Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[conankun]

Originally Posted by guile

Having audio issues when attempting to stream some files from the server.

Does the the USB820 NOT play Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC3) files?

No.

[sapiendut]

If it is in the form of HDD file, I concur, it won’t play anything outside base DD AC-3.

[Sir Dagonet]

Forgive me for not searching this entire thread, as I'm sure my questions are answered somewhere....

I recently purchased a UB9000 (from Bob Zohn - what a fantastic retailer) using with a JVC RS-520 pj...

1. Is the UB9000 as good - or possibly better - for streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix? I was going to upgrade my Roku to one of their newer 4K/HDR devices, but I'm wondering if it's necessary - except for:

2. I can't locate an app for ATTNow (formerly DirectNow) for the UB9000 - am I missing something?

3. Any JVC RS-520 users who would recommend
a) the appropriate JVC settings to interface with the UB9000
b) best HDR display type setting to select on the UB9000 (basic or high
luminance projector)
c) set HDR optimizer on or off

Thanks for any assistance (and patience with me for not fully researching previous posts)

[sapiendut]

1. I have Roku Ultra and I find Roku Ultra to be very lacking in video quality. Also by using Netflix and Prime on the 9000, you get to use the HDR optimizer for those apps too.

2. I don’t know the answer to your question as I am in Canada

3. Set the target to low luminance projector and turn HDR optimizer on.

[Steve115]

Recently purchased the 820 and loving it so far. Coming from a Samsung m9500, so a nice upgrade. The one setting I'm not too sure about is the HDR tv type setting. I have a Samsung ks8000 that can get pretty bright, RTINGS has it at 1472 nits 2% window. Not sure if that's good or bad to be honest. Would I be better of going with middle/high or super high luminance? Just trying to wrap my head around this optimizer more. Thanks!

[sapiendut]

That’s middle.

[conankun]

Originally Posted by Steve115

Recently purchased the 820 and loving it so far. Coming from a Samsung m9500, so a nice upgrade. The one setting I'm not too sure about is the HDR tv type setting. I have a Samsung ks8000 that can get pretty bright, RTINGS has it at 1472 nits 2% window. Not sure if that's good or bad to be honest. Would I be better of going with middle/high or super high luminance? Just trying to wrap my head around this optimizer more. Thanks!

This appears to be a limitation of 820's current implementation: lack of 1500 nits and above setting. You may be better off not using the tone mapping feature and let the TV handle it.

[sapiendut]

Why? Middle to high is for approx 1000-2500 nits anyway. Sorry to say but you don’t know what you’re talking about. For above 2500 and above is the superbright. For 4000 and above you don’t need optimizer.

[Matis]

I have questions to the owners Panasonic UB9000

Can I playback from usb UHD BD movies dolby vision, hdr10+? (m2ts)

Movies from usb they don't stutter at high bitrate?

[cjake]

Originally Posted by Sir Dagonet

Forgive me for not searching this entire thread, as I'm sure my questions are answered somewhere....

I recently purchased a UB9000 (from Bob Zohn - what a fantastic retailer) using with a JVC RS-520 pj...

1. Is the UB9000 as good - or possibly better - for streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix? I was going to upgrade my Roku to one of their newer 4K/HDR devices, but I'm wondering if it's necessary - except for:

2. I can't locate an app for ATTNow (formerly DirectNow) for the UB9000 - am I missing something?

3. Any JVC RS-520 users who would recommend
a) the appropriate JVC settings to interface with the UB9000
b) best HDR display type setting to select on the UB9000 (basic or high
luminance projector)
c) set HDR optimizer on or off

Thanks for any assistance (and patience with me for not fully researching previous posts)

1. Is the UB9000 as good - or possibly better - for streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix?

Panasonic players force all streaming service content to 4K60. They change the frame rate of Netflix and Amazon 1080p/24 and 4K24 content to 1080p/60 and 4K60.

While I wish the players could output native frame rate, I find the Panasonic HDR Optimizer produces a better picture for Amazon and Netflix to my JVC RS500 than my Apple TV 4K.

2. I can't locate an app for ATTNow (formerly DirectNow) for the UB9000 - am I missing something?

- There is no Directv Now App. Probably never will be, just like there is no Vudu App either.

3. Any JVC RS-520 users who would recommend
a) the appropriate JVC settings to interface with the UB9000
b) best HDR display type setting to select on the UB9000 (basic or high
luminance projector)
c) set HDR optimizer on or off

I would recommend the UB9000 be configured to SDR/BT2020 output mode with the HDR Optimzer turned on rather than output HDR to JVC e-shift projectors. The UB9000 will use the HDR content metadata to optimize the tone mapping while the JVC has just a single fixed HDR curve. Even multiple custom curves for 1000 and 4000 nit content can't match the UB9000 SDR/BT2020 tone mapping.

For SDR/BT2020 output you configure the JVC to use the BT.2020 color profile and the 2.4 gamma.

HDR Display Type is only used when the UB9000 is in HDR output mode. It is not used for SDR/BT2020 output.

The only case where I output HDR instead of SDR/BT2020 is for Netflix HDR content. The Netflix App is in my option broken as it does not allow BT2020 output when the player is in SDR/BT2020 mode. The App outputs 4K60 SDR REC709 instead. Because I have a UB820 that does not have have two projector settings I use the single 500 nit projector setting and use my custom Arve 1000 nit curve that I created for HDR in my JVC.

[UB9000]

Hi,
If you have a UB9000 has the following Nit Outputs settings.
OLED 1000nits
High Luminance Projector 500nits
Basic Luminance Projector 350nits
Super High Luminance 1500nits
Middle to High Luminance 1000nits
Basic Luminance 500nits
You can go to RTINGS.com to see what you TV is capable in Nits and set the UB9000 accordingly.
Regards,
UB9000

[UB9000]

Steve115,
I would suggest you use the Super High Luminance.
I use this setting on my Sony 9400E and all movies that are HDR+ or DV with nits above 1000nits look great.
I have the HDR optimizer On.
People that have OLED will get good results with movies with less than 1000nits but will not get optimal with movies with 4000 to 10000nits, where as a LED TV with high Luminance will get better results.
It is a pity that SONY after producing the 9400E 75" went backwards with F and G models with respect to movies. As the 9400E model is still the best available and can out play many OLED's and will not get any burn ins on constant static logos.
Regards,
UB9000

[sapiendut]

It’s not. Sustained nits reading post calibration at 10% window (the way it’s supposed to be measured) is in the 1,200 nits range. Making it NOT super luminance.

[kedavis]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

It plays my Sherlock UK-bluray (menu is in 50Hz) without problem. It outputs in 50Hz though (no conversion to 60Hz, if that’s what you’re asking)

I just got the Panasonic 9000 and tried three UK discs that had worked in my Samsung. Planet Earth and Sherlock Series 3 had no problems. Postcards from London said “unsupported resolution” then proceeded to play. I don’t know what, if anything, was at the start of the disc. Perhaps a copyright warning.

[sapiendut]

What display are you using? Can it display 50 Hz natively? Perhaps the Samsung converts every refresh rate to 60 Hz?

[kedavis]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

What display are you using? Can it display 50 Hz natively? Perhaps the Samsung converts every refresh rate to 60 Hz?

I’m using a Samsung plasma. I’m not worried as after it showed “unsupported format” it played the rest of the disc without problems. Perhaps it was a troublesome graphic. I’ll reconnect the Samsung player later to confirm.
The reason I bought this Panasonic player was in preparation for getting an LG OLED by the end of the year.
One other test that the Panasonic player failed was audio from a MKV on a USB drive. The Samsung player had no issues.
On that USB drive I had some TV shows in MKV that worked OK for both audio and video, but a couple sample Dolby Atmos files that I downloaded from a link on this forum and worked on the Samsung, said “unsupported audio format” on the Panasonic.The video played though.
I had earlier played a 4K disc of Westworld S2 on the Panasonic and the audio was in Atmos. It played perfectly.

[gooseygander2001]

So I currently have a Panasonic UB400 player and am thinking of replacing this with a UB820, Sony x700 or LG UBK90.

Has anyone done any side by side comparisons of the UHD picture quality between these or other similar players? Specifically I am looking for as 'untouched' an image as possible.

I struggle to decide on correct settings on my current Panny player, especially the Chroma Sharpness which seems slightly unnatural to my eye, I often settle for -3 or -4 to get a more neutral look?

Any help would be appreciated...

Also....does anyone know if the '4k pure direct' option on some Panasonic TV's for use with 4:4:4 input is a way to bypass the Panasonic chroma upsampling process??

[Geoff D]

820 at its core will look identical.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by UB9000

As the 9400E model is still the best available and can out play many OLED's

[gooseygander2001]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

820 at its core will look identical.

same chip underneath essentially I guess...did you not once have a sony player after having a Panasonic Geoff and do I vaguely recall you preferring the picture on the Sony at that time??