Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[peacekeeper]

For me DTM and peak brightness are in the same ballpark on my lg C9, both settings are always off on my set.

I watch with the ub820 and optimizer on in a completely black room, no ambient light, some 6 ft from the screen. Peak brightness even on low boosts a 4k image in an unnatural way for me. I get that highlights may be less impactful but watching in a dark room it truly never feels like I’m missing specular highlights. I tried different Peak brightness settings with different material but in the end it always ends up making the image much less film like for me and als fudges black levels to an annoying degree.

Maybe in a brighter room it makes sense, for me it distorts the original image just too much.

[trekky76]

Originally Posted by peacekeeper

For me DTM and peak brightness are in the same ballpark on my lg C9, both settings are always off on my set.

I watch with the ub820 and optimizer on in a completely black room, no ambient light, some 6 ft from the screen. Peak brightness even on low boosts a 4k image in an unnatural way for me. I get that highlights may be less impactful but watching in a dark room it truly never feels like I’m missing specular highlights. I tried different Peak brightness settings with different material but in the end it always ends up making the image much less film like for me and als fudges black levels to an annoying degree.

Maybe in a brighter room it makes sense, for me it distorts the original image just too much.

I did try that as well but you really need Peak Brightness on low as it otherwise limits brightness to some 400 nits maximum. I think that's the most correct setting. This is the best you can do with OLED so far as they don't get brighter than 400 nits without boosting. But it's fine if it works for you. I'm somewhere in between.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by peacekeeper

For me DTM and peak brightness are in the same ballpark on my lg C9, both settings are always off on my set.

I watch with the ub820 and optimizer on in a completely black room, no ambient light, some 6 ft from the screen. Peak brightness even on low boosts a 4k image in an unnatural way for me. I get that highlights may be less impactful but watching in a dark room it truly never feels like I’m missing specular highlights. I tried different Peak brightness settings with different material but in the end it always ends up making the image much less film like for me and als fudges black levels to an annoying degree.

Maybe in a brighter room it makes sense, for me it distorts the original image just too much.

Mine was calibrated with Peak Brightness on High and it looks fine to me. Of course, everything is personal preference in some settings.

Coming back to the Panasonic Players, I hope they do come out with a firmware update soon. Would be nice to fix all of the issues that some discs have been having on Dolby Vision.

[NKB2017]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions... I've tried them all but the supplements (NOT all supplements... just some) are still playing with just audio and zero video.

I have re-checked the wiring and changed the settings - all of them and a combination of the settings you suggested... but no difference to report.

Maybe I've stumbled across something since BOTH my Panasonic UB-9000 have the same issue with the same supplements on different TV's!

Thanks again guys! If you think of anything further... please let me know. It's a weird one!

P.S. Yes, the onscreen commands/notifications are still present when I press buttons... even though the video content is not.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by NKB2017

Yes, the onscreen commands/notifications are still present when I press buttons... even though the video content is not.

Is the video information blank? the discs in question, the feature plays without issue? you haven't activated the audio only option to increase audio clarity?

I'd suggest a factory reset to the default settings.

[NKB2017]

Originally Posted by chip75

Is the video information blank? the discs in question, the feature plays without issue? you haven't activated the audio only option to increase audio clarity?

I'd suggest a factory reset to the default settings.

The feature (film itself) always plays without issue. Even most supplements play without issue. It just seems to be some extra features on some discs... trailers, featurettes etc.

I'll reset and run through the settings again. It's really strange. It happens on both my UB-9000's with the same discs on different set-ups. Yet, they play fine on my Denon A1UD and Oppo 105.

Thanks again Chip75!!!

[James_Younger_Gang]

I have had my ub 420 for a year now. It has worked strong like a tank so far.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by NKB2017

The feature (film itself) always plays without issue. Even most supplements play without issue. It just seems to be some extra features on some discs... trailers, featurettes etc.

I'll reset and run through the settings again. It's really strange. It happens on both my UB-9000's with the same discs on different set-ups. Yet, they play fine on my Denon A1UD and Oppo 105.

Thanks again Chip75!!!

Are the players modified? physically or through firmware?

[NKB2017]

Originally Posted by chip75

Are the players modified? physically or through firmware?

Yes, I'm beginning to think this could be the issue. BOTH players were bought in the UK (they are UK players) and both were modified by the same dealer to play both multi-region DVD and multi-zone Bluray discs.

I just watched the UK Arrow BD of 'Being John Malkovich' and ALL the supplements played fine. Last night I watched the German BD of Kathryn Bigelow's 'Blue Steel' again and none of the supplements played with video (audio only). So bizarre!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by NKB2017

Yes, I'm beginning to think this could be the issue. BOTH players were bought in the UK (they are UK players) and both were modified by the same dealer to play both multi-region DVD and multi-zone Bluray discs.

I just watched the UK Arrow BD of 'Being John Malkovich' and ALL the supplements played fine. Last night I watched the German BD of Kathryn Bigelow's 'Blue Steel' again and none of the supplements played with video (audio only). So bizarre!

Have you tried disabling 24Hz playback? try changing the region to B as well.

[NKB2017]

Originally Posted by chip75

Have you tried disabling 24Hz playback? try changing the region to B as well.

I'll try disabling 24Hz playback tomorrow. Is there a side-effect to that though?

I have the UB9000's set to Region 2 (Zone B) anyway... as I use the Oppo for my Region 1 DVD's and Zone A blurays. I'm a lazy bugger and can't be assed to keep changing the regions (on my multi-region player that I paid for).

Thanks again mate. I'll report back.

[PUsokrJosh305]

https://youtu.be/XbN00Sm0Bsg

I know this video was posted in another thread, but this was what I was talking about and what I have been comparing on my LG C9. And as I have said before, yes I know DTM isn't always accurate but it helps get at least close to what Dolby Vision has to offer. Plus with the Panasonic Optimizer, that can help solve the problems with DTM. As Vincent says at the end (and Geoff has said a few times here), the 4K Blu-rays should have Dolby Vision on them. That would solve a lot of issues.

[tommyboy81]

anyone else having issues with the onscreen menu popping up or staying onscreen while movie is playing. Like you pause or rewind and the thing at the top middle(saying HDR or DV) and top right just stay on?

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

anyone else having issues with the onscreen menu popping up or staying onscreen while movie is playing. Like you pause or rewind and the thing at the top middle(saying HDR or DV) and top right just stay on?

I would try unplugging and replugging the power to the player. Sometimes, just like with all devices, they need to be unplugged.

[martinstraka8282]

My UB820 will never read a disc when it is left in the machine and powered off. No matter the disc, it always says disc read error when I turn it back on.

It has had zero disc read errors otherwise and an eject and close always gets it to read the disc when this happens.

Anyone else have this issue by chance? I'm about to do a service with Panasonic, but am hesitant since there's been no other issues.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by martinstraka8282

My UB820 will never read a disc when it is left in the machine and powered off. No matter the disc, it always says disc read error when I turn it back on.

It has had zero disc read errors otherwise and an eject and close always gets it to read the disc when this happens.

Anyone else have this issue by chance? I'm about to do a service with Panasonic, but am hesitant since there's been no other issues.

Never have had this issue. I bet it's a software glitch. Probably a bit of code isn't loading on boot up.

[martinstraka8282]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Never have had this issue. I bet it's a software glitch. Probably a bit of code isn't loading on boot up.

Cool, thanks for the reply. I'm going to try a reset tonight but if that doesn't work, I think I'll have to go forward with the service.

Initially I thought I could live with it but its getting to be a nuisance.

[Paul.R.S]

Originally Posted by martinstraka8282

Anyone else have this issue by chance? I'm about to do a service with Panasonic, but am hesitant since there's been no other issues.

Have very randomly experienced this on both the X800M2 and the 203. Sometimes the player is on and won't load a disc. Always mends with a drawer open/close.

Personally given the glitchiness some have experienced with these players, I'd be wary of sending it in for service and arguably thereby exchanging the known bird in hand for the unknown one in the bush.

[martinstraka8282]

Originally Posted by Paul.R.S

Have very randomly experienced this on both the X800M2 and the 203. Sometimes the player is on and won't load a disc. Always mends with a drawer open/close.

Personally given the glitchiness some have experienced with these players, I'd be wary of sending it in for service and arguably thereby exchanging the known bird in hand for the unknown one in the bush.

That is exactly my concern. It's been perfect otherwise.

[Jonathan McLeod]

I absolutely, under no circumstances, would not return a player with only that "perceived" fault. Given you otherwise feel like you've got a reliable product I just wouldn't take the chance on being sent back something that suddenly starts skipping on certain discs, or overheating.