Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

If Sony would have fixed or improved the freezing issues and added auto DV they would have been better than the Panny's IMO....Most of today's displays do a decent tone mapping job so the optimizer is becoming obsolete.

Have they? I use the Sony A90J which at least a couple years ago was still regarded as peak in that respect, and I still notice the optimizer doing it better (HDR10 discs).

That being said yes I wish Sony would release a new model with auto DV.

The other issue with the Panasonic players are the DV on all extras. I'm forced to disable HDR on them before viewing extras on discs.

[bornthisway]

I got my UB820 in Feb of last year.

A couple months ago, I kept getting the cannot read disc error. Now it happens almost everytime. I microfiber the discs to death; some will play, some will not. I love the output but I'm at my wits end with this player. $500 bucks and not even a year and half of use.

[Sango]

Originally Posted by sojrner

Oh, LOL. That thought never occurred to me. On-screen FF, RW, Play notices are odd. I mean, I can see that it's paused, and know it's playing, and I'm pretty sure rewinding or fast forwarding are obvious as well. Why would I want some text to affirm that status... Regardless, don't those automatically dismiss after a few seconds? I thought we were talking about a menu requiring dismissal, like the remote control popup or something.

Since I have Panasonic DVD players from back in the day even thou I no longer use them, I am used to the status messages they use.

They do dissapear after a few seconds. Some may not want to see status messages when it switches between like 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision when those messages appear; it does not bother me since usually get those copyright/studio animations before the main video content starts so it is fine.

I just turned mine off just to see if I like it better myself.

[goodnightciggies]

So I dug into the service menu of my 820 and I have a whopping 3827 BD hours on it. I bought it second-hand in 2021 and it was manufactured in July 2020, so it has been loved.

The service menu also says the BD drive is NG (aka not good), which makes sense. It’s been doing the dreaded glitching/pixelating on more and more 4Ks, and no more troubleshooting can save it (though turning off Quick Start did make it behave better).

When I feel rich enough, I’ll be buying a new 820 most likely, but I will slap a 5-year extended warranty on it because I really don’t think these are built to last more than a few years tops. Or if I feel really rich, a Magnetar, but that feels so geared towards audio fanatics and I already have a super nice NAD CD player so the audio side of things is a bit unnecessary here.

[I5o]

Originally Posted by TotallyTuned

Huh, a UB9000 drive that's a thought. I wonder if the UB820 would recognize the UB9000 drive once installed. There's also the matter of whether or not it would fit seamlessly into the UB820 and line up with the front slot.

Gidday TotallyTuned,

I took this photo today showing the front faceplate slot of the UB820 superimposed over the UB9000 front faceplate (with UHD logo plastic removed aside) ,the slot dimensions are the same for both disc drives so you can place either drive into your UB820. Compare the price and availability of both in your area. The second photo shows back in 2024 my UB820 with the UB9000 drive, all working fine and quieter. Good luck and cheers!

[IlCorvo]

Originally Posted by I5o

Gidday TotallyTuned,

I took this photo today showing the front faceplate slot of the UB820 superimposed over the UB9000 front faceplate (with UHD logo plastic removed aside) ,the slot dimensions are the same for both disc drives so you can place either drive into your UB820. Compare the price and availability of both in your area. The second photo shows back in 2024 my UB820 with the UB9000 drive, all working fine and quieter. Good luck and cheers!

That is not the way you have it in operation, do you?

[Robert Zohn]

Today is the last day to purchase the UB9000P1k and UB820 at the current all in and delivered prices.

Tomorrow, Augut 1, 2025 the UB820 and UB9000P1k prices go up.

[TotallyTuned]

Originally Posted by I5o

Gidday TotallyTuned,

I took this photo today showing the front faceplate slot of the UB820 superimposed over the UB9000 front faceplate (with UHD logo plastic removed aside) ,the slot dimensions are the same for both disc drives so you can place either drive into your UB820. Compare the price and availability of both in your area. The second photo shows back in 2024 my UB820 with the UB9000 drive, all working fine and quieter. Good luck and cheers!

Thanks for the suggestion on using the 9000 series drive!

I went through all the parts available on Panasonic.encompass.com and here is what I came up with:

Compatibility	       Part #	Status	                                                                  Price
UB820	             TXP0034	Discontinued	                                                             -
UB820	             TXP00183	Supersedes TXP0034	                                                $217.95
UB9000	             TXP0036	Discontinued	                                                             -
UB9000	             TXP0036-A	Discontinued	                                                             -
UB9000	             TXP0184	Supersedes TXP0036, TXP0036-A, RD-DEH005-CV	                        $246.95
UP9000	             TXP0126	Discontinued	                                                             -

I'll be going through other sites looking for deals on the TXP0184 model


Note: Anyone know how to format a table on here? BBCode didn't seem to work.

[Robert Zohn]

Just as a courtesy to all of our fellow Blu-ray.com members I will delay the Panasonic UB9000P1k and UB820 price increases untill tomorrow, Friday morning.

Anyone interested in the UB9000P1k or UB820 tonight is the last opportunity to save $100. on the UB9000P1k and the UB820 is going up $50. to $499.99

[I5o]

Originally Posted by IlCorvo

That is not the way you have it in operation, do you?

Gidday ILCorvo,

I just took the front faceplate and logo plastic thingy off my UB9000 and UB820 so I could prove to TotallyTuned that either new disc drive replacement will fit into the slot and close properly. Normally both players are in cabinet fully assembled and working. cheers

[I5o]

Originally Posted by TotallyTuned

Thanks for the suggestion on using the 9000 series drive!

I went through all the parts available on Panasonic.encompass.com and here is what I came up with:

Compatibility	       Part #	Status	                                                                  Price
UB820	             TXP0034	Discontinued	                                                             -
UB820	             TXP00183	Supersedes TXP0034	                                                $217.95
UB9000	             TXP0036	Discontinued	                                                             -
UB9000	             TXP0036-A	Discontinued	                                                             -
UB9000	             TXP0184	Supersedes TXP0036, TXP0036-A, RD-DEH005-CV	                        $246.95
UP9000	             TXP0126	Discontinued	                                                             -

I'll be going through other sites looking for deals on the TXP0184 model


Note: Anyone know how to format a table on here? BBCode didn't seem to work.

Gidday TotallyTuned,

No probs and sorry can't help with the table thingy.

Also I have two links that I found today that might interest you;

1) as comparison see if you can source (the region locking is within the motherboard as I have placed a PAL TX0036A into my USA UB9000 plus I have aslo bought and changed the power circuit board for 240V and not 110V )and buy directly from the UK panasonic parts retailer here is their uk link -
https://fixpart.co.uk/product/panaso...blu-ray-burner


2) a avs forum member did an interesting drive swap into a UB9000 but I personally would not use the said disc drive UB420 424 from a lower player as the original disc drive has extra area with ICs under its motherboard. I also have not experimented and placed the UB820 drive into my UB9000 just in case it might go array electronically because its a lower player compared to the UB9000.

https://www.avforums.com/threads/pan...ement.2523152/

Let me know how you go and good luck hunting and getting the replacement drive. cheers

[pr0darek]

Originally Posted by I5o

2) a avs forum member did an interesting drive swap into a UB9000 but I personally would not use the said disc drive UB420 424 from a lower player as the original disc drive has extra area with ICs under its motherboard. I also have not experimented and placed the UB820 drive into my UB9000 just in case it might go array electronically because its a lower player compared to the UB9000.

It has an additional IC.
This is TXP0033:
https://i.imgur.com/kL8BxBG.png
https://i.imgur.com/Mnj6vIq.png

[Sango]

It looks like the 820 which I gotten for a family member is beginning to show signs of failure. Was watching Titanic 4K when I noticed the pixelization which I thought the disc was dirty which I double checked.

UB820
Manufacture Date: Post Sept 2018; don't remember the exact date but purchased it shortly after I gotten the 9000 at the time.
Blu-ray Hrs: 78
DVD Hrs: 2
Firmware: 1.82
Drive Check: DRV NG (Not Good)

Not sure what I want to do with the player at this time since it is not used much.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by Sango

It looks like the 820 which I gotten for a family member is beginning to show signs of failure. Was watching Titanic 4K when I noticed the pixelization which I thought the disc was dirty which I double checked.

UB820
Manufacture Date: Post Sept 2018; don't remember the exact date but purchased it shortly after I gotten the 9000 at the time.
Blu-ray Hrs: 78
DVD Hrs: 2
Firmware: 1.82
Drive Check: DRV NG (Not Good)

Not sure what I want to do with the player at this time since it is not used much.

Forgive me if I missed it, but has anyone posted instructions for how to perform a drive check in this thread?

[Sango]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

Forgive me if I missed it, but has anyone posted instructions for how to perform a drive check in this thread?

Back on my post here.

[TotallyTuned]

Originally Posted by I5o

Gidday TotallyTuned,

No probs and sorry can't help with the table thingy.

Also I have two links that I found today that might interest you;

1) as comparison see if you can source (the region locking is within the motherboard as I have placed a PAL TX0036A into my USA UB9000 plus I have aslo bought and changed the power circuit board for 240V and not 110V )and buy directly from the UK panasonic parts retailer here is their uk link -
https://fixpart.co.uk/product/panaso...blu-ray-burner


2) a avs forum member did an interesting drive swap into a UB9000 but I personally would not use the said disc drive UB420 424 from a lower player as the original disc drive has extra area with ICs under its motherboard. I also have not experimented and placed the UB820 drive into my UB9000 just in case it might go array electronically because its a lower player compared to the UB9000.

https://www.avforums.com/threads/pan...ement.2523152/

Let me know how you go and good luck hunting and getting the replacement drive. cheers

1) Why would I want to do this? The UK/EU sourced parts are priced in pounds and the exchange rate is not favorable to me.

2) That is interesting for the future when parts will undoubtedly be more scarce, but I agree not worth it for now.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Sango

Back on my post here.

I can't seem to get this to work. Any tips?

[Geoff D]

Never mind, tried a different remote and it worked. Drive is NG apparently

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Never mind, tried a different remote and it worked. Drive is NG apparently

Is anybody's drive good!? Seriously wondering. lol

[Sango]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

Is anybody's drive good!? Seriously wondering. lol

My 9000 works! DRV OK, with over 600 hours on it.