Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by dcx4610

If it's making loud noises, it's buffering and/or the laser is having trouble reading the disc. I'd check your discs to make sure there aren't any scratches. With the amount of data being read by the laser, even the slightest of scratches can cause buffering and ultimately, pixelation if the scratch is big enough.

I've had had a problem with pixelation where I didn't find a scratch. It's usually Disney double stacked discs. Make sure to hold it up to the light to look.

If everything looks fine, the laser might be going out.

Thanks for your input. However, I don't think I made my issues clear enough. The loud noises and pixelating after pausing are two separate issues. When the player makes those loud noises, I've never witnessed any pixelation during that time.

I generally check my discs rigorously for scratches and wipe them thoroughly before playing.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

Not too long. No longer than 3-5 minutes. I pretty much only play UHD in that player. It definitely didn't use to do this with this frequency. I've unplugged it a couple times, most recently for almost day, in the hopes of a 'reset'.

Try it with some Blu-ray discs.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

I some questions about my Panasonic DP-UB820-K.

For a while, it has made loud noises with certain discs or in certain sections of discs during playback. Does anyone else's do this?

A new issue I've noticed is where the picture pixelates after it has been paused for a while. Reversing and playing through the scene again always plays fine. I'm wondering if this is also a player issue? Maybe some kind of buffering issue?

Essentially, I'm wondering if my player is 'dying'?

I plan to buy a new one and continue testing. So my last question is there a place you'd recommend sending the original one to be repaired? I'd like to have a backup player at some point anyway aside from my irreplaceable Oppo UDP-203.

Thanks a lot!

If it's making loud noises and pixelating on more than just the occasionally flawed disc then your optical drive might be failing. The laser diode being used for 4k Blu-ray's seems to not last as long as those for CD, DVD, or even standard Blu-rays. More than one manufacturer has issues with this.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

If it's making loud noises and pixelating on more than just the occasionally flawed disc then your optical drive might be failing. The laser diode being used for 4k Blu-ray's seems to not last as long as those for CD, DVD, or even standard Blu-rays. More than one manufacturer has issues with this.

Thanks for this. That's my fear. Is this a repairable issue, or is it not worth pursuing?

[Panson]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

Thanks for this. That's my fear. Is this a repairable issue, or is it not worth pursuing?

IF parts are available.

[IdeaOfEvil]

So, my Sony X700 (220 region free model) just freezes and locks up with every single 4k disc I play now, new and old. And now that I'm looking to get this Panasonic 820 model, I'm just wondering if there's ever a time it might usually go on sale for under the current $420 price tag (before taxes) that i should wait out for? Thanks

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IdeaOfEvil

So, my Sony X700 (220 region free model) just freezes and locks up with every single 4k disc I play now, new and old. And now that I'm looking to get this Panasonic 820 model, I'm just wondering if there's ever a time it might usually go on sale for under the current $420 price tag (before taxes) that i should wait out for? Thanks

It has dropped much lower than that, but if you're lucky you might be able to get an open box deal for around $300 from Best Buy without waiting for a sale.

[Kirk Out]

Tried to watch Ridley Scott black rain blu ray on my 820 and player would not read it , my ps5 and x700 will . Very disappointed

[danny24]

Originally Posted by Kirk Out

Tried to watch Ridley Scott black rain blu ray on my 820 and player would not read it , my ps5 and x700 will . Very disappointed

I have an 820 just threw my Black Rain BD in there and it played just fine.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Kirk Out

Tried to watch Ridley Scott black rain blu ray on my 820 and player would not read it , my ps5 and x700 will . Very disappointed

The player has good taste then. The film is great but the Blu-ray is tragibad

[Steve]

I'm looking to pick up a stand-alone player in the near future. I would like to stay under $500-ish. Dolby Vision and Atmos are musts. Is the Panasonic 820 still considered the best player in this price range?

[Panson]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The player has good taste then. The film is great but the Blu-ray is tragibad

Looks good to me. What shortcoming(s) do you find?

[Panson]

Originally Posted by Steve

I'm looking to pick up a stand-alone player in the near future. I would like to stay under $500-ish. Dolby Vision and Atmos are musts. Is the Panasonic 820 still considered the best player in this price range?

Sony UBP-X800M2 (metal build), currently $250, vs $425 for Panasonic UB820.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Panson

Looks good to me. What shortcoming(s) do you find?

It's got Paramount's patented DNR that freezes the grain in place and makes it gloop and smear around moving objects. Horrible disc.

[Panson]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's got Paramount's patented DNR that freezes the grain in place and makes it gloop and smear around moving objects. Horrible disc.

Eeeuuwww, sorry I asked.

[rickardl]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's got Paramount's patented DNR that freezes the grain in place and makes it gloop and smear around moving objects. Horrible disc.

Do you have a snappy name for that DNR? Similar to Sony's HDR Light Cannon™ ?

[chip75]

Originally Posted by rickardl

Do you have a snappy name for that DNR? Similar to Sony's HDR Light Cannon™ ?

It's a B Movie monster "The Smudge™".

[mutateinsanely]

Originally Posted by RogerMathus

Have confirmed that a Region A Panasonic BD820 will play Region B Blu-Ray discs with certain button sequence.

1.0 Put Region B disc in drawer. Press PLAY.
2.0 When Sorry this Disc is wrong Region appears, press STOP
3.0 Press TOP MENU and wait for menu screen to appear, Press ENTER for PLAY on Menu
The movie now starts.

Note: If you get a not allowed error message when TOP MENU is first pressed, press TOP MENU
again after error message at top of screen goes off. There may be some wait time. Lions
Gate Region B works with second press of TOP MENU button.

This has worked smoothly on five out of five different labels from UK that are Region B locked.
(Arrow, BFI,Masters of Cinema, CURZON Artificial Eye and Universal)

Could not make this work on France or Germany Region B discs.managed to play one German disc by skipping STOP and going to TOP MENU first.

I came up with a remote hack that plays all those region b blu rays (not dvd) listed above plus powerhouse/indicator all german, french, italian, finnish, etc. region b that I have tried. Only had a couple titles it didn't work on. It is a variation on the above hack....with a few tweaks. This hack is effective using the original stock remote that came with the unit dp ub820. This hack has made this unit just about region free for me. I know a lot of people have this fine unit and I'd like to help everyone get the most out of it. I don't know if I should post it though. I'm no expert on whether Panasonic would or could make it ineffective with firmware update. If they could or did that would suck. I suppose I could disable firmware updates over wifi. But I would hate to miss out on any good updates. Probably overthinking it. I have other region free players but I prefer region free on the Panny. What do y'all think?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by rickardl

Do you have a snappy name for that DNR? Similar to Sony's HDR Light Cannon™ ?

Someone else came up with DigiSmear™️ for the Paramount DNR

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Panson

Sony UBP-X800M2 (metal build), currently $250, vs $425 for Panasonic UB820.

Excellent, thank you!