Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by emgesp

I doubt it.

Cinema mode

OLED Pixel Brightness: 60

Contrast: 85

Brightness: 50

ADC: Off

Peak Brightness: High

Gamma: 2.2

Is this SDR? If yes then it looks way too high unless this is for viewing in a bright room.

But if you use this setting in a dark room for movies then pretty much 70% of the HDR movies are going to look perceptually dimmer in terms of average brightness.

Remember setting peak luminance to High on OLEDs could make ABL more noticeable in certain circumstances.

[emgesp]

Originally Posted by lgans316

Is this SDR? If yes then it looks way too high unless this is for viewing in a bright room.

But if you use this setting in a dark room for movies then pretty much 70% of the HDR movies are going to look perceptually dimmer in terms of average brightness.

Remember setting peak luminance to High on OLEDs could make ABL more noticeable in certain circumstances.

This is the setting that to my tastes looks good in both dark and mid day lighting conditions for SDR content.

For Dolby Vision I just use the Cinema Home setting and its perfect for most DV movies. Unless they are torch mode bright like Starship Troopers which in that case I just use the standard DV Cinema setting.

At the end of the day I just like having options to control the overall picture brightness even if its not to "Standard", especially since every movie will be mastered with slightly different levels of average brightness.

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by emgesp

This is the setting that to my tastes looks good in both dark and mid day lighting conditions for SDR content.

For Dolby Vision I just use the Cinema Home setting and its perfect for most DV movies. Unless they are torch mode bright like Starship Troopers which in that case I just use the standard DV Cinema setting.

At the end of the day I just like having options to control the overall picture brightness even if its not to "Standard", especially since every movie will be mastered with slightly different levels of average brightness.

Your TV your preferences.

Preference over reference applies for the masses.

For me I am happy with peak luminance at Low for SDR to get around AsBL and ABL on my 77A80J.

As long as one doesn't complain constantly that HDR looks dim over SDR that's fine although HDR implementation has been all over the place.

[johnny-torrance]

Trying to watch "JAWS" 4K right now on my UB820. Around 48min in it glitches up for a moment then keeps playing minus the audio. It's literally playing the rest of the movie without audio. This player is pure garbage. I've had so many issues with this player, I'm now forced to default to my LG UP870 4K player in order to have a viewing experience with no interruptions. I've turned the VIERA link bullshit off, did a firmware update. I don't know what else I can possibly do with this thing and it's not the discs, the discs play perfectly fine in my LG. I wouldn't recommend this player to anyone. I just got this thing back in late November, I still have the box it came in, if anyone is interested in it, contact me. Maybe someone else can have better luck with it, but I'm sick and tired of it and just gonna put whatever funds I can get for it towards a different player.

[Telemachus]

Originally Posted by emgesp

I doubt it.

Cinema mode

OLED Pixel Brightness: 60

Contrast: 85

Brightness: 50

ADC: Off

Peak Brightness: High

Gamma: 2.2

I'm close to this on an LG for SDR, I use the BT gamma with 40 OLED in dark room, I think 100 nits is around 25-30 on most of these sets but I can't measure to dial it in perfect, 40 is supposed to be around 120 nits. 30 also looks pretty good but I'm used to 40 now. I did change the OLED to 50-60 in the daytime for films but just keep it at 40 all the time. I think I still use 60 for gaming because I keep a side light on, gaming in the dark sucks! Anything over 60 for SDR is bonkers for me.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Ant1010

I always respect your opinions around here Geoff but the selling points were the Projector HDR Optimiser. The 9000 HDR Optimizer has an additional mode for projectors which the 820 doesn’t which makes a difference for me, and also the Noise. it's literally dead silent, especially compared to the 820. It being THX certified is nice as well, I believe the 820 isn't.

Ever notice that the firmware update for this player actually covers the 420, 820 and 9000? Dobly Vision aside (which needs its own chip) the HCX processor inside all three is exactly the same, they just disable certain functions via firmware e.g. 420 has no metadata readout, 820 has no extra projektion modes (and these can actually be 'unlocked' on these players with the enhanced firmware). I'm not saying the players are physically identical, I'm saying that the chip at the heart of each machine is the same.

[johnny-torrance]

I contacted Panasonic customer service and got a service ticket number and have 45 days to ship my UB820 to them. Has anyone ever done this before and what is the process like and does anyone know what exactly what they'll do? I got this player back in November and it's still under the "parts" warranty.

I'm obviously really frustrated with this player at the moment, but I'd really like to have it working properly and not have to start over with another player but at the same time I'd like some idea what I'm in for with this process and what it could possibly cost me. Any help on this would be appreciated. The player has been having a hard time playing discs, both blu-ray and now 4K all the way through without experiencing glitching and freezing.

EDIT -- I got Amazon to fund me. I'm gonna buy a new one or different player all together.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

And do you run SDR at the intended ~100 nits, or....?

I think it's around 28 for the C1 if you want 100 nits.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's just...yeah. I think HDR is absolutely amazing as a format in itself but a complete and total cluster**** of an implementation.

On paper it's the bees knees, but there a lot of stuff in the fine print that grinds my gears.

Hindsight and all that... but it would have been relatively simple to have multiple presets, and have advanced settings for those inclined.

Of course a lot of things could be tweaked with new players, and annoyingly the new consoles have decent options for games, but we seem to be out of luck for movies.

It's weird that other manufacturers haven't brought out something similar to the Optimizer.

[johnny-torrance]

Before I send my Panasonic UB820 back, is it at all possible that the glitching and freezing issue is due to a bad HDMI cable?

EDIT -- Tried a different cable, still got glitching. I'm very conflicted between sending it back to Amazon for refund or sending it off to Panasonic and hoping something can be done to fix the issue. I mean it's possible that they receive the player and say they're not seeing an issue and do nothing, right? I just want a player that can read discs without issue, is that too much to ask..

[chip75]

Originally Posted by johnny-torrance

Before I send my Panasonic UB820 back, is it at all possible that the glitching and freezing issue is due to a bad HDMI cable?

It's unlikely, it's usually sparkles or break-up. If play stops I'd assume it's the discs or player.

[johnny-torrance]

Originally Posted by chip75

It's unlikely, it's usually sparkles or break-up. If play stops I'd assume it's the discs or player.

It's not the discs because every time freezing happens on my 820, I take the disc out and put it in my LG and it plays fine. If I return this and get a UB9000 should I expect similar results? Does the 'top menu' region free trick also work on that player?

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by johnny-torrance

It's not the discs because every time freezing happens on my 820, I take the disc out and put it in my LG and it plays fine. If I return this and get a UB9000 should I expect similar results? Does the 'top menu' region free trick also work on that player?

I would buy an 820 or 9000 from somewhere else. I noticed lately that some places get not as quality products like Best Buy as they used to.

I would go with Value Electronics. That's where I got my 820 back on 2019 and other than a small issue dealing with my surge protector, I haven't had any problems with it. If I had any issues like you were having, Robert would make sure you are taken care of. That's also where I bought my C9!


Note: This isn't any advertisement from him. I just have had great experiences with the store!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by johnny-torrance

It's not the discs because every time freezing happens on my 820, I take the disc out and put it in my LG and it plays fine. If I return this and get a UB9000 should I expect similar results? Does the 'top menu' region free trick also work on that player?

The top menu trick should still be an option, but I'd try another 820 before spending on the 9000.

[johnny-torrance]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

I would buy an 820 or 9000 from somewhere else. I noticed lately that some places get not as quality products like Best Buy as they used to.

I would go with Value Electronics. That's where I got my 820 back on 2019 and other than a small issue dealing with my surge protector, I haven't had any problems with it. If I had any issues like you were having, Robert would make sure you are taken care of. That's also where I bought my C9!


Note: This isn't any advertisement from him. I just have had great experiences with the store!

Thanks I'll consider it. I like to use Amazon out of convenience, but his price on the 820 isn't too bad. If Amazon is getting shit for product I'll go with a safer bet. I was just so sick of the headaches that player was giving me on just about every disc. I'm glad I talked an associate into refunding me even though the return window closed back in January. If you get the right associate in the Amazon chat anything's possible.

Originally Posted by chip75

The top menu trick should still be an option, but I'd try another 820 before spending on the 9000.

So is the 9000 no more reliable than the 820?

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by johnny-torrance

I contacted Panasonic customer service and got a service ticket number and have 45 days to ship my UB820 to them. Has anyone ever done this before and what is the process like and does anyone know what exactly what they'll do? I got this player back in November and it's still under the "parts" warranty.

I'm obviously really frustrated with this player at the moment, but I'd really like to have it working properly and not have to start over with another player but at the same time I'd like some idea what I'm in for with this process and what it could possibly cost me. Any help on this would be appreciated. The player has been having a hard time playing discs, both blu-ray and now 4K all the way through without experiencing glitching and freezing.

EDIT -- I got Amazon to fund me. I'm gonna buy a new one or different player all together.

Panasonic support is reliable if you still under warranty they should fix it for you or as you have said exchange for same player .my recommendation don't choose Sony or LG . GOOD LUCK

[thebigcheese3k]

It’s unfortunate to hear people having issues with this player, I’ve had great luck with my 820. I’ve watched 100s of disc, only had issues with 2 and replacements I got had no issues. Those 2 discs froze and stuttered but I haven’t seen an issue where a disc stuttered and then kept playing fine.

[TravisTylerBlack]

Originally Posted by thebigcheese3k

It’s unfortunate to hear people having issues with this player, I’ve had great luck with my 820. I’ve watched 100s of disc, only had issues with 2 and replacements I got had no issues. Those 2 discs froze and stuttered but I haven’t seen an issue where a disc stuttered and then kept playing fine.

There are definitely some quality control issues going on with the more recent batches of these players. I feel pretty bad for the people I see having issues both here and on reddit, especially those that are beyond the return window.

My unit is already over 4 years old now and still going strong (knock on wood). For the most part it’s utterly silent while spinning discs. It’s also never choked on a title outside of isolated incidents where there’s been either a legit authoring error (Donnie Darko) or physical defect with the product, such as surface scratching or a faulty pressing. Only complaints I have are superficial- IE the dated home screen interface and the crappy remote.

Clearly I got lucky, nabbing mine just a few months before the COVID era manufacturing changes began.

Anyway, we watched JAWS last night in Dolby Vision totally without issue. Looked utterly gorgeous from end to end. It’s crazy how great this transfer looks compared to the creakiness of Jurassic ParK’s 4K.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by johnny-torrance

So is the 9000 no more reliable than the 820?

It maybe, but I'd try another 820 before spending twice as much.

I think the speculation is that the drive tolerances are so low that being slightly out causes playback issues.

[johnny-torrance]

Originally Posted by TravisTylerBlack

Anyway, we watched JAWS last night in Dolby Vision totally without issue. Looked utterly gorgeous from end to end. It’s crazy how great this transfer looks compared to the creakiness of Jurassic ParK’s 4K.

Good to know I wasn't the only one! But yeah, it does look great although I had to appreciate via my LG. I also watched "Born on the Fourth of July", man Dafoe is so great in that.