Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Riggins1]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Try turning off the Advanced Contrast Enhancer.

For someone who is terrible at this stuff, how do I do that?
Still experiencing this annoying flickering. Help!

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Riggins1

For someone who is terrible at this stuff, how do I do that?
Still experiencing this annoying flickering. Help!

Not a player thing though, it’s a feature on Sony TVs.

[Riggins1]

Ok. I have an OLED CX. Anything I can do?

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The bit depth of the Optimised output is not, erm, optimal. It can induce banding on some content and soon as you turn it on the video signal is being re-routed through those processing circuits, it doesn’t matter if the metadata tells it there’s no mapping to be done. On = more banding, which is another reason why I use it sparingly and do NOT leave it turned on by default.

Example of the Optimiser’s banding (on BR2049, funnily enough): https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...5#post15996755

Example on test pattern from the Spears & Munsil Benchmark UHD: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...p#post17698514

Does this happen no matter what setting you put it on (Low, OLED, Super High Luminance, etc)?? I'm just curious to see if this doesn't happen when you have it set to something different. Plus, I feel like this setting should be a set and leave it alone type deal. I shouldn't have to turn it "On" and "Off" each time I want to watch a movie that the HDR content is below the Optimizer's setting.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

Does this happen no matter what setting you put it on (Low, OLED, Super High Luminance, etc)?? I'm just curious to see if this doesn't happen when you have it set to something different. Plus, I feel like this setting should be a set and leave it alone type deal. I shouldn't have to turn it "On" and "Off" each time I want to watch a movie that the HDR content is below the Optimizer's setting.

It's there regardless of Low/Medium/Super High/OLED setting, regardless of whether it's got anything to tone map, it's an artefact inherent to the Optimiser's processing pathway. As soon as you turn it on, it's doing this. You can feel however you want about it, but I'm not leaving something on all the time that I know for a fact can be a detriment to the image.

It also struggles with what I call 'fake HDR', that is to say SDR highlight levels baked with thousands of nits, because its tone mapping is designed to compress an actual HDR range of highlight detail. It does so in good faith, this is what it's meant to do, but when it applies this to 'fake HDR' content it can actually end up clipping highlights which is another reason why I don't leave it on all the time.

This is why I call it a "dumb" tone mapper because it doesn't know anything about what the source material is actually doing i.e. it's not analysing the actual content, it's looking solely at the metadata numbers. Even blunt instruments have their uses, the Optimiser is excellent at taming Sony's Light Cannon™️ grades (and the banding doesn't matter there because all that grain dithers the image properly) but I use it on an ad hoc basis, not set and forget.

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by Jack Priest

So, regarding tone mapping, what's the best I best I can do between the Panasonic UB820 & LG CX? I currently just have Dynamic Tone Mapping (not sure if that means there is a non "Dynamic' tone mapping setting somewhere) set to Off on the TV (again, down to Vincent Teoh's comments) and HDR Optimzer turned On on the player. Should I be changing the settings between discs?

That's a good starting point. From there, if you want a set it and forget it, keep HDR Optimizer "on" at all times unless you see or notice banding (per Geoff's PSA).

[dannalexcon]

Good evening (In Sweden anyway)

I'm planning on buying the UB820. I've had my eye on it for a couple of years but I went for the UB450 instead, which is fine A/V wise but it's currently being "repaired" (hopefully) beacause of very loud constant noise tested on several discs(my Panasonic 1994 Laserdisc player is pretty much silent in comparison). Even if they replace or fix the 450 I'm leaning towards buying the 820 anyway. But before I do I have a few questions:

1. How much of a difference does the HCX processor make PQ-wise over the 450?

2. Does it handle DV and HDR better?

3. How loud is it? Especially compared to the 450 which was rather noisy even before it started sounding like a sowing machine.

4. Is it recommended to turn off the HDR tonemapping function in the TV when using the HDR optimizer? I have a Panasonic 65" HZ980. How do owners of the 820 here feel about the HDR optimizer? Many reviewers have given it high marks, but I've also heard that it induces artifacts such as banding, that it can clip highlights, and that it does little to nothing for some discs and sometimes makes the picture look too dark. Any truth to this?

5. Should I wait? Since I waited this long I can wait a bit longer if I know that there's new player around the corner this year. It would be a bit annoying if I spend 500$ on player just to see it being eclipsed by a new player for the same price or less. I know, i know, that's how it is with electronics, but since the 820 is 4 years old by now, chances are that a new player would have significant improvements. Any speculations/guesses on the matter?

[rroeder]

I just got my 820 setup and had a few questions-

-Is 4K or Auto the right resolution setting?, do I need to manually change if I want 1080p?
-Is the HDR optimizer supposed to be disabled during Dolby Vision playback?
-Where is the CEC HDMI control setting?, is it the Viera Link setting?? My receiver was changing input when I loaded a disc till I turned that setting off
-Is the display info only under the Options menu or is there another quick display button? Didn't see anything

Thx for the help

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I just got my 820 setup and had a few questions-

-Is 4K or Auto the right resolution setting?, do I need to manually change if I want 1080p?
-Is the HDR optimizer supposed to be disabled during Dolby Vision playback?
-Where is the CEC HDMI control setting?, is it the Viera Link setting?? My receiver was changing input when I loaded a disc till I turned that setting off
-Is the display info only under the Options menu or is there another quick display button? Didn't see anything

Thx for the help

- Auto will always upscale to 4K anyway so it doesn't matter. If you want source direct, you'll need to manually set to 1080p.
- Yes, it's only for HDR10.
- Yes, Viera link is Panasonic name for CEC, same way Sony uses Bravia Sync name etc.
- There should be a playback info button, which shows the metadata on the disc etc. You can also use the status button to see current chapter and timestamps.

[sephirothkefka]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I just got my 820 setup and had a few questions-

-Is 4K or Auto the right resolution setting?, do I need to manually change if I want 1080p?
-Is the HDR optimizer supposed to be disabled during Dolby Vision playback?
-Where is the CEC HDMI control setting?, is it the Viera Link setting?? My receiver was changing input when I loaded a disc till I turned that setting off
-Is the display info only under the Options menu or is there another quick display button? Didn't see anything

Thx for the help

-I recommend 4K as for blu-rays its upscaler is generally very solid.
-Yes, this is intentional operation due to Dolby's dynamic nature. I assume its disabled for 10+ as well.
-Viera Link is indeed Panny's name for CEC. Disabling that will disable CEC entirely.
-As pbz stated there should be a playback info button on the remote near the d-pad.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I just got my 820 setup and had a few questions-

-Is 4K or Auto the right resolution setting?, do I need to manually change if I want 1080p?
-Is the HDR optimizer supposed to be disabled during Dolby Vision playback?
-Where is the CEC HDMI control setting?, is it the Viera Link setting?? My receiver was changing input when I loaded a disc till I turned that setting off
-Is the display info only under the Options menu or is there another quick display button? Didn't see anything

Thx for the help

There is a detailed guide somewhere but the mods here don’t like me to link it because in their mind I’m doing “self promotion”

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by sephirothkefka

-Yes, this is intentional operation due to Dolby's dynamic nature. I assume its disabled for 10+ as well.

That is correct.

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

There is a detailed guide somewhere but the mods here don’t like me to link it because in their mind I’m doing “self promotion”

All good, two people quickly answered his specific questions already

[sapiendut]

Ah! Didn’t see. I’m only on my phone and I don’t get all responses sent to me.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

There is a detailed guide somewhere but the mods here don’t like me to link it because in their mind I’m doing “self promotion”

If only someone tried to warn you about that…

[DAT_JB]

Originally Posted by dannalexcon

Good evening (In Sweden anyway)

I'm planning on buying the UB820. I've had my eye on it for a couple of years but I went for the UB450 instead, which is fine A/V wise but it's currently being "repaired" (hopefully) beacause of very loud constant noise tested on several discs(my Panasonic 1994 Laserdisc player is pretty much silent in comparison). Even if they replace or fix the 450 I'm leaning towards buying the 820 anyway. But before I do I have a few questions:

2. Does it handle DV and HDR better?
3. How loud is it? Especially compared to the 450 which was rather noisy even before it started sounding like a sowing machine.

2. The UB450 is the best one out there to handle DV. I have had zero issues.

3. My UB450 is almost silent + it has no fan because the power supply is external.

[kevers7290]

I upgraded to a UB9000 for my main theater, so my UB820 is relegated to my bedroom TV (an old Samsung plasma). What is the proper configuration for a 1080p display? I want to make sure the display and player shake hands properly and I don't have any banding or incompatibilities.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by kevers7290

I upgraded to a UB9000 for my main theater, so my UB820 is relegated to my bedroom TV (an old Samsung plasma). What is the proper configuration for a 1080p display? I want to make sure the display and player shake hands properly and I don't have any banding or incompatibilities.

The player should automatically detect the display and set the player to output 1080p and disable HDR. You'll basically want to create or alter a picture preset on the TV however, if you play 4K HDR discs on the plasma to adjust for how dark the picture will be.

[kevers7290]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

The player should automatically detect the display and set the player to output 1080p and disable HDR. You'll basically want to create or alter a picture preset on the TV however, if you play 4K HDR discs on the plasma to adjust for how dark the picture will be.

Thanks! What should I use for "display type?" It defaults to "middle/high luminance LCD," but should I set it to "OLED" for a plasma display?

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by kevers7290

Thanks! What should I use for "display type?" It defaults to "middle/high luminance LCD," but should I set it to "OLED" for a plasma display?

It won't matter. It won't send an HDR signal to a 1080p TV. Those features might even be greyed out.