Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by b_scott

sorry but the Kaleidoscape stuff just isn't genpop at all and isn't worth mentioning.

server farms do get less expensive the more that drives get larger and faster over time. Same as they've always done. That in addition to compression getting smarter, which can make files smaller for the same look.

I run a 135" screen and have a 4K upres projector as well as 65" OLED 4K from this year - I love my 4K discs but even I can see that Vudu streaming looks damn good even at 135". At some point the image quality snobbery with streaming seems to be just that - it's really not as bad as some users here make it out to be. And in 5 years? It'll be way better.

I can still see compression issues with Vudu. They're not even the best streaming service, of the low bitrate streaming companies. I have a 4k HDR projector and fairly large screen like you



The audio is of lesser quality than most discs as well. Lossless still for the win.



There's no snobbery involved. Some consumers just expect and demand more quality than others or can spot compression anomalies more readily than others.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by b_scott

At some point the image quality snobbery with streaming seems to be just that - it's really not as bad as some users here make it out to be. And in 5 years? It'll be way better.

It will depend on what competition there is. I don't think the general public are that interested in better and better encodes, once the, "It looks good to me!" threshold is reached, providers know they don't have to go much further.

[b_scott]

Originally Posted by chip75

It will depend on what competition there is. I don't think the general public are that interested in better and better encodes, once the, "It looks good to me!" threshold is reached, providers know they don't have to go much further.

that's something we said in 2010 with 1080p Bluray. Then 4K UHD and HDR came, then Dolby Vision came.

[KcMsterpce]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

There's no snobbery involved. Some consumers just expect and demand more quality than others or can spot compression anomalies more readily than others.

People on these forums are realllly high up on the "snobbery" spectrum compared to the other 98% in this world. I agree with you, but the thing is, the general masses don't notice blu-ray vs. 4k HDR as much different. A lot still think DVD looks "fine". So we're the exception.

Originally Posted by chip75

It will depend on what competition there is. I don't think the general public are that interested in better and better encodes, once the, "It looks good to me!" threshold is reached, providers know they don't have to go much further.

Yes, this is the issue. I think with streaming, audio is more of a frustration for me than video. I think many 4k streams look great, but every time I watch one in "Atmos" and then buy the actual disc, it takes me all of 5-20 seconds to go "Oh wow! DAMN that's so much better!" - Unless it's Disney.
- But people don't typically have a dedicated sound system, so again... we're the exception, not particularly the rule.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by b_scott

it's going to be both. I get that you have a pessimistic view, but people don't put up with SD anymore and in 2030 they're not going to put up with 1080p on 120" wallpaper screens.

We already have 2160p…

[b_scott]

Originally Posted by Naiera

We already have 2160p…

i'm making the comparison. If you think the average joe six pack has a 4K UHD player or pays extra for 4K on certain streaming services then you're dreaming. Many don't even have a 4K compatible screen. Many still buy DVDs from the grocery store line.

But in a few years, the tastes will get more refined. And in addition so will the enthusiasts. 8K will be more common. So 4K streams will need to look even better.

[Naiera]

That’s just, like, your opinion, man.

[b_scott]

Originally Posted by Naiera

That’s just, like, your opinion, man.

opinion only based on 40 years of home video releases.

[pbz06]

b_scott has a point. I get what you guys are saying. YES, we know the average joe schmoe 6pack dude doesn't care about 4K UHD, nor does the Disney princess watching suburban mom. That's always been the case....but you know what? video quality and technologies have been improving and advancing still. From the first black and white tube, to now massive 135" screens and every display technology and production specs from VHS, DVD, Blu-ray etc.

We can be all doom and gloom, but I feel like we've been saying this for years. Sure, that day might come, it might not be ideal initially for the niche enthusiasts like us, but it will still be improving in the big picture scheme of things even though it might be a temporary step back. Contrary to popular belief, we have been moving forward and will continue to do so.

This reminds me of the "baseball is dying" crowd. Ever since 1898, there have been rumblings how the sport is going downhill and it's "not the same". Someone on some blog compiled articles every 5 years predicting the demise of the sport and here we are 100+ years later.

[b_scott]

Originally Posted by pbz06

This reminds me of the "baseball is dying" crowd. Ever since 1898, there have been rumblings how the sport is going downhill and it's "not the same". Someone on some blog compiled articles every 5 years predicting the demise of the sport and here we are 100+ years later.

100%

Back in 2007 my wife didn't understand why I cared about blu-ray. She felt TV looked good enough. Even the downloads of shows back then. After awhile, if I got a rip that was badly encoded (but still better than cable) she would be like "why does it look so bad?". haha. People get used to better and better content and then anything less looks like crap. It just takes time.

If we are watching streaming and it's less than 4K she'll comment on it now.

[rickardl]

For 1080p blu-rays, has anyone looked into what the "Picture Type" Cinema and/or Fine Cinema does vs the Normal setting?
They seem to bring down highlights and also affects black level.

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by b_scott

100%

Back in 2007 my wife didn't understand why I cared about blu-ray. She felt TV looked good enough. Even the downloads of shows back then. After awhile, if I got a rip that was badly encoded (but still better than cable) she would be like "why does it look so bad?". haha. People get used to better and better content and then anything less looks like crap. It just takes time.

If we are watching streaming and it's less than 4K she'll comment on it now.

Yup. I think it's more that the masses are behind the curve and much slower to adapt or catch on, but they eventually come around and appreciate the advancements. If not, then we wouldn't have better everything in terms of technologies.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Naiera

I got a Zidoo

It puts PCM in the wrong channels so be aware of that.

I never noticed until listening to multi channel music but then it's painfully obvious.


On another note - My UB9000 would sometimes not open the tray. I found out that like other players there is a slot under the unit to manually open the tray. In the case of the UB9000 it's with a lot of other slots but there is a single extra one just next to the one that does it.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by HorrorBlu

It's me again. The one who had a disc stuck in their player the other week. Was able to retrieve the disc with help from the kind folks here. Had been working fine since then... until tonight when it happened again!

Fortunately I was able to get the disc out using the same method as before, but will probably have to send it in for warranty because I can't keep doing this every ten uses or so. Bought it in November, so less than a year.

After I mentioned it, there were about three other users that mentioned their player was having the same issue, where it won't eject. I guess I'm just wondering how wide an issue this is? I don't want to have it replaced and just have the same issue start happening again in a few months.

This is the 420 by the way.

My UB9000 has a slot on the bottom to release the tray.

I bet yours does too ... I saw the info in a youtube vid but can't find it again.

My UB9000 has several slots that look like ventilation and one extra slot next to the others ... the one to use is next to this extra slot. Put any tool in there and slide to the side and the tray opens.

Since doing it I haven't had the problem again ... so far.

[HorrorBlu]

^ Yeah, that's the method I used to get it out the second and third time. I haven't used the player since the third time. Worked fine for maybe ten uses between each time it happened. All three times only happened in the past month, it worked fine before that.

Trying to decide if I want to send it in for the manufacturer warranty or keep using it and see if it happens a fourth. I just don't want to have to keep unhooking it and manually ejecting it with a paperclip every couple uses.

Thanks though.

I actually left my old blu-ray player hooked up to the same TV fortunately, so I've just been watching DVDs and blu-rays in the meantime.

[bhampton]

Keep in mind if a disc is in there you want to not do it while it's upside down for the most part.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by bhampton

It puts PCM in the wrong channels so be aware of that.

I've noticed some issues in this regard. I'm downmixing to stereo and once in a while (typically with DD and DD+) it seems like it'll drop one of the back surround channels. It'll be obvious during some music, but not all, and certain effects will go missing as well. A few weeks ago someone was thrown over a science table with glass getting smashed, I think it was, and it was all but silent.

I'd love to hear about your experiences. There are obviously a few things here that need fixin'.

[bhampton]

I noticed it with the 5.1 mixes of Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here.

It's pretty clear with music. For Example, If effects are missing from Money intro. I'm not sure I ever noticed it being a problem with movies.

Also the new ATMOS mix of Dark Side of the Moon plays perfectly. Zidoo does ATMOS well.

[Naiera]

I'm putting together a list of grievances. I'll see about making the sound issues more of a general thing, rather than just for downmixing.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by b_scott

that's something we said in 2010 with 1080p Bluray. Then 4K UHD and HDR came, then Dolby Vision came.

I get that, but what would be the incentive of Netflix or Disney to do so? if 8K sets become the majority in homes (is 4K even that?), we may see content, but we're not talking content or resolution, we're talking quality.

In the UK we have DAB radio and the bitrates are shockingly low and have been for years and I doubt there's much progress there. Are folks mainly listening in their cars, like those watching Netflix on their tablets (I wonder what the ratio of TVs/tablets is?) and happy with what they've got whilst audiophiles are listening on higher end equipment with quality sources?