Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[AKORIS]

something I've always wanted to ask about in regards to individual user settings... if I'm missing something then I apologize in advance--
seems like most people around here meticulously tinker with the settings to get it "just right"

but then if you pop in a 4k disc-- all of those settings go out the window as Dolby VIsion and/or HDR 10 automatically apply different settings.

Geoff-- you seem to enjoy watching/collecting 4k discs-- do you stick with these auto settings or are you constantly manually adjusting things in this situation?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

something I've always wanted to ask about in regards to individual user settings... if I'm missing something then I apologize in advance--
seems like most people around here meticulously tinker with the settings to get it "just right"

but then if you pop in a 4k disc-- all of those settings go out the window as Dolby VIsion and/or HDR 10 automatically apply different settings.

Geoff-- you seem to enjoy watching/collecting 4k discs-- do you stick with these auto settings or are you constantly manually adjusting things in this situation?

I do neither, instead I've calibrated my respective SDR/HDR viewing modes using a colourimeter and software to follow industry standards for brightness, contrast, colour, gamma, white balance, etc etc, this includes HDR10. Dolby Vision has certain issues which need correcting for on my TV (slightly undersaturated colour, raised black level in letterbox bars) but even then, once corrected the DV output is virtually indistinguishable from calibrated HDR10, save for slightly reduced brightness.

Yes, for some HDR10 movies they're mastered in excess of the peak brightness of the TV and so need extra help with the tone mapping (this is separate from the calibrated display settings as noted above) but the HDR Optimiser on the Pannysonic player is a decent 'one touch' solution, though the prevalence of Dolby Vision on many new discs means that even the Optimiser has received a very small amount of usage in the last year or two.

So no, I'm not constantly manually adjusting things from movie to movie to movie because the industry benchmarks are there for a reason and are what the content is mastered to. As such, I don't get weird artefacts just pop out of nowhere on whatever movie and whatever I do get, like a blobbing backlight on some starfields, are inherent to the technology of the display which I can't do anything about.

[MailJohnson]

Hey All!

New to the forum so I hope this is the right spot to post this, and sorry in advance as I am sure this has been asked many times before. I am looking to upgrade my Blu-Ray player. I am caught between the Panasonic 820 and 9000. The more I read the more confused I get!!

For reference, i'm running a Marantz 7013 > Monitor Audio Silver surround speakers and a 65' Samsung QLED TV.

I am wondering if it is worth going up to the 9000? I imagine the DAC in my receiver is better than in the player. Therefore is the analog outputs needed? Or am I better running it through HDMI? It is my understanding that if running through HDMI the 820 and 9000 are basically the same. Thanks for your help!

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by MailJohnson

Hey All!

New to the forum so I hope this is the right spot to post this, and sorry in advance as I am sure this has been asked many times before. I am looking to upgrade my Blu-Ray player. I am caught between the Panasonic 820 and 9000. The more I read the more confused I get!!

For reference, i'm running a Marantz 7013 > Monitor Audio Silver surround speakers and a 65' Samsung QLED TV.

I am wondering if it is worth going up to the 9000? I imagine the DAC in my receiver is better than in the player. Therefore is the analog outputs needed? Or am I better running it through HDMI? It is my understanding that if running through HDMI the 820 and 9000 are basically the same. Thanks for your help!

They are basically the same but the 9000 has a better and quieter disc drive, quieter chasis, better power supply and better build in general. Regardless your choicw, when you get yours, follow the detailed setup guide in my signature. It’s long but you need it.

[MailJohnson]

Will do! Thank you! Am I correct in thinking that my receiver will have a better DAC then the 9000? Or would it be better to run analog? Might just be a trial and error, see what it sounds like I suppose. Thanks!

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by MailJohnson

Will do! Thank you! Am I correct in thinking that my receiver will have a better DAC then the 9000? Or would it be better to run analog? Might just be a trial and error, see what it sounds like I suppose. Thanks!

You need to compare it yourself. When it comes to digital to analog conversion, a lot have to do with the analog stage of the DAC. I personally love my UB9000 analog out sent to the receiver with the receiver set to Pure Direct (non processing and no bass management)

[Compson]

Originally Posted by MailJohnson

Will do! Thank you! Am I correct in thinking that my receiver will have a better DAC then the 9000? Or would it be better to run analog? Might just be a trial and error, see what it sounds like I suppose. Thanks!

I think you’ll find the player’s DACs are better. I have the Marantz AV8805 and use the player’s analog outs. This assumes that like the 8805, the 7013 passes through analog signals without converting them to digital and then back to analog.

[CreasyBear]

I love this player. I've had it about a week now and it's just a tank. The build quality is the best I've ever experienced. It's super quiet. Plays everything without a hiccup.

[mcrowell415]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

when you get yours, follow the detailed setup guide in my signature. It’s long but you need it.

Just bought the 820 and I am suppose to get it Friday. I'm glad I came across this post. Thanks.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

You need to compare it yourself. When it comes to digital to analog conversion, a lot have to do with the analog stage of the DAC. I personally love my UB9000 analog out sent to the receiver with the receiver set to Pure Direct (non processing and no bass management)

In that case u are loosing dolby atmos and dtsx, anyway I have an old receiver which has analog inputs looking forward to try it. In the meantime I am using str-dn1060 Sony with ub900 and Ub820 through HDMI. thank you for the video everything was setup correctly except for hdmi color space was auto change it accordingly. I am using oled Panasonic GZ950B.

[sapiendut]

No you won’t. I’m referring to the 2-ch audio using XLR analog out on my UB9000. So the 2ch CD playback is using the internal DAC. For the rest of audio I use HDMI so I get all the multichannel audio including X and Atmos that way.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

No you won’t. I’m referring to the 2-ch audio using XLR analog out on my UB9000. So the 2ch CD playback is using the internal DAC. For the rest of audio I use HDMI so I get all the multichannel audio including X and Atmos that way.

Understood.

[manwithnoname64]

Originally Posted by Stormyyy

No problem at all! It was a great deal but who really knows how used and old it is. I would rather pay the extra from best buy and have the warranty. Plus if I scratch it, then I don't mind it as much because I did it. Definitely avoid the 9000 from WOOT IMO.

My box was beat to hell, but the player looked and has played flawlessly. I’m guessing mine was returned because the box was smashed up and taped to stay together.

[Naiera]

I got a 824 (our 820) a couple of weeks ago and the way the HDR to SDR conversion shits all over the Sony UBP-X800m2 is insane. The Sony has slightly better build quality, a nicer remote and is noticeably quicker, but overall the 824 is so much better it's not even funny.

[Wormicide]

I’m guessing another CES and another year of no new players

[Naiera]

Not sure new players are needed

Some totally revamped firmware for existing players would be real nice, though. The two mid-rangers I’ve had are not impressive as far as UI and such goes.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Naiera

I got a 824 (our 820) a couple of weeks ago and the way the HDR to SDR conversion shits all over the Sony UBP-X800m2 is insane. The Sony has slightly better build quality, a nicer remote and is noticeably quicker, but overall the 824 is so much better it's not even funny.

Exactly. It’s actually even better than Oppo 203 (which I used to own but got rid of it in favour of UB9000) The only way people say “it’s not much different than Sony” is if they don’t set the player properly (see link in my signature).

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Wormicide

I’m guessing another CES and another year of no new players

There is no point to have a newer player (other than perhaps to have 8K upscaling) as the current ones are already the best on the market.

[Panson]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

There is no point to have a newer player (other than perhaps to have 8K upscaling) as the current ones are already the best on the market.

Source direct?

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Panson

Source direct?

If you’re looking for source direct, you should get Sony X800. People buy Panasonic for the HDR Optimizer and Chroma Upsampler. Both of which are post processing.