Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Wormicide]

I really want to get this player and like it. I keep reading about issues on this thread and another forum. Having a hard time believing I’ll see a difference for $200-$300 more than the LG ubk90. Has anyone had both? I don’t have a projector. Just an LG C8. Thanks

[BijouMan]

Weirdly, the behavior of the disc drive is different for Ultra HD Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray. It goes through new motions for Ultra HD Blu-ray but the motions it makes for standard Blu-ray and DVD are almost identical to some earlier Panasonic Blu-ray players, even someone I know’s 2011 DMP-BDT210. I can tell from the sounds it makes.

[Jonathan McLeod]

Not sure why you are surprised the disc behaviour is different between blu-ray and UHD? The absolute maximum data transfer rate for AV files off a standard blu-ray is only 48Mbs, less than half that of a UHD disc, and therefore the RPM of the disc drive is much, much lower.

I barely hear standard blu-rays at all, and the two outer layers of a UHD are pretty quiet too. When it's reading from the innermost layer of a BD-100 however, it's definitely noticeable if you're near the player / in a quiet section of the film.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by Jonathan McLeod

Not sure why you are surprised the disc behaviour is different between blu-ray and UHD? The absolute maximum data transfer rate for AV files off a standard blu-ray is only 48Mbs, less than half that of a UHD disc, and therefore the RPM of the disc drive is much, much lower.

I barely hear standard blu-rays at all, and the two outer layers of a UHD are pretty quiet too. When it's reading from the innermost layer of a BD-100 however, it's definitely noticeable if you're near the player / in a quiet section of the film.

I’m talking about when you first insert the disc. I’m one of those people who notices everything a disc drive does. I fully expected the Blu-ray behavior to be the same as the Ultra HD Blu-ray only the disc spins at a slower speed. I think other companies’ players are actually like that.

[Member-425016]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

I’m talking about when you first insert the disc. I’m one of those people who notices everything a disc drive does. I fully expected the Blu-ray behavior to be the same as the Ultra HD Blu-ray only the disc spins at a slower speed. I think other companies’ players are actually like that.

Uhhh, nope.

[BijouMan]

Here is a teardown video (sort of) of the Panasonic DP-UB9000.

https://youtu.be/8xJvH2VYyeA

DISCLAIMER: This video does not belong to me. All credit goes to Coris C. Don't do this with your UB9000.

[chip75]

Has anyone purchased the region free mod for their 420? did it activate Dolby Vision? I've emailed the seller, but haven't had a reply.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by chip75

Has anyone purchased the region free mod for their 420? did it activate Dolby Vision? I've emailed the seller, but haven't had a reply.

I’m pretty sure Dolby Vision requires a special chip made by Dolby. The way Dolby Vision on a disc is encoded is in the form of an HDR10 video stream, and another stream called the Enhancement Layer containing the “difference” between HDR10 video and Dolby Vision video. The player has to “splice” these streams together to create a Dolby Vision signal. This is unlike HDR10+, which is literally dynamic metadata contained within an HDR10 stream and does not require special splicing or a special chip.

Also, this thread is about the two highest-end Ultra HD Blu-ray player models in Panasonic’s lineup, the DP-UB820 and the DP-UB9000. It does not apply to the DP-UB150 or the DP-UB420.

[BijouMan]

Something I would love to see in a firmware update is a Source Direct mode which automatically switches the resolution depending on whether you are playing a DVD, Blu-ray, or Ultra HD Blu-ray.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

I’m pretty sure Dolby Vision requires a special chip made by Dolby.

Also, this thread is about the two highest-end Ultra HD Blu-ray player models in Panasonic’s lineup, the DP-UB820 and the DP-UB9000. It does not apply to the DP-UB150 or the DP-UB420.

The 820 and 420 are almost identical apart from the outputs around the back. Members with 420 often post in this thread due to that reason (and they've purchased the mod). I think they even run the same firmware.

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

Something I would love to see in a firmware update is a Source Direct mode which automatically switches the resolution depending on whether you are playing a DVD, Blu-ray, or Ultra HD Blu-ray.

I would just like to see an update. Throw us a bone, Panny. Show us you're still there.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by MUFCAdam98

Can anyone with a Dolby Vision capable display confirm whether this player can play Dolby Vision from an .mkv file from a USB storage device? I have several MKV files that I have made within MakeMKV 1.15.4 and it shows Dolby Vision, HDR10+ etc in the single video track, but currently don't have a Dolby Vision display to test this out. Was just curious if anyone has tried this and if they had success.

I just tried a demo file and the player complained that the audio is not supported. It literally fast forwarded itself through the whole video. The few frames it showed only output as SDR. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision discs output in their respective formats. Also, federal law prohibits the decryption of copy-protected Hollywood (Ultra HD) Blu-ray discs. Any attempt to break the decryption system on a disc to copy it to a digital file is punishable by up to a 5-year federal prison sentence and/or a $250,000 fine. Haven’t you seen the warning that pops up once you select “play” on a disc’s menu? Only Hollywood movies and videos taken with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are encoded in Dolby Vision.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by chip75

The 820 and 420 are almost identical apart from the outputs around the back. Members with 420 often post in this thread due to that reason (and they've purchased the mod). I think they even run the same firmware.

The 420, 820 and 9000 literally use the same chip. The removal of features the further down you go is simply because they've either removed the external socketry or it's locked out in the firmware, e.g. the hacked firmware unlocks DV on the 420.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The 420, 820 and 9000 literally use the same chip. The removal of features the further down you go is simply because they've either removed the external socketry or it's locked out in the firmware, e.g. the hacked firmware unlocks DV on the 420.

Well, the DP-UB420 is significantly smaller than the DP-UB820. There's gotta be a Dolby chip in the UB820 not found in the UB420. If there was a Dolby chip in the UB420, it would have been an HDR10+/Dolby Vision player like the UB820 and DP-UB9000.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

Well, the DP-UB420 is significantly smaller than the DP-UB820. There's gotta be a Dolby chip in the UB820 not found in the UB420. If there was a Dolby chip in the UB420, it would have been an HDR10+/Dolby Vision player like the UB820 and DP-UB9000.

You know they're called "microchips" for a reason, right? Using the same chips and just locking features out in the firmware is a time honoured tradition for Panasonic. Believe it, don't believe it, whatever.

[cirik]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The 420, 820 and 9000 literally use the same chip. The removal of features the further down you go is simply because they've either removed the external socketry or it's locked out in the firmware, e.g. the hacked firmware unlocks DV on the 420.

Are you 100% sure about that ?
I'm asking because on regionfreedom site there is no mention of unclocking DV on the 420 by their hacked firmware.
Also friend of mine bought that firmware and installed it on his UB424, and he says that there is still no Dolby Vision setting on setup. But his TV set isn't DV compatible, so maybe that's why that setting is hidden for him ?

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by cirik

Are you 100% sure about that ?
I'm asking because on regionfreedom site there is no mention of unclocking DV on the 420 by their hacked firmware.
Also friend of mine bought that firmware and installed it on his UB424, and he says that there is still no Dolby Vision setting on setup. But his TV set isn't DV compatible, so maybe that's why that setting is hidden for him ?

The setting appears regardless of whether your display can play HDR10+/Dolby Vision or not.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by cirik

Are you 100% sure about that ?
I'm asking because on regionfreedom site there is no mention of unclocking DV on the 420 by their hacked firmware.
Also friend of mine bought that firmware and installed it on his UB424, and he says that there is still no Dolby Vision setting on setup. But his TV set isn't DV compatible, so maybe that's why that setting is hidden for him ?

The setting would appear regardless. I'm quite sure that DV first appeared in that list of capabilities that the regionfreedom hack provided, and that someone here even had one, but clearly I'm mistaken. It does however still unlock all the other features of the 820 and 9000 which proves the point about them having the same chip, albeit the same intrinsic Pannysonic chipset and not whatever else it is that provides Dobly (the 420 already does 10+ with the stock firmware). It's why there's only one unified firmware update (by territory) for the 42x/82x/9000 range, the lower models just ignore whatever's not relevant to them.

[OgamiittoMcJ]

is it just the 820 & 9000 that have HDR optimiser or do other Panasonic players have that feature ?
and how useful is that feature ?

I'm looking at buying 820 probably in next few weeks, just trying to decide if I want it modded for BD/DVD multiregion or not

[Gretiem]

Originally Posted by OgamiittoMcJ

is it just the 820 & 9000 that have HDR optimiser or do other Panasonic players have that feature ?
and how useful is that feature ?

I'm looking at buying 820 probably in next few weeks, just trying to decide if I want it modded for BD/DVD multiregion or not

Only the 820 and 9000 I believe