"Region Free" or "Multi-Region" Blu-ray players are Blu-ray players which have been converted to work in any region of the world. These devices also play DVDs from any region in the world, including regions 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. They are built to play Blu-rays from any Zone / region in the world, including Zone A, Zone B and Zone C. Our top 10 best players are divided into different categories- not everyone's Blu-ray needs are necessarily the same, so we have outlined below what we believe to be the best 10 Blu-ray players available right now for varying needs.

Best Value: LB BP165 / BP250 Region free blu-ray player

This LG blu-ray player is perfect for those that already have streaming built into their TV or another streaming device such as Amazon's Fire Stick or a Roku. Most modern televisions have wifi and streaming built-in regardless, so the feature is really not necessary in blu-ray players for many people. The upgraded Region Free version of this player will play any region DVD, Any region Blu-ray and offers fantastic picture and sound quality. It doesn't play the UBD 4K discs- for that there is a step up player we will talk about below. But other than those missing features, this player is really the best value you are going to find. It's versatile and plays many different formats of DVDs, CDs, and other discs and content from USB. Customer reviews have also been excellent for this device. Its durability is true and tested, as it has been on the market for some time now and they haven’t made many changes to this model.

Pros:

• Upgraded version is region free for DVD and Blu-ray
• Excellent picture with 1080p up-conversion
• Plays video and Audio from USB
• Durable Construction
• Easy to connect and use

Cons:

• Does not have wifi
• Does not feature streaming
• Is not a 4K UBD Ultra HD blu-ray disc player

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Best Overall player: Panasonic DP-UB9000 Region Free 4k UBD blu-ray player

The Panasonic DP-UB9000 is a fantastic device that is arguably the best high-end replacement for the famously excellent Oppo Blu-ray players. With arguably the best 4K HDR quality available, tone mapping, and impeccable audio quality. This is a player meant for those who want an Oppo replacement, which is to say that it is a player for those who want a top of the line Blu-ray player that will last them a very long time. The only real downside to this player is that it is not universal- some formats are not supported, specifically SACD or DVD-Audio discs.

Pros:

• The closest thing we have to a new Oppo Blu-ray player
• Fantastic audio quality
• Build quality reduces vibration and interference
• Plays numerous audio and video formats
• Perfect for audio/videophiles

Cons:

• Doesn't support SACD or DVD-Audio
• The price might be outside of the budget of some

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Best Value region free 4K UBD Ultra HD blu-ray disc player: LG UBK80 Region free UBK 4k Ultra HD blu-ray player

With the ability to play Ultra HD, 3D, and Standard Blu-ray discs, the LG UBK80 is a versatile machine for what you are paying. Full 4K support, along with HDRand high-end surround sound format support, really drive home what a bargain this device is. At $250, the UBK80 provides essentially everything one could want from a new Blu-ray player, without breaking your wallet.

Pros:

• Support for Ultra HD/4K, 3D, and Standard Blu-rays
• Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS Master Audio support
• HDR Support
• Fantastic price point

Cons:

• Does not support video streaming services

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Best Value Region free 4K Player with Streaming: LG UBK90 Region Free UBD 4K Ultra HD blu-ray player with wifi

The LG UBK90 is a Blu-ray player that is very similar to the UBK80, but with one key difference: It has wi-fi support built into the device. As a result, the UBK90 is the perfect Blu-ray player for those who are interested in the UBK80, but really wish it offered streaming support.

Pros:

• Support for Ultra HD/4K, 3D, and Standard Blu-rays
• Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS Master Audio support
• HDR Support
• Fantastic price point
• Wi-fi/Streaming support
• Overall an excellent player, there isn't much bad to say about it.

Cons:

• Doesn't have some of the less common streaming apps, but has all major ones.
• Lacks a few high-end features such as tone mapping and HDR conversion.

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Best Value 4K Player player with Dolby Atmos and Streaming: Sony UBP-X700 Region free blu-ray player with Dolby Atmos and Streaming

The Sony UBP-X700 offers silky smooth 4K streaming/playback, fantastic HDR, and a small stature which will please those who would prefer to not have a larger, clunkier device sitting around their living room. This device also offers high-end audio playback through Dolby Atmos, a very welcome feature for those who want to have the full cinematic experience.

Pros:

• 4K Streaming/Playback
• HDR
• Dolby Atmos Audio Playback
• Small Size
• Great value
• Has nearly all the video features one would desire
• Great colors

Cons:

• Sound is decent, but not the same as the much more expensive Yamaha and Panasonic options

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Best Region Free WiFi player: Sony BDP-S3700 Region free blu-ray player with wifi streaming

The Sony BDP-S3700 is a great, affordable way to turn any TV into a Smart TV. On the surface, it is a standard Blu-ray player; at closer examination, it actually features a great number of apps which will allow one to stream movies and television shows to one’s TV without any additional devices. As a result, this is a great alternative to purchasing a smart TV if one would rather purchase a larger, non-smart TV while retaining all of those features. Similarly, phone mirroring is a unique feature that is extremely useful; users can simply pull content up on their phones and ‘push’ things to the screen in front of them. This is perfect for parties or just casual viewing.

Pros:

• Wi-fi support, streaming
• Numerous apps available
• Excellent player for most setups
• Durable, great for playing DVDs and Blu-rays of any region

Cons:

• Only outputs up to 1080p video

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Best Region Free 4k Upconversion player: Sony BDP-S6700 Region free blu-ray player with 3D wifi streaming and 4K upconversion

The Sony BDP-S6700 is essentially a high-end version of the BDP-S3700. It fixes the problems which existed with the former, specifically it being only able to access 1080p content. Instead, this model supports 3D and 4K content, with 4K upscaling for non-4K content. This is a huge bonus, as it still provides all of the fantastic content that the former model did. The 4K support is only for upscaling content to 4K, which should be kept in mind when purchasing.

Pros:

• 3D Support
• 4K/UHD Upscaling for non-4K content
• Great streaming options
• Bluetooth upport

Cons:

• Does not actually play 4K content, only upscales

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Best Region Free player with Excellent Audio & composite audio outputs: Yamaha BDP-S681 Region Free Blu-ray Player with 4K Upscaling

The Yamaha BDP-S681 features 4K Upscaling for non-4K video as well as composite audio outputs for A/V receivers. As a result, it can be used with a wide variety of home audio setups, making it a great entry-level device for a home theater. This is definitely a device made for audiophiles, constructed with the intent of being used alongside a Yamaha A/V receiver of your choice. That said, it will work just fine with other brands.

Pros:

• 4K Upscaling
• Fantastic audio opportunities
• Composite audio output
• FLAC, high-quality audio file support

Cons:

• Lacks true 4K due to emphasis on audio quality

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Best Region Free 3D player: LG BP550 Region Free 3D Blu-ray Player

For its price, the LG BP550 is a great option for anyone who wants 3D Blu-ray support without spending much money. While it lacks some of the fancier options that more expensive Blu-ray players might offer, it allows for a budget device that still lets you have the 3D experience you crave at home. It loads discs quickly and has a very responsive interface, and built-in Wi-fi lets you stream videos to your non-smart television.

Pros:

• 3D support at an unbeatable price
• Built-in Wi-fi and streaming support
• Loads quickly
• Low latency, responsive menus

Cons:

• Lacks support for some high end formats such as 4K/UHD

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Best Region Free 3D 4K Player with Streaming and Dolby Atmos: Sony UBP-X800M2 Region Free Multi Region 4K UHD Blu-ray Player

The Sony UBP-X800M2 provides a great all-around device with both quality audio and video output. The sound provided by Dolby Atmos is crisp, and the video quality is always clean and stable. The addition of Wi-fi is, as always, welcome even if not needed. A particularly interesting feature to this device is that it offers Bluetooth output for audio, allowing one to use Bluetooth headphones as opposed to a speaker setup. This is great for those who want to watch movies without disturbing those around them, or those who just have nice headphones and would prefer to use them for their viewing experience. While it may not have the best audio or video options on this list, the UBP-X800M2 is sure to please with its options.

Pros:

• Dolby Atmos support
• Bluetooth audio
• Crips video output
• Wi-fi streaming
• HDR to SDR conversion
• Tone mapping
• Great value for all of its features

Cons:

• Dolby Vision's menu, as well as HDR10+, can be a bit clunky. You need to understand the settings before making major changes

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Overall, these are what we consider to be the ten best region free Blu-ray players on the market for 2020-2021. You can’t go wrong with any of these players, as each has its own unique perks which makes it worth considering.

Visit 220-Electronics.com for all of your region free Blu-ray player needs! At 220-Electronics, each device is personally customized to work with all codes and in all regions- guaranteed. We have excellent customer service and can help you to decide which player is best for you, ensuring you are happy with your final purchase.

What Are the Best Region Free 4K Blu-ray Players Available Going Into 2020?

Before we dive into which is the best, let’s first establish exactly what a region free 4K blu-ray player is. Blu-ray players utilize the new UHD 4K Blu-ray discs, often referred to as 4K Blu-ray discs, UHD Blu-ray discs, or Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. These same players will also work with Normal Blu-ray discs. Blu-ray discs around the world come in different ‘regions’. These include Region A, Region B, and Region C. Region Free or Multi region 4K Blu-ray players will play any of those region Blu-rays; as a result, you can purchase a disc from anywhere in the world and watch it on these specially upgraded Region Free Blu-ray players.

These devices also play Standard DVDs from any region. The standard DVD regions for different parts of the world are Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7 and Region 8.

With all of that said, lets get down to the Best Blu-ray players for 2020.

 

Our Top Picks

The short answer is: it depends. It depends upon what criteria you are looking for. Do you want the absolute best Audio and Video quality, or do you want very good audio and video quality at a more moderate price? Below you will find our current favorite Blu-ray players and whom we feel they would best suit.

1. Sony UBP-X700 Region Free
   Sony’s UBP-X700 is the best region free 4K UHD players for many people In a small footprint, it packs cutting edge video and audio features. These include Dolby Vision, HDR10, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X. It will deliver excellent sound and video for most mid to high end residential home cinema’s. All the features packed with a very attractive price makes this our Favorite multi region 4K Blu-ray player at a fair price. If you own a Sony TV as well, that only adds icing to the cake as this player has unique features when used with Sony televisions.
2. LG UBK90 region free
   LG’s UBK90 region free Blu-ray player is not far behind Sony. In fact, some would say it’s even better. If you’re an owner of a LG OLED or other LG 4K TV then this will probably quickly move to your your Number 1 pick for a UHD region free 4K Blu-ray player. It boasts HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos. It also features 4K Streaming of Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services. It’s really a toss-up between these 2 players when it comes to excellent players at attractive prices.

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A little treat for reading this article: Also look at the LG UBKM9 4K region free Blu-ray player. This device is identical to the UBK90, but can be found at a lower price! LG made it for one of the big box retailers, but has now made it available to all. It makes a great alternative to other options if you seek an even lower price point.

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Other Great 4K Blu-ray Player Choices

The Sony UBP-X700 and LG UBK90 are our top picks, but there are plenty of other high-quality options to consider. Some other 4K Blu-ray players we consider to be high quality include:

1. Sony UBP-X800M2 - This is a great player for those who do not want to compromise on Video or Audio.
2. LG UBK80 - The UBK80 is a great player with all the most desired video and audio features. It doesn’t have any streaming capabilities, but most televisions these days are Smart TVs regardless so you will likely miss out on nothing.
3. Sony UBP-X1000ES - This is Sony’s top-of-the-line model at a slightly higher price point. Despite this, it’s great for High end systems.
4. Pioneer UDP-LX500 - If you’re looking to spend a little more cash and just want the absolute best in Audio and Video, look into the Pioneer UDP-LX500
5. Samsung UBD-M8500 - If you have a Samsung TV and want to keep things simple and use the same remote, this is a great choice. Although Samsung is no longer making 4K Blu-ray players, these are the last ones they made. They have a fantastic build quality and excellent features for Audio and Video.
6. Samsung UBD-M9500 - The UBD-M9500 is similar to the UBD-M8500, but is a notable step up from the latter.

Shopping for region free 4K Blu-ray players can be intimidating, given the huge number of options available. This can be doubly true when searching for devices which will stand the test of time. The region free 4K Blu-ray players we have listed here are what we consider to be the best on the market, our personal recommendations. If you are interested in shopping for region free 4K Blu-ray players, visit 220-Electronics.com today to find the devices discussed here at unbeatable prices. If you have questions, the 220-Electronics support team can assist you with any problems you are having in regard to choosing a device.

Region free Blu-ray players are not particularly common; we at 220-Electronics modify ours personally to play discs from around the world. There are some really good reasons to seek out a region free Blu-ray player, despite their lack of mainstream sales. Today we will be discussing some of the reasons one might desire such a device, and the benefits of having one. Just as a note for those unfamiliar with this topic, the Blu-ray region codes are as follows:

• Region A: North America, South America, U.S. Territories, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and other areas of Southeast Asia
• Region B: Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Region C: Asia (except for Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other areas of Southeast Asia)

Typically, discs will only work on devices in a set region based upon where the disc was purchased. Region free devices bypass this, allowing discs from any region to be played on the device.

Play Foreign Blu-rays

This one is really notable for fans of foreign films, foreign dramas, anime, and independent films. These tend to be more niche releases which are, by proxy, often unavailable outside of their respective regions. As a result, one much import these Blu-rays in order to own them. Unfortunately, they are not going to be natively playable on a standard Blu-ray player from outside of said region.

While this may not effect most individuals, it is a notable problem for collectors. If one has (or is starting) a notably sized collection, having to collect Blu-ray players for multiple regions can be a pain- and expensive. Instead, a single region free player can solve this issue at a lower price point.

Traveling for Work or Fun

There are many individuals whose jobs require movement around the world on a regular basis. Doing so can be stressful and, at times, rather dull- hotel rooms can only be so interesting. As a result, some have taken to bringing along video game consoles or their own Blu-ray players. This is where things get interesting- if one has a collection already, this is not an issue, but if one wants to purchase new films while abroad they cannot use them. Over the course of a multi-month trip, this can become a notable concern.

With a region free Blu-ray player, travelers can rest easy, knowing that any film they purchase will work with zero hassle. If a job sends you to Europe one month and Asia the next, their Blu-ray player will function in precisely the same way as before. Relaxation and one's favorite films, as well as newly purchased ones, are within arm's reach when one brings along a region free Blu-ray player.

Moving to Another Country

Relocating internationally is perhaps the most obvious reason to seek out a region free Blu-ray player. Movie collectors might have massive collections, owning hundreds of films on Blu-ray; upon moving, suddenly they have to have two separate players to appreciate their current collection while accruing more. Being limited to the films one already owns is something no movie buff would desire. The ideal situation would, naturally, be to purchase new films from the country one has moved to, and to play them on the exact same device as one's old films.

This is where region free Blu-ray players come in. By taking one when moving, you can keep your entire Blu-ray collection and enjoy it without fail! On top of that, you can purchase new Blu-rays without concern as to whether or not they will work; with a region free player, any disc you buy should work.

Conclusion - Considering Region Free Blu-ray Players

Ultimately, there is some serious appeal to owning a region free Blu-ray player. The reasons one might purchase one are likely fairly obvious. Moving, traveling, simply collecting films- these are all reasons why an individual might seek out a region free Blu-ray player. If you are interested in one yourself, 220-Electronics.com is the best place to purchase one. The Blu-ray players from 220-Electronics have the option to be custom modified to support Blu-ray regions A, B, and C. Modified players from 220-Electronics are simple to use, requiring only the flip of a switch to move between regions and play any Blu-ray in the world. Incredible customer support and fantastic prices only sweeten the deal. If you need assistance, contact support at 220-Electronics.com today and they will guide you along the way!

The Sony UBP-X1100ES, the successor to Sony's highly successful UBP-X1000ES, is finally here. While it is not radically different from its predecessor, it does manage to have updated features which are well worth the cost. Sony has a clear vision for the new UBP models, and they have been highly successful at maintaining it thus far.

What's Is the Sony UBP-X1100ES?

Sony's UBP-X1000ES was an attempt at stepping into the market of high-end Blu-ray players for audiophiles and other enthusiasts. Prior to this, a company named Oppo had dominated the enthusiast Blu-ray market. They stopped creating Blu-ray players a few years ago, leaving a gaping hole that someone had to fill. Sony chose to take up this role, as did companies such as Pioneer.

The Sony UBP-X1100ES was thus constructed with the enthusiast in mind. Outside, the device features a high-end, rigid chassis intended to prevent vibrations and interference that would reduce audio and video quality. On the inside, the UBP-X1100ES supports nearly any file format for audio, video, or images that you could possibly desire. In addition, it features HDR10 and Dolby Vision, as well as Hybrid Log Gamma HDR. Native 4K UHD support is also included, and the device does a fantastic job at upscaling full HD images to 4K. Built-in WiFi and streaming support are welcome features, including native 3D streaming.

Region-Free Features

The UBP-X1100ES' region-free features are phenomenal, allowing one to use it with any voltage, on any TV in the world. Blu-ray discs and DVDs from around the world function perfectly. This is great for individuals who have moved to other countries or collect foreign films. The worldwide voltage feature requires nothing more than the press of a button to shift between 120 and 220 volts, giving you the ability to use your UBP-X1100ES in North America, Africa, Asia, or Europe with no need for obnoxious voltage conversion. Its internal Pal/NTSC conversion offers compatibility with nearly any television. This Blu-ray player will be ready to go as soon as you remove it from its box! This feature is only guaranteed for devices purchased from 220-electronics.com, as they are modified by a team of experts. Any UBP-X1100ES purchased from other locations will almost certainly lack these region-free features.

Other Features

The Sony UBP-X1100ES has some other features that are quite nice. People often neglect 4K UHD Blu-ray players due to their lack of 4K televisions. In this case, Sony has specifically designed their device with these people in mind. Not only will the UBP-X1100ES output a crisp, beautiful 4K UHD HDR image on intended TVs, it will work on non-4K televisions as well! While the image output will not actually be 4K, it will produce an image rendered in 4K and then downscaled to full HD. This produces a gorgeous image when compared to standard HD. While not as perfect as the image of 4K Blu-rays on 4K televisions, it is a nice bonus and allows those who want better image quality to receive it without replacing their TV.

Support for BT.2020 color spaces was also a nice addition. BT.2020 provides a substantially wider range of colors than traditional TV signals, and drastically alters the natural qualities of colors output from video content. "Bravia Mode" is an additional mode they have added to encourage customers to purchase Sony televisions as well. While not a necessary feature, when using a supported television this device will output even smoother, higher definition video. While a nice bonus, it is in no way a necessity; it mostly serves as a small wink to those who own multiple Sony devices.

Conclusion

Overall, we have found the Sony UBP-X1100ES to be a fantastic device capable of delivering on the promises made by the company. As always, the region-free version of this player is not available in retail stores. You can purchase one today from us at 220-Electronics.com, ready to play region A, B, and C Blu-ray discs. Contact our expert support team if you have any questions or concerns, or if you are making the move from Oppo and want to discuss the changes with someone before purchasing.

Oppo, a Chinese company renowned for its high-quality Blu-ray players which emphasized audio/visual fidelity over all other features, was hailed as the market's king in years past. Following a massive boom in their smartphone sales, Oppo ultimately stepped out of the Blu-ray player market and redoubled their efforts on the former. This left a gaping hole in the industry, as they were the leaders when it came to the development of high quality, top-of-the-line Blu-ray players for audiophiles in particular. UDP-LX500

Now, Pioneer has stepped up to produce a Blu-ray player in the same vein as Oppo's. The Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 is a fantastic Blu-ray player for those who seek only the best in audio and video content. Whereas most companies in the industry continue to push streaming and other auxiliary services, Oppo (and now Pioneer) are bringing forward devices which offer only the best in audiovisual interfaces.

 

Audio/Visual Components

Pioneer truly went all-out when designing the Elite UDP-LX500. Every single aspect of the device has been constructed with only the best in mind, and the ultimate goal was clearly to produce the most fantastic audio and video on the market. They have achieved this through a few different methods.

One cannot discuss the UDP-LX500's unique features without first acknowledging its Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). DACs are devices which conver digital signals to analog ones. These are standard fare for audiophiles, but those on the fringes of the hobby might be confused by the idea. Digital audio, what one typically hears from Blu-ray players or computers, is inherently 'lossy'. It has a lower bit-rate, lacking detail and dynamic components which make music have depth. DACs convert digital audio to analog, providing sound waves that are smoother and audio of a much higher quality. The UDP-LX500's DAC is arguably the cornerstone of the device and is what immediately makes it similar to those made by Oppo.

 

Construction

Pioneer's "Zero Signal Terminal" technology is present in the UDP-LX500. This is a proprietary technology which aligns the device's AV receiver and the ground level. What results is a high-quality signal between the two, reducing interference and providing much clearer sound and video.

To add to this, Pioneer has introduced a unique method of construction with their Elite line. In order to keep the device sturdy and prevent vibration during playback, they have built a 1.6mm thick chassis reinforced by a 3mm steel plate. Together, they provide a real heft not found in typical Blu-ray players. Pioneer also made the decision to split the device's internal components into three "blocks". These divide the power supply, drive and digital processor, and analogue audio components. Separating these parts reduces magnetic and electrical interference between them, ultimately producing higher quality output. They have also split the internal circuit board into six layers, further reducing digital noise.

 

Region-Free

The Blu-ray player’s region-free features are phenomenal, allowing one to use it with any voltage, on any TV in the world. Blu-ray discs and DVDs from around the world function perfectly. This is great for individuals who have moved to other countries or collect foreign films. The worldwide voltage feature requires nothing more than the press of a button to shift between 120 and 220 volts, giving you the ability to use your UDP-LX500 in North America, Africa, Asia, or Europe with no need for obnoxious voltage conversion. Its internal Pal/NTSC conversion offers compatibility with nearly any television. This is a ready-to-go Blu-ray player that is equipped with everything you could possibly need out of the box.

 

Other Features

Much like Oppo's Blu-ray players, Pioneer has removed video streaming services from this device. Streaming features can lead to a large amount of electronic interference, along with taking up space that could be dedicated to hardware meant to improve A/V output. One can still play high-quality music files through a USB device, despite the lack of streaming.

Some other features of the Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 are:

• Acoustic Damper Tray for Better Audio
• Detailed Disc Information On-Screen Display
• Jitterless Sound Transmission via Dual HDMI Output
• Low Latency Dolby Vision
• SDR/HDR Preset Modes for Optimal Display Performance
• Precision Quartz Lock System
• Two Channel Audio, Multi-Surround, Bit-Stream
• Plays Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, and Audio CD discs
• Front and Rear USB Ports for High Quality Audio Playback
• HDR10 Support
• No Radiation Holes, Reducing Sound From Internal Movement

As always, the region-free version of this player is not available in retail stores. You can purchase one today from us at 220-Electronics.com, ready to play region A, B, and C Blu-ray discs. Contact our expert support team if you have any questions or concerns, or if you are making the move from Oppo and want to discuss the changes with someone before purchasing.

-The 220 Electronics Team

While Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other video-streaming services have grown exponentially in popularity throughout the last decade, they have failed to kill the DVD and Blu-ray markets. Despite their ease of access, they fail in ways which physical media have not and never will. I would like to take a moment and discuss the reasons why physical media will never die, even in the face of digital content streaming.

Audio/Visual Quality

When it comes to digital content streaming, there is typically some loss in terms of quality. This is based upon the service used, the amount one pays, and internet connection quality. While you certainly can stream HD content, it is less reliable than what one will receive from a Blu-ray disc. This is even more true when it comes to 4K content, as it requires phenomenal download speeds to acquire beautiful, seamless 4K video over the internet. Physical media, on the other hand, is capable of pulling off incredible visuals with little effort; the advent of 4K and 3D movies has proven that, as they are limited almost entirely to Blu-ray discs outside of few exceptions.

Streaming is notoriously harsh when it comes to audio quality. Even dedicated music-streaming services such as Spotify struggle with this problem, and while some services have found ways to get around some limitations, the general rule is this: digital audio quality is lower than that of physical, and streaming audio quality is lower than that seen on, say, a CD or vinyl. A part of this is the 'bitrate' of an audio track, or the amount of data stored in a single second of its file. The higher this number is, the better audio quality one will receive; in most digital audio files, the bitrate is 256 kbps (kilobits per second), while Dolby TrueHD has a maximum possible bitrate of 18 mbps (megabytes per second). Most audio tracks will never reach that lofty of a goal; the audio bitrate from Blu-ray discs has the potential to be a whopping seventy times higher than that seen through streaming services.

 

Building a Collection

Collectors will also never fully move to digital content, much less that seen on streaming services. Companies often sell 'collector's editions' of popular media. These might include special boxes, bonus merchandise for fans, special features, or other unique bonuses that are pertinent to fans. These are quite popular, particularly for television shows and films with dedicated fan-bases. As an example, the "Middle-Earth Collector's Edition" contains 30 Blu-ray discs which contain the entire Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. It includes dozens of hours of bonus content, extended, and cut scenes. This collection also contains digital downloads of each film, a unique box which presents the discs in the form of books, an art book containing sketches and concept art for the film, and more. While pricey, this is a must-have for fans of The Lord of the Rings and as such will sell well; streaming might be convenient, but it will never replace the sorts of bonuses seen in this example.

 

Ownership

It is essential to note what is perhaps the largest advantage of physical media over streaming services: not everything is available through streaming. There is a massive amount of content in the world which has not, and never will, be on any streaming platform. Even worse, the shows that you enjoy today might be removed at any time! On their website, Netflix writes:

"Netflix licenses TV shows and movies from studios and content providers around the world, and those licenses can expire if we don't renew them."

Netflix asserts they first check to see if the rights are still available and analyze a show's popularity and cost. They then discern any seasonal or localized factors which might be relevant. These explain how Netflix, among other streaming services, lose content that you might be a fan of. Popular content is not safe from this either, as their removal of Doctor Who in 2018 will show that even significant shows might end up nonrenewable. This is where Blu-rays and DVDs can come into play; fans of TV shows and movies will always want to have a permanent way through which to watch their favorites. Ultimately, streaming is an unreliable means through which to do so. When using a streaming service, you naturally do not *own* that video; even purchased digital versions of films have this issue. What would happen if you lost hundreds of dollars worth of films due to Vudu going out of business? This is an extreme example, of course, but serves to illustrate the shortfalls of digital content. Plus, Blu-rays typically contain digital copies of their content in question. This is typically free and serves as an additional bonus to purchasing a physical copy.

 

Physical Media Will Never Die

Digital media downloads and content streaming are obviously not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. They do, of course, serve as wonderful supplemental forms of entertainment. Having a wealth of content at your fingertips, ready to stream at any time, is a uniquely contemporary concept. This will only continue to grow in coming years. Physical media will never be left behind, despite this new technology. Collectors and fans will always want to purchase their favorite films and shows, whether it be for the unique bonuses, security, consistency, or quality found only in physical media. I, for one, am excited to see what the future holds for physical media.

Shop for region free Blu-ray and DVD players today, and recall just how amazing it can be to own your own movies and television shows!

-The 220 Electronics Team

High Dynamic Range, or "HDR", is a technology which has become extremely popular recently. You have almost certainly heard of it if you have been shopping for televisions in the last five or so years, but you might not have known what it means- or, how it works. I am here to disambiguate the term and explain why it is a significant technology in terms of consumer displays.

What Does it Do?

HDR processes images on a screen as they are output, rendering improved shadows and highlights. It also provides a much better range of colors in the images it produces, providing an extremely detailed picture with deep blacks and bright whites. This began as a technology utilized in photography during the 1990s, sought after as a means through which to enhance the quality of images in a way that did not necessarily rely upon technique. It also provides improved contrast, which has traditionally been a major problem in photography. In televisions, this improved contrast simply serves as a way to provide a better image than normally possible for viewers.

 

HDR Content

It is important to note that, while an HDR-compatible TV will likely have an excellent image in general, not all content is made with this technology in mind. In particular, older content will likely lack compatibility and thus will not have the beautiful colors and contrast found in actual HDR content. Despite this, it is extremely easy to find compatible content today. Netflix and Amazon Prime both offer support, and most Blu-rays will as well. The F 4 and Xbox One S (and Xbox One X) both support HDR for videos and video games. Despite it not working with 100% of video content in the world, it should be supported by nearly anything made in the last decade.

 

[caption id="attachment_1466" align="aligncenter" width="740"] Image Courtesy of 4K.com.[/caption]

What About 4K?

This is an important distinction: HDR and 4K are not synonymous. They often do go hand-in-hand, though, as many 4K televisions do support the technology. If one were to have to choose, 4K is always going to be a more significant upgrade than HDR, as it works best when seen in conjunction with 4K content. In non-UHD settings it still provides an improved image quality, but it will not be as mind-blowingly gorgeous without high quality, Ultra HD content.

Are you interested in televisions which feature UHD and/or HDR technologies? Are you looking for Televisions which support worldwide content and will work anywhere? 220-Electronics.com has an incredible selection of Multi-System TVs with prices that cannot be beaten.

You have no doubt heard all about 4K, Ultra HD, or UHD televisions over the course of the last few years. The first 4K Television, the Sharp LC-70UD1U, was released in June of 2013; the market has grown and evolved heavily since, and this resolution has undoubtedly become the dominant trait sought in TVs. Despite this, you might be wondering: why would I want a 4K TV? Is the difference really noticeable? Why should I upgrade? I'm here to break down exactly what 4K TVs are, what makes them special, and why the upgrade could make a difference for you.

 

4K: Explained

Aptly-named, 4K TVs are referred to as such due to their image width. This is similar to 1080p, although 1080p is actually named for the image's height. Specifically, 1080p televisions have a pixel height of 1,080 and a width of 1,920; 4K televisions are named for their pixel width of 3,840 (their height is 2,160 pixels). While not exactly 4,000, it is close, and "4K" is undoubtedly a more attractive name than "thirty-eight forty". It's not really a mystery as to why they chose to swap from height to width as their naming metric, as 4K sure does sound more impressive than 2K. It also better illustrates the real change in pixel density that can be seen in 4K displays.

While the length and width of 4K displays do sound as though they are twice that of 1080p, that's actually not exactly true- they have four times the number of pixels. An example of this might be that of a 40 inch 1080p display versus a 160 inch 4K display. In theory, you would have a picture of approximately the same quality as the 1080p display's. If you go past that size, it is slightly worse, if you go smaller it is slightly better- you get the idea. Basically, 4K displays are objectively better if you are buying a large television.

 

The Real Difference

You might have noticed that some larger 1080p displays have a lovely picture from afar, but when viewed more closely are far from clear. The increased pixel density (PPI, or pixels-per-inch) of a 4K display reduces this problem, cramming four times the number of pixels into the same space. This might sound odd to you, but I will explain why it is not twice as dense but instead four times:

If there are 1920x1080 pixels in an HD TV, and 2160x3840 in a 4K one, [1920 x 2 = 3840], and [1080 x 2 = 2160]. In this case, the display is 2160 pixels high (twice the height of HD) and the width is 3840 pixels wide (twice the width), and [2 x 2] (length x width) is four times the pixel density.

[caption id="attachment_1449" align="alignright" width="300"] Image courtesy of 4K.com.[/caption]

 

This allows for larger televisions and better viewing angles/distances than what could be achieved with 1080p displays. Fear not if you can only afford a cheaper, smaller television. Even on smaller displays, the image quality is much higher as there are four times as many pixels outputting the same image.

Now, you might also be wondering what the difference between 4K and "UHD", or "Ultra High Definition" are. The answer is that, for consumer products, there is no difference. 4K traditionally referred to the standard pixel resolution found in cinemas (4096x2160) due to the resolution of cameras used to shoot movies. Due to this, some companies choose to avoid referring to their own products as "4K", instead labeling them as "UHD". In reality, among consumer products these are going to be the same resolution every time, so worry not about purchasing a UHD TV versus a 4K one; the difference is entirely semantic.

 

Why Make the Move to Ultra HD?

While all of this might be interesting, it probably does not explain why you should purchase a 4K or UHD television. While perhaps a less shocking difference than when you first moved from an old SD television to a shiny new 1080p HD one, the 4K/UHD difference is extremely noticeable. With four times the pixel density of HD televisions, images become substantially clearer. Colors are more vibrant, "black" is no longer a single shade but, instead, is a spectrum, and images become wildly engrossing as a result. Then there is of course the aforementioned viewing angles and distances, which make images seem much more consistent than what can be found on standard HD TVs.

Of course, there is also the fact that the entertainment industry has embraced 4K and UHD content, indicating that it is here to stay unlike some other technologies of the past. A 4K television is an investment, one which will pay off the very first time you sit down and experience your favorite film in Ultra HD glory. There is a certain beauty which becomes clear when one first views a 4K television in person for the first time, a realization of what the future of visual media could be. Does 4K make a difference? It absolutely does, and is arguably the most significant change in television technology in the last decade.

Interested in purchasing a 4K/UHD/Ultra HD television? Want a multisystem one, so that you can use it anywhere in the world? 220-Electronics has an incredible selection of them, ready to go for you at prices that other companies cannot hope to beat. Not sure what you're looking for? Moving to another country? Contact our support and we will walk you through the details, step-by-step.

-The 220-Electronics Team

Samsung is one of our favorite brands lately. They've done some impressive work in several areas of home electronics and their Blu-ray Players are right on par with the top brand names in home theater components. Their constant innovation and cutting-edge features make Samsung a real leader in our book, and that's why we wanted to share one of their products with you today - kind of...

Today we've decided to take a quick look at the UBD-M8500, but we have to warn you that this isn't just any Blu-ray player. Our Samsung UBD-M8500 is region-free, and it's not available in department stores. Yes, you read that correctly. While the manufacturer's version is probably available at your favorite electronics outlet, it won't come equipped with the awesome capabilities that ours has. Thanks to some professional modifications, our UBP-M8500 is Region-Free, which means it works anywhere in the world, with any voltage, on any TV. Furthermore, it will play Blu-ray and DVD discs from any region in the world. There's no need for voltage converters and no need to worry about Pal/NTSC compatibility. It's a true plug-and-play universal unit ideal for travelers, anyone living overseas, or anyone with a collection of movie titles purchased from abroad.

No matter where you reside or what discs you're playing, the powerful and flexible UBD-M8500 is ready. This alone makes it an excellent buy, but there's a bunch of cool factory features that you should also take a look at, including:

• • Automatic DVD Region Switching
• • One-button Blu-ray Region Switching
• • 4K Ultra HD Resolution
• • Built-in WiFi
• • Internal Pal/NTSC Conversion
• • Streaming Media
• • DLNA Compatibility
• • CD Audio to MP3 Ripping
• • HEVC for 4K Streaming
• • Dolby and DTS-HD Support
• • Ethernet Port
• • Upgradeable Firmware
• • .... and more!

The Region Free Samsung UBD-M8500 is a great machine that can immensely improve your home theater experience. From sharing with multiple devices on your home network to 1000's of hours of streaming media from your favorite services, this Blu-ray Player does it all. You'll enjoy 4K Ultra-HD resolution on your 4K TV, plus the UND-M8500 will up-scale your non-4k discs to the highest resolution possible for the ultimate picture performance. It's jam-packed with the latest technology, but it's also an excellent performer featuring quick load times, fast picture processing and an easy to use interface.

Learn more about the Region Free UBD-M8500 today and get your own before they sell out. Remember, these specially modified units are not available in stores. As specialists in Region-Free and Multisystem electronics with over 35 years of experience, you can buy from us with confidence and join our thousands of happy and loyal customers from around the globe.

One of our favorites - and also one of our best-selling players right now - is the LG BP300. This region-free model is a powerhouse of features and flexibility with an extremely agreeable price (under $150), making it an excellent choice for your home theater. Let's take a closer look at the BP300, it's options, and capabilities to give you a better idea of what you're getting for your money.

Streaming Media and Wi-Fi

The Region-Free LG BP300 has Wi-fi built in, giving you the ability to not only stream media from your favorite streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, but to reach other devices on your home network using the DLNA feature. If you'd like to connect to your massive music playlist or movie archive from your laptop, the BP300 can do that - wirelessly. You can also quickly and easily share media libraries and file directories from any capable device in your home, including your tablet or smartphone.

Full 1080p, Plus Up-scaling

It's not 4k, but can you really tell the difference? Okay, of course you can tell a difference - but that doesn't mean 1080p doesn't offer an amazing picture. The BP300 has impressive picture quality, and it'll even improve the quality of your non-hd discs, such as your old DVDs. Just pop one in and LG's upscaling feature enhances and upgrades the resolution to near-perfect HD quality. It's a fantastic feature to have.

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD

For the audiophiles, the BP300 gives you something to smile about. With Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD compatibility, you can be sure you're getting the best audio pushed to your surround-sound speakers. These multi-channel HD audio formats provide amazing clarity, depth, and intensity that put you right in the middle of all the action.

Simplink

Simplink allows you to easily connect to multiple devices from your Blu-ray player, controlling them all with one central remote. This allows you to easily and quickly choose between TV or surround-sound speakers, instant media playback (TV playback begins when connected device begins playback), and power-off/on features that turn your TV on automatically when a selected device is powered up. It's a great and highly convenient feature.

Region-Free Playback

The Region Free BP300 is not available in stores. Our units have been professionally modified for global disc playback and will play Blu-ray discs from any region (A, B, or C) and DVDs from any region (0-8). No matter where you are or where you buy your discs, they'll always play. This feature is ideal for movie collectors and anyone who watches or purchases movie titles from overseas.

Worldwide Voltage

This player - unlike the models sold in department stores - is professionally modified to work anywhere in the world. It works with any voltage from 110 to 240 volts, so it can be easily and safely used at any time, no matter where in the world you are. There's no need for a voltage converter, even if you take it overseas!

The Region-Free LG BP300 Blu-ray Player has plenty of other features and capabilities. To learn more about this popular model - including all the technical specs - click here. You're getting a really nice value for your dollar with this one, and you'll be a happy camper if you pick one up. We're selling these at the guaranteed lowest price and we'll ship anywhere in the world. You can't ask for a better deal!