[Woochifer]

Buried in all of Sony's product announcements at CES today was the long-awaited successor to the UBP-X800. Rather than introduce an entirely new model, Sony chose to affix an M2 designation to the X800 and basically keep the existing feature set while adding support for Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log Gamma. Good news for consumers that appreciated the X800's rugged frame and beam construction and its universal disc support at an affordable price (Pioneer's $1,100 UDP-LX500 is the only other UHD Blu-ray player currently available that also supports DVD-A and SACD).

Pricing to be announced, availability in May. No additional updates for the current M1 version of the X800. Also, no announcement of an ES version of the X1000 that adds the front panel display and analog audio output.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...and-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-player-300774208.html

"Picture perfect video and audio with the UBP-X800M2
The new X800M2 supports 4K Ultra HD playback, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) to deliver stunning picture quality. Additionally, 4K upscaling is also possible with the X800M2, transforming non-4K content to highly detailed, near-4K quality content.

The X800M2 also supports the latest and highest quality audio formats, including Hi-Res Audio and DSD. With the X8500 and X800M2, users can achieve the best home cinema experience with seamless pass-through of high-quality Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, providing optimized picture and sound quality. The X800M2 is compatible with all major disc formats, including SACD/DVD-A, as well as 4K streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube. Users can stream their favorite shows via the Blu-ray player in ultra-high definition."

 

[Woochifer]

Product info is also available on Sony's website. The spec sheet doesn't show much difference between the X800 and X800M2. Some minor differences at first glance.

UBP-X800M2
- 5 oz. lighter (still heavier than most competitors at 8 lb. 2 oz.)
- adds support for Monkey's Audio lossless codec
- drops support for Miracast screen mirroring
- adds subtitle shift and display info position

https://www.sony.com/electronics/blu-ray-disc-players/ubp-x800m2

One other interesting highlight that I saw on Sony's product description is an additional heatsink on the disc drive.

When I took a peak under the hood of my X800 last year (see pics below), this is what the interior looked like. The drive was mounted onto suspension rails with a shielded enclosure. The design of the X800 appeared to be all about isolating the signal paths and minimizing interference. But, the only heatsink I saw was the one mounted onto the main processor. From the image of the M2 drive, I don't see where a heat sink would go, since it looks like the drive uses a similar metal top plate. The X800M2 is 5 oz. lighter, so I don't know if Sony eliminated any of the isolation and shielding, while adding the heat sink. It looks like the rest of the heavy duty enclosure from the X800 carries over to the X800M2. Would not surprise me if Sony kept the screwed down wire guides as well.

 

[qwank]

I'll probably be picking one of these up, but I thought I heard there was a UBP-X1100ES coming out this year too, and I'd rather get the ES.

 

[Woochifer]

I'll probably be picking one of these up, but I thought I heard there was a UBP-X1100ES coming out this year too, and I'd rather get the ES.

IIRC, Sony announced the X1000ES a couple of months before they unveiled the X800 at CES. The main difference is the front panel display, the two-channel analog audio outputs, the longer ES warranty, and the higher $500 MSRP. Otherwise, the X800 and X1000 are identical.

Would be interesting if Sony made the ES version into a bona fide higher end player this time around, like adding full 7.1 analog audio outputs or going further upmarket with the build quality and processing capability like Pioneer did.

 

[aaronwt]

I wonder if the X800M2 will launch at a lower price than the X800 did? Since they both seem to look the same from the outside. I wish this had come out last year.

 

[Woochifer]

I wonder if the X800M2 will launch at a lower price than the X800 did? Since they both seem to look the same from the outside. I wish this had come out last year.

Whatever price the X800M2 carries at launch, I would guess that the price will take a huge tumble by the time Black Friday rolls around. That happened with both the X800 and the X700 (although the discounting was steeper for the X800 the year before than with the X700 last month).

I had also hoped that the update had come last year (or better yet, came to the existing X800 units via firmware update). But, it looks like Sony's on a biannual update cycle for its UHD optical players, with the lower end X700 carrying over unchanged this year and getting its update next year. I was disappointed that Sony left the X800 to languish without adding DV support, while the feature was added to the supposedly lower end X700.

With the optical player market in decline, I guess it makes sense for Sony to iterate and carry over as much as they can from one model run to another, rather than redesigning the entire player every year. They introduced the lauded frame-and-beam design with the 4k upscaling BDP-BX1, and carried over that design approach to the 4k Blu-ray X800 and X1000ES. The X800M2 has a good market niche as a lower cost Oppo alternative.

But, I have to wonder if Sony wants to put out their own statement piece to match the high end models that Pioneer and Panasonic offer, since they still have not announced a replacement for the ES series X1000. With Oppo exiting the market, there is an opportunity right at that $600-$700 price point. With the X800's Mediatek SoC supposedly underpowered for DV support, I have to wonder which chipset they will use for the X800M2. Sony makes the two high end X1 video processors for their Bravia TVs. Why wouldn't they want to use that chipset for a higher end UHD optical player?

 

[aKa DaShiznit]

I just hope this isn’t an X700 in an X800 shell. Not that my X700 hasn’t been fine I am hoping for more DV implementation options like a true auto option and an option for forced if I wanna use it.

Can’t wait to see early impressions and reviews as I will most likely wait till a hopefully holiday sale price unless my X700 dies or something and I’m forced to it sooner.

 

[MisterXDTV]

Basically they put the X700 SoC inside an X800 for Dolby Vision...

I don't even care because my TV doesn't support DV anyway so I will stick with the standard X800

 

[aKa DaShiznit]

Basically they put the X700 SoC inside an X800 for Dolby Vision... /forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I don't even care because my TV doesn't support DV anyway so I will stick with the standard X800

Well at least you get the better drive from the X800 and support back for DVD-A along with hi-res and better build vs the X700.

So should still be a worthy upgrade for those that liked the X800 but went to the X700 just for DV.

 

[Kage]

Hopefully, Sony adds a better drive in the X800M2 that can play triple layer 4k discs without freezing during playback, a quiet drive, and has automatic DV detection.

 

[aaronwt]

Hopefully, Sony adds a better drive in the X800M2 that can play triple layer 4k discs without freezing during playback, a quiet drive, and has automatic DV detection.

My launch X800 has not run into any issues with triple layer discs.

 

[NOGRP]

I really hope Sony will replace the 100Mbit lan with gigabit. Any chance to play Atmos MKV over lan?

 

[aaronwt]

I really hope Sony will replace the 100Mbit lan with gigabit. Any chance to play Atmos MKV over lan?

No reason for Sony to do that since it doesn't fully support everything streaming over the network. Plus you can use wireless with the X800 and easily stream at much higher bitrates than it 100Mbps wired connection..

Sure it would be nice, but only if it could play more content. But Disc players are typically not very good media players. And that has been the case with Sony and most other disc players for many, many years.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Woochifer]

I really hope Sony will replace the 100Mbit lan with gigabit. Any chance to play Atmos MKV over lan?

The spec sheet doesn't say anything about the Ethernet connection, but the photo of the back panel on Sony's website shows the connector labeled as "LAN (100)." Granted, it looks like Sony simply recycled the photo from the current X800, since the model number does not have the M2 designation and photo still shows the Gracenote logo (Sony has announced that its Blu-ray players will no longer support Gracenote after February 28).

The wireless connection will retain the dual band wi-fi transceiver (the X700 only operates in the crowded and interference-prone 2.4 GHz band). Nothing about whether the X800M2 will support wireless AC or if it will stay with the older wireless N standard.

 

[Z9DAtmosVuduDV]

Is M2 Dolby Vision profile 5 to work on Sony DV TV's? Will it work LG DV TV's. Do VUDU App on the M2 have UHD DV Atmos capabilites?

 

[aKa DaShiznit]

Is M2 Dolby Vision profile 5 to work on Sony DV TV's? Will it work LG DV TV's. Do VUDU App on the M2 have UHD DV Atmos capabilites?

I’d imagine it’ll be just like the X700. Definitely will work on Sony TVs no doubt and most likely all DV capable TVs. I don’t remember ever reading that the X700 didn’t work on certain TVs for DV.

 

[tenthplanet]

In a ideal world I like the ES version of this, but I could easily work with this especially if the ES is a lot more expensive.

 

[Woochifer]

In a ideal world I like the ES version of this, but I could easily work with this especially if the ES is a lot more expensive.

The last time, the ES version only added a front panel display, two-channel analog audio outputs, and a RS-232 port for installations. Cost an extra $200 for a player that was otherwise identical to the X800. The ES models though do come with a much longer warranty.


As I wrote earlier, I was hoping to see Sony try something around the $700-$800 price point that would be a true successor to the Oppos. Pioneer and Panasonic have introduced their own statement pieces, but those are over $1k.

 

[Sharp1080]

The last time, the ES version only added a front panel display, two-channel analog audio outputs, and a RS-232 port for installations. Cost an extra $200 for a player that was otherwise identical to the X800. The ES models though do come with a much longer warranty.


As I wrote earlier, I was hoping to see Sony try something around the $700-$800 price point that would be a true successor to the Oppos. Pioneer and Panasonic have introduced their own statement pieces, but those are over $1k.

I still have an Oppo BDP-105 and paid the full price as it has analog outputs both RCA and XLR. Some people like myself use the analog outs to a high end preamp and amplifier for better stereo playback. That feature does not come for free. My X-800 is good for the price but expect to pay more for the same type features the others include you mentioned. Not going to happen unfortunately.

 

[Panson]

The last time, the ES version only added a front panel display, two-channel analog audio outputs, and a RS-232 port for installations. Cost an extra $200 for a player that was otherwise identical to the X800. The ES models though do come with a much longer warranty.


As I wrote earlier, I was hoping to see Sony try something around the $700-$800 price point that would be a true successor to the Oppos. Pioneer and Panasonic have introduced their own statement pieces, but those are over $1k.

Regarding their 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray disc playing abilities, I think at this point I could make a safe bet that most will fail within ES' 3-year warranty period. I feel (don't have all the data yet) 4K players have proven to be one of the most unreliable launches in electronics history.