News LG stops making Blu-ray players, marking the end of an era — limited units remain while inventory lasts

[Admin]

LG has reportedly exited the Blu-ray player market - sunsetting the UBK80 and UBK90.

LG stops making Blu-ray players, marking the end of an era — limited units remain while inventory lasts : Read more

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

So does that leave Pioneer as the last bastion of Blu-Ray Drive makers?

 

[dwd999]

This is sad for film makers and viewers who are looking for quality images to watch on their 4K HDR OLED DolbyHD Atmos home systems. Does anyone think that there will ever be a streaming service offering a 92GB version of Justice League for serious film viewers? We're doomed to low quality images that don't even come close to using the full potential of 4K HDR systems. Streaming has killed off quality in the name of mass consumption.

 

[why_wolf]

urg. Placed an order for two more LG WH16NS40

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Just a reminder for which drives you can unlock for 4K UHD playback. https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19634

 

[txfeinbergs]

This is sad for film makers and viewers who are looking for quality images to watch on their 4K HDR OLED DolbyHD Atmos home systems. Does anyone think that there will ever be a streaming service offering a 92GB version of Justice League for serious film viewers? We're doomed to low quality images that don't even come close to using the full potential of 4K HDR systems. Streaming has killed off quality in the name of mass consumption.

I actually do think there will be a super high tier at some point, just like with audio. If the market demands it, it will happen.

 

[why_wolf]

So does that leave Pioneer as the last bastion of Blu-Ray Drive makers?

I think so. Everyone else I'm aware of (Asus, Buffalo) are just repackaging drives made by others into plastic cases.

 

[why_wolf]

Re-Reading the article its only talking about "players" as opposed to the actual "drives" which is what we in the PC space care about.

That said its hard to think they will keep "drive" production running for a long time if they are ditching "players". Assuming LG even considers the two things different.

With Sony clearly gearing up to end drive support on the PlayStation and Microsoft likely to do the same or exit the console market entirely. That means there will be no giant customers for just drives left.

 

[dimar]

New movies are coming out on Blu-Ray 4K all the time, I don't see how it's going extinct. I remember articles saying PC is going extinct in 2000s, and PC parts are still being developed. I had LG and Sony players and they had all sorts of issues. I got Panasonic player, and it works great. Maybe LG should consider working on quality control before making a new model.

 

[bit_user]

After Samsung and Sony's departure from physical media, LG was one of the last major manufacturers of Blu-ray players

There's still Panasonic, right?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YD3PXQP/

Not to mention gaming consoles still available with disc drives (although the PS5 Pro switched to making it an add-on accessory).

I got one of the last Oppo 4k players, though I had to buy it used. Unlike the PS5, it still supports bluray 3D playback!

 

[abufrejoval]

For me the media market was dead once copy protection kept me from playing a freshly bought DVD because my new Dolby amplifier somehow didn't support DRM (or was it the projector?). As if region codes weren't bad enough already!

Anyhow the onus was aways on you, that dad who tried to offer his kids a great movie experience at home.

Never spent money on media and content since and never looked back.

RAID arrays are not only much less fuss, but very insensitive to how badly kids handle media.

 

[cameraman]

There's still Panasonic, right?

​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YD3PXQP/

​

Not to mention gaming consoles still available with disc drives (although the PS5 Pro switched to making it an add-on accessory).

I got one of the last Oppo 4k players, though I had to buy it used. Unlike the PS5, it still supports bluray 3D playback!

I prefer owning the disc and continue to by Blu-Ray 4K UHD's. I use an Oppo UDP-203 in my basement theater. I bought it new and had a second new in box 203 planned for another room but I ended up selling and regret it. Oppo still hasn't been surpassed in quality and functionality. I use a Panasonic DP-UB820 in our family room that works but isn't at the same level as Oppo. Sony will hopefully stay in the business and Reavon offers a couple models that look similar to the Oppo but is said to be based on Pioneer.

 

[jcwbnimble]

I can't be the only one who thinks that relying on streaming services is tantamount to idiocy??? Are none of you guys paying attention to the media landscape? Every day movies are slapped with trigger warnings and ominous notes regarding the "outdated norms" or "racist culture" the movies contain. How long until movies are just removed from streaming altogether because they "offend" someone?

I buy physical media not because of the quality, but because I want to be able to watch the movie I want to see WHEN I want to see it. Ever get an itch to watch a movie, spend an hour searching all your streaming services for it, only to find out nobody has it available? No, I won't ever switch to streaming as my sole source of visual entertainment because I don't trust "Hollyweird" or the "government".

I guess it's time to stock up on bluRay players.

 

[TeamRed2024]

I buy physical media not because of the quality, but because I want to be able to watch the movie I want to see WHEN I want to see it. Ever get an itch to watch a movie, spend an hour searching all your streaming services for it, only to find out nobody has it available?

Same... I have over 1200 disc titles in my home library.

Still rocking the LG BE16NU50 BD writer on my PC... great for ripping digital copies of my discs. I can stream any title to any device in the house.

 

[gburke]

I actually do think there will be a super high tier at some point, just like with audio. If the market demands it, it will happen.

Agreed and agreed. Sad we will lose the quality, even sadder most people don't know what they are losing. (I'm keeping my collection of 3D, 4K and steelbooks of my favorite films).. But there will probably be a comeback at some point. As is with vinyl and possibly audio CD.

 

[gburke]

I can't be the only one who thinks that relying on streaming services is tantamount to idiocy??? Are none of you guys paying attention to the media landscape? Every day movies are slapped with trigger warnings and ominous notes regarding the "outdated norms" or "racist culture" the movies contain. How long until movies are just removed from streaming altogether because they "offend" someone?

I buy physical media not because of the quality, but because I want to be able to watch the movie I want to see WHEN I want to see it. Ever get an itch to watch a movie, spend an hour searching all your streaming services for it, only to find out nobody has it available? No, I won't ever switch to streaming as my sole source of visual entertainment because I don't trust "Hollyweird" or the "government".

I guess it's time to stock up on bluRay players.

I bought/buy for both reasons... the quality and the physical ownership.

 

[BillyBuerger]

I don't really care about blu-ray players as I have never owned one. But if they go away, then blu-ray discs won't be far behind. As noted Best Buy doesn't sell them anymore and Target had become my source for new movies on blu-ray. But Target has stopped selling them in store. Still available online at least. I buy and then rip so I can "stream" them in my own house without needing anyone's permission to do so.

Streaming is fine for finding new things you might like. But if I actually do like a movie or TV show/anime, I want to own them for myself. It will suck if the last option goes away. Netflix is already screwing this up as many of the things they produce are not available for purchase anywhere as they intend it to be.

 

[gburke]

There's still Panasonic, right?

​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YD3PXQP/

​

Not to mention gaming consoles still available with disc drives (although the PS5 Pro switched to making it an add-on accessory).

I got one of the last Oppo 4k players, though I had to buy it used. Unlike the PS5, it still supports bluray 3D playback!

yep, that's why I kept my PS4 Pro. It is a great 3D blur-ray player.

 

[rluker5]

I only have 2 left. An Asus 16d1ht internal from 2013 and a lower end Panasonic that came free with my first 4k tv in 2014 that I use with my projector mostly for 3d. I generally stream for the projector otherwise.
I'm starting to think my M-discs won't be effectively readable for the advertised time.

 

[doomtomb]

This isn't just blu-ray movies but your video games in case you've been asleep for past 15 years will only be digital in the future.

 

[tommo1982]

Couldn't care less. A 4K movie on Bluray is $30. I'm not paying for something I might watch twice in my lifetime that much. It's too expensive.
I rent movies on Chili, Prime or whatever. I'm not going to watch them the second time anyway.