Panasonic DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Player

[Adrian Wright]

Now they are out in the wild it looks like the wait is coming to end...

Not long now Geoff, stay strong buddy

[geoffc]

Just got mine as well - really impressed.

[Lion]

reading the AVforums thread guys are receiving their players already! Also a region free firmware also already available for DVD and BD!

[Mezzanine]

Originally Posted by Lion

reading the AVforums thread guys are receiving their players already! Also a region free firmware also already available for DVD and BD!

Do you have a link the region free firmware?
I have ordered som US 4K Ultra Blu-ray discs and I really looking forward to watch them.
Haven´t received my player yet, but hopefully tomorrow.

[Lion]

http://www.regionfreedom.com/index.p...odels-eb-eg-gn

[dvdmike]

Huh, now that ups my interest slightly

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Huh, now that ups my interest slightly

Jesus, that was quick! Though if Panasonic have ported across their previous DVD/BD operation firmware into the UHD SoC (the front end of the BDT700 and the UB900 appears to be identical, for example) then I guess it just became a process of editing the relevant firmware to be recognised by the UB900.

The only trouble is, firmware updates will probably come thick and fast over the next few weeks (there's an update out for the player already, as we know) as what tends to happen with new kit, and if you update it with official firmware then you lose all the multi-region goodness so you've got to update it all over again with a revised version of the hacked firmware.

I've still got a multi-region panny BDT310 so that'll stay as my Region A spinner next to the Region B UB900, but I'll probably update the UB900 to MR at some point further down the line when the firmware's settled down. Shame TPS aren't selling the firmware any more though, I'll have run the gauntlet of regionfreedom.com!

[Adrian Wright]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'll have run the gauntlet of regionfreedom.com!

This may be the best option for me too Geoff, how easy is it to get the F/W from these guys?

Failing that, will keep hold of my Multiregion BDT370.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wright

This may be the best option for me too Geoff, how easy is it to get the F/W from these guys?

Failing that, will keep hold of my Multiregion BDT370.

If you look at the Panasonic multi-region threads at AVF you'll see they've been around for a while under a different name, and it can be very hit and miss: even if you follow their instructions to the letter you might get barred so you can't apply again, and they keep the mac address of your player so even if you apply with a completely different name, email etc they'll know who you are. That's why I said it's such a shame that TPS aren't selling the firmware any more.

[Kamelot121]

So after reading all the threads on here and the AV forum today, I've bit the bullet and ordered one... I've been on the fence for ages about it, but all the positives I've read have swayed me....

[bruceames]

Can't wait to read impressions and reviews. Especially regarding if there is any PQ difference between it and the Samsung (on UHD BD content) and how much better (if any) it does HDR to SDR conversions.

[Aston_Martin_DB5]

Mine is arriving tomorrow

happy days

or should that be weekend ?

[Adrian Wright]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

Can't wait to read impressions and reviews. Especially regarding if there is any PQ difference between it and the Samsung (on UHD BD content) and how much better (if any) it does HDR to SDR conversions.

Having had the Samsung and awaiting the Panasonic, this interests me too.

[pawel86ck]

http://www.trustedreviews.com/panaso...jPEI6w7pLFZ.99
Interesting review

One more straightforward but still potentially useful feature of the UB900 is the option it provides to turn off completely the HDR component of an Ultra HD Blu-ray output.

The UB900 even allows you to manually adjust the brightness component of the final converted SDR signal for output, to match the brightness of your screen.

the key to its success compared with the (actually also surprisingly good) HDR to SDR conversion of the Samsung K8500 is the way it’s able to retain more subtle detailing in the very darkest and very brightest parts of the picture. On the K8500 the darkest post HDR-to-SDR areas tend to look hollowed out by comparison, while the brightest ones look relatively flared out and empty.

So it looks like HDR-SDR conversion picture quality is better on that panasonic .

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wright

Having had the Samsung and awaiting the Panasonic, this interests me too.

Also would like to have adjustable subs (I'm used to them in the Oppo and prefer to move them into the black bar area) and of course I know it already has a bit rate meter.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by pawel86ck

http://www.trustedreviews.com/panaso...jPEI6w7pLFZ.99
Interesting review





So it looks like HDR-SDR conversion picture quality is better on that panasonic .

I'm sure Goeff will be very pleased to read that. Good news for me too since I also have an SDR TV. Although if I buy the Panny I'll use it first on my HDR TV and then move it to the SDR TV when I upgrade from there (I would move the Samsung to the bedroom HDR TV).

Did they say when this would be available in the U.S.?

[Scoob]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

I'm sure Goeff will be very pleased to read that. Good news for me too since I also have an SDR TV. Although if I buy the Panny I'll use it first on my HDR TV and then move it to the SDR TV when I upgrade from there (I would move the Samsung to the bedroom HDR TV).

Did they say when this would be available in the U.S.?

I read today on twitter from a Brittish Tech journalist that it won't be released in the US until August. I'm scratching my head as to why

[Scoob]

He says that Panasonic confirmed it to him. His Tweet


"John Archer ‏@BigJohnnyArcher
Panasonic has confirmed to me that its UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray player will be released in the US. But not until August"

[bruceames]

Well at least they will be releasing it here, which is more than can be said about their TVs. So it's going to be August before we have an option to the Samsung? That's quite a gap in time.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

I'm sure Goeff will be very pleased to read that. Good news for me too since I also have an SDR TV. Although if I buy the Panny I'll use it first on my HDR TV and then move it to the SDR TV when I upgrade from there (I would move the Samsung to the bedroom HDR TV).

Did they say when this would be available in the U.S.?

I kinda know about the SDR conversion thingy already, but it's good to see that reviewers are A) mentioning SDR at all and B) are positive about the SDR conversion itself.