Need a new BD player, region free


I want to replace my OPPO BDP 95, which works fine, but does not work for all regions.  I'm a bit behind on the newest players---are they now region free?  I am interested in the Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K, which is around what I paid for the OPPO ~ 6-7 years ago.  Do you like other brands in this range?  Thanks for your advise.
128x128jafreeman
Hello jafreeman,

     Just another sign of quality that your excellent Kuro Elite plasma is still working well for you. It seems we’re both also using classic models of plasmas. you in Europe using the first generation of the excellent performing Pioneer plasmas and me in the U.S. using the last of the equally excellent 2nd generation of Panasonic plasmas. I’ve read that the engineers who developed the original Kuro plasmas at Pioneer were recruited by Panasonic and responsible for developing their fine plasmas.
     Maybe we should both just sell our plasmas to a local hdtv museums and move on to our new OLED 4K hdtvs, already. My Panasonic plasma has performed flawlessly for over 5 years now and is still going strong but also know my switch to OLEDs is inevitable.
     I’m thinking the significantly reduced energy costs of operating an OLED hdtv compared to a plasma are only realized, and begin to offset the price of the tv, once we actually own one. I also consider the self emissive OLEDs as just the latest manifestation of the self emissive plasma technology; with the same inky blacks, great contrast ratios, ultra- smooth motion rendition and even better picture quality.

     C’mon man, life’s short and we both should just take the plunge and start enjoying some OLED. I’m going to buy an LG 65" C9 as soon as I figure out which high quality 4K Bluray player to buy to pair it with.

Cheers,
   Tim



Hello jafreeman,

     As far as auxinput's comments on Region Free is concerned, he is partially correct.  Here's a linked article that explains the details well, it's from 2016 but I believe it's still accurate:
https://www.220-electronics.com/blog/region-free-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-players-fact-fiction/

     Here's another good article from 2019:
https://www.whathifi.com/us/advice/ultra-hd-blu-ray-everything-you-need-to-know



     Mattmiller, if the above articles are still correct, makes a good point.

Tim


     I found and bought an Oppo 205 4K Universal player, region free, but I had to pay a premium at a total shipped price of $2,100 from the HiFi Boutique in Orlando, Fla.  It's scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
     Weird, I still feel lucky since it fits my needs so well.  I guess they're worth what we're willing to pay.

Tim
Hello jafreeman,

     Thanks for the congrats, it's well worth the extra $700 to me.  All the current hi-end players I was considering and researching were missing one or more of the Oppo's features, such as analog surround outputs for up to 7.1 surround channels, they couldn't play SACD audio discs and they couldn't play DVD video discs.  Lucky, I actually wasn't even searching for a 205, since I thought they'd all be asking $3K or more, and I just stumbled on the one I bought.


I'm happy and relieved,
        Tim