Home Theater & Entertainment DVDs, DVRs & Videos 54 54 people found this article helpful 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Players and Discs What you need to know about the format's image and sound quality by Robert Silva Writer Robert Silva has written about audio, video, and home theater topics since 1998. Robert has written for Dishinfo.com, and made appearances on the YouTube series Home Theater Geeks. our editorial process Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Robert Silva Updated on December 02, 2020 DVDs, DVRs & Videos TV & Displays Audio DVDs, DVRs & Videos Tweet Share Email If you purchased a 4K Ultra HD TV, you might want to invest in an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc player to enjoy 4K content, such as movies on 4k Ultra HD discs and streaming offerings from sites like Netflix and Vudu. Here's what you need to know before buying a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc player. How 4K Ultra HD Disc Players Are Different Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc players and Blu-ray Disc players that provide 4K upscaling have some surface similarities. Both play 1080p Blu-ray discs, DVDs, CDs, and USB media, and both can upscale older content. Both support internet connectivity and network streaming. However, these technologies have critical differences. While Blu-ray discs play on Ultra HD Blu-ray players, 4K Blu-ray discs don't play on standard Blu-ray Disc players. HDR Ultra HD Blu-ray players support 4K resolution discs and offer HDR (High Dynamic Range) capability. HDR provides a greater range of colors and more image information, making for a better picture. Your TV must be able to display HDR content to take advantage of this feature. Most TVs made before 2016 likely will not support HDR. Check your 4K TV model's specs to see if it supports HDR. If you have an HDR-compatible TV that supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, the player defaults to Dolby Vision for playback. If the player detects your TV isn't Dolby Vision-compatible, the player defaults to HDR10. Depending on the player brand or model, you may be able to choose HDR playback options manually. All Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc players support HDR10 playback, and some support more formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. HDMI Connection Requirements To take advantage of everything 4K Blu-ray offers, a TV must have at least one HDMI 2.0a-enabled input. Most newer 4K TVs should have this option, but check your TV specs and manual to make sure before buying a 4K Blu-ray Disc player. Copy Protection Copy protection algorithms for 4K Blu-ray discs are updated to prevent illegal copying, adhering to the HDCP 2.2 copy-protection standard. How Blu-ray Discs and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs Differ Ultra HD Blu-ray discs look like the 5-inch (12 cm) 50 GB dual-layer physical discs used in the Blu-ray Disc format. However, the 4K Blu-ray Disc format has a dual-layer capacity of 66 GB and a triple-layer capacity of 100 GB. 4K video signals are encoded and stored on the discs in the H.265/HEVC format, compressing 4K video data into the disc's available space. 4K Ultra HD discs usually come packaged with standard Blu-ray and digital copies. What Is Mastered in 4K? Around 2013, Sony released Blu-ray discs labeled Mastered In 4K. These discs are only technically 4K Blu-ray discs. Although encoded using a 4K source, these discs were scaled down to 1080p so users could play them on a standard Blu-ray Disc player. To create these discs, Sony maximized the Blu-ray Disc format's data transfer rate capability while throwing in additional enhancement algorithms. These discs had more precise video information regarding color, edge detail, and contrast than a traditional high-quality Blu-ray Disc release. Sony said these discs provided the best possible 1080p playback but looked better when upscaled to 4K on UltraHD TVs with 4K X-Reality Pro video processing. These discs have a Mastered In 4K banner across the top of the disc case. Titles include Angels and Demons, Battle Los Angeles, Ghostbusters, The Amazing Spiderman, and Total Recall (2012). If you search for Mastered In 4K on Amazon, you'll find an array of titles. 4K Ultra HD vs. Streaming While internet streaming has become popular, there are reasons to opt for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc players and discs. To stream 4K content, you need a broadband speed of at least 15 to 25 Mbps, and some users don't have access to these speeds. With higher broadband speeds comes higher subscription prices. You may want to own a physical copy of a favorite movie or show so that you have access to it even if it becomes unavailable as a streaming option. Since many Blu-ray Disc players incorporate streaming capabilities, upgrading to a 4K Blu-ray Disc player may offer a best-of-both-worlds solution. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up. Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit