Panasonic DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Player

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Am actually in the market now for a non-dv player and this one for my needs on sale at $450 looks very tempting. But the price ending at .98 leads me to believe an even bigger discount is around the corner. Decisions, decisions.

Step up to an Oppo for 100 more. It's the Cadillac (that's built like a tank) whether you use the DV or not.

[Hucksta G]

Originally Posted by gkolb

Step up to an Oppo for 100 more. It's the Cadillac (that's built like a tank) whether you use the DV or not.

Why is it better? Except for DV from what I've heard the Panny is better or at least equal on most other fronts.

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by Hucksta G

Why is it better? Except for DV from what I've heard the Panny is better or at least equal on most other fronts.

Continual firmware support over time, won't get dropped like other major hardware builders do. Top-notch warranty service (at least here in USA). Can be externally modded for region free BD playback. 7.1 audio rca outs if needed for Avr audio. Integration with pro type home theater installs. Extremely solid pro build quality. Front panel display (that many of us like). Excellent back lit remote.

Drawback: price point can be significantly higher outside USA. No streaming apps, although the HDMI-in is in beta test for HDR pass-thru currently. So external streaming devices will be supported for HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG (most likely future OTA sports broadcasts). See 1st post of the Oppo 203 or 205 threads for far more details. Maintained by JohnAV.

[d514]

Originally Posted by gkolb

Continual firmware support over time, won't get dropped like other major hardware builders do. Top-notch warranty service (at least here in USA). Can be externally modded for region free BD playback. 7.1 audio rca outs if needed for Avr audio. Integration with pro type home theater installs. Extremely solid pro build quality. Front panel display (that many of us like). Excellent back lit remote.

Wasn't he talking about the UB900? That one can also be "modded" for region free playback, has audio rca outs, a front display and a back lit remote.

My Panasonic Blu-ray player got updates for about two years. I don't know about the warranty service.

In what way is the Oppo integration with pro type home theaters better?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Am actually in the market now for a non-dv player and this one for my needs on sale at $450 looks very tempting. But the price ending at .98 leads me to believe an even bigger discount is around the corner. Decisions, decisions.

I'd get the UB200 if I were you.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by gkolb

Step up to an Oppo for 100 more. It's the Cadillac (that's built like a tank) whether you use the DV or not.

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'd get the UB200 if I were you.

Am leaning towards the ub200 now and eventually may get an oppo down the line.

[Hucksta G]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'd get the UB200 if I were you.

Why's that? price?

[Robert Zohn]

For the USA Panasonic's new DMP-UB200 is $249.00 double boxed and delivered.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Hucksta G

Why's that? price?

Well, price and that I believe it's basically the same core player as the 900 squeezed into a smaller box with a shittier remote. Only one HDMI out though, so factor that into your plans accordingly.

[DJJez]

i compared both the UB900 and Oppo 203 after months of using them this weekend and multiple updates and to my eyes the oppo 203 blows away the panasonic UB900 in terms of picture quality. it used to be the other way around!

[Geoff D]

I ain't got no OPPO but I do got the Sony X800 and that presents a noticeably more refined image in UHD than the Panny. Much faster and quiter in operation too, doesn't get anything like as hot either.

I'll always have a soft spot for the Panny but it's being left behind.

[idlebrain]

How soon UB-200 will hit the retail stores I mean Best Buy? I plan to return my LG UP970 with in the 14 days period to get this. Noise in UP970 is something prompting me to sacrifice the DV and get Panny.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I ain't got no OPPO but I do got the Sony X800 and that presents a noticeably more refined image in UHD than the Panny. Much faster and quiter in operation too, doesn't get anything like as hot either.

I'll always have a soft spot for the Panny but it's being left behind.

I definitely agree about the X800 being quieter and faster/more responsive but is there really such a difference in PQ when compared to the UB900? I might hook them both up on one TV for the fun of it and see if I can spot the difference.

[Geoff D]

Less banding on the X800 for sure.

[Robert Zohn]

Just in BD players, we have one each, OPPO 205, UB900, UP970, and X800 all connected into our 8x8 18Gbps matrix switch. Although we have not done a careful evaluation to my eyes with most UHD discs the pq from each player varies among the 8 2017 UHD TVs we feed. The other input sources are DIRECTV receivers and streaming.

Not that anyone asked, but all three Sony X1 Extreme equipped TVs look the best with no banding on any of the 4 UDH players and with all content/discs.

Bottom line, all of these UHD BD players perform quite similarly when viewing most UHD titles. I have not played many FHD BDs so I can't comment on that element of performance. Maybe a more scientific (public) "Value Electronics UHD BD player Shootout Evaluation Event" would be a good idea.

[Hucksta G]

I was watching GOTG2 on my uncle's Oppo the other night and really didn't notice a difference from the UB900.

[sonicHeart]

Watched GOTG2 and Alien covenant on the UB900. I have a HDFury linker and taking advantage of the 900's ability to do sdr2020. I actually sold my oppo203 because it's strip metadata function was crushing blacks.

Couldn't be happier with the picture. Sharp as a tack and sdr2020 is the best 4k picture my 130" wide screen can handle.

I have everything at auto (color set to 10bit auto). Not seeing any banding or any issues that make me regret the purchase.

PQ and sharpness are on par with what I was seeing on the Oppo. Not sure what others are seeing that makes them think one is sharper than the other.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[grodd]

Here is a test between the Panasonic and the Sony. The Panasonic seems to show less banding and less artifacting around small text. I'd stick with the Panny. Start at 6:35

4K UHD Blu-ray Player Panasonic UB404 und Sony X800 im Test - YouTube

[Geoff D]

Done my own comparisons between the X800 and the UB900 for banding, using both real world content and Stacey Spears' 10-bit banding pattern, and the X800 wins every time. I'm NOT saying that the UB900 is awash with the stuff but hey, this is me, I notice this shit, and the X800 looks just that bit smoother and truer. Add to that the faster, slicker operation and virtually silent drive and it's quickly replaced the UB900 in my affections.

[grodd]

Did you try some of the same tests shown above like The Martian? I don't know why the video images show the opposite above.
Maybe because of the TV differences.