Is the Sony UBP-X800M2 as good as Panasonic UB-820?

[rkunreal]

I read they are both similar but the Sony UBP-X800M2 is significantly cheaper but has a manual switch Dolby Vision, unlike the auto switch of Panasonic.

[deatheats]

Originally Posted by rkunreal

I read they are both similar but the Sony UBP-X800M2 is significantly cheaper but has a manual switch Dolby Vision, unlike the auto switch of Panasonic.

That and the Tone Mapping are the biggest differences from what I understand. In regards to manual switching, if you go the Sony route be prepared to check EVERY 4k release to see if it has Dolby Vision before starting the movie and going in to manually change it. Tone mapping, otoh, will be either very useful or useless depending on the model of your TV. If your TV has great tone mapping you won’t need player led, at all.

Edit: Dynamic Tone Mapping is basically adjusting for content (color & brightness) your TV may not be able to reproduce properly. The older or less expensive your TV is the more tone mapping from the Panasonic will benefit you.

[dcx4610]

I agree with the previous post. The Panasonic has some additional features such as tone mapping (which I find better than my TV's).

Otherwise, they are very similar. I do recall the Sony having several bugs. I'm not sure if those have been fixed or not. The Panasonic is seemingly the most reliable and most popular player but yeah, you'll pay a bit more for it.

I'd recommend the 820 personally but if you need something cheaper, the M2 seems to be a good alternative and it's probably the 2nd most popular player on here.

[HDTV1080P]

The only big advantage of the Sony UBP-X800M2 is SACD and DVD-Audio playback. Sony has better audio quality since they offer that legacy feature. Panasonic has better video quality since auto Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+ is offered, along with Tone mapping.

Those that have a big selection of SACD’s and DVD-Audio discs go with the Sony. Those that want better video quality go with the Panasonic.

[Danny_M]

I own both players, the main thing I watch are live performances of prog, jazz, rock bands, etc.. I compared the players in terms of sound and my conclusion is that the Panasonic is better. All that is said is for DVD media and not for SACD titles

[RFK]

One feature the Panasonic 820 offers that I don't believe the Sony does it movable subtitles which can be necessary if using a projector.

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by RFK

One feature the Panasonic 820 offers that I don't believe the Sony does it movable subtitles which can be necessary if using a projector.

You can also adjust the brightness of subtitles on the 820. Being able to move the subtitles to the bottom of the screen and dimming them as much as possible is a fantastic feature when you’re putting them on to accommodate someone with hearing loss.

[Panson]

The Panasonic is plastic, and twice as much money.

[Raindrops1]

I’ve had both the 820 and x800m2

The 820 is by far the better player I wouldn’t even call the x800m2 a player as when I had mine out of example of 5 discs only 1 would play correctly and all the way through without the picture breaking up and pixelating or the player locking up completely


The 820 plays everything I throw at it

[mattaaron2112]

To play devil's advocate, I've yet to encounter freezing or errors on a single disc from my collection on my UBP-X800M2. That's a pretty solid sample size of discs, too.

[Raindrops1]

Even reported freezing issue on sony’s own forums

https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/home...68672?nobounce

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by Raindrops1

I’ve had both the 820 and x800m2

The 820 is by far the better player I wouldn’t even call the x800m2 a player as when I had mine out of example of 5 discs only 1 would play correctly and all the way through without the picture breaking up and pixelating or the player locking up completely


The 820 plays everything I throw at it

Originally Posted by mattaaron2112

To play devil's advocate, I've yet to encounter freezing or errors on a single disc from my collection on my UBP-X800M2. That's a pretty solid sample size of discs, too.

I’ve had an X700, two X800 units and a UB820. The X700 has by far the worst reputation but it was pretty reliable in the fairly short time I had with it (I sold several of these units with my house a few years ago). Both X800s were prone to freezing up and requiring unplugging to reset but one was far worse than the other. The UB820 developed a freezing/pixelation problem about a year after purchase. The issue became increasingly severe to the point where I had to replace it. Unlike the Sonys, there were no temporary fixes to make the UB820 play a disc it didn’t like. My new UB820 has had no problems so far, including with discs that made the old one choke. I made sure to get a warranty with it however.

All that is to say that none of these UHD players are foolproof and that it’s essentially a lottery when you buy one. You seem to have better odds to get a quality unit with some than others though.

[sam298]

I don't have 820 but the 420 and x800m2. Sony is a well built heavy player. I don't see difference in quality video or audio. I use benq 4k projector and Denon x4600h receiver. But Sony can recognize pretty much all usb drives. Pansonic can only recognize fat and ntfs with 4kb sector size. Sony can play AVCHD folders with Dolby Vision, Dolby atmos etc. It can play surround audio DFF files as well. Pansonic won't play mkvs with hdr and won't display subtitles if there are multiple subtitles. Sony can play any mkvs at the correct framerate. You have to manually change panasonic to PAL to play 25fps videos and it will convert them to 50fps. Sony also has its DSEE HX audio upscaling. It can be set to automatically upscale all audio to the best quality based on the receiver you have and it sounds great.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by Raindrops1

Even reported freezing issue on sony’s own forums

https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/home...68672?nobounce

hopefully a full reset to factory will end the skipping and freezing . Already did this with my player and it seems is working very fine.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by mattaaron2112

To play devil's advocate, I've yet to encounter freezing or errors on a single disc from my collection on my UBP-X800M2. That's a pretty solid sample size of discs, too.

Same here and plays anything and any file I have ever tried . Sony wins hands down for compatibility . And very solid build and completely quite player , More so then my Oppo 103D .

[I5o]

My two cents worth as I have the Sony X700, X800 and X800M2 and they do a reasonable job with video output.

However I respecfully feel that the video output coming out of a Panasonic UB820 outperforms the Sony players. And lucky me I'm waiting on a used Panasonic UB9000 that will also get a rattlebyte mod so I can enjoy my worldwide set of DVDs, BDs and 4Ks. And I use my Oppo 93 mainly for music output when listening to SACDs and CDs. One day I will try the DVD-A format. Cheers

[buckeye1]

Is the Sony UBP-X800M2 just as good as the Panasonic UB-820? Which one would be a better buy? I read that the Sony is a better built machine than the Panasonic which is more of plastic than aluminum or am I wrong? I have the Sony arriving tomorrow via UPS from Best Buy from a open box sale I bought over the weekend. Someone told me that the Panasonic can't save where you stopped the movie than resume later. I'm really torn which one too get out just keep the Sony. The Sony only cost me $53 after $60 rewards and $132 on a e-gift card . The frequent freezing up is my main concern for the Sony.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by buckeye1

Is the Sony UBP-X800M2 just as good as the Panasonic UB-820? Which one would be a better buy? I read that the Sony is a better built machine than the Panasonic which is more of plastic than aluminum or am I wrong? I have the Sony arriving tomorrow via UPS from Best Buy from a open box sale I bought over the weekend. Someone told me that the Panasonic can't save where you stopped the movie than resume later. I'm really torn which one too get out just keep the Sony. The Sony only cost me $53 after $60 rewards and $132 on a e-gift card . The frequent freezing up is my main concern for the Sony.

I don't think the SONY will be any different from the 820 with regards to resuming, it's the discs that offer the feature.

As to the freezing, you'll just have to put it through it's paces, I think most folks recommend disabling all on-line functions and not connecting it to the internet.

[Cat Tomato]

I’d take the Panasonic UB450 over the Sony player every time.