Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Robert Zohn]

@Wobulater, I've not compared them side-by-side yet.

I have been using the UB9000 with some high-end 2-channel systems and it's awesome in every attribute of serious audio performance.

@Des511, I've only looked at avforums UK forum and only say a few discussing the optical drive noise. Seems like the vast majority do not feel it's loud.

Regarding my UB820 and UB900 since they are engineering samples it may not be a fair test. MY 1st allocation of mass produced UB820s are scheduled to arrive next week and we'll be setting up a few for our showroom.

With all this said my UB9000 is quieter than the UB820. But they both have quite optical drive operation, just that the UB9000 is even slightly quieter. I would assume the very high end housing and build quality is the reason.

[Wobulater]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

@Wobulater, I've not compared them side-by-side yet.

I have been using the UB9000 with some high-end 2-channel systems and it's awesome in every attribute of serious audio performance.

@Des511, I've only looked at avforums UK forum and only say a few discussing the optical drive noise. Seems like the vast majority do not feel it's loud.

Regarding my UB820 and UB900 since they are engineering samples it may not be a fair test. MY 1st allocation of mass produced UB820s are scheduled to arrive next week and we'll be setting up a few for our showroom.

With all this said my UB9000 is quieter than the UB820. But they both have quite optical drive operation, just that the UB9000 is even slightly quieter. I would assume the very high end housing and build quality is the reason.

I know this may sound odd, no pun intended, but I am curious whether the UB9000 sounds better than the UB820 when feeding a high end processor like the Marantz AV8805 by HDMI. I have found that various Blu Ray players produce different sound characteristics when hooked up by HDMI to a quality surround processor. It’s similar to the phenomenon of different CD players producing different results when used as transports for outboard DACs.

[Neo4K]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

My review will focus on this a lot. In fact, I am probably going to focus on the HDR implementation more than just about anything because the player is so similar to the previous 900, I don't want to just regurgitate what we already covered in the review for that player. This will include the HDR to SDR conversion and how it performs with a projector.

I can confirm full 2020 support with SDR output and no need for a linker/vertex/fury to enable this mode.

But only if the projector EDID contains the SDR/BT2020 Edid, correct?

My LS10000 is not capable to receive SDR/BT2020 from the UB820 without the Linker.

[E6AtmosVuduDV]

Robert Zohn states...

@Des511, I've only looked at avforums UK forum and only say a few discussing the optical drive noise. Seems like the vast majority do not feel it's loud.*

Robert

I read AVForum, AVSforum, Blu-Ray.com, and others.
I can't really find many personal posted reviews on ub820, ub824, ub9000.

Likely not many units been sent to Europe to be sold yet.
Even the Dutch just started receiving delivery of units last week(from a recient published article). Multitudes of peoples on forums are talking ub820 ub824, ub9000. But really few seems to have the new Panny's at home. Maybe Im wrong. But really not many peoples posting reviews or extensive impressions. There are some posting noisy drives. But multitude peoples not posting noisy drives... maybe because they don't have the new units.

Thus. We don't have a good handle on what % are noisy.
But thats my impression. On this thread. How many have posted reviews of their own new Panny? How many names you count? Thinking World Wide.

[clevice]

Originally Posted by Des511

I have an 820 and an Oppo 203 and the optical drive in the panasonic is considerably louder
than the Oppo. I can quite clearly hear the drive when watching a UHD from about 3.5 metres away during quite parts of the movie. I’m in the UK and more owners have mentioned the noisy drives than have not with some owners sending theirs back for a refund.
Also the cooling fan is constantly on. You must be very lucky to have one with a quite optical drive.
It’s a shame that more effort was not put into the build quality so it would match the quality of its internal processing.

Hello

Sorry, but it's not true !!!

I have the Pany 824EGK

Pany 824EGK no noise

-

If you wish to say evil but the truth

tell of the Sony X800 that hibernates

Sorry for the owners, but

I had two Sony X-800, it's crap

I returned them to the store.

From PORTUGAL

.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Stupid question maybe but I have the Epson 5030UB that's capable of 10 bit color but only is capable of accepting a 1080P signal. I can still only get 8 bit color correct? Again sorry if it's stupid im just trying to figure this all out. Im not even close to getting any kind of 4K display for a long time.

[Robert Zohn]

@E6AtmosVuduDV, I've only read avforums.com thread re: the UB820/UB824 where I believe I've read two users have discussed the optical drive noise. Most others report no objecitional noise.

I have no idea how many UB820/UB824s have been sold worldwide, but from what I can see very few have reported audible noise from the optical drive.

Once we receive our first allotment I'll have a good basis of reporting back on this.

[51dueller]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

Stupid question maybe but I have the Epson 5030UB that's capable of 10 bit color but only is capable of accepting a 1080P signal. I can still only get 8 bit color correct? Again sorry if it's stupid im just trying to figure this all out. Im not even close to getting any kind of 4K display for a long time.

I know when I hooked up the UB900 to my 1080P TV it was sending a 12bit signal when playing a 4K movie. Now I don't know if it was the true 10bit or just 8bit in a 12bit container.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by 51dueller

I know when I hooked up the UB900 to my 1080P TV it was sending a 12bit signal when playing a 4K movie. Now I don't know if it was the true 10bit or just 8bit in a 12bit container.

Hmmmmm interesting.

[figrin_dan]

According to @PanasonicUK's twitter feed the 820 will play HD DVDs.

Watch your HD DVD's in UHD with upscaling https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consume...p-ub820eb.html

I'm not convinced.

[Robert Zohn]

The UB820 will not play HD DVDs. I don't see that on the link you provided.

[figrin_dan]

I just quoted their tweet. I'm not sure if I can link to the tweet itself.

Let's see:
https://twitter.com/PanasonicUK/stat...637166592?s=19

[Robert Zohn]

I assume the post was intended to mean HD BDs, not HD DVD.

[LordoftheRings]

A typo for sure.

Next it will say that it plays LD DVDs upscaled to UHD.

* Low Definition DVDs ... some people will deduct that it plays Laser Discs.

VHS and SVHS Tapes?

** High Definition BDs (HD BDs) upscaled to Ultra High Definition BDs (UHD BDs).

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by E6AtmosVuduDV

Robert Zohn states...


Robert

I read AVForum, AVSforum, Blu-Ray.com, and others.
I can't really find many personal posted reviews on ub820, ub824, ub9000.

Likely not many units been sent to Europe to be sold yet.
Even the Dutch just started receiving delivery of units last week(from a recient published article). Multitudes of peoples on forums are talking ub820 ub824, ub9000. But really few seems to have the new Panny's at home. Maybe Im wrong. But really not many peoples posting reviews or extensive impressions. There are some posting noisy drives. But multitude peoples not posting noisy drives... maybe because they don't have the new units.

Thus. We don't have a good handle on what % are noisy.
But thats my impression. On this thread. How many have posted reviews of their own new Panny? How many names you count? Thinking World Wide.

I found the Oppo 205 the most quiet player.
The Sony X800 is more quiet than my other Sony BR players, and than my Samsung BR players, and than my older Panasonic BR players.

I assume the Oppo 203 would be the quietest right after the 205.
A metal chassis, some heft, good footing, aluminum front face, solid top cover, solid inside construction, solid walls, shock absorbers for the transport, (Panasonic 9000), ... all of that plus a toroidal transformer and multiple regulated power supplies (linear best), would contribute to less noise, less distortion, ...a quieter disc mechanism transport.

My noisest BR player is the Samsung Duo 5000 (plays HD DVDs that one); it is extremely slow, extremely noisy, ...painful to load discs. But when the movie is playing all is fine.

My experience is that when you put your ear two inches from a player made of plastic, you are going to hear the disc loading inside the transport, you cannot fight gravitational force when not isolated. Aluminum is best, heavy metal second, a rubber pad under the top cover indicates more serious care.

But then, some players cost less than hundred bucks and others between $5,000 and $10,000 (in the past, not anymore). The best and most expensive 4K BR 3D player today (and they don't make them anymore) is the Oppo 205 ($1,300 US list).

When the movie is playing, even from players made of plastic, it's not a serious issue to me. It doesn't take me out of the movie. What does is a player that freezes all by itself.
When you pay serious money you want serious operation, not mickey mouse operation, obviously.

[E6AtmosVuduDV]

In buying the Panny UB820 from Robert Zohn's Value Electronic... What is their return policy?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by E6AtmosVuduDV

In buying the Panny UB820 from Robert Zohn's Value Electronic... What is their return policy?

See
https://www.valueelectronics.com/Contact_2_2_TCQK.php

[E6AtmosVuduDV]

TV Returns for Refund and Replacement Policy

Saw as heading.


Update.
URL was updated, its heading now:

TV, Blu-ray player and audio receiver returns for refund and replacement policy*

Returning a Product for replacementIf your product is defective within 30 days for LG and Panasonic and 14 days for Sony of purchase*you have the option or repairing or we will swap it with a brand new product. The defect must be confirmed by the manufacturer's authorized servicer. *In this case you do not pay any restocking or any shipping costs, we cover all costs. *Only returns for refund incur return shipping and a 10% restocking fee and all accessories and packing must be original.*

[Robert Zohn]

Defective product policy. If it's defective within the first 30 days we replace or repair the player at no charge and we cover the return shipping.

Refund policy with no reason. Within the first 30 days if the customer just wants a refund we have a 10% restocking fee and the player must be returned with all of the accessories and packed properly..

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

My review will focus on this a lot. In fact, I am probably going to focus on the HDR implementation more than just about anything because the player is so similar to the previous 900, I don't want to just regurgitate what we already covered in the review for that player. This will include the HDR to SDR conversion and how it performs with a projector.

I can confirm full 2020 support with SDR output and no need for a linker/vertex/fury to enable this mode.

Do you think someone with a JVC using good Arve curves can still benefit with the HDR optimizer on the 820?