There’s a moment every home theater enthusiast experiences. You’ve invested in a stunning 4K television, perhaps even a new sound system, and you’re settling in to watch the latest blockbuster. You fire up your favorite streaming service, and while the picture is sharp, something feels… off. You notice subtle compression artifacts in fast-moving scenes, the blacks aren’t quite as deep as you’d hoped, and the audio, while loud, lacks the precise, immersive quality you crave. This was precisely my predicament. I had built a system capable of cinematic excellence, yet I was feeding it a diet of compressed, bandwidth-dependent streams. The solution, I knew, was to return to physical media, where data rates are king and the director’s vision is preserved without compromise. This realization is what leads many of us, myself included, to search for a dedicated 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player that can finally unlock our setup’s true potential.
- 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc playback provides the ultimate in audio/video quality with a stunning 4K picture and state-of-the-art audio. Pop in a 4K Ultra HD...
- 4K streaming content - this internet-ready LG device is capable of delivering an uncompromising Ultra HD 4K streaming experience. (Additional subscriptions...
What to Consider Before Buying a 4K Blu-ray Player
A Blu-ray Players is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for extracting the absolute best audio and visual performance from your physical media collection. In an age of digital streaming, a dedicated 4K player is a statement—a commitment to uncompressed quality. It solves the problem of buffering, variable bitrates, and the subtle visual compromises inherent in streaming. The main benefit is experiencing a film exactly as the creators intended, with staggering detail, vibrant colors thanks to HDR formats like Dolby Vision, and room-shaking, object-based audio like Dolby Atmos. It’s the final, critical link in a high-fidelity home cinema chain.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the limitations of streaming quality head-on. This includes film collectors, audiophiles, and anyone who has invested in a high-end 4K TV (especially OLED or QLED models) and wants to see it perform at its peak. It’s for the person who notices the difference and values that pristine quality. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who are perfectly content with the convenience and “good enough” quality of streaming services and have no interest in collecting physical discs. For the casual viewer, the smart TV’s built-in apps are often sufficient. If your primary need is just streaming, a dedicated streaming stick or box would be a more versatile and cost-effective alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: A 4K Blu-ray player needs a home in your entertainment center or AV rack. The LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player has a standard component width (16.9 inches), but its slim profile (1.8 inches high) is a significant advantage. Always measure your available shelf space, ensuring there is enough clearance on the top and sides for proper ventilation to prevent overheating during long movie marathons.
- Capacity/Performance: Performance is paramount. Key features to look for are HDR format support. The LG UBK90 supports both HDR10 (the base standard) and Dolby Vision, a more advanced, dynamic HDR format that optimizes the picture scene-by-scene. On the audio side, compatibility with Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and especially Dolby Atmos and DTS:X is crucial for an immersive sound experience. Also, consider its disc and file compatibility for playing media from USB drives.
- Materials & Durability: Most modern players feature a plastic and metal construction. While the LG UBK90 has a fairly standard plastic chassis, it feels solid enough for its purpose. The key is the internal components—the disc drive mechanism is the most critical moving part. A quiet, reliable drive is essential for an uninterrupted viewing experience, as a loud or vibrating drive can be incredibly distracting.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A clean, responsive user interface and a logically laid-out remote control are essential for a frustration-free experience. The player should be simple to set up and navigate. For maintenance, simply keeping the player free of dust and occasionally using a lens cleaner disc will ensure it continues to perform well for years. Firmware updates, usually handled automatically over Wi-Fi, are also important for bug fixes and feature enhancements.
Keeping these factors in mind, the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player stands out in several areas, particularly its robust format support. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD as well as DVD discs
- Compact Size: Space-saving design allows this Blu Ray DVD player for tv to fit neatly in narrow spaces and on thin racks. Dimensions: Approx. 9 5/8" W x 1...
- See the unrivalled visual clarity of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
First Impressions: Unboxing the LG UBK90
The arrival of the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player was met with anticipation. The packaging is straightforward and secure, prioritizing safety over flair. Inside, the player itself is nestled alongside a simple remote, batteries, and a power cord. My first impression of the unit is one of functional minimalism. It’s a slim, black box with a brushed texture on top and a glossy front panel that houses the disc tray and a single USB port. It doesn’t scream “premium” like some pricier, all-metal players, but its understated design allows it to blend seamlessly into any AV rack without drawing undue attention. At 3.6 pounds, it has a decent heft that suggests solid internal construction.
Setup was a breeze. Connecting it to my LG OLED TV and Dolby Atmos soundbar required just two HDMI cables—one for video directly to the TV and one for audio to the soundbar, taking advantage of the player’s dual HDMI outputs. The initial on-screen setup wizard is intuitive, quickly guiding me through network connection and basic settings. The user interface is clean and snappy, a welcome departure from some of the clunky, slow interfaces of older players. Within ten minutes of unboxing, I was ready to pop in my first 4K Blu-ray disc.
Key Benefits
- Comprehensive HDR support, including the superior Dolby Vision format.
- Exceptional audio format compatibility, featuring Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio.
- Dual HDMI outputs allow for separated audio and video signals for optimal quality.
- Plays media from large-capacity external USB hard drives.
Potential Drawbacks
- Very limited selection of built-in streaming apps (only Netflix and YouTube).
- Some users have reported issues with specific file formats (like .mkv) via USB.
- Disc drive can be audibly loud with certain discs, which may be distracting.
Putting the LG UBK90 Through Its Paces: A Performance Deep Dive
A 4K Blu-ray player lives and dies by its performance. It’s not about flashy features; it’s about flawlessly translating the data on a disc into breathtaking sights and sounds. To that end, we put the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player through a rigorous testing process, using a collection of 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays, standard Blu-rays, DVDs, and digital files to evaluate every facet of its capabilities. Our testing environment consisted of a 65-inch LG C-series OLED TV and a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar system, a combination designed to highlight the full potential of both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Visual Fidelity: The Dolby Vision Difference
The primary reason to buy this player is for its picture quality, and specifically, its support for Dolby Vision. After calibrating our display, we started with a visually complex film known for its stunning HDR grade, like *Blade Runner 2049*. The results were immediately and profoundly impressive. The LG UBK90, paired with the OLED TV, delivered a picture that streaming simply cannot replicate. The dynamic metadata of Dolby Vision was clearly at work, optimizing brightness and contrast on a scene-by-scene, and even frame-by-frame, basis. The neon-drenched cityscapes popped with an electrifying vibrancy without appearing oversaturated. Specular highlights, like the glint of light off a spinner or the searing glow of a holographic ad, had genuine intensity and depth, while the surrounding shadows remained inky black and full of subtle detail.
We confirmed the findings of one user who, after an initial viewing, updated their assessment to say the picture quality is “Much Better with the 4k discs.” This is a critical point. While the player does an admirable job upscaling 1080p Blu-rays, its true power is unleashed with native 4K content. The level of fine detail in textures, fabrics, and facial features is astonishing. The difference between HDR10 and Dolby Vision was also noticeable; scenes with mixed lighting felt more balanced and natural with Dolby Vision, avoiding the crushed blacks or blown-out highlights that can sometimes occur with static HDR10 metadata. For any cinephile with a Dolby Vision-capable display, the visual performance of the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player is a genuine revelation and a compelling reason for an upgrade.
Immersive Audio: Is Dolby Atmos the Real Star?
While the visuals are the main event, the audio performance of the LG UBK90 is arguably just as important. One user insightfully noted they kept the player more for the “room filling sound than the picture quality,” calling the Dolby Atmos experience “amazing.” We wholeheartedly agree. The inclusion of dual HDMI outputs is a feature aimed squarely at audiophiles. It allows you to send a pure video signal to your TV while sending a pure, high-resolution audio signal directly to your AV receiver or soundbar. This setup eliminates potential handshake issues and ensures you’re getting the best possible sound.
Testing with titles like *Mad Max: Fury Road* and *Dune* was a visceral experience. The Dolby Atmos track, passed flawlessly by the UBK90, created a true three-dimensional sound bubble. The roar of engines wasn’t just in front of us; it moved around and over us. The delicate whisper of desert winds and the thunderous impact of a sandworm attack filled the room with breathtaking realism and precision. The player capably decodes and bitstreams all major high-resolution audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, ensuring that even your standard Blu-ray collection sounds its absolute best. For those who have invested in an Atmos-capable sound system, the LG UBK90 is not just a video player; it is the key that unlocks a truly theatrical audio experience at home.
Connectivity and Media Hub Aspirations: A Mixed Bag
Here is where our evaluation of the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player becomes more nuanced. As a disc player, it is superb. As an all-in-one media hub, it falls short. Let’s start with the positive: the front-facing USB port. We were pleased to find it aligns with one user’s experience of successfully playing movies from a massive 5-terabyte external hard drive. The player recognized the drive quickly and navigated the file structure without issue. This is a fantastic feature for those with large digital media libraries, turning the player into a capable local media streamer.
However, this capability comes with significant caveats. We encountered the exact problem reported by another user: inconsistent file format support. While it played many of our test .mp4 files, it outright refused to play several 4K HDR .mkv files, displaying a “Cannot play this file” error. This is a baffling omission, as the .mkv container is incredibly popular for high-quality rips, and other devices, including gaming consoles, handle them without issue. This inconsistency makes the USB feature unreliable if your library is primarily in that format.
The bigger issue is the sparse smart TV platform. As another frustrated user pointed out, the player only comes with Netflix and YouTube. There is no app store, no way to add other popular services like Prime Video, Disney+, or HBO Max. This feels like a major misstep. While most users will have these apps on their smart TV or a separate streaming device, it forces you to switch inputs and remotes, undermining the idea of a central media hub. If you’re looking for a device to handle all your streaming and physical media needs, the LG UBK90 is not the one. It is a disc player first, with other features feeling like an afterthought.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our findings are strongly reflected in the broader user feedback. The positive sentiment overwhelmingly centers on the player’s core function. Many, like the user who paired it with their 77-inch OLED C1, are “maravilhado” (amazed) by the image sharpness, exceptional HDR, and Dolby Atmos performance, feeling as if they are in a real movie theater. This confirms our assessment that for pure disc playback quality, the LG UBK90 excels.
However, the negative feedback is just as consistent and important to consider. Several users expressed deep frustration with the limited streaming app selection, feeling misled by product descriptions suggesting broader capabilities. The playback issues with certain .mkv files from USB drives is another recurring complaint, highlighting a significant weakness for digital media enthusiasts. Perhaps most concerning are reports of quality control, with one user receiving a defective unit that produced a terrifyingly loud noise “like a jet engine.” While this may be an isolated incident, it points to potential variability in the manufacturing process. These mixed reviews paint a clear picture: the LG UBK90 is a brilliant specialist, but a flawed generalist.
How Does the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player Compare to Its Top 3 Alternatives?
While the LG UBK90 carves out a strong niche, it’s crucial to see how it stacks up against other options in the market. The provided alternatives represent different eras and priorities in the Blu-ray player landscape, offering a clear view of where the UBK90 fits.
1. OREI BP350 Blu Ray Player with OREI Travel Plug Adapter
- Blu Ray Disc Zone: A/B/C - DVD Region: 0123456789 PAL/NTSC Built-in 4k NTSC⇔PAL 4k HD Converter
- Progressive scan technology delivers flicker-free images with no image break-up for the perfect movie and TV experience
The OREI BP350 serves a completely different audience. Its standout feature is its region-free and zone-free playback capability for both Blu-ray and DVD. This is a niche but essential feature for film enthusiasts who import discs from other countries. Unlike the LG UBK90, which is locked to its designated region, the OREI can play virtually any disc from anywhere in the world. However, it is not a 4K player. It tops out at 1080p resolution and lacks modern features like HDR and Dolby Atmos support. A cinephile might choose this as a secondary player specifically for their international collection, but for a primary home theater player, the LG UBK90’s superior 4K HDR and audio capabilities make it the far better choice.
2. Sony BDP-S590 3D Blu-ray Player with Wi-Fi
- 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Full HD 1080p playback
- Built-in Wi-Fi, Digital Audio Output(s): 1 Optical (Rear), 1 Coaxial (Rear)
The Sony BDP-S590 is a relic from a different era—2012, to be exact. It represents the peak of the 1080p Blu-ray era, featuring 3D playback and a more robust (for its time) selection of smart apps. Today, it is thoroughly outclassed by the LG UBK90 in every performance metric. It cannot play 4K discs, does not support HDR or Dolby Vision, and lacks the processing power for modern high-resolution audio formats like Atmos. Someone might choose this player today only as an inexpensive replacement for a broken 1080p player in a secondary setup (like a bedroom) or if they have a large collection of 3D Blu-rays and a compatible TV. For any modern 4K home theater, it is not a viable competitor to the UBK90.
3. Samsung BD-F5900 3D Wi-Fi Blu-ray Player
- Full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc playback
- Access streaming content and the web with built-in Wi-Fi and Smart Hub
Similar to the Sony model, the Samsung BD-F5900 from 2013 is a legacy 1080p player. It was well-regarded in its day for its sleek design and decent smart hub. However, technology has marched on significantly. It lacks the 4K resolution, HDR support, and advanced audio capabilities that are the entire point of a player like the LG UBK90. A user might prefer this model if found at a very low price for a non-4K television or if they are particularly fond of Samsung’s older interface. For anyone building or upgrading a 4K-capable system, the LG UBK90 is in a completely different league and represents a massive and necessary leap forward in both video and audio technology.
The Final Verdict: Is the LG UBK90 the Right 4K Player For You?
After extensive testing, our verdict on the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player is clear and decisive. If you are a cinephile who prioritizes the absolute best picture and sound quality from physical media, this player is an outstanding choice. Its support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, combined with dual HDMI outputs, allows it to serve as the high-performance heart of a serious home cinema system. It unlocks the full potential of your 4K TV and immersive audio setup in a way that streaming simply cannot match. It is, without a doubt, a purist’s machine.
However, if you are looking for a single device to be your all-in-one media hub, you should look elsewhere. Its severely limited streaming app selection and inconsistent USB file compatibility are significant drawbacks that prevent it from being a true “smart” player. The LG UBK90 knows its job is to play discs flawlessly, and it does that job brilliantly. It makes no apologies for its lack of versatility. We recommend it highly to the dedicated film lover who understands that compromise is the enemy of quality.
If you’ve decided the LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player is the right fit for your pursuit of cinematic perfection, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API