UHD 4K Player Shopping Part II - Will Panasonic UB9000, Pioneer LX500 or Sony X1100ES be my pick?

In this Part II session of our UHD 4k Player shopping series, we will better understand the latest feature sets, update our wish list, explore the available options, and make a selection for purchase. As the field of manufactures of Ultra High Definition 4k Blu-ray players narrows to four - LG, Sony, Pioneer and Panasonic our choices are reduced, but the decision of which to purchase can still be tough. See how we narrowed down to one model and how the others are also great choices depending on your needs.
The following videos served Ripewave well in researching available UHD 4k players. Information gathered from them aided in the selection process for category winners as well as our pick which we have purchased and await its arrival:
HDTVtest:
3 Reasons We Use OPPO 203 for TV Reviews + Pro Tips & Tricks
• 3 Reasons We Use OPPO ...
Sony UBP-X1100ES 4K Blu-ray Player Review
• Sony UBP-X1100ES 4K Bl...
Panasonic UB9000 4K Blu-ray Player Review (vs OPPO 203)
• Panasonic UB9000 4K Bl...
Pioneer UDP-LX500 4K Blu-ray Player Review (vs Panasonic DP-UB9000)
• Pioneer UDP-LX500 4K B...
TechnoDad:
Panasonic UB9000 Unboxing vs UB820 | Is it worth the extra $500? 4K Blu-Ray Player Review
• Panasonic UB9000 Unbox...
Panasonic DP-UB820 Six Month Revew | Is It the Best 4K Blu Ray Player for You?
• Panasonic DP-UB820 Six...
Pioneer UDP-LX500 3 Month Review | Best 4K Blu Ray Player 2019?
• Pioneer UDP-LX500 3 Mo...
Sony UBP-X800M2 4K UHD Player Unboxing & Setup
• Sony UBP-X800M2 4K UHD...
That Home Theater Dude:
Pioneer UDP-LX500 3 Month Review | Best 4K Blu Ray Player 2019?
• Pioneer UDP-LX500 3 Mo...
Panasonic ub9000 | The OPPO Killer ?? You Decide
• Panasonic ub9000 | The...
SpareChange:
SONY UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray Player Review & Setup | Sony's Best!
• SONY UBP-X800M2 4K Blu...
OPPO 203/205 vs PANASONIC UB9000/820 | Which Is Best?
• OPPO 203/205 vs PANASO...
Audioholics:
Oppo UDP-203 and UDP-205 Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray Players Review
• Oppo UDP-203 and UDP-2...
Youthman:
Pioneer UDP-LX500 4k UHD Blu-ray Player
• Pioneer UDP-LX500 4k U...
Pioneer UDP-LX500 Review - Best 4K Player in 2019?
• Pioneer UDP-LX500 Revi...
LON.TV
Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player Review
• Panasonic DP-UB820 4K ...
Engadget
HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG: How does high dynamic range video work? | Upscaled
• HDR10, Dolby Vision, a...
Techquickie
HDR Standards Explained - HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
• HDR Standards Explaine...

[@Edward135i]

Jon your videos are so much better now days, your camera presence is way better.

[@ripewave]

Practice and listening to feedback has helped. Glad the improvements are noticeable. -Jon

[@PIPERBOYWILLIAMS]

Why doesn’t this guy have a million subscribers? He may be the most thorough reviewer

[@ripewave]

Too kind. I am thinking of ways to increase value to this audience and grow support. -Jon

[@erlonbailey8398]

The Sony UBP-X800m2 and X1100ES both play Hi-Res audio. The difference between them is mostly input and output connections. They both have the same quality audio-only HDMI output channel.

[@ripewave]

Yes - these two models are very close. I believe the main connector difference is the X1100ES has TOSlink out and an RS-233 port for integration. What was important to me was the front panel display provided on the more expensive model which is not on the X800M2.-Jon

[@hometheaterjoe9489]

Just got the Pana UB 820 for 400 USD on prime day. I’ll let y’all know how it does. Great work Jon per usual….BOOM!!

[@ripewave]

Nice deal - I still prefer physical discs for our favorite movies. The UB 820 is therefore still viable in this age of streaming. -Jon

[@hometheaterjoe9489]

@@ripewave I as well, didn’t plan on ordering the player but I’m very excited. A few days prior I ordered Constantine, The lost boys, and the sanctum on Blu-ray. I can hardly wait….

[@shae1547]

Hey John great video, I myself have a Sony X1100ES and am very happy with it. Just a suggestion I think your videos would be even better if you just did them freestyle and more relaxed. Maybe put a few bullet points but completely up to you! Thanks again

[@ripewave]

I think I will get there at some point. I have taken that approach with a few of the unboxing videos were the there were less points to cover - I keep evolving my approach. Thanks for both the compliment and suggestion.. -Jon

[@shae1547]

@@ripewave no thank YOU for the awesome content, keep it up!

[@viperracing2889]

@@ripewave You can still have a computer at hand, like in the below example. But to freestyle the actual speech would make a big difference I think: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2aQpHVvnMx9nZo

[@billhartsfield424]

Just returned LG 90. Audio and video out of syn. Seems to be common issue with them.

[@ripewave]

That is unfortunate. The LG UBK90 has support for Dolby Vision and other current features. It is disappointing when a model doesn’t perform as expected. Glad to hear that the store excepted the return. What’s your next move? -Jon

[@chriskelly1740]

Nice video. I don't have a 4K UHD TV, but just ordered a universal 4K UHD Blu-ray player in order to take advantage of the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1-channel cores within Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tracks which can only be found on 4K UHD Blu-ray disc releases, compared to the majority of 5.1 tracks found on 1080P Blu-ray releases. I have a 2013-model Samsung PN43F4500 plasma and a 2014-model Pioneer Elite SC-81 audio/video receiver. I understand backward compatibility is included in the 4K UHD Blu-ray format. Unfortunately, our selection of universal 4K UHD Blu-ray disc players has become more limited since you posted this video. Pioneer players have been my favorite since I got into home theatre since 2004 because other brands charged two or three times more money for things such as physical build quality and analog audio performance. The Pioneer/Onkyo operation has been undergoing restructuring, which I think has something to do with why the Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 has been discontinued and they haven't come out with a new model for a few years. I would have been glad to pay $500 for a new Pioneer Elite universal 4K UHD Blu-ray player. Are you familiar with the new Reavon universal 4K UHD Blu-ray players, including the large, heavilly built UBR-X110 HDMI/SPDIF transport and the UBR-X200 which adds multi-channel analog outputs? they're out of my price range. Although if they ever sell for $500, I'd get one right away. Sony no longer makes the UBP-X1100ES anymore, or I would have gotten that one. So being that I prefer support for 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD-VIDEO, DVD-AUDIO, and SACD, that rules out Panasonic and LG, making my current choices the Sony UBP-X700M and UBP-X800M2. While I own about two dozen SACDs and don't have any DVD-AUDIO discs yet, the Sony UBP-X700M would make a nice portable 4K UHD Blu-ray player if it includes a built-in rechargeable battery, built-in AMOLED 4K display, and built-in speakers, but I don't like its slim, small profile for use in my home theatre shelf compared to the Pioneer players I've become attached to after so many years. Considering my media requirements, quality standards, budget limitations, and the limited selection since you posted this video, I had no other choice but to order the Sony UBP-X800M2.

[@ripewave]

Chris - I think your assessment is on track. Yes, it is getting very hard to find a UHD player suitable for home theater. When you add SACD as a requirement the selection becomes that much harder. I think you did well with the Sony X800M2 - only a minor loss with the lack of front panel display. I have yet to explore the Reavon model that has stepped in to fill the void at the premium level - I hear positive reviews so far. The $500 mark is a good place to land as it is hard to justify spending 2x for minor enhancements. -Jon

[@chriskelly1740]

@@ripewave After having some conversations at AVS Forum while I'm waiting for my player to ship, the Sony UBP-X800M2 seems to be fulfilling all of my requirements. Some unmodified Sony North American USA/Canada model 1080p Blu-ray and SD DVD players didn't play Pal DVDs even if the discs were region free. The only way around this without voiding the Sony warranty is to rip a DVD with AnyDVDHD to get rid of the region coding, and using IFO Edit, go into the BUP and IFO files and change the 576i Pal lines to 480i NTSC, and burn the new DVD to a blank DVD. But Sony's 4K UHD players play region free Pal DVDs. And when I want to play Blu-ray discs and DVDs from other regions, I just need to rip with AnyDVDHD to get rid of the region codes and burn the new version on a blank DVD or Blu-ray. I know there are modified region-free players out there, but I like my factory warranty. If those mods didn't require soldering, I'd do them myself, but being that they do, I'll deal with it via the computer end of things.

[@ripewave]

Thanks for those valuable details on region support and work-arounds.-Jon

[@chriskelly1740]

@@ripewave I've had my Sony Sony UBP-X800M2 since August 3rd and have been loving every moment of it. This time, I get to add more of the 7.1-channel experience. Then when I eventually replace my plasma, I'll also be adding the HDR/Dolby Vision experience. I'm always getting something new out of old movies I've enjoyed for years. Also, while you might not be able to play native Pal DVDs in your 2010 model, you should be able to play them in your UBP-X1100ES.

[@ripewave]

Thanks for the update. So glad that Sony player is working out for you.-Jon

[@leadfootnick4x4]

Good video

[@ripewave]

I appreciate the feedback and happy that you enjoyed the video. -Jon

[@brotherjonathan3099]

Thanks for this video! Subscribed 👍

[@ripewave]

I appreciate the positive feedback.

[@redneck1st555]

Well now all the Players that you showed here were $500 plus on Amazon and they were still weren't rated all that great and they died after a few months. What happened to when you could buy a product that would last and didn't cost you a months wages or better?

[@ripewave]

It is an odd time where physical media has taken such a dive in favor of streaming. So only a few players today - with formats passed their peek the goal companies have is to cut costs and raise margins.

[@GOLFADDICT65]

i am going Panasonic all the way either the 9000 or the 820......

[@ripewave]

From all the reports I don’t think you will be disappointed. My Sony choice was based on my needs for SACD playback

[@harta_1509]

I have JVC n6. Should I get pioneer Lx500 since my projector already have tone mapping ? Or still UB9000 thanks buddy great review

[@ripewave]

Herman - I don't have an immediate response as I don't have projector experience yet. I do know that projectors have unique needs so it is good that you are being careful. Jon

[@MistaFussichannel]

Do you own these players or have you at least used them? Or are you just reading spec lists?

[@ripewave]

I own the Sony UBP-x1100ES. The title of that video was intentional. It was my pre-purchase shopping exercise documented for those also going through the process of selecting a player. Once I made the decision and purchased the Sony player I produced a series of videos on my first-hand experience. -Jon

[@chalegend4251]

I'll be waiting for the Pioneer and Panasonic to sleep together and have a baby... It will be call the Paneer! Thats the one to get!!!! Hahaha 😂

[@ripewave]

Too funny - but true. I suppose Paneer would be the reincarnation of the Oppo 205.- Jon

[@PedroAlmeida-yq4rw]

​@@ripewave but the cambridge its not better than this?

[@Byt3me21]

If you're here....you MIGHT know which one it is.

[@mybrandnewfunk]

Watching this video was painful.

[@GOLFADDICT65]

right ? yikes

[@Chris-ql1pd]

This is good stuff

[@ripewave]

Thank you- Jon

[@Mikey-Himself]

This is extremely painful to watch.

[@ripewave]

Sorry to hear. That was one of my first videos when a started a couple of years ago. Not sure my newer content would be more enjoyable - but if you are willing… -Jon