Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[cjake]

Originally Posted by gooseygander2001

Does anyone know if the Panasonic players can tone map the HDR10 on the inbuilt Netflix app?

The HDR Optimizer will tone map Netflix if the output option is set to HDR.

If the player output is set to SDR BT.2020, the Netflix App will output 4K SDR so there is no tone mapping. A bug in the Netflix App or UB820 in my opinion.

[PUsokrJosh305]

My receiver is taking it pretty well with the 820 connected to it and the receiver connecting to the TV, so huge success there. One other question I have is about the High Clarity sound feature. Is that feature only for music or for both music and movies? And also should I have it on or off?

[eChopper]

Originally Posted by bedlamfeuder94

update on my disc freezes from a couple weeks ago -- suddenly Star Wars: The Last Jedi 4K (the others were Solo: A Star Wars Story 4K and MI3 4K although that seems to actually have a scratch) is freezing up for me a bit after the 24 minute mark, with no visible scratches. Wiping the disc did nothing. And resetting the player via the 08 FIN method and NOT setting up the network, making sure the ethernet cord wasn't even plugged in, kept the issue coming.

So I plan on getting the player sent in for repair/replacement via my Geek Squad warranty, but honestly this coupled with my anxiety is killing my love for the hobby. Why the **** should I keep collecting films in this format (and even though I have multiple streaming platforms for personal and family use, I am physical media ALL the way) if I can't guarantee I can enjoy them as they should be later on in the future? I went with this player last year due to the HDR optimiser, quiet drive et al but suddenly I find a disc here and there that just refuses to play uninterrupted.

Your frustration is understandable. But don’t give up on the discs just because you have a shitty player through no fault of your own

I read earlier that someone mentioned the fault lay with faulty discs ; but if these discs play perfectly well on another player well then ....

I have the Panasonic 9000 . Several Blu rays randomly freeze and glitch. I then try these in my oppo 103 and they play fine

Curiously the Panasonic 9000 handles my UHD’s well >95% of all discs

It tends to be older Blu rAy films that freeze on my Panasonic 9000 . I remember oppo engineers were very vigilant to update FW on a regular basis to help owners with problematic discs , something Panasonic seems slower on. But will Panasonic issue FW updates to help discs that were released on Blu ray circa 2006/9?

Tonight I’m watching the Sony realease of Gandhi realeased 2009 : it froze at 1 hour 27 mins - layer change ? But it plays on my oppo 103 , Xbox amd oppo bdp 83

I’ve emailed Panasonic Australia months ago on their whizz bang players, who’s customer service team reside in the Phillipines , and they don’t seem very interested to help; they want to argue it’s a defective disc

So I will ask the dealer to buy me a new laser at my cost and see if it makes a difference . Panasonic don’t seem to want to help the dealer either.

I’m now on the hunt for a back up oppo 103. Be interesting to see how the PS5 holds up playing UHD discs when most gaming teens aren’t shy to put thumb prints on their discs .

Bedlam , I hope when ur player gets fixed it will be all smiles for you

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

My receiver is taking it pretty well with the 820 connected to it and the receiver connecting to the TV, so huge success there. One other question I have is about the High Clarity sound feature. Is that feature only for music or for both music and movies? And also should I have it on or off?

I believe the high clarity sound option is only relevant if you use the analog outputs for your speakers directly etc.

[PissedOffPeoN]

I have it off i like my audio without extra crap on top .

[MEB]

Originally Posted by bedlamfeuder94

update on my disc freezes from a couple weeks ago -- suddenly Star Wars: The Last Jedi 4K (the others were Solo: A Star Wars Story 4K and MI3 4K although that seems to actually have a scratch) is freezing up for me a bit after the 24 minute mark, with no visible scratches. Wiping the disc did nothing. And resetting the player via the 08 FIN method and NOT setting up the network, making sure the ethernet cord wasn't even plugged in, kept the issue coming.

So I plan on getting the player sent in for repair/replacement via my Geek Squad warranty, but honestly this coupled with my anxiety is killing my love for the hobby. Why the **** should I keep collecting films in this format (and even though I have multiple streaming platforms for personal and family use, I am physical media ALL the way) if I can't guarantee I can enjoy them as they should be later on in the future? I went with this player last year due to the HDR optimiser, quiet drive et al but suddenly I find a disc here and there that just refuses to play uninterrupted.

I watched The Last Jedi 4K via my UB9000 last week. I had issues with pixelation/freezing at two spots on the disc. Both times, I just let it continue to play and the player eventually got past the two spots. I did not make a note of the timecode.

This was the first time I played The Last Jedi 4K. We played the standard Blu-ray from the package (in Booth Bijou Garage Theater, which is only 1080p) when we first got the film.

This is the VERY first 4K disc I've had issues with. I don't have another 4K player hooked up to try it with (I own a UB900 but it's in its box in the garage). I've played dozens of 4K discs and over 100 different standard Blu-ray discs (including titles I've owned for 7-8 years) in the UB9000 and The Last Jedi 4K was the very first hiccup.

It seems logical to assume that there may be some kind of stamping or mastering error with The Last Jedi 4K. Just because it might play okay in a different player doesn't necessarily mean the disc isn't at fault too.

Mark

[bedlamfeuder94]

Wanted to say thanks to everyone for their input, advice and encouragement regarding the disc issues I've been having. I get a bit crazy with this hobby sometimes and just want to see things without issues when I spend money, especially when showing movies off to friends/family and the movie nights we do. I care a lot about presentation and the recent issues just really bugged me.

But again, getting the feedback helped calm me down a lot in these issues. Played some more 4K discs I had played months prior on the player and no sudden issues with those discs, so I'm treating these three discs as isolated problems. Happy holidays/ Merry Xmas and happy new year to everyone! Hope the holiday shopping and gifts keep your passion for the hobby strong!

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by pbz06

I believe the high clarity sound option is only relevant if you use the analog outputs for your speakers directly etc.

Thanks for the info! As of now, I have no speakers that go into the analog ports, do I will just turn the feature off.

I have to say, the 820 is by far one of the best players I have ever used, period! Of course that's not saying much since I just jumped from the Panasonic DMP-BD60 to the 820 (Yes, my BD 60 has survived for over 10 years now, haha!). Either way, I love it! I can't wait to head off to Canada to pick up a Panasonic 4K OLED tv so I can finally enjoy 4K the way it was meant to be!!

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I can’t see the difference between single vs dual output method through my receiver. Some receivers degrade picture quality, though.

I've got my TV hooked up via ARC/ eARC to my a/v receiver. Would there be any benefit hooking the ub820 to the receiver for audio, and to a separate input on the TV?

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by eChopper

Your frustration is understandable. But don’t give up on the discs just because you have a shitty player through no fault of your own

I read earlier that someone mentioned the fault lay with faulty discs ; but if these discs play perfectly well on another player well then ....

I have the Panasonic 9000 . Several Blu rays randomly freeze and glitch. I then try these in my oppo 103 and they play fine

Curiously the Panasonic 9000 handles my UHD’s well >95% of all discs

It tends to be older Blu rAy films that freeze on my Panasonic 9000 . I remember oppo engineers were very vigilant to update FW on a regular basis to help owners with problematic discs , something Panasonic seems slower on. But will Panasonic issue FW updates to help discs that were released on Blu ray circa 2006/9?

Tonight I’m watching the Sony realease of Gandhi realeased 2009 : it froze at 1 hour 27 mins - layer change ? But it plays on my oppo 103 , Xbox amd oppo bdp 83

I’ve emailed Panasonic Australia months ago on their whizz bang players, who’s customer service team reside in the Phillipines , and they don’t seem very interested to help; they want to argue it’s a defective disc

So I will ask the dealer to buy me a new laser at my cost and see if it makes a difference . Panasonic don’t seem to want to help the dealer either.

I’m now on the hunt for a back up oppo 103. Be interesting to see how the PS5 holds up playing UHD discs when most gaming teens aren’t shy to put thumb prints on their discs .

Bedlam , I hope when ur player gets fixed it will be all smiles for you

I have the same problem with my UB420, when it makes the change to the 3rd layer on 100 Gig. discs it freezes and then stops. UHD BD-66's play fine. It's been to the local Panasonic service, then to Spain Panasonic HQ in Madrid, they said they checked it with their service discs so they returned the player to the local repair shop. I took 10 of my 3 layer discs to the shop and showed them what was the problem which they saw with their own eyes.
The answer was they were sending my 420 back to Madrid WITH MY 10 UHD BD-100 3 layer discs to check if the discs are defective or the player.
I told them no way I was letting my 10 movies go to Madrid along with the player as God knows in what condition they'd return my movie discs and slipcovers.
I e-mailed Panasonic Spain for the Nth time and made a list of the 10 discs that by the way are international versions, the very same discs are sold worldwide, they can buy them and check that my 420 is actually defective.
I know how Spanish are, they're my compatriots but they are not trustworthy, they can scratch my 10 discs on purpose and return then with a message stating that my discs are scratched so that's why they don't play properly. And I'm not compelled by law to lend them my discs.
Panasonic UHD BD players look outstanding but Spanish Customer Service sucks.

[Clark Burk]

Originally Posted by eddievanhalen

I have the same problem with my UB420, when it makes the change to the 3rd layer on 100 Gig. discs it freezes and then stops. UHD BD-66's play fine. It's been to the local Panasonic service, then to Spain Panasonic HQ in Madrid, they said they checked it with their service discs so they returned the player to the local repair shop. I took 10 of my 3 layer discs to the shop and showed them what was the problem which they saw with their own eyes.
The answer was they were sending my 420 back to Madrid WITH MY 10 UHD BD-100 3 layer discs to check if the discs are defective or the player.
I told them no way I was letting my 10 movies go to Madrid along with the player as God knows in what condition they'd return my movie discs and slipcovers.
I e-mailed Panasonic Spain for the Nth time and made a list of the 10 discs that by the way are international versions, the very same discs are sold worldwide, they can buy them and check that my 420 is actually defective.
I know how Spanish are, they're my compatriots but they are not trustworthy, they can scratch my 10 discs on purpose and return then with a message stating that my discs are scratched so that's why they don't play properly. And I'm not compelled by law to lend them my discs.
Panasonic UHD BD players look outstanding but Spanish Customer Service sucks.

I don't blame you one bit. They should never ask you to send 10 UHD Discs to be checked. I would think the service centers word that the discs all failed to play the third layer would be sufficient. Sounds like a clear problem with the drive that either could be fixed or the player exchanged. It's times like these that I lament the loss of Oppo.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by Clark Burk

I don't blame you one bit. They should never ask you to send 10 UHD Discs to be checked. I would think the service centers word that the discs all failed to play the third layer would be sufficient. Sounds like a clear problem with the drive that either could be fixed or the player exchanged. It's times like these that I lament the loss of Oppo.

My God, how I grew to hate this (my ) country. It's so Middle Age-like.

[Reignman35]

Greeting forum members. I had a question about 4K players themselves, and how much of a difference they can/will play in the quality of the discs themselves and if higher end ones are worth the price.

My current setup is a basement (so very dark room) with a 5.1.4 Dobly Atmos setup, and a Sony XBR 65X750D. Not the best 4K TV by any means, but what I could afford 3 years ago, and the wife and I held off on getting a Sony OLED A8/A9 series this Black Friday, but have my eye on one for next year. My current player is an LG UP875, which was bought about 2 years ago. During this BF I did however purchase the Panasonic UB820, as after doing a ton of research it seemed the highest quality 4K player out there in that price range, and also one of (if not the ONLY one), that could play all HDR formats (10, 10+ and Dolby Vision), and had a lot of tweaking you could do with tone mapping and settings for various HDR options as well as your TV style itself (LCD, OLED, etc.).

Now my question is, is it worth it to buy it now (as it was $400, so not cheap even on sale), and/or will I notice much of a difference with the middle of the road 4K TV I currently have? Again, I'm looking to get a Sony OLED as my next TV, so I bought this new player with an eye on that. I did test it the other day with "The Shallows", as it's supposed to be one of the best 4K discs out there, and it did look really good, but I haven't had a chance to swap the Panasonic and the LG back to back to see if I can tell that big of a difference.

So basically looking for some reassurance that I didn't waste my money now, and that I am as "future-proofed" as I can be for a 4K player. Any advice or input is greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance.

[jibucha]

actually :: quite a bit (UHD players)
player (which?) :: that's 'entirely' your choice

Originally Posted by Reignman35

Greeting forum members. I had a question about 4K players themselves, and how much of a difference they can/will play in the quality of the discs themselves.

My current setup is a basement (so very dark room) with a 5.1.4 Dobly Atmos setup, and a Sony XBR 65X750D. Not the best 4K TV by any means, but what I could afford 3 years ago, and the wife and I held off on getting a Sony OLED A8/A9 series this Black Friday, but have my eye on one for next year. My current player is an LG UP875, which was bought about 2 years ago. During this BF I did however purchase the Panasonic UB820, as after doing a ton of research it seemed the highest quality 4K player out there in that price range, and also one of (if not the ONLY one), that could play all HDR formats (10, 10+ and Dolby Vision), and had a lot of tweaking you could do with tone mapping and settings for various HDR options as well as your TV style itself (LCD, OLED, etc.).

Now my question is, is it worth it to buy it now (as it was $400, so not cheap even on sale), and/or will I notice much of a difference with the middle of the road 4K TV I currently have? Again, I'm looking to get a Sony OLED as my next TV, so I bought this new player with an eye on that. I did test it the other day with "The Shallows", as it's supposed to be one of the best 4K discs out there, and it did look really good, but I haven't had a chance to swap the Panasonic and the LG back to back to see if I can tell that big of a difference.

So basically looking for some reassurance that I didn't waste my money now, and that I am as "future-proofed" as I can be for a 4K player. Any advice or input is greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance.

[eChopper]

Keep us posted Eddie and what ends up with ur player or if they give an explaination

[Daz_85]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

To go back to the remotes for a sec, I decided to take a punt on a Hong Kong ebay seller who appeared to have some sort of 'unbranded' remote that matched the premium N2QAYA000131 model that was supplied with the US UB900. It was only £14 so it was worth a shot, the photo in the listing (see below) has no branding on the remote but what turns up is the official branded remote with a sticker over the Panasonic badge! It doesn't have the 'HDR' button(s) that the later models have but as the Optimiser can be accessed thru the video settings button (which works fine) then that doesn't bother me at all. Took a week to arrive (HK to UK) and was well packed.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Remote-Co...r/273967393492

[edit]

And I just realised that the basic TV functions at the top of the remote are programmable on this US version of the remote so now I can use it to change the volume and AV input of my Sony TV too. Brilliant! (Panasonic removed this functionality from the UK versions of these remotes, I've no idea why.) **** it, even though I bought this one for a spare as I have the N2QAYA000086 already I'm gonna order another one.

Does this remote have visible buttons in the dark? This is my biggest gripe with the remote from the box

[Geoff D]

You just push a button and it lights up.

[Daz_85]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

You just push a button and it lights up.

Sweet. Now I've zoomed into the image, I can see

Thanks for the link Geoff, I'll think about picking this up.

[kevers7290]

I have a (slightly) older LG B8 OLED and UB820. I'm curious as to what the consensus would be in regards to the HDR optimiser: best to turn it on and leave it on?

[Geoff D]

I don't know but I love that Morrigan avatar.