u/ederd97

​I recently took a big plunge and upgraded to an LG G5 77" OLED, a Sonos Arc Ultra, and a region-free Panasonic UB9000. I know I spent way too much, but it has completely reignited my love for physical 4K media. I’m totally hooked again—from collecting steelbooks to deep-diving into transfer qualities and audio tracks.

​But with a great setup comes great domestic friction.

​I’m curious: What does your spouse or significant other think about this hobby? Do they enjoy it with you, or do they get passive-aggressive about the time and money? Do they get the excitement of finding a rare release, or do they just see plastic cases?

​Mine was semi-supportive at first. But after I admittedly went a bit too hard on the recent Gruv Memorial Day sale, the vibe shifted. Now they aren't happy, and it makes me feel like I can't share my excitement. I’ve even caught myself hiding my screen when browsing Blu-ray forums or release articles.

​What are your experiences? How do you handle things if your partner isn't supportive? Let me know I'm not the only one hiding packages!

I apologize in advance for the book I have just written but there's just a lot I want to ask about on this topic.

I’m giving up on Sony. Years ago I had the Sony Google TV Blu-ray player, and my current Sony UBP-X700 is driving me crazy. It constantly glitches, freezes during 100GB layer changes, and locks up if I rewind or fast-forward. I also hate the tiny, unlit remote. I always assumed that since Sony created the Blu-ray format, they would have the best players—but in my experience, that just hasn't been the case.

​Two things are driving my upgrade: I recently bought a new 77-inch LG G5 OLED (which looks absolutely amazing), and a movie (Atomic Blonde) I bought digitally a few years ago completely disappeared from my digital library. That has made me want to invest more in 4K physical media so I actually own my movies.

From my research, it looks like I should get a Panasonic player to pair with the G5. I want something built to last and something that is region free because I occasionally buy imports and I cannot see some of the special features because they are on region encoded discs. I’m torn between the Panasonic UB820 and the UB9000.

I want a remote easy to see or feel in the dark. I know the UB9000 has a premium backlit remote, but I also know I can buy that remote separately for the UB820.

I love that the UB9000 is an all-metal, heavy tank built to stop disc vibrations. The UB820 has the same video chip, but the plastic shell makes me wonder about long-term durability. Frankly, spending that much money on a player with a plastic shell makes me worry it'll just feel cheap.

​The cost is steep for both, and even steeper once you add the region-free modification.

​If you have experience with either model, what has your long-term experience been with reliability, drive noise, and triple-layer discs? Is the UB9000 worth the premium if I want a solid, "buy-it-for-life" machine that I won't regret buying?

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on purchasing from 220 Electronics? I have only ever purchased from Amazon, Best Buy, or other traditional stores, but you obviously cannot get a true region-free player there. I have already read up on 220's specific warranty and strict return process, so I know the consequences going in, but I'd love to hear about actual customer experiences.

Thank you