Sony Android TV + 4K Ultra Blu-Ray + ....... ?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Sony Android TV + 4K Ultra Blu-Ray + ....... ?

Lethal29

65 posts

Master Geek

#226224 26-Dec-2017 16:00

Hi Geekzone,

I'm in the market for a new TV + blu-ray + surround sound system as I want to upgrade from a 7 or 8 year old Sony setup and try to refine my setup a bit better.

I currently have a 40 inch Sony TV + a Sony Blu-Ray player & speakers + Freeview box + Chromecast dongle + WDTV Live and I generally cast from my phone to the TV or access downloaded movies etc stored on a WD MY Cloud through the WDTV box.

I currently have my eye on the Sony KD55X8500E Android TV because it has most of my required apps already installed on it, and (I believe) I have the ability to install Kodi on it too so I can stream directly to it. It also has Chromecast built in so I can free up an HDMI port. It doesn't seem to have Freeview though, so I will still obviously need two ports in use - 1 for the Freeview box and 1 for the Blu-Ray player.

I am also looking at the SonyUBPX800 4K Blu Ray Player. It would seem to be a pretty decent player, although there does appear to be a fair amount of duplication with Netflix, YouTube etc available on it too.

What I'm really hoping for is a little bit of advice on whether this is a good combination and what else I should, or need to, add to it to get a decent home theatre set up.

I will mostly be streaming from Netflix etc, playing via Kodi (hopefully) and playing content off my My Cloud device. I may be doing a bit of gaming in the future, but that is entirely dependant on the boss and my negotiation skills, so I'd like to be prepared for adding PS4 into the bargain too.

If anyone has any opinions or recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Looking to spend about $5k max, and have to factor in a 4 year old and a 2 year old, so probably free-standing speakers might be an issue.

Cheers

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4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1925450 26-Dec-2017 18:23

The TV should have Freeview built in, but UHF only, not satellite.

Re: sound system.

Most surround sound systems will out perform the current Sony home theatre in a box, but knowing your audio budget + size of the room would be ideal.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29769 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1925464 26-Dec-2017 19:01

I thought most if not all branded new TVs come with dual tuners for both Terrestrial and Satellite

Lethal29

65 posts

Master Geek

#1925465 26-Dec-2017 19:08

Hi Dunners,

Well, I expect the the TV + bluray will set me back the best part of $2500, so probably another $2k on top of that max really.

We're buying a new house in Feb so don't know the dimensions just yet, just looking for some ideas on whether I really do need anything in addition to those two.

Like, will I be able to connect to WD My Cloud via wifi instead of cable, and whether there is any need to have a Bluetooth ray player with YouTube, Netflix etc when the he TV already has it.

That sort of thing.

I fully expect to be disappointed by the speakers that come with the player, assuming some do. That's what happened with the last setup I had - very underwhelmed.

Cheers

dafman

3928 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1925469 26-Dec-2017 19:17

If black levels are important to you, don't buy the KD55X8500E.

I have the KD55X8500D. It's ok in a brightly lit room, but woeful for blacks/contrast in a darkened room.

I would strongly recommend OLED. It's more expensive, but if you are intending to keep the set for a long time, the extra is worth it IMHO.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1925476 26-Dec-2017 19:26

Lethal29:

Like, will I be able to connect to WD My Cloud via wifi instead of cable, and whether there is any need to have a Bluetooth ray player with YouTube, Netflix etc when the he TV already has it.

That sort of thing.

I fully expect to be disappointed by the speakers that come with the player, assuming some do. That's what happened with the last setup I had - very underwhelmed.

Cheers

Your My Cloud should be hardwired - everything should be hard wired if possible!

The UHD Blu-ray player is worth it if you plan to buy UHD Blu-ray's / have a large collection of discs already. If you don't, then meh.

Getting an ethernet cable to your TV (again, hardwire everything when possible) is a key.

If you're wall hanging the TV, make sure to run both an HDMI and an optical cable through the wall too - that way you can easily add a theatre receiver.

You can easily get a receiver + 5.1 speaker pack for $1500 to $2000, allowing you to either run cable around the room OR swap out some of the speakers (or sell them on Trademe) and go with in-ceiling speakers instead. Make sure you get a receiver with HDMI 2.0b + HDCP 2.2 and enough connectivity.

Lethal29

65 posts

Master Geek

#1925479 26-Dec-2017 19:28

Thanks dafman.

Anything in particular you would recommend? I do intend to keep it for a while - last one I've had for 6 years.

Lethal29

65 posts

Master Geek

#1925491 26-Dec-2017 19:48

Dunnersfella:

Lethal29:

Like, will I be able to connect to WD My Cloud via wifi instead of cable, and whether there is any need to have a Bluetooth ray player with YouTube, Netflix etc when the he TV already has it.

That sort of thing.

I fully expect to be disappointed by the speakers that come with the player, assuming some do. That's what happened with the last setup I had - very underwhelmed.

Cheers

Your My Cloud should be hardwired - everything should be hard wired if possible!

The UHD Blu-ray player is worth it if you plan to buy UHD Blu-ray's / have a large collection of discs already. If you don't, then meh.

Getting an ethernet cable to your TV (again, hardwire everything when possible) is a key.

If you're wall hanging the TV, make sure to run both an HDMI and an optical cable through the wall too - that way you can easily add a theatre receiver.

You can easily get a receiver + 5.1 speaker pack for $1500 to $2000, allowing you to either run cable around the room OR swap out some of the speakers (or sell them on Trademe) and go with in-ceiling speakers instead. Make sure you get a receiver with HDMI 2.0b + HDCP 2.2 and enough connectivity.

Thanks Dunners.

Yeah I have the My Cloud connected to the router along with the WDTV and the WDTV plays the content on the TV from there.

When you say hardwired though, are you meaning directly to the TV? I do think that this is probably at least a way of getting rid of the WDTV box as I'm assuming the TV will be able to play directly from another network connected device instead of needing something in the middle?

I'm not likely to buy an extensive array of UHD Blu Rays in the near future as I expect to stream most things or play already downloaded content, but I do have some discs which I'd still like to play.

Would this player upscale the Blu Ray discs at all?

If I didn't choose this one, but still want to play dvd/blu ray discs and I have a receiver + 5.1 surround system, can I just get away with a standard player in between the TV and receiver?

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Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1925515 26-Dec-2017 20:23

All things being equal, you shouldn't need the WDTV box at all.

I like the idea of buying a cheap, standard Blu-ray player to play your existing disc collection. Personally, I can live without UHD Blu-ray's... my opinion would be different if I had a native 4K projector and a 130" screen, that's when streaming content falls flat on its face. On a 55-65" TV, it's sweet.

Quinny

887 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1925661 27-Dec-2017 11:22

As a 4 month owner of the Sony 65 inch OLED (KD65A1) for my second lounge I am in love and do not regret a cent spent on it. For apps just put android tv into google play and most you want is there. Yes inc Kodi tho I am not a fan and prefer Plex. 4k content via You Tube is amazing but even a humble 720 mkv looks great. I was moving from top of the line Panasonic VT plasma (I had 4) and for me picture is everything. Sound wise I am using the inbuilt (screen is the speakers) as my home theatre room already has a VT Panny plus B&W/Wharfedale speaker setup and for this room I wanted a clean look on the wall. Remember you dont need a 4k upscaling amp as the tv will sort for you.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1925810 27-Dec-2017 18:07

Yup - 4K up-scaling isn't needed in the AVR, it just needs the ability to pass through the UHD video and take the lossless audio, amplify it and send it to the speakers.

You'll want a receiver with:

HDMI 2.0

HDCP 2.2

UHD / Dolby Vision / HLG compatibility.

Lethal29

65 posts

Master Geek

#1925826 27-Dec-2017 18:44

Thanks gents.

I've found this receiver which appears to be fairly well rated and has quite a nice price too.

http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/event/christmas-gifts/movie-lover/pioneer-5.1-channel-av-receiver-en-2.html

That any good, or should I be looking elsewhere?

Cheers

I do like the look of the Sony KD-55A1 OLED, but at $4000-$4500 it's a pretty hefty chunk of my budget!

Reviews are pretty good though.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1925831 27-Dec-2017 19:00

The link doesn't work, is it a 531 or 832?

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1925836 27-Dec-2017 19:20

Dunnersfella:

The link doesn't work, is it a 531 or 832?

Worked for me, sort of... 531...

http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/tv-and-audio/blu-ray-and-home-theatre/av-receivers-and-audio-components/pioneer-5.1-channel-av-receiver-en-2.html

Personally, I'd go Yamaha... but that's just years of bias :D

Lethal29

65 posts

Master Geek

#1925858 27-Dec-2017 20:26

blakamin:
Dunnersfella:

The link doesn't work, is it a 531 or 832?

Worked for me, sort of... 531...

http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/tv-and-audio/blu-ray-and-home-theatre/av-receivers-and-audio-components/pioneer-5.1-channel-av-receiver-en-2.html

Personally, I'd go Yamaha... but that's just years of bias :D

Yeah it's the 531.

Not sure what happened with that link.

Who does the better speakers? Yamaha or Pioneer?

Would like to try and standardise things as much as I could if possible.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1925861 27-Dec-2017 20:29

Lethal29:
blakamin:

Dunnersfella:

The link doesn't work, is it a 531 or 832?

Worked for me, sort of... 531...

http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/tv-and-audio/blu-ray-and-home-theatre/av-receivers-and-audio-components/pioneer-5.1-channel-av-receiver-en-2.html

Personally, I'd go Yamaha... but that's just years of bias :D

Yeah it's the 531.

Not sure what happened with that link.

Who does the better speakers? Yamaha or Pioneer?

Would like to try and standardise things as much as I could if possible.

I would say Yamaha by a mile, but I haven't heard any pioneer speakers since the early 90's.

This is where @Dunnersfella is the man.

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