Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I do as well with fingerprints.

How on earth are you getting finger prints on them?

[No Name]

Originally Posted by Scottishguy

How on earth are you getting finger prints on them?

Believe it or not, when I open a new blu-ray or 4K disc, there are times where fingerprints are visible on the discs despite being sealed. I'm assuming it's a result of the people who package the discs themselves. I'm sure this has happened to others as well.

[HDTV1080P]

Automated machines on a assemble line do not have fingerprints. But even in a small optical disc factory, employees would be wearing gloves so no fingerprints exist on the Blu-ray disc.

I have never seen any fingerprints on a factory new and sealed Blu-ray disc.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Automated machines on a assemble line do not have fingerprints. But even in a small optical disc factory, employees would be wearing gloves so no fingerprints exist on the Blu-ray disc.

I have never seen any fingerprints on a factory new and sealed Blu-ray disc.

I have. It's rare but it does happen, especially in a set that requires manual handling at the factory to insert the discs in the first place e.g. those awful 'sleeve' designs. I had a couple of fingerprints to go with the scratches on some of the discs in the Fast and Furious 8-movie UHD set.

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Automated machines on a assemble line do not have fingerprints. But even in a small optical disc factory, employees would be wearing gloves so no fingerprints exist on the Blu-ray disc.

I have never seen any fingerprints on a factory new and sealed Blu-ray disc.

These disc plants (south of the border now?) are the same places that are slashing steelbook spines when they unpack the case and insert the discs, then seal the product in shrink wrap. In the last two years I’ve seen 20 - 30 slashed steelbooks in my local Best Buy. ALL those cuts are always under the shrink wrap.

I have two Blues Brothers steelbooks in my possession both have double slashes under the wrap. I’m beside myself at this point over this nonstop problem. Premium releases with totally unnecessary damage. Just need my store to reopen or I would have to make an appointment to get inside the store.

[Disciple of Vedder]

I started tinkering with my new 820 this week. I have an LG B7 OLED. The consensus seems to be that I should turn Dynamic Contrast off on the B7 if I'm using the HDR Optimizer, but what about when I'm using Dolby Vision, or on regular Blu-Ray discs? I can see a minor increase in brightness when I switch Dynamic Contrast from 'Off' to 'Low' on the DV titles I've tried out. So I'm assuming that means I should leave it off.

Also, for the HDR Optimizer, do most of you use the "Standard" setting in a dark room? "Natural" also seems to be aesthetically pleasing, but I'm not sure if it's considered to be as faithful of an interpretation (if that makes sense). Thanks!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Disciple of Vedder

I started tinkering with my new 820 this week. I have an LG B7 OLED. The consensus seems to be that I should turn Dynamic Contrast off on the B7 if I'm using the HDR Optimizer, but what about when I'm using Dolby Vision, or on regular Blu-Ray discs? I can see a minor increase in brightness when I switch Dynamic Contrast from 'Off' to 'Low' on the DV titles I've tried out. So I'm assuming that means I should leave it off.

I'd leave it off. Always.

Originally Posted by Disciple of Vedder

Also, for the HDR Optimizer, do most of you use the "Standard" setting in a dark room? "Natural" also seems to be aesthetically pleasing, but I'm not sure if it's considered to be as faithful of an interpretation (if that makes sense). Thanks!

It depends on how dark your dark room is. If it's a dedicated theater room or an area with zero light pollution than Standard is okay, you can raise the slider (or use a brighter room setting) the more light you have coming in.

[Oscarilbo]

Has anyone had this issue where you turn the player on and it just stays flashing the red light for a while, blinking without turning on? I keeps me happening from time to time.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Oscarilbo

Has anyone had this issue where you turn the player on and it just stays flashing the red light for a while, blinking without turning on? I keeps me happening from time to time.

I notice the 420 I purchased for my projector takes a bit to turn on. I don't think Panny put very robust, snappy chips and enough memory in these things.

[HeavyHitter]

For 1080p BD, what does Cinema mode do on the 820? It is just a gamma change? It seems as if peak whites are toned down a bit while mid range increases. Some of those overly clipped BDs bright highlights can annoy me and this just takes off that edge a little.

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I notice the 420 I purchased for my projector takes a bit to turn on. I don't think Panny put very robust, snappy chips and enough memory in these things.

Have it for my projector too. I’ve had to reset the thing off and then it comes on normaly. But as lomg this is “normal” behavior I wont worry

UPDATE: it happens when I turn on the UPS where I have it connected to. I then turn on the player and it makes more noise (fan?) than normal and the red light keeps blinking, but it doesn’t turn on. I have to power off and then turn again and fine.

SECOND UPDATE: I plugged it on another outlet and the same happened. It is as if it keeps searching something.
THIRD UPDATE: I did a factory reset, and remembered I recently turned web settings to wired instead of wifi in order to “disable” internet since I decided not to use internet access on this device. It turned on fine this time. Could that had something to do with it? Curious thing is that if I turned on via disc tray button, it ended up turning on fine.

FOURTH UPDATE: Nope, it keeps happening. Even after factory reset. Turn on and stays on red light blinking without turning on. I’m doing a new factory reset but this time with NETWORK service turned on, to see if it makes a difference.
Reading online about it apparently has to do with the infamous f99 code problem, but mine as is ub420 player, doesnt have the text on the front of the unit.
What could that be?

[X-rayvision]

Just picked up a second one during the latest fathers day sale for my bedroom oled to replace the shitty sony x800. Pretty sad there are no new players announced again this year outside of ps5 and the new xbox. I was going to hold out but ces killed any chance of that. Maybe 2021 we’ll get a new player that isnt a ****ing gaming console, i never use mine for movies because they all lack dual hdmi out and dont handle dolby vision. The new ones also will not have dual hdmi, and ps5 no dolby vision (xbox one im not sure) so outside of ps5 helping disk sales they remain shitty player options for most people. Not having 2 hdmi outs is a complete deal breaker for any high end player, especially for those that have atmos receivers that cant pass through the latest video specs.

I guess were lucky this player is still available, hopefully they continue to produce it for the foreseeable future. It seems strange that tv manufacturers do not want to make new 4k players.. They invest so much money into producing tv’s each year that can render mind blowing images yet they dont want to produce the players that will feed them the content required to achieve said images. They expect people to spend thousands of dollars on a tv and be content to limit the tvs viewing quality to that of streaming. Why do they even bother making these tvs? 8k is a joke especially when you consider they never fully committed to supporting 4k, they started backing out of the player market in 2018 early 2019 just when 4k was beginning to saturate the tv market. By pushing 8k now and dumping dedicated 4k Players so fast in favor of streaming of all things they are not only losing the confidence of their most loyal cliental but are also confusing the **** out of the ordinary consumer. Pushing 8k right now is like a car salesman trying to sell you a flying car, it does fly except for one problem, the fuel it needs wont be available for mass consumption until the year 2026 and when it is it will probably be limited to streaming quality err low limit flight quality.. Enjoy your 8k i mean your flying car. They just dont get it, they think people are stupid. Eventually the consumer market will catch on to their schemes, and when that happens, it will be the end of their lucrative Tv market. You dont need a top of the line oled or 8k tv to stream 4k content, any old 4k tv will due. The picture quality is limited by content, its like building a power house pc then only playing pong on it. Its an illogical business strategy thats going to eventually backfire on them big time

If we never get a new dedicated 4k player this panny will remain the one 4k player to rule them all and in the darkness bind them. Thank god we got this one before they stopped making new ones...

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by Oscarilbo

Have it for my projector too. I’ve had to reset the thing off and then it comes on normaly. But as lomg this is “normal” behavior I wont worry

UPDATE: it happens when I turn on the UPS where I have it connected to. I then turn on the player and it makes more noise (fan?) than normal and the red light keeps blinking, but it doesn’t turn on. I have to power off and then turn again and fine.

SECOND UPDATE: I plugged it on another outlet and the same happened. It is as if it keeps searching something.
THIRD UPDATE: I did a factory reset, and remembered I recently turned web settings to wired instead of wifi in order to “disable” internet since I decided not to use internet access on this device. It turned on fine this time. Could that had something to do with it? Curious thing is that if I turned on via disc tray button, it ended up turning on fine.

FOURTH UPDATE: Nope, it keeps happening. Even after factory reset. Turn on and stays on red light blinking without turning on. I’m doing a new factory reset but this time with NETWORK service turned on, to see if it makes a difference.
Reading online about it apparently has to do with the infamous f99 code problem, but mine as is ub420 player, doesnt have the text on the front of the unit.
What could that be?

Continuing with the problem, sadly my player is going back to Amazon. It became full of bugs It took me to the point where I feel a bit anxious while watching a movie expecting something will fail out of nowhere, and I don't want that. My sony x700 at least was perfectly stable. Love the picture quality for my 4k HDR projector, but it didn't feel leagues apart from what the sony can do since I don't like to play with the HDR sliders on movie per movie basis, and just leaved it at HDR standard mode.

Sigh... I may try it again in the near future but my confidence on the brand has been shaken.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by Oscarilbo

Continuing with the problem, sadly my player is going back to Amazon. It became full of bugs It took me to the point where I feel a bit anxious while watching a movie expecting something will fail out of nowhere, and I don't want that. My sony x700 at least was perfectly stable. Love the picture quality for my 4k HDR projector, but it didn't feel leagues apart from what the sony can do since I don't like to play with the HDR sliders on movie per movie basis, and just leaved it at HDR standard mode.

Sigh... I may try it again in the near future but my confidence on the brand has been shaken.

If this helps at all---

I bought this player about a year and a half ago--- the first one was good but within the first week I was having problems with the Optimizer... basically it wouldn't work. I hit the button and nothing would happen. I played around with it, couldn't fix it and then panicked and returned it to BEST BUY before my short time window was up for returns.

I then bought an inexpensive LG player that was okay, but I missed all the features that the 820 had. I kept reading about all the positive feedback the Panasonic was getting and....

tried it again thinking my experience had to be a fluke.

Here is is many months later-- the LG is a secondary player on another room, the Panny works great and plays everything wonderfully. I 've only had one disc freeze in the entire time of owning it (MI-Fallout) and it never happened again after cleaning it.

Ultimately, this is the best player I've ever owned.

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

If this helps at all---

I bought this player about a year and a half ago--- the first one was good but within the first week I was having problems with the Optimizer... basically it wouldn't work. I hit the button and nothing would happen. I played around with it, couldn't fix it and then panicked and returned it to BEST BUY before my short time window was up for returns.

I then bought an inexpensive LG player that was okay, but I missed all the features that the 820 had. I kept reading about all the positive feedback the Panasonic was getting and....

tried it again thinking my experience had to be a fluke.

Here is is many months later-- the LG is a secondary player on another room, the Panny works great and plays everything wonderfully. I 've only had one disc freeze in the entire time of owning it (MI-Fallout) and it never happened again after cleaning it.

Ultimately, this is the best player I've ever owned.

Thank you. I may indeed try it again later. I mean, I can't immediately since it is not in stock and since I'm in Mexico, Amazon didn't give me the option to exchange but just to refund.

[jrod8]

Does anyone know if Panasonic is planning an updated version of this player or anything? I'm incredibly pleased with everything I read about this player, but trying to vet possible future options before spending $400-500 on this, as I'm not in immediate need of a standalone player.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by jrod8

Does anyone know if Panasonic is planning an updated version of this player or anything? I'm incredibly pleased with everything I read about this player, but trying to vet possible future options before spending $400-500 on this, as I'm not in immediate need of a standalone player.

The 9000 is the "upgraded" version. If anything, the trend is always to make cheaper, junkier built players, not better ones over the course of a disc format's life. The earlier models start out with higher quality.

[jrod8]

Good to know. I looked at the 9000 too and didn't really see anything that was worth paying double for. So if anything it also might be worth buying NOW before Panasonic stops making them?

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by jrod8

Good to know. I looked at the 9000 too and didn't really see anything that was worth paying double for. So if anything it also might be worth buying NOW before Panasonic stops making them?

The 820 is a better buy for most use cases. I only went with the 9000 because I loved the build quality and aesthetics more My player is centered and highly visible on my entertainment cabinet so I was leaning that way coming from the Oppo.

[X-rayvision]

Originally Posted by jrod8

Does anyone know if Panasonic is planning an updated version of this player or anything? I'm incredibly pleased with everything I read about this player, but trying to vet possible future options before spending $400-500 on this, as I'm not in immediate need of a standalone player.

No there are not any new 4k players scheduled to be released for 2020 (besides PS5 and New Xbox), CES put a direct end to that discussion pretty quickly, 4k players were a no show. If I were you id swoop up another 820 at the current sale price before they get discontinued.