LG 970 UHD – Dual HDMI – 2D/3D – Wi-Fi – 2K/4K – Region Free Blu Ray Disc DVD Player – PAL/NTSC – USB – 100-240V 50/60Hz for World-Wide Use & 6 Feet Multi System 4K HDMI Cable
There is a quotation, usually attributed to Albert Einstein, which reads: “Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.”
That’s how we feel about using the new LG Blu-ray player, the UP970. While its video quality is nice, it may sound better and so, in the end, it is not as complete as we would like.
While some manufacturers like their kit are smooth boxes of pristine darkness (the Sony UDP-X800, for example) others like a little personality and detail.
LG’s UP970 is located in the second field, with four raised buttons on the front for power and playback. There is also a USB 2.0 input on the right, to play videos and music or to connect your Android phone.
On the back you will find all the ports provided: an optical connection, two HDMI outputs and an ethernet port for a more stable network connection.
Setting up the player is quite simple. There are a couple of settings to adjust image quality and output resolution in LG’s direct menu screen, but nothing extraordinary.
Unfortunately you do not get the range of streaming services you do on other players. Only Netflix and YouTube are available on LG.
This should not be a problem, though: most HDR 4K TVs have a wide range of video services already installed.
One thing the UP970 has is Dolby Vision integration – a proprietary HDR technology from Dolby.
Similar to HDR10, it differs from the fact that it has “dynamic metadata” which means that it can adapt its image frame by frame, theoretically making every shot optimally.
While currently there are no Blu-ray Discs Dolby Vision, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal and Warner Studios have promised versions later this year. But you can get Dolby Vision content on Netflix, including its original series programs like Daredevil, The Ridiculous 6 and Marco Polo.
Sony, LG and Loewe have all broadcast Dolby Vision compatible TVs, but if you do not have a set of those companies, do not worry: the UP970 will still play content in standard HDR10.
That said, we’ve found a problem in reproducing HDR content when we connect the UP970 to our Samsung UE65KS9500. While the HDR pop-up appeared, indicating that it was playing, the image was significantly less colorful than we expected.
We are not yet able to determine if it is a lack with the TV or the Blu-ray player, but there is undoubtedly a problem that must be solved.
Picture
Once working, the image of the UP970 is really good. Let’s play a Netflix stream of the hot and natural summer Wet Hot American: First Day of Camp, and the UP970 is happy to transmit the vibrant travesty of camp life.
There is an impressive range of shades in the clear water of the lake, in stark contrast to the surrounding vegetation. The shades of the campers’ skin are well balanced, emphasizing the differences between the pale nerd boys and the tanned and athletic athletes.
Dark scenes are made in the same way as bright, with enough details and color variations to make you attract.
During Stranger Things, when Nancy Wheeler is momentarily trapped in “Upside Down” – a slippery, shadowy world that hosts at least one grotesque monster – there are lots of details for the soft collar on her jacket – and you can see both the gnarl and the slime that aligns the bark of trees.
Even the outline of the monster, which is lit to appear the most indistinct and threatening possible, has areas of gray lighter than its otherwise black body, which reveal its ridges and hint at his teeth.
These features remain when switching to a standard Captain America’s Blu-ray: The Winter Soldier, and the player does not struggle to make the dark purple and pastel blue of the morning sky.
The UP970 upscaling skills are also decent, providing enough detail in Steve Roger’s costume. Let’s take another step back in the resolution with a DVD of Die Hard 2 and there’s an expected drop in the details, but it remains an observable photo.
But regardless of the format, when compared to the Sony UDP-X800, the UP970 comes second. Not much, mind you, but for a considerable amount.
Let’s play Planet Earth II and there’s an extra touch for Sony, which means the fur of the snow leopards is rougher, the distinction between the foreground and the background of the lighter mountains.
The colors are slightly more natural even on UDP-X800.
SOUND
When it comes to audio performance, the UP970 is not up to the competition. There is not enough dynamism and guidance from LG to really deliver the energy into tense soundtracks.
During Hancock, while the superhero crosses the street like a reformed character, the proud trumpets and heavy drums that signify this transformation are a little weaker than we would like.
Let’s move on to Ghostbusters (2016), and when the ghostly face of Gertrude Altridge floats in the room, the acute strings that welcome her entry are smooth and free of sharp edges – but there is not the same consistency as the low squelching sounds you get from the X800 when the ghost vomits.
It’s not a bad sound, but it has a way to go before it matches the competition.
Conclusion
The UP970 is a good player. His image is pleasant, and its audio quality (for all its faults) is still decent.
But it’s against a tough competition from Sony and Panasonic, and our money goes to one of these. There are still improvements to be made before we can fully recommend this.
Key Features
- 4K Disc Playback, for life-like images
- Multi HDR, always get the best HDR
- Enjoy Ultra HD 4K Entertainment
- Blu-ray / DVD / CD Playback
- USB PlaybackConnected to your entertainment
4K Ultra HD HDR
Unleash your entertainment. The next step in the home cinema setup, this HDR Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray player can play 4K and HDR, bringing a whole new level of detail and color to what you watch. Experience the best visual experience possible with this Blu Ray 4K player and an LG TV.
Multi HDR, Always get the best HDR
Multi HDR supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision for improved brightness and a wide range of colors with greater precision, providing an exceptional HDR experience.
Ultra HD 4K Entertainment
Always have something to watch The UP970 offers UHD 4K content from a greedy catalog of titles on Netflix and YouTube *.
Blu-ray / DVD / CD Playback
Play your favorite content from Blu-rays and DVDs to CDs. Your media library lives on.
USB playback
Play videos, music and images directly from a USB storage device.
Connected to your entertainment
Dual HDMI allows you to send audio and video separated from the UP970.
Discover the best of 4K videos with your existing sound system.
Dimensions & Weight
Main Unit (mm) 430 x 45.5 x 205
Main Unit (gross, mm) 480 x 282 x 106
Weight Unit (Kg) 1.63
Weight (packaged net, kg) 2.59
Design
Display Type LED Dot
MD Type Tray
Front Key 4ea
Ethernet Yes
Power
Type SMPS
Power Consumption (in Operation) 17W
Power Off Consumption (in Standby) 0.5W under
Voltage Wide
Connectivity
Wi-Fi Built-In Yes
RCU Battery Yes
Box Offset
Topper / Sticker No/Yes
Convenience
Set Up Wizard Yes
SIMPLINK Yes
Time bar Yes
Instant tray open Yes
Firmware update Yes – via network, USB
Last Scene Memory Yes (DVD, HDMV)
Power On Resume Play Option
Wake On LAN Yes(MR)
Screen Saver Yes
Auto Power Off Yes
Parental Lock Yes
Home Menu Type Icon Type
Initial logo Yes
Thumbnail Yes (Photo)
MP3ID Tag Display Yes
Photo slide show with music Yes
Profile & Playable Disc
BD profile version 6.0/5.0/2.0/1.1
USB playback Yes
External HDD playback (via USB) Yes
UBD-ROM/UBD-R/UBD-RE Yes
BD-ROM/BD-R/BD-RE Yes
DVD-ROM/DVD±R/DVD±RW Yes
Audio CD/CD-R/CD-RW Yes
DTS-CD Yes
Playable Decoding Format Movie – MPEG-1 Yes
Movie – MPEG2 PS/TS Yes
Movie – MPEG4 AVC (H.264) Yes
Movie – SMPTE VC1 (VC-9) Yes
Movie – H.265 Yes
Movie – Xvid Yes
Movie – MKV Yes
Movie – AVC Rec Yes
Movie – AVCHD Yes
Movie – M4V Yes
Movie – RMVB Option
Movie – WMV Yes
Movie – 3GP Yes
Movie – MP4 Yes
Movie – MOV Yes
Movie – FLV Yes
Movie – VOB Yes
Movie – TS Yes
Movie – DAT Yes
Music – LPCM (Bitstream/ Decoding) Yes/Yes
Music – Dolby Digital (Bitstream/ Decoding) Yes/Yes
Music – Dolby Atmos (Bitstream/ Decoding) Yes/No
Music – Dolby Digital Plus (Bitstream/ Decoding) Yes/Yes
Music – Dolby TrueHD (Bitstream/ Decoding) Yes/Yes
Music – DTS (Bitstream/ Decoding) Yes/Yes
DTS-HD Music – Master Audio (Bitstream/ Decoding) Yes/Yes
Music – MPEG 1/2 L2 (Decoding) Yes
Music – MP3 (Decoding) Yes
Music – WMA (Decoding) Yes
Music – AAC (Decoding) Yes
Music – FLAC (Decoding) Yes
Photo – JPEG/ GIF/ Animated GIF/ PNG/ MPO Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes
Video Features
1080p Upscaling Yes
4K upscaling Yes
Noise Reduction Yes
NTSC⇔PAL Conversion Yes
BT.2020/BT.709 Yes
xvYCC Yes
Video Enhancement Yes
HDR Yes
Dolby Vision Yes (MR)
HDR → SDR Conversion Yes
DD 2ch Down Mix Yes
Re-Encoder (DTS Only) Yes
LPCM Conversion (DTS HD, Dolby TrueHD) Yes
Playback Capability
Trick Play – Fast Forward/Reverse Yes/Yes
Trick Play – Slow Forword/Reverse Yes/No
Trick Play – Step Forward/Reverse Yes/No
Trick Play – Pause Yes
Search – Title/Track Yes
Search – Chapter Yes
Search – Time Yes
Repeat Play – Title/Track Yes
Repeat Play – Chapter Yes
Repeat Play – A-B Yes
Resume Stop Yes
Play Mode – Random Yes