streaming doesn't get you the full experience as like youtube
contents are heavily compressed.

http://www.whathifi.com/features/4k-blu-ray-beats-4k-netflix-ultimate-ultra-hd-experience
Want the best experience, invest in paid Blu ray disc.
With CD shops close due to a changing market trend here,
movie lovers will have to buy from Amazon.

SG is not slow to the 4K trend but because of a market trend here so local distro may not bring it here.
 
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86technie

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4K good readups

http://www.whathifi.com/features/4k-blu-ray-beats-4k-netflix-ultimate-ultra-hd-experience

http://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-4k-tvs

http://www.whathifi.com/advice/4k-ultra-hd-tv-everything-you-need-to-know

http://www.whathifi.com/panasonic/dmp-ub900/review

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18524

Currently only Panasonic and Samsung have native 4K blu ray player.
However as shared on Blu ray.com, there's
Some HDMI 2.2 issues.


As mention in my previous post as the market trend is towards
free or cheap contents for TV.

Majority of disc distributors have exited, Poh kim and CD-RAMA
may not last long.
We will not see local 4k Blu ray movies here, let alone the price
of $59.90 on-wards sure turned away people.

The only way is to ship them from Amazon and below
is the link for current 4K Blu rays.

http://www.blu-ray.com/4k/
 

petetherock

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Currently only Panasonic and Samsung have native 4K blu ray player.
However as shared on Blu ray.com, there's
Some HDMI 2.2 issues.

There's no HDMI 2.2 right now. Only HDCP 2.2

That's a copyright protection issue.

Which I suspect will affect more SG users, given our reluctance to go original..
 

86technie

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There's no HDMI 2.2 right now. Only HDCP 2.2

That's a copyright protection issue.

Which I suspect will affect more SG users, given our reluctance to go original..

Not real reluctant but the mindset is:

- Movie is watch one time only than that's it
Why bother to buy a copy?

- If can cheap than it's good.

I sorry that I have to bring this up.
Given my brief experience as a retail sales I always encounter
What I quote above.

The disappearance of CDs shops is really hard for those who
still appreciate CDs.
Manufacturers will definitely find ways to combat piracy.
HDCP 2.2 will be the thing of the future since the past
HDCP version it is still able to be crack one way or another.

Which is also worries even me, what if one day HDCP has
come to a point where it is so tight that
even self created videos or content may have to
comply to HDCP.

Contents without HDCP it can never be played unless you
crack it.
 

petetherock

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I don't advocate cracking HDCP.
Buy original, it's not a must to watch movies, it won't kill you if we don't watch BR or UHD discs.
But when one watches, go original.
 

Apparatus

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It's my believe that those new 4K/UHD Blu-ray players won't be coming here leow. Given the trend of video streaming and the death of those shops selling blu-ray video discs I believe it's hard to purchase any new model of blu-ray players here.

Unless you buy the blu ray video discs and players from overseas

:s8:
 

Snoweagle

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I have a LG BP740 which I got for a really good price last year upon purchase and also modified as well. Bought a 3D blu-ray disc and tried it out, then another DVD as well. Now seems like other than Poh Kim, I can't find other places to get 3D blu-ray movies.
 

Apparatus

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I have a LG BP740 which I got for a really good price last year upon purchase and also modified as well. Bought a 3D blu-ray disc and tried it out, then another DVD as well. Now seems like other than Poh Kim, I can't find other places to get 3D blu-ray movies.

LaserFlair also closed shops leow. Only way to get movie blu-ray discs is from overseas
 
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petetherock

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IMO, the first wave will always be in US or UK where there is a larger customer base, which is willing to buy original and pay the prices that are required as an early adopter.
We will be in the second or third wave.
So if you want content and a player, importing is the way.
And Amazon offers an easy way to join the 4k party.
In fact, disc prices are lower off Amazon than local shops, hence their demise.
 

86technie

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IMO, the first wave will always be in US or UK where there is a larger customer base, which is willing to buy original and pay the prices that are required as an early adopter.
We will be in the second or third wave.
So if you want content and a player, importing is the way.
And Amazon offers an easy way to join the 4k party.
In fact, disc prices are lower off Amazon than local shops, hence their demise.

Beside price, US version and Local version have difference.
US normally comes with a Digital copy, 4K blu ray, blu ray + DVD
for certain titles.
Local wise if it's 4K blu ray, you only get the 4K disc
nothing else.

The movie for local and US also have been edited in some ways
and not all special features/contents are available in the local version.
Some also debate about picture quality of local and US which
in fact I cannot find any evidence that both are different in anyway.

In the past when Laserflair was around, I try to go for US version
if possible but unless the price is alright.
As some movie US version can cost up to $80 which is even more
expensive than Amazon.

Even if any local shops were to be revive, it will not last long
as Amazon prices are still cheaper.
Not to forget, these days retail lines are slowly phasing out
due to E-commerce.
 

petetherock

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We won't know what will be in a 4k local release, since there's no local release yet, but given how they have treated past BR releases, I won't hold my breath for an improvement.
 

Apparatus

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Who wants to import 4K/UHD movie discs here? If no selling here means no 4K/UHD players as well because there's no market for them

No shop here will want to bring in the players if there's no demand for discs here
 

Snoweagle

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I have the LG BP740 bought last year with 4K upscaling. So which means it's also UHD-able right?
 
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