Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by TheHistorian

Something I've been wondering...

How much, if any, additional wear am I introducing to the player if I pause a disc for a while (get up from the couch to go make a sandwich, say) or FF through an entire film (which I do with every new 4K that comes in the door, as they're so prone to issues)?

I don’t understand why would anyone be making a sandwich in the middle of a movie. I usually prepped everything so I don’t need to press pause during the entire presentation.

[hemlis1357]

Originally Posted by unknownuser0001

Is there any way to keep LFE in the downmixed PCM stereo? I'm feeding my headphone amp via optical but bass is not that deep so I'm assuming LFE is not downmixed

I'm not aware of pcm downmixing clipping out LFE info. AFAIK you should only be losing channel seperation/directionality- which you certainly don't need anyway with headphones.

[rroeder]

Originally Posted by TheHistorian

..........or FF through an entire film (which I do with every new 4K that comes in the door, as they're so prone to issues)?

So if the disc has a playback issue what happens does it stop FFing?, how fast are you FFing?? I've never tried this but was curious if it worked or was worth sitting there for however long watching for a picture issue, do you ever miss any playback issues since it's FFing?

[trekky76]

Originally Posted by bjp1979

Is anyone getting blacked out menus on some discs? (Using an LG G3 set to TV led DV). I also have subtitles on non English movies that fluctuate between white and black.

I have the same issue with the A95L. Player led DV fixes it. I don't even get the point of DV anymore. IMO having it disabled saves alot of headaches.

[trekky76]

Tried to rewatch Bad Boys (1995) UHD and run into an odd issue; every couple of minutes the image slows down very briefly and then resumes. No pixelations - only brief pause. Audio is not affected. I actually have 2 editions of the movie and both discs are the same. On PS5 it works (as usual). What could be the issue?

[hemlis1357]

Originally Posted by trekky76

Tried to rewatch Bad Boys (1995) UHD and run into an odd issue; every couple of minutes the image slows down very briefly and then resumes. No pixelations - only brief pause. Audio is not affected. I actually have 2 editions of the movie and both discs are the same. On PS5 it works (as usual). What could be the issue?

Try turning off DV and see if that still happens in HDR10.

I have the same player/TV combo as you, and like you said- Dolby Vision output with the Panasonic seems to cause weird issues

[trekky76]

Originally Posted by hemlis1357

Try turning off DV and see if that still happens in HDR10.

I have the same player/TV combo as you, and like you said- Dolby Vision output with the Panasonic seems to cause weird issues

This movie doesn't have DV so it's not that issue I'm afraid. Even disabling it doesn't help. It's frustrating as the PS5 never has any issues.

[Telemachus]

Originally Posted by TheHistorian

Something I've been wondering...

How much, if any, additional wear am I introducing to the player if I pause a disc for a while (get up from the couch to go make a sandwich, say) or FF through an entire film (which I do with every new 4K that comes in the door, as they're so prone to issues)?

I pause the UB820 (and every player I've ever owned) constantly. I am always going to get drinks, or use the restroom or get snacks, or take a phonecall, or check the online, or order more movies on Amazon while I'm watching a movie. Never had any ill effects.

[TheHistorian]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I don’t understand why would anyone be making a sandwich in the middle of a movie.

I can't always schedule my hunger. That's why they invented the pause button!

Originally Posted by rroeder

So if the disc has a playback issue what happens does it stop FFing?, how fast are you FFing?? I've never tried this but was curious if it worked or was worth sitting there for however long watching for a picture issue, do you ever miss any playback issues since it's FFing?

It depends how bad the problem is. In enough cases, yes, an issue will be obvious. If a disc would have frozen/pixelated/whatever then I still catch it. I guess theoretically if there were just one bad frame it might miss it; I'll take that chance. I usually use two clicks of FF - fast enough to take only a few minutes to get through a film but not so fast as to jump over huge sections, thus defeating the point.

[oneeyedjack]

Hello,
I’m watching a Criterion blu-ray on this player and the contrast is too high (skin tones completely washed out). Is there a setting I can change to remedy this issue?

Thanks

[rroeder]

If I pause or rewind too many times I get an audio drop on some discs, it won't come back either I have to eject and reload disc. No playback issues other than the occasional bad disc(knock knock)

[mdhaus]

Originally Posted by TheHistorian

I can't always schedule my hunger. That's why they invented the pause button!




It depends how bad the problem is. In enough cases, yes, an issue will be obvious. If a disc would have frozen/pixelated/whatever then I still catch it. I guess theoretically if there were just one bad frame it might miss it; I'll take that chance. I usually use two clicks of FF - fast enough to take only a few minutes to get through a film but not so fast as to jump over huge sections, thus defeating the point.

If you have the ability to get a cheap UHD drive for your PC or Mac, I personally think that the best way to check your discs is to do a dump of the movie file. You don’t even have to do any of the special features files or anything if you don’t want….just the main film file. Depending on your drive speed, you can easily do that in about 45 minutes or so and you don’t have to sit there and babysit it while it’s running.

The other advantage to this method is that you get a bit-perfect version of the file…which means that if there are any errors, you’ll know it right away because the software will notify you.

[Wes_k089]

My UB820 just turned 6 years old. It's served me very well, and hasn't had any major issues.

But more and more discs take longer to load, or they refuse to load before a wash with soap+water (no visible damage or residue). Maybe 1 in 8 discs, namely new releases.

I've heard the UB9000 recommended as if it has fewer of these issues. I'm considering upgrading.

Anyone have firsthand experience with both players? And is there any appreciable improvements with PQ/AQ (i doubt it).

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Wes_k089

My UB820 just turned 6 years old. It's served me very well, and hasn't had any major issues.

But more and more discs take longer to load, or they refuse to load before a wash with soap+water (no visible damage or residue). Maybe 1 in 8 discs, namely new releases.

It's not necessarily a surprise that a six year old electro-mechanical device that requires very precise positioning of a very narrow laser might start having issues after more than half a decade of use.

My suggestion would be to get a brand new UB-820 instead from Amazon or another retailer that allows 30 day returns. You'd save 60% over the cost of the UB9000 and the video output should be the same--the primary advantages of the 9000 are all with analog sound.

If it turns out your problems continue, return the 820 and get a 9000. If everything is fine, you saved yourself $600. Which you could put towards another 820 in six years and still have spent less total cash.

I got a brand new UB820 over Christmas--the manufacturing date is September 2024--and so far it's had zero issues playing 4K or other disks.

[jblank]

Originally Posted by mdhaus

If you have the ability to get a cheap UHD drive for your PC or Mac, I personally think that the best way to check your discs is to do a dump of the movie file. You don’t even have to do any of the special features files or anything if you don’t want….just the main film file. Depending on your drive speed, you can easily do that in about 45 minutes or so and you don’t have to sit there and babysit it while it’s running.

The other advantage to this method is that you get a bit-perfect version of the file…which means that if there are any errors, you’ll know it right away because the software will notify you.

How would that work exactly? I thought MSFT removed support for UHD in Windows 11. Who even makes UHD drives?

[westieslovesblu]

I've just sat down to watch Heretic and I received this message on my tv its an LG C3 player Panasonic ub820
I have no idea what it means ha

[jblank]

You definitely want Deep Color on. I’d let it do its thing and let it ride.

[hemlis1357]

I've got a new 9000.

Sometimes when I pop in a disc it says "copyright violation" and it won't play. If I eject and reload the disc it works fine.

I haven't installed any firmware updates because of all the horror stories here. Wondering if I should return it, try updating, or if anyone has had a similar incident?

[hemlis1357]

Originally Posted by westieslovesblu

I've just sat down to watch Heretic and I received this message on my tv its an LG C3 player Panasonic ub820
I have no idea what it means ha

I think that just means the TV wants to turn HDR on

[sojrner]

Originally Posted by hemlis1357

I think that just means the TV wants to turn HDR on

No. It means exactly what it says: it's turning on the Deep Color setting for that HDMI port. As was already said, you want this on.