Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[HDTV1080P]

I have seen both cheap and expensive standalone 480i DVD players go bad in a few months after purchase date around the year 2000, while other people have 20+ year old DVD players that are still working fine.

Been using the year 2016 OPPO UDP-203 almost everyday for almost 8 years with no problems and no repairs needed. Also a family member been using the year 2017 Sony UBP-X800 for almost 7 years with no problems or repairs needed. Cheap around $50 2K Blu-ray players can last 10+ years and higher end 4K Blu-ray players can last 10-20+ years even if used every single day. By the way I still have a few year 2010 Panasonic Blu-ray players hooked up to CRT tube TV’s over component video that are still working fine, and they are now 14 year old players.

[sapiendut]

Just because you’ve seen anecdotal proof doesn’t mean it’s the norm just kike my Pana and Sony DVD players that have lasted about 20 years. Those are not the norm.

[thebarnman]

Originally Posted by ngower

It sounds like there's no real bonafide winner in the 4K player department (as a recent entry into the medium). The 420 at ~$220 I paid for it seems like the best compromise between function and price. I'm hopeful I get long life with little to no problems from it but haven't really had a chance to test it with anything yet.

As long as you don't expect Dolby Vision from it, it should be fine.

[ngower]

Originally Posted by thebarnman

As long as you don't expect Dolby Vision from it, it should be fine.

I don't think DV existed when I bought my TV (X900E) and it doesn't support it. My eyesight sucks so I doubt I'd see the differences between DV and other HDR formats. If I ever do want to go that route I'll just get a better player, but for my needs the 420 (so long as it is functional and stable) is probably fine.

[Telemachus]

I've noticed gaining a stable of players and actually using them all makes them all last longer. If your 820 still plays Blu rays defintiely use it for Blu rays and find another UHD player. I learned that hard lesson when I burned my first PS3 out giving it all the gaming and movie duties. Now I watch DVDs on one player, HD DVDs on another, Blu ray and UHD on the Panny, only games on consoles. I actually hate selling off old players they can always be useful. I have a friend with like 11 different turntables.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I had two 420 that freezes as often as my X700 and X800. Annoying as feck so I never recommended the 420 to anybody. My 820 and two 9000 are flawless for about 4-5 years now and I have added Magnetar 800 too for my bedroom coupled with my lowly miniLED Roku TV.

It's funny as I bought the 820 as soon as it was in stock at Best Buy (I think it was fall 2018?). That player stuttered and froze more than any player I ever experienced - mostly if the disc was not immaculate (not a speck of dust let alone a scratch from the factory). However, for some reason I stuck with it. And then last March I bought a 420 and it's been perfect even playing slightly scratched discs.

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

It's funny as I bought the 820 as soon as it was in stock at Best Buy (I think it was fall 2018?). That player stuttered and froze more than any player I ever experienced - mostly if the disc was not immaculate (not a speck of dust let alone a scratch from the factory). However, for some reason I stuck with it. And then last March I bought a 420 and it's been perfect even playing slightly scratched discs.

I'd imagine from 2018 to now, there have been umpteen firmware updates since. Also, every player needs their disc pretty much in good shape. 4K's are inherently more sensitive.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by jess1581

I'd imagine from 2018 to now, there have been umpteen firmware updates since. Also, every player needs their disc pretty much in good shape. 4K's are inherently more sensitive.

The point is there is drive variation unit to unit. My 420 and 820 were up to date with firmware - it had zilch to do with that. My 820 drive was a POS. My 420 drive is awesome. My 420 played discs the 820 would stutter or freeze on. I also owned an Oppo 203 before these; that initial drive had issues, but very good after the drive was replaced.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I had two 420 that freezes as often as my X700 and X800. Annoying as feck so I never recommended the 420 to anybody. My 820 and two 9000 are flawless for about 4-5 years now and I have added Magnetar 800 too for my bedroom coupled with my lowly miniLED Roku TV.

I never have any freezing issues with my 420, unlike my old x700 which froze on everything.

[sapiendut]

On the X700, freezing is a feature.

[supersoundwave]

Originally Posted by dcx4610

For those looking for a better remote, the N2QAYA000131 is dirt cheap now on eBay. I got mine for $10.

It's missing the HDR setting button (which I don't use anyway) but has the benefit of being larger, has light up buttons and better button placement.

If you want to program the TV button to control your power or volume, here are the codes. Press and hold the TV power on the remote, input one of the codes and then press power again to see if it turns your TV on:

Panasonic: 01/02
LG: 10/11
SAMSUNG: 20/21/22
SONY: 30
VIZIO: 40/41

These will work with the stock remote and the UB900 remote listed above.

I just found this thread - my remote powers on the TV, but won't control my TV's volume. I have a Samsung Q80T.

Any thoughts?

[sapiendut]

Make sure you Samsung’s Anynet turned on and Panasonic player’s VieraLink also turned on.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

On the X700, freezing is a feature.

"The Random Freezer© allows for those spontaneous moments where you need a quick break for something without having to hit the pause button."

[sapiendut]

Lolz

[deatheats]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Make sure you Samsung’s Anynet turned on and Panasonic player’s VieraLink also turned on.

Appreciate you posting that. Couldn’t remember what the Panasonic name for hdmi handshaking was. I found it in the display settings if that helps the original poster. It’s caused some intermittent issues with my smart remote (Sofa Baton) which I bet will go away now that it is off.

[Telemachus]

Freezing discs is complementary on a Sony

[Cortiz]

Sony just want to have the coolest player and i guess they succeeding!

[timfitz99]

For those who were following my drama with the 820 I bought in November (tons of issues with DolbyVision and regular blurays), after a few weeks of troubleshooting with Panasonic they let me send it in for a checkup, and they sent me a replacement.

So far the replacement plays everything that it wouldn't play before (DolbyVision, standard blu-rays) and I'm finally on board with this as a good player. I just had the misfortune of getting a dud first time.

The one issue that remains, DolbyVision lag on God Told Me To... turns out that's a known issue with some Blue Underground UHDs. It's mentioned a lot on the forum for that disk, and on DVDTalk's review. So I'm cool with turning off DolbyVision to play that for the future. I will send a video of the issue to Panasonic though, hopefully they can fix it in an update. The Sony x800 has no issues with it.

What a relief! Watched Talk To Me last night and it looked and sounded glorious (good movie too). Lots of dark scenes to test DolbyVision.

[HanBrolo77]

Originally Posted by timfitz99

For those who were following my drama with the 820 I bought in November (tons of issues with DolbyVision and regular blurays), after a few weeks of troubleshooting with Panasonic they let me send it in for a checkup, and they sent me a replacement.

So far the replacement plays everything that it wouldn't play before (DolbyVision, standard blu-rays) and I'm finally on board with this as a good player. I just had the misfortune of getting a dud first time.

The one issue that remains, DolbyVision lag on God Told Me To... turns out that's a known issue with some Blue Underground UHDs. It's mentioned a lot on the forum for that disk, and on DVDTalk's review. So I'm cool with turning off DolbyVision to play that for the future. I will send a video of the issue to Panasonic though, hopefully they can fix it in an update. The Sony x800 has no issues with it.

What a relief! Watched Talk To Me last night and it looked and sounded glorious (good movie too). Lots of dark scenes to test DolbyVision.

If you have any Kino Lorber 4K discs, keep an eye out for DV issues as well. There’s a notable flicker and lighting shift on several discs with the 820, for me I’ve seen them on Monster Squad, In Bruges and Eternal Sunshine. Thankfully the standard HDR works fine and looks almost as good on my TV.

[thebarnman]

Originally Posted by ngower

If I ever do want to go that route I'll just get a better player, but for my needs the 420 (so long as it is functional and stable) is probably fine.

If your current TV does not support Dolby Vision, don't forget to update that too!