Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[chip75]

Originally Posted by gkolb

Not sure what your question is in last sentence.
UHD 4K discs are ALL region free, any player is still region locked for regular Blu-ray Discs. Have not read that anyone in this thread has found a Mod for region free after market for Panny player. There is a “work-around” using the remote for many Panasonic players. See Post 1044 in this thread.

I think there's a firmware mod available, but you have to donate to the cause (and £40 donations haven't been accepted).

[Clark Burk]

Problem with firmware mods is it’s stuck to that current firmware. If you want to update your player to a new firmware that comes out it will erase the old mod. I’m guessing more cost to update again. Not recommended, especially the way this player is updating firmware quickly due to app updates.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Clark Burk

Problem with firmware mods is it’s stuck to that current firmware. If you want to update your player to a new firmware that comes out it will erase the old mod. I’m guessing more cost to update again. Not recommended, especially the way this player is updating firmware quickly due to app updates.

I think they send out a new update when they're available. The Panasonic players have got a plug and play mod, but they haven't done one for the UHD players yet.

[Geoff D]

They do...once you "donate" another tenner, so lots of firmware upgrades could get real expensive like.

[LordoftheRings]

▪ https://www.soundandvision.com/conte...-player-review

[ray0414]

Do either if these have an input like the oppo do?

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by ray0414

Do either if these have an input like the oppo do?

If you’re asking about HDMI In, then no.
Another oversight.

[ray0414]

Originally Posted by gkolb

If you’re asking about HDMI In, then no.
Another oversight.

bummer. I was about to get 1 of these. maybe next years models.

[d514]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

They do...once you "donate" another tenner, so lots of firmware upgrades could get real expensive like.

You don't have to install every update. The price doesn't go up if you skip a few of them.

[Geoff D]

Sure you don't, and it helps that the Pannys are onto the second generation so the huge swathe of firmware updates issued for the UB900 - updates which actually added useful features and/or corrected problems - won't be necessary. But still, the risk always lives.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by tbessie

Hi folks...

I'm trying to decide whether I should wait for the DP-UB9000 or just get the DP-UB820 now.

I would love to see a spreadsheet showing all the differences, but all I've found so far is:

1) The DP-UB9000 has more analog ports in the back for audiophiles
2) The DP-UB9000 has better/stronger build quality and more noise-dampening

That's all I've read about in their differences.

I don't need #1, as I don't have a big place, just a small area near my couch I use for watching movies; just regular old bookshelf speakers for playback.

#2 would be nice, as I'm trying to make my home theater system as quiet as possible.

Does anyone know any more about the differences, or can point me to a chart that compares the two units? As it is, #2 would make it worth waiting for me.

- Tim

I'm the same, I just care about #2. But I can't get any real info on say how much better the optical components are. Eg will they handle problem discs better?

[Smack]

Does anybody know how much i have to pay to update the moddified firmware? 5 € or more?

[MarkyM]

Originally Posted by cjake

When I configure my 820 to HDR/BT2020:

Netflix: Optimizer functions, HDR with Atmos
Amazon: Optimizer functions, HDR but no Atmos
YouTube: Optimizer does not function, HDR picture is washed out.

I can't seem to get HDR on Amazon. Is there a setting I'm missing?
Netflix is fine with both HDR and Atmos.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Smack

Does anybody know how much i have to pay to update the moddified firmware? 5 € or more?

I think it's closer to €50, I know people have offered £40 with no success. But heed Geoff D's warnings.

[cjake]

Originally Posted by MarkyM

I can't seem to get HDR on Amazon. Is there a setting I'm missing?
Netflix is fine with both HDR and Atmos.

The only issue I initially had with Amazon HDR was that I had left the UB820 color space setting to its default 4:2:0. I had to change it to 4:4:4 to get HDR.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by cjake

The only issue I initially had with Amazon HDR was that I had left the UB820 color space setting to its default 4:2:0. I had to change it to 4:4:4 to get HDR.

Yes, because the Panasonic only outputs streaming at 50/60Hz then you have to make sure that the 4K60 4:2:0 setting is on the full-fat output. If you have it on 4:2:0 then it will convert all HDR 4K50/60 content to SDR 709.

[MarkyM]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yes, because the Panasonic only outputs streaming at 50/60Hz then you have to make sure that the 4K60 4:2:0 setting is on the full-fat output. If you have it on 4:2:0 then it will convert all HDR 4K50/60 content to SDR 709.

Well, Netflix is working fine in 4K HDR so I don't think its a setting issue with the 820. Maybe an app setting somewhere?

[MarkyM]

I checked and the Color Space is set to 4:4:4

[HDTV1080P]

The Panasonic DP-UB820 received an excellent review from Sound and Vision magazine. Panasonic has always been one of the best Blu-ray players on the market, and now they offer outstanding HDR playback that outperforms most Blu-ray players on the market. This is also the very first Blu-ray player that supports HDR10+ which is needed for people that plan on purchasing 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and displays that support HDR10+ technology. The HDR10+ feature of this player could not be reviewed since no 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on the market support that feature yet.

Some select word for word quotes from the Sound and Vision magazine review

“Today’s Ultra HD Blu-ray player market is drastically smaller than the one for the spinning-disc machines of old.”


“The UB820 is also the first player I’m aware of that supports the new HDR10+ format. While no discs exist yet in this format, having that support helps future-proof the player. Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR is also included and Dolby Vision support will be added in a firmware update slated for Fall 2018.”


“…but I was bummed to note the lack of an HDMI input. That’s a feature that the now discontinued Oppo Digital players offered,…”


“The arrival of HDR has been both a blessing and curse.”

“The problem, however, is that there is no standard of any kind for tone mapping, so every TV and projector manufacturer handles it differently.”

“Another issue is that HDR10 programs contain metadata that’s supposed to inform the display about the program’s characteristics. More often than not, this data is largely inadequate (or missing, or wrong), so the tone map is generated based on incomplete or misleading information. This is the primary cause of viewer complaints about HDR images looking too dark or displaying clipping in highlights.”


“The DP-UB820 is an outstanding UHD Blu-ray player that matches the reference- level playback of Panasonic's previous UB900 but adds much-needed features to optimize HDR playback.”

Read more at https://www.soundandvision.com/conte...-player-review

[DLCPhoto]

Originally Posted by MarkyM

Well, Netflix is working fine in 4K HDR so I don't think its a setting issue with the 820. Maybe an app setting somewhere?

Make sure you're selecting the HDR version of whatever content you're looking at in Amazon. It's kind of funky in that it has separate listings for the regular HD and the full HDR version, and if you don't select the 'right' one, you won't get HDR. You've got to search specifically for the HDR version.