Best budget UHD disc player 2024?

[Travis Ballstadt]

I'm still undecided. The Home Assistant integration thing is becoming more important for me, and I'm not in a huge rush since I'm at 95% Kaleidescape, but I'm itching to get that 4K Point Break and watch soon, and the new Porcupine Tree Blu-ray hasn't hit Kaleidescape yet, either.

 

[Gerry Iaria]

I have the Sony UBP-X700. Been using it since I sold my Oppo and it has served me well.

I'm using one of those as well, but it can't play Dvd-A and SACD

 

[greg90]

Gonna have a hard time buying it, too.

View attachment 69561

What did you end up getting?

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

What did you end up getting?

Nothing yet. Still contemplating priorities and budget.

 

[greg90]

Nothing yet. Still contemplating priorities and budget.

oh I get that for sure. I’ll be watching this thread to steal ideas lol.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I've had a UB420 for a couple years and zero problems. I only use for 4K discs and use an Oppo103D for BDs and SACDs and DVD-As. One cheap improvement, though is to buy a replacement remote for a UB9000. It's backlit, works for the UB420 (and UB820) and a lot larger. I found one on AZ for around $12.00.

GREAT tip! Love that work around

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Well, I was about to just buy a Panasonic 420 since I don’t want to spend premium money for a Source Direct mode when I’ll barely use the player. The Reavon and Magnetar I just don’t trust to be around to offer service in the future - Reavon is already gone. They seem like they are just running like an Ali Express seller. All sale, no service.

So I decided to try one last time with the Sony before buying new and I was able to bring it back to life. Problem solved.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Reavon, gone?

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Reavon, gone?

Been gone. At least that’s how I understand it.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Hmm…. But their website is active and products are still being sold.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Per Robert at VE... Reavon and Magnetar are sister companies, and they just discontinued Reavon. Magnetar is the new successor to the Reavon disc players.

My guess is that Reavon will sell out what they have, and Magnetar will continue to warranty and service them. However, I tried contacting Magnetar a while back and could not get them to respond, and I believe Travis had a similar experience with one or the other.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Lots of speculation online that both of these brands simply bought up leftover chips when Oppo discontinued manufacturing and are not intending to be in the space long-term. Again, pure speculation, but makes sense when you think about how similar the interfaces are to the Oppo interface, and the "one and done" nature of Reavon's lifetime in the space.

I'm glad I got my Sony working again so I don't have to think about it anymore. I was really overthinking things for a handful of discs I don't have on Kaleidescape.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'm not surprised these companies can't stay afloat. There's a reason why companies like Samsung and Pioneer have abandoned making disc players.

$$$$

We might not agree with it, but it's reality. I was recently kicking around the idea of selling my Oppo UDP-205. But, I'm going to shelve it and hang on to it... it might get pulled and re-purposed a decade from now!


Travis, I wouldn't be surprised if those players use the same basic architecture that Oppo did - Oppo probably sold the rights!

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I'm not surprised these companies can't stay afloat. There's a reason why companies like Samsung and Pioneer have abandoned making disc players.

$$$$

We might not agree with it, but it's reality. I was recently kicking around the idea of selling my Oppo UDP-205. But, I'm going to shelve it and hang on to it... it might get pulled and re-purposed a decade from now!


Travis, I wouldn't be surprised if those players use the same basic architecture that Oppo did - Oppo probably sold the rights!

I wish I had kept my 203. Selling it was a mistake.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Well... your point is very reasonable Travis. Oppo shut down production too. Maybe they thought they could make it, or perhaps their full intention was to produce what they had chips for and shut it down.