Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

I didn't even realize that official model was so cheap, so it just doesn't have the HDR button and the -10/+60 but works all the same on the UHD players?

Mine does have the skip buttons but not the HDR button. I have no need for the HDR button, and the skip buttons weren't very useful with how slow(-ish) the player is, but the subtitle button is worth its weight in gold, to me.

They all work on all the players.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Any reason the UB820 would have much higher dynamic range audio than my Sony X800? I randomly watched the same content on both this week and the Panasonic audio was MUCH higher dynamic range than the Sony, despite both being on the default audio settings with dynamic range compression type settings off.

There's plenty of other settings that could be on or off on either player.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by victorcoimbra

Hi guys, bought the UB820 this week. Any tips when setting the player? I will pair it with a 65 G3 and a S95QR soundbar.

Thanks!

Sapiendut has a great little setup video.

Panasonic 4K Bluray Players UB420 UB820 UB9000 Settings That Many People Missed - YouTube

[Panson]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Any reason the UB820 would have much higher dynamic range audio than my Sony X800? I randomly watched the same content on both this week and the Panasonic audio was MUCH higher dynamic range than the Sony, despite both being on the default audio settings with dynamic range compression type settings off.

Sony manuals say DRC default for X800 and X800M2 is AUTO (BD-Rom only) - Dynamic range is specified by the disc (BD-Rom only). Othe discs are played back at the ON level. ON - Playback at standard compression level. OFF - No compression sound. A more dynamic sound is produced.

Most related posts I've read at AV sites suggest DRC be turned OFF. I choose OFF with Sony X800 and X800M2.

But, it's your ears that count here, so maybe try all options on both your players and decide if "louder" default DRC offers you any extra return for your listening pleasure.

Articles that may inform:

https://www.sonarworks.com/blog/lear...%20personality.

https://www.moon-audio.com/sound-sig...0studio%20work.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Crib79

Ok, here's my issue, whenever I turn on my television, I can't get sound through the soundbar. It defaults to television speaker. I end up having to disconnect the soundbar from the television eARC and then reconnect it, then it works fine.

Unplug the player from the sound bar and turn everything off. Does the sound bar turn on the TV? When the TV is on and you turn on the sound bar does it output sound from the TV? Is Simplink on?

[trainreck]

Are these players known to be touchy with maybe less than perfect discs? I bought one of these around BF and had watched at least 15 discs with no issues until last week:

First it was a comedy BD that had two versions on the disc and the UB820 wouldn't play the unrated cut (would play theatrical though). I thought maybe it was an issue with the seamless branching but the player worked fine with a different disc that had multiple versions right after. Then the other day I watched a used BD I had just gotten and the player froze near the end, I was thinking it might be freezing at the layer change. Now today I put in a DVD, it does have a fair amount of scratches on it and the disc won't even load in the UB820. I've tried all these discs in a cheaper old LG blu-ray player and they all played with no issue.

Obviously I'm expecting a $350 player to work better than a cheap old unit so I'm getting a little frustrated. This player is definitely going back to the store, I'm just not sure if I'll exchange it and try another one or just get my money back and revert to my old Sony 4K player. Admittedly the Sony never had any issues so maybe I shouldn't have "upgraded" in the first place.

edit: The player's firmware is up to date and the BD discs that have had issues don't seem to have any scratches though they are older discs.

[trainreck]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Those discs could have oxidation inside and are rotting, you may not be able to see it, but the laser can. This could explain things, another player may not get tripped up. Also maybe the pressing or the mastering of said disc was less than perfect, same thing. CD players do the same thing, there are really expensive decks with horrid error correction and lots of things will skip, especially decades old CDs, but put them in my portable Panasonic unit from 1994 and it plays them all. We are so far out with disc players you need multiple units to have everything.

I did have some of that back with cds where some discs might skip in some players in not others, however I guess I just haven't come across that with video discs. I've had many DVD and BD players without issue, and my first 4k player was operating fine for over 2 years as well.

If keeping the Panasonic means I'll need to expect 10-20% of my discs to not play it's an easy decision to go back to the Sony. I'm not interested in keeping two seperate players set up on the same tv to have a fall back in the event the Panasonic won't play a disc that should play fine.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by trainreck

Are these players known to be touchy with maybe less than perfect discs? I bought one of these around BF and had watched at least 15 discs with no issues until last week:

First it was a comedy BD that had two versions on the disc and the UB820 wouldn't play the unrated cut (would play theatrical though). I thought maybe it was an issue with the seamless branching but the player worked fine with a different disc that had multiple versions right after. Then the other day I watched a used BD I had just gotten and the player froze near the end, I was thinking it might be freezing at the layer change. Now today I put in a DVD, it does have a fair amount of scratches on it and the disc won't even load in the UB820. I've tried all these discs in a cheaper old LG blu-ray player and they all played with no issue.

Obviously I'm expecting a $350 player to work better than a cheap old unit so I'm getting a little frustrated. This player is definitely going back to the store, I'm just not sure if I'll exchange it and try another one or just get my money back and revert to my old Sony 4K player. Admittedly the Sony never had any issues so maybe I shouldn't have "upgraded" in the first place.

edit: The player's firmware is up to date and the BD discs that have had issues don't seem to have any scratches though they are older discs.

The Panasonic UHD players are well known to either play discs perfectly or some for whatever reason start skipping, freezing and people keep having problems with them. I have not had a disc skip or freeze on mine yet and I have had it for years now. Only issue is a slight pause for a second on layer change on disc which is normal. I keep the firmware updated. I would first try and get a replacement player and if it acts up again call it a day and move on. Same with the Sony players there are people that get them and never have issues and than on some players they skip, freeze and keep having problems. The optical drives on both Sony and Panasonic are a case of either perfect or not from the factory.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

The old ones have way more heft in particular, my Yamaha CD changer deck has a heavy remote.

A lot of those remotes had lead weights inside them to make them feel more premium.

[Zechs Merquise]

Anyone here in the UK or Europe who can confirm whether you need a transformer to operate the USA version of the UB820 or whether you can simply get away with changing the AC Power outlet? I know someone here has done it the other way around (UK player in USA) and had no trouble, I'm wondering if anyone has done it the way I'm asking, and not had the player blow up or something?

[Telemachus]

Crutchfield has the UB820 for $399 again

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by Zechs Merquise

Anyone here in the UK or Europe who can confirm whether you need a transformer to operate the USA version of the UB820 or whether you can simply get away with changing the AC Power outlet? I know someone here has done it the other way around (UK player in USA) and had no trouble, I'm wondering if anyone has done it the way I'm asking, and not had the player blow up or something?

U still need a transformer from 220v to 110v to plug it. Don't plug it directly I end up blowing my capacitor and fuse but successfully I changed them and my player is on again
If anyone is interested in upgrading the power supply either for ub420 or ub820
https://pcaudio.tistory.com/601
https://pcaudio.tistory.com/598
I only upgrade mine to accept 220v as input
NB: I am still using a transformer even I upgraded my power supply capacitor from 250v 100mf to 450v 100mf

[bruceames]

So it's well known these players have poor error correction. Mine has a poor track record with BDs (particularly Criterion, where most won't play), but does much better with UHD and especially DVD. Is this an oversight, or is there some kind of tradeoff between amount of error correction and PQ?

[deatheats]

Originally Posted by bruceames

So it's well known these players have poor error correction. Mine has a poor track record with BDs (particularly Criterion, where most won't play), but does much better with UHD and especially DVD. Is this an oversight, or is there some kind of tradeoff between amount of error correction and PQ?

I don’t believe there is anything inherently wrong with these players but individual units, of course, can experience issues. While knocking heavily on the nearest wood, I’ve yet to come across a problem after several years of use playing any blu ray or 4k discs that wasn’t an issue with the disc itself. Maybe I got lucky, but my 820 has had an excellent track record.

[deeppurpleman]

I don't have any problems with Criterion discs either. I have a 9000 and an 820. Both work fine.

[Naiera]

I think I've had issues with maybe five UHDiscs on my 824. Not sure how many I've used it for, but it's probably at least 200... I've only used it for a few Big Bang Theory Blu-rays, otherwise it only does UHD.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by deatheats

I don’t believe there is anything inherently wrong with these players but individual units, of course, can experience issues. While knocking heavily on the nearest wood, I’ve yet to come across a problem after several years of use playing any blu ray or 4k discs that wasn’t an issue with the disc itself. Maybe I got lucky, but my 820 has had an excellent track record.

Samesies. My 820 has been superb with everything I've played on it (actual physically damaged discs aside) and I didn't even buy it new! It's had issues with some Dobly Vision discs, yes, but that's purely a firmware thing rather than a mechanical issue re: "error correction".

I really do think it's luck of the draw if you get a drive that's rock solid or is overly sensitive to every blemish and mark on a disc.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Samesies. My 820 has been superb with everything I've played on it (actual physically damaged discs aside) and I didn't even buy it new! It's had issues with some Dobly Vision discs, yes, but that's purely a firmware thing rather than a mechanical issue re: "error correction".

I really do think it's luck of the draw if you get a drive that's rock solid or is overly sensitive to every blemish and mark on a disc.

Only had my 820 for a month but it’s played everything I’ve thrown at it just fine. I know it keeps coming up but it bears repeating: every so often, especially when new it is worthwhile to gently clean your discs. I use a mild lens cleaner and a microfiber wipe. Gets it super shiny perfect. Then, handle on edges only and you shouldn’t have any issues.

If a player continually has issues then it’s a bad one and should be exchanged.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

I didn't even realize that official model was so cheap, so it just doesn't have the HDR button and the -10/+60 but works all the same on the UHD players?

As far as I could tell on eBay, mine is the N2QAYA000128. It'll be more expensive than the knock-offs and the cheapest official one that lacks the -10/+60 buttons but, as mentioned earlier, I haven't found those to be very useful.

Bonus bad pic from the Oppo BDP-103 thread.

[bruceames]

Luck of the draw shouldn't be the norm for a high end player. This thread is littered with playback issues that you would never see in an Oppo thread.

If it's just getting a player with a shitty drive that has nothing to do with error correction, than can't the drive be replaced? I've had mine (9000) too long for getting an exchange. Are there any cheaper models that use the same drive that I could buy and swap out, or buy the drive directly?