BluRay Player with BDXL Support

[sam298]

I think the only difference I see are the drives. You say UHD friendly drives. I am using UHD official drives
WH16NS60 official internal drive firmware 1.00
BP60NB10 official external drive firmware 1.02MK
Some friendly drives can be converted to official drives by flashing custom firmware. Check makemkv forums.
I have sony x800 also and all these discs that plays in x800m2 plays in x800 too.
Also check the disc size in bytes. It should be lesser than 66,735,570,944 bytes (~62gb not 65gb)
Ripped using makemkv, original plays - another one is authored by tsmuxer and it plays. So, no failure if burnt in 2 layers using verbatim but ritek discs completely fail and I found that those discs are not compliant.

[sam298]

Yes, this restriction[?] in the UHD Blu-Ray spec is trouble. What I have seen is many folks "shrinking" UHD to 50GB dual-layer Blu-Ray discs. Although, I don't know if you can distinguish the difference?

Won't be much difference but re-encoding is time consuming. Bluecloner software can split the movie only uhd rips to 2x 50gb and will split it at chapter breaks.
Uhds with menus work with some but not all.

[ernnnn]

I think the only difference I see are the drives. You say UHD friendly drives. I am using UHD official drives
WH16NS60 official internal drive firmware 1.00
BP60NB10 official external drive firmware 1.02MK
Some friendly drives can be converted to official drives by flashing custom firmware. Check makemkv forums.
I have sony x800 also and all these discs that plays in x800m2 plays in x800 too.
Also check the disc size in bytes. It should be lesser than 66,735,570,944 bytes (~62gb not 65gb)
Ripped using makemkv, original plays - another one is authored by tsmuxer and it plays. So, no failure if burnt in 2 layers using verbatim but ritek discs completely fail and I found that those discs are not compliant.

Mines are also official drives. And Pioneer drives are know to be the best ones to burn in general. And, those discs have been working on a Sony X700B, so that's not the problem.

[sam298]

I think the only difference I see are the drives. You say UHD friendly drives. I am using UHD official drives
WH16NS60 official internal drive firmware 1.00
BP60NB10 official external drive firmware 1.02MK
Some friendly drives can be converted to official drives by flashing custom firmware. Check makemkv forums.
I have sony x800 also and all these discs that plays in x800m2 plays in x800 too.
Also check the disc size in bytes. It should be lesser than 66,735,570,944 bytes (~62gb not 65gb)
Ripped using makemkv, original plays - another one is authored by tsmuxer and it plays. So, no failure if burnt in 2 layers using verbatim but ritek discs completely fail and I found that those discs are not compliant.

Mines are also official drives. And pioneer drive are know to be the best ones to burn in general. And, those discs have been working on a Sony X700B, so that's not the problem.

Agree. I don't think there will be software/hardware differences between x700 and x800 series regarding bd-xl disc reading. I have seen numerous reports on x800 customers complaining about disc glitches (original uhd discs) but unfortunately mine did'nt have. I suspect yours might be one of those with issues. You can try getting another new one and testing it and return if it didn't work.
For discs > 65gb, I am using usb drive and AVCHD trick to play. Sounds like ub450 with dolby vision plays those. I may grab one from UK before it is gone.

[ernnnn]

Finally I grabbed a new Sony X700 like the one I used to have, and it's playing all the discs perfectly well, as it used to do my previous one. Obviously, all the discs under 66GB, like before.

[sam298]

Got the Panasonic UB450. BD-XL movies burnt to 3 layers plays but movies with only 2 layers burnt in BD-XL won't play. Even mkv with DTS-HD audio burnt to BD-XL 3 layers plays with subtitles and chapters. Mkv with truehd or atmos in BD-XL 3 layers plays but no audio. Usb mkv playback is bad and freezes.

[brotino]

for what it's worth, this is my starter pack into the dying exciting world of UHD physical media and personal backups:

- Verbatim Slimline External Bluray Writer #43888 (inside there is a Pioneer BDR-UD04 Official UHD drive, no need for fw flashing)
- Verbatim M-DISC BD-XL 100GB #43833 (5-pack Jewel Case Printable)
- Sony UHD Bluray Player UBP-X800M2
- MakeMKV to backup my discs + ImgBurn to burn the backup (UDF 2.60, all default settings, 2x speed for BD66, and BD50, MAX or AWS for BD25, with verification). Tried both .iso files and BDMV folders.

The Sony plays BD25, BD50 and BD66 (BD-XL burned on 2 layers only) flawlessly, but doesn't recognize BD100 at all. It throws an error after seeking like crazy and emitting weird noises. I went through the entirety of The Killing on BD-XL and there were no skips; I also rewind back the entire movie at max speed and everything went smooth.

Got the Panasonic UB450. BD-XL movies burnt to 3 layers plays but movies with only 2 layers burnt in BD-XL won't play. Even mkv with DTS-HD audio burnt to BD-XL 3 layers plays with subtitles and chapters. Mkv with truehd or atmos in BD-XL 3 layers plays but no audio. Usb mkv playback is bad and freezes.

I based my purchases also on your recent messages, indeed the X800M2 plays up to BD66 like you said, so I am happy to hear there is in fact a player that can play BD100 with HDR and Dolby Vision (another guy also reported this some time ago). This might call for a dual bluray player setup, kinda overkill, but could give me and many other some peace of mind. By the way, are you actually using both? Did you reach your perfect setup?

Fun fact: the Sony X800M2 played all the BD25 and BD50 I burned around 10 years ago and still have around, very much pleased. But my old non-UHD burner, the mythical LG GGW-H20L, didn't like any new blank media (but could burn a leftover BD50 from 10 years ago, the last one from that era).

[C.C. 95]

This might call for a dual bluray player setup, kinda overkill, but could give me and many other some peace of mind.

The Oppo 203 would be a better investment than two different players. No problems playing 100GB discs. Since they are only available from 3rd parties now - maybe investigate the REAVON players. I heard they are basically carbon copies of the Oppo 203 and 205. (I have not read any reports on their compatibility with burned media, however. But if they truly are clones of the Oppos- then that would be worth taking a look into).

[sam298]

This might call for a dual bluray player setup, kinda overkill, but could give me and many other some peace of mind.

The Oppo 203 would be a better investment than two different players. No problems playing 100GB discs. Since they are only available from 3rd parties now - maybe investigate the REAVON players. I heard they are basically carbon copies of the Oppo 203 and 205. (I have not read any reports on their compatibility with burned media, however. But if they truly are clones of the Oppos- then that would be worth taking a look into).

I have heard in another thread that Reavon won't read BD-XL. Also, Cineultra (oppo clone) will also not read BD-XL as it is not the Bluray standard - per the supplier. If Oppo reads both, I guess it is the only one that is capable of dolby vision.
I only use the discs to playback Dolby vision FEL movies as only the bluray players are capable of playing FEL.

Currently this is my setup and it works with Verbatim discs and imgburn UDF 2.60 and 4x burn speed.
LG WH16NS60 official drive firmware 1.00 SATA & LG BP50NB40 (converted to BP60NB10 using firmware) external usb burner
Sony X800M2 (latest official firmware) - plays if the size is < 66gb and I have tested both usb and sata burners
Panasonic UB450 (latest firmware 1.18) - plays if size is > 66gb and only usb burner works. If I use sata burner, it won't read. Though this is bluray region B, it plays most of the region A discs too.

[sam298]

for what it's worth, this is my starter pack into the dying exciting world of UHD physical media and personal backups:

- Verbatim Slimline External Bluray Writer #43888 (inside there is a Pioneer BDR-UD04 Official UHD drive, no need for fw flashing)
- Verbatim M-DISC BD-XL 100GB #43833 (5-pack Jewel Case Printable)
- Sony UHD Bluray Player UBP-X800M2
- MakeMKV to backup my discs + ImgBurn to burn the backup (UDF 2.60, all default settings, 2x speed for BD66, and BD50, MAX or AWS for BD25, with verification). Tried both .iso files and BDMV folders.

The Sony plays BD25, BD50 and BD66 (BD-XL burned on 2 layers only) flawlessly, but doesn't recognize BD100 at all. It throws an error after seeking like crazy and emitting weird noises. I went through the entirety of The Killing on BD-XL and there were no skips; I also rewind back the entire movie at max speed and everything went smooth.

I based my purchases also on your recent messages, indeed the X800M2 plays up to BD66 like you said, so I am happy to hear there is in fact a player that can play BD100 with HDR and Dolby Vision (another guy also reported this some time ago). This might call for a dual bluray player setup, kinda overkill, but could give me and many other some peace of mind. By the way, are you actually using both? Did you reach your perfect setup?

Fun fact: the Sony X800M2 played all the BD25 and BD50 I burned around 10 years ago and still have around, very much pleased. But my old non-UHD burner, the mythical LG GGW-H20L, didn't like any new blank media (but could burn a leftover BD50 from 10 years ago, the last one from that era).

I don't care having two players one for BD66 and another for BD100. Panasonic feels plastic with noisy tray but audio/video quality wise it is the same as sony x800m2. Sony can handle many formats through usb (has sacd and dvd audio too) but the panasonic plays only most lossless formats if written in discs. For BD-25 and BD-50 I have used quantum and verbatim discs and have no issues playing it in any player. Only BD-XL is finicky.

[Bon Javi]

Hello!

I just received the Panasonic DP-UB450EG-K unit. I haven't been able to watch the movie yet, but I recorded a 100GB Disk to 4X USB Hitachi-LG WH16NS60 and it reads it perfectly, it's fast. Tested a disk correctly and without jumps in the layers at 4X.


My settings:

Nero Burning Rom
Hitachi-LG WH16NS60
SATA to USB adapter
Verbatim VBR520YP10SV2
4X recording speed
UDF 2.50


Greetings!

[ernnnn]

Hello!

I just received the Panasonic DP-UB450EG-K unit. I haven't been able to watch the movie yet, but I recorded a 100GB Disk to 4X USB Hitachi-LG WH16NS60 and it reads it perfectly, it's fast. Tested a disk correctly and without jumps in the layers at 4X.


My settings:

Nero Burning Rom
Hitachi-LG WH16NS60
SATA to USB adapter
Verbatim VBR520YP10SV2
4X recording speed
UDF 2.50


Greetings!

Please try with a 66Gb disc, just in case.

[Bon Javi]

Hello!

I just received the Panasonic DP-UB450EG-K unit. I haven't been able to watch the movie yet, but I recorded a 100GB Disk to 4X USB Hitachi-LG WH16NS60 and it reads it perfectly, it's fast. Tested a disk correctly and without jumps in the layers at 4X.


My settings:

Nero Burning Rom
Hitachi-LG WH16NS60
SATA to USB adapter
Verbatim VBR520YP10SV2
4X recording speed
UDF 2.50


Greetings!

Please try with a 66Gb disc, just in case.

I'll be able to prove it shortly. But as you know, the peers are indicating that it won't read BDXL <66GB. Only >66GB.

[sam298]

Converting BD-66 to BD-100 is easy. The total size of a bdmv folder is 59gb. I added a zip file 8gb size to CERTIFICATE/BACKUP folder making the total > 66gb and I burnt. I can read it fine with UB450. It serves as a backup for my zip file too

[brotino]

Converting BD-66 to BD-100 is easy. The total size of a bdmv folder is 59gb. I added a zip file 8gb size to CERTIFICATE/BACKUP folder making the total > 66gb and I burnt. I can read it fine with UB450. It serves as a backup for my zip file too

this is genius!
do you have to name the .zip file in a specific way? is there content inside, like actual file, or just padding?

[Bon Javi]

Converting BD-66 to BD-100 is easy. The total size of a bdmv folder is 59gb. I added a zip file 8gb size to CERTIFICATE/BACKUP folder making the total > 66gb and I burnt. I can read it fine with UB450. It serves as a backup for my zip file too

jajajajajajajaja I found the zip amusing. Yes, that's what I thought, to include a file in a folder to make it larger. And now you take advantage and put a backup copy of your documents or whatever hahahahaha great!

Would this file have to go to some specific path? Well I'll try it with my BDXL 100GB RE.

[sam298]

I don't think the file name matters as long as the extension is zip or something that the backup folders won't use. I have seen files with crt or bdmv extensions under BACKUP folder.
If the CERTIFICATE folder at root level doesn't have a subfolder, create BACKUP folder inside CERTIFICATE and add the zip files there.
I backed up some of my files to that zip file so I can access it using PC. I haven't tried adding multiple files but the CERTIFICATE/BACKUP folder would be the safest location.

[Bon Javi]

Hello.

I have certainly been able to create a "dead" file. You don't need a backup of your ex-girlfriend's nude photos either. You can create a dead space so that your 3 layers are 2... It's an advantage. It worked with Life imprisonment. A 63 GB movie. I put this 10GB file in the BACKUP folder of Certificate... Everything worked fine. Having the UB450 is having the power hehehe. Having a bigger penis gives you certain advantages. You can always cut it XD.

I recommend the following to create those files. If not, you can always create real zip backups, ok.


5GB file:

fsutil file createnew 5GB 5368709120


10GB file:

fsutil file createnew 10GB 10737418240


15GB file:

fsutil file createnew 15GB 16106127360


You only have to execute any of these commands on CMD, to create "dead" files that allow you to burn your 100GB discs. In my case, I don't need to be so clever, it has helped me. You choose. Bakcup vs "BDXL recording yes or yes". hehehe Enjoy!