Sony UBP-X800 4K Blu-ray player in DA HOUSE!

Needed to get a proper 4K Blu-ray player (to match my 4K Sony TV), rather than simply an upscaling one as I had before, so have upgraded this one, which until now has served me well (Sony BDP-S6700):

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/F25WtS.jpg

To this (Sony UBP-X800):

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/PjQVPJ.jpg

Full details here: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/b...ayers/ubp-x800

Bought it from John Lewis for £329, with a 2 year guarantee. I could have got it for less from Sevenoaks (£269), but I wanted the extra year's guarantee. All I can say is WOW, in terms of picture and sound quality with movies, what a difference! The colours are simply stunning... Everything just looks and sounds so much more real :eek:

I honestly think that this player could rival the OPPO, for significantly less money, it's *that* good.... I'll also be using it as a CD transport (along with a Beresford Bushmaster II DAC) to play CDs in my downstairs home-cinema system, so it'll be interesting to see if I can hear any difference in terms of sound, using music as a reference, compared with the previous Sony player.

More later! :cool:

Marco.

that standard sony(6700) is one of the ones ive got earmarked for the boy. his pioneer has given up the ghost.

It's a brilliant little player, Grant. If you want mine, you can have it for a good price. It's minty, as I only got it last September. PM me if you want to discuss it :)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

It's a brilliant little player, Grant. If you want mine, you can have it for a good price. It's minty, as I only got it last September. PM me if you want to discuss it :)

Marco.

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thought you would be keeping it as backup mate... it is 97 quid new mind so not cheap but cheaper than the pioneer replacement

The 4K Sony should be a big step up as u have a 4K tv. My bro just bought himself an oled tv

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Originally Posted by struth

thought you would be keeping it as backup mate...

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Could've done, but I'm not big on gear lying around that's not getting used, especially when it could be going to a good home where it'll be appreciated :)

Yeah, the new Sony player is *really* good, especially with 4K Blu-rays. I think the built-in Dolby Atmos and DTS:X is having a significant impact on things.

Marco.

Yeah the atmos is astonishing tech. Up to 128 audio channels lol

I know, it really does enhance the whole cinematic experience, as does the DTS:X element, as described on the Sony website:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sony

DTS:X can create an unlimited number of audio objects which adapt to your speakers in real time, to get the biggest impact out of every movie soundtrack.

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Never experienced movies at home as good as this in my life... Awesome!! :yesbruv:

Marco.

Still really enjoying this player. Was up to the wee small hours yesterday watching movies and listening to music, as the experience is just *so* captivating!

I'll comment on the music side in some detail later, as it's quite exceptional for a £300 machine, but in the meantime for those interested, here's short video detailing the features and benefits of the player and its matching amp, which I also use:



It really is a brilliant combo, with a sound and video performance that's able to compete with the best! :cool:

Marco.

Well, having lived with this player now for a few days, aside from it's utterly stunning performance with movies, both in terms of picture quality, and the beguilingly immersive sounds it produces with Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, I can now confirm that it's equally as accomplished with 2-channel music (when used with a suitable DAC).

Of course, as the UBP-X800 doesn't have an in-built DAC, then when it's performing audio duties in a 2-channel hi-fi system, with a normal stereo amplifier, it needs to be used in conjunction with a separate DAC, in my case a Beresford Bushmaster II, via the Sony's digital coaxial output. In this instance, the cable used to connect the two was a Klotz MC-5000.

You certainly get the sense that the X800 is a high-end player, designed to deliver a superior audio performance, featuring a frame-and-beam chassis, which offers a rigid structure to help eliminate micro-vibrations, as well as effective electrical shielding, such as shown here:

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/8kiFBY.jpg

That combined with a glossy black mid-section, sandwiched between two stippled charcoal-grey metal slabs. makes the entire player not only feel substantial and well-engineered (some 4kg), but unquestionably enables it to deliver quite exceptional sonic performance, when used in this instance, as a standalone CD transport. In summary, the whole package is very well-screwed together and reassuringly solid.

The sound produced, partnered by the superb Beresford Bushmaster II, is filigree-detailed, lifelike, smooth and musically addictive - and crucially, blissfully free from any evidence of 'glare', which in my experience mars much digital equipment at this price level, but not this Sony/Beresford combo. I suspect that Stan's careful voicing of the DAC, and the attention to detail Sony have put into the design of this player, in terms of vibration control and reducing the effects of microphony, have paid dividends, and is responsible for its very accomplished, 'grown up' sound.

Information retrieval is forensic-like, offering pin-point insight into the musical programme, but is achieved naturally and unforced (almost like good vinyl), and delivered with just the right amount of warmth. As such, it promotes extended listening sessions, without fatigue. Midrange information, such as vocals, is delivered clearly and convincingly, and believably real, with female vocals in particular imbued with a lovely natural texture and tone.

Bass frequencies are rock-solid, deep and extended, but also foot-tappingly tuneful, producing a sound that's high on 'boogie factor', when the music demands, whilst underpinning it with the requisite authority, in order that when necessary bass notes can be felt as well as heard. All in all, the Sony/Beresford combo, at under £700, produces a very even-handed, insightful and thoroughly rewarding performance with CD, sounding like considerably more expensive equipment, such is its ability to allow you to 'relax into the music', whilst drawing you right in and forgetting about the hardware.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/l7Q5uW.jpg

The Bushmaster II magic...

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/N8AOsm.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/julIn9.jpg

I've honestly heard inferior sound from some £1500 'high-end' CD players, so for anyone who owns a home-cinema system, and wants not only top-notch video performance and sound with movies (and here the Sony positively excels with 4K Blu-rays), but also to get superb sound from CDs, or who's looking for a quality, cost-effective CD transport to use with an off-board DAC, I can't recommend the UBP-X800 highly enough. It ticks all the boxes, and then some, especially in terms of 'SPPV'.

Factor in too, 4K UHD streaming of YouTube and Netflix content, making 5.1 channel music videos, and movies positively come alive, as well as Blu-rays, and the Sony UBP-X800 is quite a bargain, and comfortably at home acting as a quality source component in any good home-movie or hi-fi system.

Highly recommended then? Abso-bloody-lutely! :thumbsup:

Marco.