Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[pbz06]

Just to clarify, there's a difference between a refresh rate of a display and the frame rate of the content. One is referred to in hz, while the other is fps or p. The issue with tcl is that it struggles with 24p content on its native 60hz panel. You need to disable 24p on Panasonic so it sends it as a 60hz container, but the source is still 24p and there's no interpolation. You'd need the TV to take that 24p/60hz signal and apply 3:2 pulldown or interpolate to 30fps or 60fps etc

[RustinCohle]

I recently switched from Amazon Basics cables to the Zeskit 8K. Can't really tell much of a difference, tbh. Hoping they just last longer.

[sapiendut]

I didn’t know that in 2021 there are still display devices that can’t deal with native 24 fps signal.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by RustinCohle

I recently switched from Amazon Basics cables to the Zeskit 8K. Can't really tell much of a difference, tbh. Hoping they just last longer.

You should not see a difference. The cable simply has much bigger bandwidth than necessary for 4K UHD playback.

[martinstraka8282]

Originally Posted by RustinCohle

I recently switched from Amazon Basics cables to the Zeskit 8K. Can't really tell much of a difference, tbh. Hoping they just last longer.

The Zeskit cables are geared towards HDMI 2.1 features on the new consoles and PC graphics cards for 40gbps bandwidth. 4k UHD playback is still within the 18gbps spec.

Because of the high bandwidth capabilities, Zeskit cables are a safe bet to solve cable issues with sparkles or dropouts on 4k UHD players like I did, but they are overkill and won't change anything for you if you aren't having those issues. Plenty of other cables would meet the 4k UHD specs, but I like Zeskit for taking out any guesswork.

[RustinCohle]

Originally Posted by martinstraka8282

The Zeskit cables are geared towards HDMI 2.1 features on the new consoles and PC graphics cards for 40gbps bandwidth. 4k UHD playback is still within the 18gbps spec.

Because of the high bandwidth capabilities, Zeskit cables are a safe bet to solve cable issues with sparkles or dropouts on 4k UHD players like I did, but they are overkill and won't change anything for you if you aren't having those issues. Plenty of other cables would meet the 4k UHD specs, but I like Zeskit for taking out any guesswork.

I feel like the Amazon Basics cables just don't last. They work perfectly at first and then a year or so later there's some image or audio issues. Replace it with another Amazon Basics cable and it's back to normal.

Just hoping to avoid that and that this Zeskit cable lasts several years.

[sapiendut]

Also be aware that I have tested enough 8K cables that don’t even pass 4K 18 gbps. Gotta love these manufacturers simply slapping whatever they feel like.

[martinstraka8282]

Originally Posted by RustinCohle

I feel like the Amazon Basics cables just don't last. They work perfectly at first and then a year or so later there's some image or audio issues. Replace it with another Amazon Basics cable and it's back to normal.

Just hoping to avoid that and that this Zeskit cable lasts several years.

Ya that's not overly surprising. Their main selling point is their cheapness.

I think you'll be happy with the Zeskit cable to simply put the issue to bed.

[Stormyyy]

I've had the UB820 and now the UB9000 and the 9000 is so much more premium. I know it costs double, but well worth it IMO. The build quality is impeccable and I'm happy to own the 9000, which I believe is the best 4K UHD player on the market. Panasonic does need to work on their packaging though. My box was trashed.

[sapiendut]

The box is trashed by your shipping company, not by Panasonic.

Also, don’t forget to follow the setup guide in my signature to get the best picture from your player.

[bizzle]

Originally Posted by pbz06

Just to clarify, there's a difference between a refresh rate of a display and the frame rate of the content. One is referred to in hz, while the other is fps or p. The issue with tcl is that it struggles with 24p content on its native 60hz panel. You need to disable 24p on Panasonic so it sends it as a 60hz container, but the source is still 24p and there's no interpolation. You'd need the TV to take that 24p/60hz signal and apply 3:2 pulldown or interpolate to 30fps or 60fps etc

Are we sure this is the case? https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/motion/24p

According to the tests run by the RTINGS crew, the R635 should handle 24p content without issue. Unless, I am not understanding you correctly--which could absolutely be the case, ha!

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by bizzle

Are we sure this is the case? https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/motion/24p

According to the tests run by the RTINGS crew, the R635 should handle 24p content without issue. Unless, I am not understanding you correctly--which could absolutely be the case, ha!

Well the R635 has a 120hz native panel, so no issues. Perhaps I lost track which TCL model we are talking about. Most of their previous models had 60hz panels. I have a 2019 5 series in my guestroom and that's 60hz but I didn't care because it's for my mother in law lol

[VanHiscers]

Originally Posted by bizzle

Are we sure this is the case? https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/motion/24p

According to the tests run by the RTINGS crew, the R635 should handle 24p content without issue. Unless, I am not understanding you correctly--which could absolutely be the case, ha!

Handling it as displaying it smoothly? Yeah, for sure, but technically audio sync issue isn’t a display issue, but a software programming one.

[handoffbarry]

Originally Posted by Matt89

So I picked up my UB820 a couple weeks back, upgraded from a Sony X700 (huge upgrade btw lol got so sick of having to manually switch DV on/off, and the freezing was starting to drive me nuts). Overall, I'm loving it. I've only really had the fluctuating brightness issue on Kino's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and SC's UHD of The Fog but another issue I've noticed is sometimes when I play back 1080p discs, the gamma levels are raised. Like the black bars look greyish instead of a deep black. I pop the same disc into my region-free Sony BDP-S1200 and those issues are not there. Not sure why the 820 is doing this. Paramount's Region A disc of Titanic has this issue, as does Powerhouse's disc of Roadgames. Has anyone else had this problem? Firmware is up to date.

Also, had no idea this player was essentially region free. Using the Top Menu trick or hitting 1 and then OK has worked on nearly every Region B disc I've tested. The only one I've found to be hard locked to Region B is 88 Films' blu of Terror Train. I tested out dozens of discs and they pretty much all worked. Pretty cool. The only issue is the gamma thing that's going on with some 1080 discs.

~Matt

Yeah, it seems the DV brightness fluctuations are only happening with select titles from boutique labels. It's super bizarre, and I'm wondering if LG (I'm assuming you're watching on an OLED) or Panasonic are aware of this issue. I have yet to run into a major studio release that's had any problems.

Hopefully with more and more of these labels hopping into 4K (Scream, Arrow, Blue Underground, Kino, etc.) more people will run into this issue and do something about it.

[idlebrain]

Originally Posted by manwithnoname64

It looks like my open box from woot was a Crutchfield return/damaged box. The box was in pretty bad shape and the packaging was obviously opened. I’ll test it out. Is there any way to see how many hours the player has been used?

Same experience with woot which is supposed to be new for $799 . It has playback issues with every disc. Returned it after 2 months.

[manwithnoname64]

Originally Posted by idlebrain

Same experience with woot which is supposed to be new for $799 . It has playback issues with every disc. Returned it after 2 months.

That’s troubling. I didn’t get a chance to try it yet.

[whedon]

Going to be grabbing the UB820 after Christmas, what's the fastest and easiest way for Region Free playback and external sub support? Seen a few places recommended but ideally would prefer not to have to go soldering anything.

[bizzle]

Originally Posted by Matt89

So I picked up my UB820 a couple weeks back, upgraded from a Sony X700 (huge upgrade btw lol got so sick of having to manually switch DV on/off, and the freezing was starting to drive me nuts). Overall, I'm loving it. I've only really had the fluctuating brightness issue on Kino's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and SC's UHD of The Fog but another issue I've noticed is sometimes when I play back 1080p discs, the gamma levels are raised. Like the black bars look greyish instead of a deep black. I pop the same disc into my region-free Sony BDP-S1200 and those issues are not there. Not sure why the 820 is doing this. Paramount's Region A disc of Titanic has this issue, as does Powerhouse's disc of Roadgames. Has anyone else had this problem? Firmware is up to date.

Also, had no idea this player was essentially region free. Using the Top Menu trick or hitting 1 and then OK has worked on nearly every Region B disc I've tested. The only one I've found to be hard locked to Region B is 88 Films' blu of Terror Train. I tested out dozens of discs and they pretty much all worked. Pretty cool. The only issue is the gamma thing that's going on with some 1080 discs.

~Matt

I've never had an issue with a single Region B Arrow disc on this player. The one disc I have had issues with is the Blu Ray Special Features disc from Studio Canal 'Dawn of the Dead' release from last winter (wow, time flies). You had me excited for a moment when you mention the '1 then ok' trick as I've only used the Top Menu work around. Still no luck with the Dawn disc though.

[VanHiscers]

Originally Posted by bizzle

I've never had an issue with a single Region B Arrow disc on this player. The one disc I have had issues with is the Blu Ray Special Features disc from Studio Canal 'Dawn of the Dead' release from last winter (wow, time flies). You had me excited for a moment when you mention the '1 then ok' trick as I've only used the Top Menu work around. Still no luck with the Dawn disc though.

I’m glad to hear Arrow’s Region B releases work on this player; so far all StudioCanal releases worked for me, the Dawn of the Dead release you mentioned was from Second Sight, that’s why I think. I also tried a Disney release, that didn’t work either.

[manwithnoname64]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Unfortunately there is no way to find out.

Believe it or not, however, when people return their 820/9000 is because they don’t see the improvements over other players. And the reason for that is because usually they don’t set up the player properly. See the link in my signature for the detailed set up (far too long to type here).

Dumb question, popped in Bohemian Rhapsody and tried following the steps in the video but the Panasonic player is saying that it’s playing in dynamic conversion mode. My tv is a Sony A90J, so I know HDR is not a problem. The only thing is I used to use this HDMI port for a Nintendo Switch. I’m using zeskit maya cables.

Edit: I’m away from home right now, but I read someone with a similar problem. It turns out they were playing the blu-ray instead of UHD disc. I’ll have to check when I get home and tell you if I’m an idiot, lol.