Recommendations for Blu-ray Player


Guys, I'm so close to a solution for my 2-ch system. Looking for Blu-ray player recommendations thats fit the following:

  • Stream AmazonUHD, NAS, YouTube (and any other common audio/video streaming apps)
  • 24-bit/192kHz PCM audio quality
  • Ethernet and Wifi
  • HDMI and Coax outputs
  • Prefer: full-component width, front-panel display, on-screen menu system
I currently have a Sony BDP-S7200 that does everything above except no AmazonUHD app. And as easy as it would be to add it (Sony is an AmazonUHD partner) - Sony probably won't. Tidal option would be nice too. 

Thanks for your recommendations! When/if I find something, I'll report back.
128x128mwatsme
Check out the Yamaha BD-S681. It has an Ethernet port, plus analog audio, coax, and HDMI outputs, and you might be surprised how good the internal DAC performs to the analog outs. For streaming, you can use a UPnP app like mconnect, or use the WiFi Direct feature to stream anything you can play on a WiFi connected device, like AmazonUHD.  
I have a Yamaha BD-A1040, and I can tell you, trying to stream any video from it is a painful and terrible experience. And the internal DAC? Nope, all my CD play goes digital cable out to my PS Audio DAC>2 channel pre. For me, it’s basically a transport, and the rare DVD or BlueRay disc use, but again, that is almost never used anymore. Not with the options available by streaming devices and services.

I have a Yamaha AV receiver which drives all my HT 5.1 sound, including my Yamaha DVD/BlueRay via an HDMI to the AV receiver. All my music is 2 channel and separate (amp, pre, and sources), the pre-amp has a pass-through for the front main speakers when in HT mode for watching TV and movies.

Pretty simple really. My Roku is connected to the TV via one of its HDMI ports, then sound from the TV to the AV receiver via another HDMI (ARC) port (I don’t need an optical cable for sound from the TV). So, all video streaming is done by my Roku (or Samsung smart TV) and sound fed to my AV receiver via the ARC HDMI. My DVD/BlueRay connects to the AV receiver via HDMI for 5.1 playback. And again, for music use, connects to my DAC via digital cable. Again, many video and music/radio streaming options with the Roku, including Tidal, although I don’t use Tidal through the Roku, but can.

Bottom line, I doubt anyone will be too happy streaming through a DVD/BlueRay player available today. Some say Oppo’s are better in that respect, but not made anymore, so non-upgradable for various existing and new services. That is a technology that has been surpassed by a Roku, Fire Stick, or similar, is a much better experience, and has updatable OS software via internet connection. These players/streamers like my Yamaha haven’t had an update in months if not years, and cannot come close to the performance of the alternatives available.

I don’t have cable, I switched to streaming my TV (or by antenna for air reception). It’s the future, and a future I doubt any of the DVD/BlueRay players can or will try to compete with going forward.
@bkeske wow, that sounds like a big plate of spaghetti cabling. Think I'd have to see a drawing to comprehend it properly.
Yes, we too (like many others) cut the cable when Netflix went online - 2008'ish. So it's been... over a decade? How can that much time have passed - feeling old.

There is a full HT system in the basement (Denon AVR-X7400H, Xbox1S, 7.4.2 surround (if you count the GoldenEar Tritons built-in active bass as subs - which I do), all the 'surround' effect speakers are Martin Logan (SLM-XLs and in-ceilings). Honestly, I wouldn't mess with that system unless there was no other option.

The 'primary' 2-ch system consists of NAD C388 class D/H? (with BluOS2i and HDMI-2 modules added) run through ATI class A/B (for testing class D vs A/B) and various speakers turn-through the stable - it's a bit of a test-bed for music listening and system tweaking in a dedicated space upstairs.

This project has to do with the 'secondary' 2ch system built into the 'primary' 2ch system - for fun/discovery. Linkwitz LXmini speakers - which I have found to outperform practically everything, including Martin Logan electrostats (which I currently have for sale), and Tekton DI (w/factory upgrade) that I sold very recently. Problem with LXmini is, if you want to tweak them to your liking (like voice them to match Tektons - haha), you can't go the Pass Labs passive crossover route - you must use a 4-channel DSP. Problem with DSP (even the miniDSP4x10HD that I use) is the weak (by some standards) built-in DAC. So how to get the most from a DAC... use USB or coax inputs (optical is limited). The 4x10HD has one (1) coax out - but 2 are needed to produce 4 independent channels required by LXmini. Enter the miniDSP nanoDIGI (with 1 coax in and 4 coax outs and no DACs). Then all you need is two (or in my case 4 - gotta control that sub bass) stereo DACs.
I chose the economical yet highly rated and known to be warm (non-analytical) Topping E30 (x4). This secondary 'fun' system is to be connected like this:

Multi-disc streamer --coax(x1)--> miniDSP 4x10HD (for volume control and input switching) --coax(x1)--> miniDSP nanoDIGI (for active LXmini crossover) --coax(x4)--> Topping E30 (x4) --RCA(x4pr) --> ATI 6012 (12ch amp)
--Spkr(x4)--> LXmini speakers (play down to 35Hz)
--Spkr(x4 bridged = 220wX2)--> open-baffle subs (play below 35Hz)

Notice the small issue above with the miniDSP4x10HD - where it has only one coax input for digital sources - then it also has balanced and unbalanced inputs to be used for analog sources (but those are AD-converted at the input). With this system architecture, all digital sources will have only one DA conversion - performed simultaneously (with ease) by four (4) Topping E30's.

I just need to find that multi-disc streamer with AmazonUHD, coax and HDMI outputs. Even if it had just HDMI out, I could get-by using an audio extractor - but that would likely limit the signal quality, as those extractors are pretty cheap (looking).

@limomangus I did find one Marantz product that is close, the ND8006 is a CD-playing streamer with HEOS. My HT AVR is a Denon with HEOS, and it has Amazon UHD capability (think all HEOS does). ND8006 is missing video entirely, but it does have a coax input - where I could connect the coax output of the Sony Blu-ray player. It just seems like an expensive solution for not being complete. I find nothing in the Denon lineup that fits the bill.

@bkeske the smart TV idea might have merit - if it had a coax output that would pass-through audio from the Sony Blu-ray player HDMI connection - that search is beyond me... way too many choices when TV shopping.
HiMedia S500 player with a linear power supply.  It's one of the only two "generic" Android 9.0 OS devices, supporting full AndroidTV and Google Play apps, including Amazon Music for HD.  Alternatively, Nvidia Shield, but it has a proprietary power cable.

Maybe FireTV Cube with linear power supply, but it has a smaller non-standard DC plug.  An SBooster with all the different adapters would likely work).

Roku with linear power supply?

Unfortunately, all these devices only output audio through HDMI.  There really isn't any device that does what you want and still has a digital COAX output.