Pioneer UDP-LX500 / UDP-LX800 - Universal 4K Blu-ray Disc Players | High-End Audio/Video Machines

NorthStar

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https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Blu-ray-Disc/Elite-Blu-ray-Disc-Players/UDP-LX500

There are two High End 4K BR players right now; the Panasonic 9000 and the Pioneer LX500.
Both cost roughly $1,000 each. Only the later is universal (SACD & DVD-Audio playback).
Both are build to hiend standards, not Ultra high end.

For Best Picture quality (4K front projectors and flat panel TVs) ... Panasonic 9000 is the pro recommendation.
For Best Sound Quality (CD, SACD, DVD-Audio) ... Pioneer LX500.

? https://www.soundandvision.com/content/pioneer-udp-lx500-ultra-hd-blu-ray-player-review
 
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Bodhi

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Yeah that's a nice player. My next bluray spinner will be the Pioneer UDP-LX800 with Clones Audio deluxe psu & Furutech NCF iec upgrades. Uber.
 

NorthStar

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Yes, the LX800 is getting closer to ultra high end ...
https://blog.son-video.com/en/2018/11/test-pioneer-udp-lx800/

https://www.hifinews.com/content/pioneer-udp-lx800-universal-bd-player

https://topnewreview.com/pioneer-udp-lx800-review/

https://www.stereonet.co.uk/reviews/review-pioneer-udp-lx800-flagship-4k-universal-disc-player

"HDR-SDR Adjustment allows you to tell the UDP-LX800 the target brightness of your display in increments from 100- 700 nits. Here you can also tell the player the type of display it’s connected too (LCD TV, OLED TV, Projector, or Reference, and allow it to process the video signal based on what it deems best for your display type.

Setting the signal to ‘Reference’ will pass through the video signal without any processing applied (except for scaling etc.). Apart from the ability to specify the display type, the UDP-LX800 lacks an HDR optimiser function."

_____

¤ https://intl.pioneer-audiovisual.com/products/blu-ray_disc_player/udp-lx800/index.php
 
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dminches

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That's what I call the "Idiot's mod". Personally a fully discrete psu & iec upgrade is as far as i'd be prepared to go when you can stream most movies in high res via Amazon Prime, Netlfix etc in any case.

Unfortunately Netflix, Prime, etc. are not true 4k.

I would only spend big money on mods if the unit was also going to serve as my main audio player too.
 

Bodhi

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Unfortunately Netflix, Prime, etc. are not true 4k.

I would only spend big money on mods if the unit was also going to serve as my main audio player too.
Yeah that's fair enough. Though personally If I was contemplating dropping that kind of cash on a modified upper level mass market universal player, I'd wait for a good 1 owner Oppo UDP205 with full Modwright truth mods to come up FS in my neck.
 
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daytona600

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Only use the Pioneer via my Sony VPL-VW870 laser projector via a Atmos system
build quality is typical japanese battleship & should last ages
4k blurays look & sound fantastic & much higher quality than streaming , CD/Sacd playback is actually very good
 

NorthStar

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I don't think the Pioneer UDP-LX800 is available in North America?
That's a bummer.

? https://personalaudio.hk/2018/11/14/pioneer-udp-lx800-review/

? http://www.i-fidelity.net/testberichte/heimkino/pioneer-udp-lx800/test.html
 
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daytona600

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you could import a UK/EU model with a 230v step down transformer
 

Bodhi

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That's what I call the "Idiot's mod". Personally a fully discrete psu & iec upgrade is as far as i'd be prepared to go when you can stream most movies in high res via Amazon Prime, Netlfix etc in any case.
Ok, having sussed out this Signature model from Audiocom, I'm prepared to eat my words. At around $8.5kAUD shipped, It looks like a good deal if you wanted to run a simple setup using the UDP-LX800 Signature as both your cdp and bluray player on a tight budget (atleast in Australia where the voltage is compatible). Add in some nice isolation feet like CMS CS2.0 1.0's & some nice cables, and I reckon you'd have a very decent spinner. And the good part is, being a single box player without tubes sticking out, it can be accommodated on a normal height rack shelf without the heat or space issues of the Modwright Oppo.
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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It looks like a nice player. It doesn't look like it can be used as a stand alone DAC, receiving a signal from a streaming endpoint.

Is that correct?
 

NorthStar

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Correct; both the LX500 and LX800 players can't be used as a separate DAC, unlike the awesome Oppo 205, before its discontinuation's announcement on April 1st 2018.

By the way ... https://www.worldwidestereo.com/products/pioneer-elite-udp-lx500-universal-disc-player

* Edit: The link above ... the price fluctutates; an hour ago it was $799, yesterday it was $769, I believe the lowest was $749. It changes constantly, and roughly between $749 and $999 ... it's one of those volatile electronic products.
If you can hit the red button when it's @ $799 or below, I think you're "flying" (meaning you're doing well, surfing above).
 
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Bodhi

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I'm sure Pioneer are listening. Most likely the next major model update on atleast the flagship model should allow it to be used as a separate dac & offer PCM streaming like Oppo.
 
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Mike RO

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Aug 10, 2019
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Correct; both the LX500 and LX800 players can't be used as a separate DAC, unlike the awesome Oppo 205, before its discontinuation's announcement on April 1st 2018.

By the way ... https://www.worldwidestereo.com/products/pioneer-elite-udp-lx500-universal-disc-player

* Edit: The link above ... the price fluctutates; an hour ago it was $799, yesterday it was $769, I believe the lowest was $749. It changes constantly, and roughly between $749 and $999 ... it's one of those volatile electronic products.
If you can hit the red button when it's @ $799 or below, I think you're "flying" (meaning you're doing well, surfing above).
Hi,
Good point. At this price (LX800) is a big con the lack of audio in. Now, when streaming is very popular I think is mandatory to have the option of using player as DAC.
In this case, PD 70 AE and separate 4k player only for video is the ideal solution.
OR
Use lx 800 as transport and buy a dedicated DAC.
 
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