Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by Bernardo A.

I'm alluding mainly to convenience.

Don't you stream anything?

I had to watch the last three seasons of The Expanse via streaming because it was the only way to see it. I just finished watching The Rig last night. Again, as of now, no choice but to stream it presently.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

If the TV doesn't support Dobly then the 820 will automatically ignore it and pass through the HDR10 layer. That's it. No need to spread more FUD.

We just had a guy complaining about flickering and frame dropping with the 820 here in just the last few days in relation to trying to get DV to simply play, unless I misunderstood what he was saying, and I've seen similar complaints regarding that model player elsewhere. Perhaps it's just anecdotal, but I've seen enough to be wary of that player.

[ronand]

Don't be condemning the player without actually trying one. If you dont want to buy one thats fine but dont be spreading unconfirmed "issues". Theres a lot of people out there with shit tv sets, dodgy hdmi cables, unstable power, scratched/dirty discs but its always the player that gets the blame. Yes there are duff units but there are duff units on all models if you look hard enough. The more popular something is then its more likely to hear about the problems. Good news never travels as quickly.

[ij72]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

We just had a guy complaining about flickering and frame dropping with the 820 here in just the last few days in relation to trying to get DV to simply play, unless I misunderstood what he was saying, and I've seen similar complaints regarding that model player elsewhere.

Panasonic has issued a few firmware updates over the last few years that include addressing DV flickering issues (that Mediatek-based players are seemingly less likely to have, for whatever reason), so it is a thing to some extent.

Cables are more likely to be the cause, though.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by ronand

Don't be condemning the player without actually trying one. If you dont want to buy one thats fine but dont be spreading unconfirmed "issues". Theres a lot of people out there with shit tv sets, dodgy hdmi cables, unstable power, scratched/dirty discs but its always the player that gets the blame. Yes there are duff units but there are duff units on all models if you look hard enough. The more popular something is then its more likely to hear about the problems. Good news never travels as quickly.

I'm usually careful when I buy things, and I bought a new 4K player just last weekend. Originally I was seriously considering the 820. I thought about it for a few weeks. However, because of the price and the negative consumer reviews that I read (yes, I tend to research these things before I buy), I decided to pass on it. Then I contemplated the 420 and the 450. The 450 wasn't as easy to get if you wanted to pick one up in a store, and given that it was somewhat based on the 820 and was, well, here at least, 'new' to some people (although not really), I concluded that while it might work fine for me, it was possible, and perhaps more likely, that I would have some problems with it, whereas the 420, albeit a bit older, was a safer bet, and had an Optimizer, which for the TV I currently have, was adequate enough for my needs. My TV also doesn't have DV support. So why get a player that provides DV if I can't take advantage of it anyway? Why spend twice the amount for an 820 when I have a TV that doesn't have DV capability? And is it more likely that player would give me trouble than the 420? Of course, obviously. So I'm going also by what I based my own personal decision on, but I can't comment about the 820 from a firsthand experience point of view obviously given that I haven't owned or used one.

I should also add in that having compared the 420 and 450, the 420 cost $50 more generally. So why would that be, especially given that it's the older model? Because it has Wi-Fi capability and the 450 does not? But other than upgrading the firmware, that's kind of moot at this point given that people don't rely on their Blu-ray Players for streaming the way they did much earlier on. It's possible that the 420 costs more because it's simply a better and more reliable player.

Again, this is all my personal point of view that I'm putting out there. People can simply disregard it if they wish. I've used a Sony UBP-X800M2 for nearly two years and I haven't had any trouble with it whatsoever. It's a good unit, but I know there are people out there that haven't been as lucky as me with that model. I, however, love it.

[deatheats]

Originally Posted by ij72

Panasonic has issued a few firmware updates over the last few years that include addressing DV flickering issues (that Mediatek-based players are seemingly less likely to have, for whatever reason), so it is a thing to some extent.

Cables are more likely to be the cause, though.

However, if I’m not mistaken, the DV flickering is limited to specific titles with DV authoring issues. Krampus, from Shout, for example. In that case I just switched over to HDR10. There may be a handful or 2 total with this issue on the market, and as you noted have mostly been fixed through firmware updates.

A telltale sign someone is experiencing bandwidth or handshake related cable issues (like the member above) is flickering and/or dropouts when DV is in use regardless of the movie.

Outside of this small issue, my 820 has been rock solid over the last 4+ years of ownership. Improvements like better DVD/file playback and a snappier UI, would be welcome but not deal breakers.

[sojrner]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

We just had a guy complaining about flickering and frame dropping with the 820 here in just the last few days in relation to trying to get DV to simply play, unless I misunderstood what he was saying, and I've seen similar complaints regarding that model player elsewhere. Perhaps it's just anecdotal, but I've seen enough to be wary of that player.

Those issues, whether from disc authoring, cables, or player, still require everything in the chain to support DV to even manifest. You were claiming the lack of DV support in the TV caused the issue:

"From what someone else was saying, if the TV doesn't support Dolby Vision, there will be trouble trying to play a disc on the 820."

This is patently false, as the Cat noted, and was never in the discussion for any of these recent issues you're referencing. It is possible you are researching in the wrong places and compiling misinfo to confuse your understanding. In that, at least on this subject, you are definitely spreading and perpetuating confusion.

Rock on.

[AKORIS]

I have a handful of flickering DV discs... all from Shout and Kino.

My solution is to simply play them on my backup LG player... no issues there.

[Telemachus]

Isn't this the member that used to post all those clickbait articles about physical media dying? Multiple people have tried to answer questions for you including me and you just seem bent on trashing this player without even buying one, kinda sus ngl fr fr.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by sojrner

Those issues, whether from disc authoring, cables, or player, still require everything in the chain to support DV to even manifest. You were claiming the lack of DV support in the TV caused the issue:

Here, I was inquiring as to whether the TV had DV support and was seeking that clarification.

Originally Posted by sojrner

"From what someone else was saying, if the TV doesn't support Dolby Vision, there will be trouble trying to play a disc on the 820."

The 820 should automatically resort to HDR if the TV doesn't have DV, but I'm not so sure it does so smoothly and without issues in all cases. I did use the word finicky earlier to describe this model because it does strike me as having more problems along these lines than other players out there. Perhaps that is just anecdotal as I said, but I decided to buy a different model for a reason, and this also factored into that decision. Less so than other reasons, but it was also in there because I didn't want unnecessary headaches.

[sojrner]

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by sojrner

I'm sure that's how discussions like this strike a lot of people because of all the technical jargon and mechanical and software incompatibilities that will inevitably arise as a result of mixing and matching all different types of brands and hardware.

It's enough to make one miss the old days when times and technology were a lot simpler.

Nice chatting with you...I think.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Monster still exists!? What a laugh from the past. I have used monoprice HDMI cables for nearly 15 years and never had any problems on anything I tried to pipe through them.

Back in the early 2000s, I briefly dated someone who sold A/V for a company and she tried to convince me how Monster was worth the money. I said, yeah, for your commission - absolutely!

[grahams76]

In the last few days, my Panasonic UB820 has sometimes been getting stuck on a black screen with 'MUSIC' on the display when I put in a CD. The only thing to fix this was to unplug the machine.

So I did a factory reset. This is a UK machine that I brought with me to Australia and is plugged through an adaptor. I also no longer have surround sound so the audio is coming through a Sony OLED TV's speakers or the TV's headphone socket.

I took photos of my old settings but have some questions regarding audio now that I'm no longer 5.1 capable.

In Sound / Digital Audio Output, I've selected PCM and not Bitstream for Dolby, DTS and MPEG and turned BD-Video Secondary Audio off. Again, I now have no amp.

Likewise, in Sound / Downmix I've selected Stereo instead of Surround encoded.

Do those both sound correct? Thanks.

[blue348]

I have observed DV “flicker” (really an authoring/encode issue) and periodic dropped frames (assume firmware related) across multiple units. It don’t think either are a particularly serious issue especially when the competition has such issues with three layer discs.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

We just had a guy complaining about flickering and frame dropping with the 820 here in just the last few days in relation to trying to get DV to simply play, unless I misunderstood what he was saying, and I've seen similar complaints regarding that model player elsewhere. Perhaps it's just anecdotal, but I've seen enough to be wary of that player.

If there's one thing players are generally good at, it's not trying to play things they're not capable of playing.

So if your TV can't handle something they won't give it it's best effort. It will just go to the next format or stream it can play.

[sojrner]

Originally Posted by chip75

If there's one thing players are generally good at, it's not trying to play things they're not capable of playing.

So if your TV can't handle something they won't give it it's best effort. It will just go to the next format or stream it can play.

It really is this simple.

[starrynights89]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

I know it looks like you got this fixed, but White Snowy Noise is a good indication that it’s a cable issue. I remember my dad buying 2 $150 Monster Cable HDMI cables and it produced white snow. This was back in 2009/2010 when we didn’t know better.

Obviously we know now Monster Cable is a huge rip off! Once we discovered this, we bought HDMI Cables from Monoprice and that did the trick. We have been buying from them since. Don’t trust anyone else but them.

But I will say, I also get a drop out of picture when I start up a Dolby Vision disc on my LG C9 from my Panny 820. But the playback of the movie is fine. I think it just enters a DV mode or something with the TV.

Yeah, it was a handshake issue with the HDMI cable. I'm on a Bravia 8 OLED and I had a set of different cables, some I got cheap from Amazon and one from a best buy purchase. I switched not only the 820 to a monoprice cable but the rest of my equipment over to them as well with my Apple TV and PS5.

My setup is to run everything directly to the TV and use eARC for the external sound. I want a receiver with speakers someday but my GF is only letting me get away with a Sonos Beam 2 for now.

I've tried 5 4k blu rays now and they've all run fine without a hitch in both HDR10 and DV. It's my first OLED so I would just attribute it to the new HDMI ports on the TV and the player being pickier with what can pass through. I have a backup Sony X700 that worked fine with DV so I use it as a test player for 4k. Otherwise, the X700 is for Blu ray and DVD. I can afford to have the X700 die on me before the Panny.

Emergent tech, even stuff that's been around for 5+ years is usually more prone to crap like this so it's just trial and error. I'm pretty much sold on monoprice going forward.

[grahams76]

Originally Posted by grahams76

In the last few days, my Panasonic UB820 has sometimes been getting stuck on a black screen with 'MUSIC' on the display when I put in a CD. The only thing to fix this was to unplug the machine.

So I did a factory reset. This is a UK machine that I brought with me to Australia and is plugged through an adaptor. I also no longer have surround sound so the audio is coming through a Sony OLED TV's speakers or the TV's headphone socket.

I took photos of my old settings but have some questions regarding audio now that I'm no longer 5.1 capable.

In Sound / Digital Audio Output, I've selected PCM and not Bitstream for Dolby, DTS and MPEG and turned BD-Video Secondary Audio off. Again, I now have no amp.

Likewise, in Sound / Downmix I've selected Stereo instead of Surround encoded.

Do those both sound correct? Thanks.

Anyone please?

Further to this, the original issue of CDs regularly tanking the player remains despite a factory reset. Basically, what happens is I insert a CD and then the screen goes black and 'MUSIC' text is displayed on the player. The only way to exit this is to unplug it and try again. Most times, the disc then plays with no issues.

[Feisty_Masterpiece74]

Lately I've had issues with 4k movies glitching and freezing up to where the movie won't play. I thought I was just getting bad dics but now I'm worried its the UB820 causing the problem since it's happens like on 3 out of the last 5 movies I've tried watching ☹️ some Dolby Visions have played but I think of the glitches they have all been DV. I don't want to play anything now cuz I'm worried it is messing the discs up.

Edit: one disc I watched tonight looked fine but after the glitch it had clear a few concentric scratches on it..can a player cause concentric scratches?