Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[stmhlm]

Well, I'm doing as much as I can about this, to be brutally honest, I'm closing in on several times now where I've been close to quitting this interest of mine completely, at times I don't understand how people withstand all the issues surrounding this new 4K UHD format, it's especially tiresome for us projector owners, it's like none of the manufacturers are enthusiasts or have interest at all, I'll update you all as soon as I have something new to share.

[Oniiz86]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Those players don’t use the same chipset as the 420/820/9000 so I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but it’s encouraging.

Yes I know they're MediaTek based & apparently do not suffer from the disc compatibility issues like Panasonic's HCX processor based players so at least UB450/150 owners can take some comfort in that.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by stmhlm

Well, I'm doing as much as I can about this, to be brutally honest, I'm closing in on several times now where I've been close to quitting this interest of mine completely, at times I don't understand how people withstand all the issues surrounding this new 4K UHD format, it's especially tiresome for us projector owners, it's like none of the manufacturers are enthusiasts or have interest at all, I'll update you all as soon as I have something new to share.

For me at least, I really haven't any issues with my 820. Obviously, Panasonic should get the main issues fixed, like the DV ones but some of these "extra" requests may not happen due to the limitations of the player. Sure, it's one of the most powerful players out there. But in terms of added extra features, I'm not sure they can do that without creating a brand new player.

For me, as long as they fix the issues with DV and compatibility issues with some discs, I'm pretty satisfied. I know a lot of us are videophiles, but we can't always get wrapped up in these "I wish" situations or constantly worry about this setting or that setting (and trust me, I do the same thing). But sometimes, we just need to sit back and enjoy the content we are watching, especially the 4K content that can be played on the Panny 420, 820, or 9000!!

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by stmhlm

Well, I'm doing as much as I can about this, to be brutally honest, I'm closing in on several times now where I've been close to quitting this interest of mine completely, at times I don't understand how people withstand all the issues surrounding this new 4K UHD format, it's especially tiresome for us projector owners, it's like none of the manufacturers are enthusiasts or have interest at all, I'll update you all as soon as I have something new to share.

All you had to was say “projektor” and yeah, I can understand how pissed off you are with UHD. But there’s very little that can be done with the player other than updating it for further disc compatibility, as said above the rest of that stuff would require starting over with a new SOC.

[gates70]

Originally Posted by stmhlm

Well, I'm doing as much as I can about this, to be brutally honest, I'm closing in on several times now where I've been close to quitting this interest of mine completely, at times I don't understand how people withstand all the issues surrounding this new 4K UHD format, it's especially tiresome for us projector owners, it's like none of the manufacturers are enthusiasts or have interest at all, I'll update you all as soon as I have something new to share.

What's tiresome for us projector owners?

[HeavyHitter]

I've been getting a great image for almost three years now with the 820. I also attribute the success to Chad B's top-notch calibration work as well.

[Waboman]

What exactly is happening here? Are we taking bets on if we get an update or not?

[NKB2017]

Originally Posted by stmhlm

Well, I'm doing as much as I can about this, to be brutally honest, I'm closing in on several times now where I've been close to quitting this interest of mine completely, at times I don't understand how people withstand all the issues surrounding this new 4K UHD format, it's especially tiresome for us projector owners, it's like none of the manufacturers are enthusiasts or have interest at all, I'll update you all as soon as I have something new to share.

Really appreciate what you're doing stmhlm!

[Badas]

Has anyone had playback issues with this:



Mine didn't play at the half way mark. It completely crapped itself.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I've been getting a great image for almost three years now with the 820. I also attribute the success to Chad B's top-notch calibration work as well.

Yeah, but IIRC only after tarting about for a while with custom curves, SDR conversion etc (are you’re still using the latter?). HDR is the least ‘plug and play’-friendly tech advancement I think there’s ever been for consumer video and that’s just for direct view displays, never mind projektors. And for every PJ owner who’s sorted it out (like you) or never had a problem ever ever EVER (gates70) there’s another who’s at the end of their tether.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

tarting about for a while....

But I thought all you guys, be it player(here) or TV(on AVS), thrive on that type of pursuit. Would videophil-ing be fun if it were easy peasy lemon squeezy?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

But I thought all you guys, be it player(here) or TV(on AVS), thrive on that type of pursuit. Would videophil-ing be fun if it were easy peasy lemon squeezy?

There’s enjoying a challenge - I genuinely love it when I discover new things, as learning never stops - and then there’s tearing your hair out because all your ‘spensive gear can’t tone map worth a damn. It’s a rather unfortunate irony that displays have more adjustable controls than ever these days but so few of them come with any kind of manually adjustable tone curve for HDR outside of pro calibration options. Heck, even if they did come with such an option would the lay person even know what to do with it? HDR as an absolute luminance system is something that people have such a hard time understanding.

I do like the options on the latest Sonys though, IIRC being able to switch between Brightness Preferred to maintain APL and Gradation Preferred if you want to map down the whole image.

[stmhlm]

Originally Posted by gates70

What's tiresome for us projector owners?

My biggest 'tearing my hair out' is the lack of a similar feature to OPPO's 21:9 mode, I use a 2.40:1 screen and mask down electronically in the projector, avoiding A/R changes during IMAX scenes, what have you. Having to mask, unmask, mask, unmask, mask, unmask, there's no 1 button press for masking on JVC's, which there was, could probably do some RS232 with some remote functionality, but to what convenience? Manufacturers really could care some more with surveys prior to dedicating themselves to a certain design, I would be so happy the day that would become reality, I mean really, just give Panasonic their own player in their hands, paired with a 2.40:1 screen, see how they figure it out, everything's not about TV's and direct-view displays, they have tone mapping controls for projectors in the player, SDR/BT.2020 feature, movable subtitles, just that last bit of functionality, which could be seen as common with these Panasonic's, that is missing, I would love a 2.40:1 cropped output mode, a 1/4 zoom reduction for electronically zooming down 1.78:1 content in case I don't want to move my lens for that short a time, how about more closer nit steps in the HDR Optimizer for projectors, not just 350 and 500? There sure are things to add and resolve with these players, you just need to see it from the consumers perspective.

[Energy Crisis]

Originally Posted by stmhlm

My biggest 'tearing my hair out' is the lack of a similar feature to OPPO's 21:9 mode, I use a 2.40:1 screen and mask down electronically in the projector, avoiding A/R changes during IMAX scenes, what have you. Having to mask, unmask, mask, unmask, mask, unmask, there's no 1 button press for masking on JVC's, which there was, could probably do some RS232 with some remote functionality, but to what convenience? Manufacturers really could care some more with surveys prior to dedicating themselves to a certain design, I would be so happy the day that would become reality, I mean really, just give Panasonic their own player in their hands, paired with a 2.40:1 screen, see how they figure it out, everything's not about TV's and direct-view displays, they have tone mapping controls for projectors in the player, SDR/BT.2020 feature, movable subtitles, just that last bit of functionality, which could be seen as common with these Panasonic's, that is missing, I would love a 2.40:1 cropped output mode, a 1/4 zoom reduction for electronically zooming down 1.78:1 content in case I don't want to move my lens for that short a time, how about more closer nit steps in the HDR Optimizer for projectors, not just 350 and 500? There sure are things to add and resolve with these players, you just need to see it from the consumers perspective.

I get that it's frustrating to you, but it's a bit unrealistic to expect a standalone player to address very specific, extremely niche wish list features like these. I mean, I have a projector myself and none of this is important to me.

[Badas]

Originally Posted by stmhlm

My biggest 'tearing my hair out' is the lack of a similar feature to OPPO's 21:9 mode, I use a 2.40:1 screen and mask down electronically in the projector, avoiding A/R changes during IMAX scenes, what have you. Having to mask, unmask, mask, unmask, mask, unmask, there's no 1 button press for masking on JVC's, which there was, could probably do some RS232 with some remote functionality, but to what convenience? Manufacturers really could care some more with surveys prior to dedicating themselves to a certain design, I would be so happy the day that would become reality, I mean really, just give Panasonic their own player in their hands, paired with a 2.40:1 screen, see how they figure it out, everything's not about TV's and direct-view displays, they have tone mapping controls for projectors in the player, SDR/BT.2020 feature, movable subtitles, just that last bit of functionality, which could be seen as common with these Panasonic's, that is missing, I would love a 2.40:1 cropped output mode, a 1/4 zoom reduction for electronically zooming down 1.78:1 content in case I don't want to move my lens for that short a time, how about more closer nit steps in the HDR Optimizer for projectors, not just 350 and 500? There sure are things to add and resolve with these players, you just need to see it from the consumers perspective.

Just get a 16x9 screen and forget about it. Then enjoy your PJ. They are excellent. 16x9 is half way between 2:35:1 and 4x3 anyway. A good medium. I always thought 2:35:1 screens were a hav anyway. UHD is built around 16x9.
In saying that I watch a lot of 4x3 old films.
What are you going to do with Justice league? Gee that is going to be painful.

Originally Posted by Energy Crisis

I get that it's frustrating to you, but it's a bit unrealistic to expect a standalone player to address very specific, extremely niche wish list features like these. I mean, I have a projector myself and none of this is important to me.

Agreed. I just turn stuff on. Drink a bourbon and enjoy. Changing ratios just happen.

[stmhlm]

Ya'll got 16ft ceilings? I would never choose another A/R than cinemascope, 2.40:1 does it for me, end of.

[nachoju95]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

For me at least, I really haven't any issues with my 820. Obviously, Panasonic should get the main issues fixed, like the DV ones but some of these "extra" requests may not happen due to the limitations of the player. Sure, it's one of the most powerful players out there. But in terms of added extra features, I'm not sure they can do that without creating a brand new player.

For me, as long as they fix the issues with DV and compatibility issues with some discs, I'm pretty satisfied. I know a lot of us are videophiles, but we can't always get wrapped up in these "I wish" situations or constantly worry about this setting or that setting (and trust me, I do the same thing). But sometimes, we just need to sit back and enjoy the content we are watching, especially the 4K content that can be played on the Panny 420, 820, or 9000!!

It would be excellent if they fixed the DV problem, but for my minimum I would like the option of external subtitles, since now Arrow, Kino, Synapse and Shout Factory are re leasing 4K titles with only English subtitles.
So I don't think it's a very crazy upgrade to ask for because the firmware version 1.66 in China has this option enabled, and the improved firmware as well.

[Badas]

Originally Posted by stmhlm

Ya'll got 16ft ceilings? I would never choose another A/R than cinemascope, 2.40:1 does it for me, end of.

I get ya!
However if its outside the Blu-ray or UHD ratio spec you will have except some inconveniences.

I don't have a 16ft ceiling but I fit a 108" screen easily and I sit one screen width back. So it works out IMax Scope 1:1.

[stmhlm]

Great!

[Badas]

Hey,

Does your 9000's get hot? Mine does and the fan doesn't activate.
The 820 stays super cool compared to the 9000. Fan has never activated on 820 either.