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Buying a DVD player - Format Wars and ever increasing processor power! Mind Boggling!

Discussion in 'The DIY Room' started by don2222, Aug 25, 2018.

  1. don2222

    don2222

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    Hello
    I am in the Market for a DVD player and it is wicked!
    Figuring out how to play this Last Jedi Blue Ray! It is so frustrating because it does not say what type of Hi Res Audio was used in the Digital Master when they produced it! I did see a download of the movie that stated the audio format is FLAC which is only 24bit 192Hz sample rate very disappointing, not the much better DSD64 which is 2.8224MHz sample Rate and what is more frustrating is finding a DVD player that plays Hi Res Audio and Dolby Vision for the best colors and the best sound! The cheapest one I have seen is the Oppo UDP-203 for $1429.00 !$$
    This DVD is just for the shop radio and spending that much money for a big processor for Dolby Vision which is scene by scene color enhancement seems a bit eccentric! Also cost is a slight concern!
    So for now I settled on a Sony UBP-x800 which has everything except Dolby Vision. It does have the very high res DSD audio and Dolby Atmos my 2 main concerns.
    To play Last Jedi in 4K with Atmos multi-channel and Hi Res Audio & Blondie in 4K DTS-X multi-Channel and Dolby sound will this sirfice?
    I found a cheap one on eBay for $105! So I added the 1 year protection plan for $20.
    Any comments?? What do you have to do the job?

    Pic 1 - Sony UBP-x800
    Pic 2-4 Last Jedi
    Pic 4-6 My favorite all time singer Blondie!
     

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    Last edited: Aug 25, 2018
  2. Unhdsm

    Unhdsm

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    For some reason I didn't think you needed a special DVD player for Atmos. It just has to output native sound and you let the receiver do the math. You DO need an Atmos receiver for true object based sound. Probably some soundbar can do this now but I'm not sure how well they can fake 7-9 speakers placed around the room.
     
  3. don2222

    don2222

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    Hi
    Yes, if you do a bitstream to the receiver that may work for Atmos but many DVDs now are decoding ATMOS have DSD the latest high r s Audio.
    They also have Atmos speakers that are upwards firing to bounce off the ceiling but nothing works as well as speakers up high next to the ceiling or in the ceiling. I did all the wiring and put 2x4 cross bracing between the studs before the Sheetrock went in. A lot cheaper and better than those wireless speakers!
    See those pics here
    Installing a TV wall mount bracket? Anyone do this?
     
  4. Unhdsm

    Unhdsm

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    I run height and in ceiling speakers for atmos and they work great! If you do have the DVD decode with high res audio I'd be really interested to hear how it compares to bitsteam with the reciever decoding. This stuff is just not so simple anymore!
     
  5. don2222

    don2222

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    Yes, not very simple at all!
    Do you have 2 front Heights? How many in ceiling speakers? Any rear heights?
    I have 2 heights that are mounted on the ceiling?
     
  6. Unhdsm

    Unhdsm

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    I have small front heights and 2 in ceilings behind the couch but can't use them because my reciever is not 9 channel- so I'm stuck with 5.1.2 atmos/dtsx.
     
  7. don2222

    don2222

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    Oh, I see. The 2 in ceiling are the 2 rear heights. I hear there are even less sources that have rear height channels encoded in their masters.
    I have a 9 channel receiver and 2 speakers in another zone out on the deck. If I setup the amp assignments for the second zone then I loose the 2 back speakers and only have the back surround speakers for the 7.2.2 configuration!
    I wish I had the 11 channel receiver. I still only have 2 front height speakers and until I get that Atmos DVD player they do not sound any different!
    Not easy!
     
  8. Unhdsm

    Unhdsm

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    I might have the same setup. Front heights, back in ceiling not hooked up, and a zone for backyard speakers. I get some decent atmos effects after playing around with the aim of the height speakers.
     
  9. don2222

    don2222

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    Yes, very similar setup.
    My Atmos Speakers are mounted sideways on brackets on the ceiling so I can easily change the angle.
    What content has good Atmos sound?
     

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  10. Unhdsm

    Unhdsm

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    I have the Dolby Atmos demo disk but you can't really buy it. I'll let you borrow it if you want. Other than that the later game of thrones disks are good. I've heard Gravity is real good too.
     
  11. don2222

    don2222

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    The files on the Demo Disk are not copyrighted.
    So I believe the files on the demo disk can be copied to a thumb drive. :) I know they can be played from a thumb drive too!
     
  12. Unhdsm

    Unhdsm

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    Cool. Is there any quality loss? I know that they can downloaded from the internet but people still covet the disk for some reason?
     
  13. blujacket

    blujacket

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    My head hurts. Blu-ray discs are not dvd's and that is a movie Atomic Blonde. Bitstreaming the audio will give you the Dolby Atmos goods if your receiver or preamp has the decoder. Enjoy
     
  14. don2222

    don2222

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    Thanks, you are right about the movie!
    Blue Ray and DVD-HD were two competitive formats in which Blue Ray emerged as the victor because it was bundled with play station for a cheaper price. The receiver is a Marantz sr6012 which can decode Atmos. Only have 2 front heights no rears but the say not much difference in having rear heights so I saved approx $2k by not getting the 11 channel amp. It still has the 11 channel decoder so it is possible to plug in a stereo amp for 11 channels!
    It does make my head spin! I heard bitsteaming can be strange so having ATMOS in the player may be better, However I do not have Dolby Vision in the Player so would bitstreaming give Dolby Vision?
    Is the answer in here?
    https://www.dolby.com/us/en/technol...in-mpeg-2-transport-stream-multiplex-v1.2.pdf


    Since Dolby Vision gives data enhancements for the colors in each scene it requires a larger processor which my player does not have, the HDR10 is just one bundle of data to enhance the whole movie which this player can do!
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2018
  15. blujacket

    blujacket

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    What display do you have, and does it have Dolby Vision?
     
  16. blujacket

    blujacket

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    And from what I’ve read, No Dolby Vision upgrade for that player, ever
     
  17. don2222

    don2222

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    No upgrade for my player because the processor in it is to slow!

    The TV is a Sony XBR-49X700D

    Sony TV Dolby Vision Problem Update: Sony And Oppo Respond
    According to this article my TV is too old to have Dolby Vision in the TV to decode streaming content. It does not decode Dolby Vision coming from HDMI sources which seams to suggest you need a player that can decode Dolby Vision before it is sent thru the HDMI cable to the TV.
    My HDMI cable goes to the Home Theater Receiver first then to the TV. So does that mean the receiver will decode Dolby Vision or just pass it thru? Another complex question?!!
    Receiver is Marantz SR6012
     

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    Last edited: Aug 29, 2018
  18. blujacket

    blujacket

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  19. blujacket

    blujacket

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    You're stuck with HDR 10 only since your display doesn't have Dolby Vision. Not that that's a bad thing thing. Enjoy
     
  20. don2222

    don2222

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    Everything but Dolby Vision Which would be about $2500 more for the equipment because it is new. Next year all the players and TVs will have cheap!