Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by gkolb

Wait. It has a tray, a front display, a rear fan, and can play jazz without any wires connected. Most Impressive! (Says in deepest Darth Vader voice...)

It must be Friday.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Per What*HI*FI

Panasonic UB9000 UHD Blu-ray player plugs the high-end gap left by Oppo - PocketLint

Did the ultra high end reach its limits?

John, now that Oppo Digital closed its doors, you should apply @ Panasonic for a job...Beta Tester.

[COACH10810]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Just spoke today to my Panasonic contacts about a loan of one UB9000 engineer production unit. The UB9000 is a ultra high-end FHD/SDR and UHD/HDR Blu-ray, audio CD and of course DVD when needed.

I look at this device as an ultra high end video (Netflix, Amazon, Youtube, etc) and Hi Res and Tidal MQA audio streaming hub with a very nice optical drive for the most premium UHD/HDR playback.

Good Morning Robert. Have you heard any updates on your ETA of the UB820's?

[Robert Zohn]

@JohnAV, I double check on the MQA compatibility.

@COACH10810, my last update says the week of July 16th. I'll get another update Monday.

[E6AtmosVuduDV]

Anyone replicated this with BR2049?

doug56hl

Distinguished Member

panman40 said:*↑

I must admit I'm findingi it hard to believe there's not more mention of the ub820 fan whine / annoying drive reading noises etc. Overal smoothness of operation and playback noise is nothing like the ub700, saying that there does appear to be more new owners to this model than upgraders from the 900/700.


***
I was going to post re this later when I'd done some more tests/checks but your post has prompted me to do it now.

Played BR2049 last night. BD100 triple layer disc. The 3rd layer change comes in a group of scenes with a lot of quiet in them (Vegas 1.50 onwards). UB820 drive noise was noticeably loud here which I hadn't noted previously on my UB700. So did a lot of cross compare swaping the disc between the two players. While both drives produced noise here, the character of the noise was different between them.

The UB820 drive had an annoying noticeable whine whereas my UB700 doesn't. This is definitely drive rather than fan related. My UB820 is now located beneath the centre speaker with closed in shelving sides and a very tight fit, 1.9m distance. This was done to trap/hide any fan noise which it's succeeding at. My UB700 is in the corner of the room at 2.6m but on open shelves.

Later today I'm going to move the UB820 location to on top of the UB700 so they are both equidistant and operating in the same environment and recheck again using a dB meter and also do a lot of PQ comparison. I did notice that the UB820 was producing a better picture but I had a number of small tweaks to the tone curves and brightness plus optimiser on vs similar tweaks to the UB700 without optimiser of course. I'll try both on 0 (default) settings.

Having said that, this is the first disc I've noticed such a difference with. Normally with BD66 twin layer discs the drive spins fast at start and end of movie where there is often loud sound track. BD100 discs though speed up again for the 3rd layer change and end the movie at lower speed.

With BR2049 it's just unfortunate that the 3rd layer change comes in such quiet scenes. I watched Transformers The Last Knight the other day on the UB820 where the 3rd layer change is in the middle of loud action scenes so drive noise isn't noticeable at all with the audio on.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

@JohnAV, I double check on the MQA compatibility.

Thanks Robert, I recall the recent ESS Technology's SABRE DACs support integrated MQA, such as the SABRE 9018 and later, but the UB9000 uses AK4493 32-bit/768kHz DAC.

Panasonic could be doing software decoding instead. A statement from Audiostream below on the differences:

If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file through an MQA software decoder like Tidal HiFi, Audirvana, or (soon) Roon, and you are using a regular DAC (i.e. a non-MQA DAC), you will get a 24/96 file. A software decoder does not offer the ability to 'unfold' the original file to resolutions higher than 24/96 (or 24/88.2).

If you play back a 24-bit/192kHz MQA-encoded file through an MQA-enabled DAC, you will get a 24-bit/192kHz file. If you are also using a software decoder like Tidal HiFi, Audirvana, or (soon) Roon, you can have the software decoder perform the first 'unfold'.

[LordoftheRings]

MQA support or not has zero importance, it matters zero percent.

[sapiendut]

So in theory, via HDMI, both units will perform identical?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

So in theory, via HDMI, both units will perform identical?

Very likely. Kinda like the 203 vs 205.

[sapiendut]

I just realized that the 9000 have HDR to SDR conversion without deleting the WCG.

[COACH10810]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I just realized that the 9000 have HDR to SDR conversion without deleting the WCG.

The UB820 will also have this feature, if I remember reading correctly.

[trekky76]

Originally Posted by ShePearl

Thanks for the info. Pretty close enough. However, I wish they could have provided more customization options in 100 nit steps for more precise tone mapping process/simulation.
I’ve never seen a OLED (including the latest C8/E8) reaching 1,000 nits after D65 calibration. They usually top out at 700-800 nit range.

Exactly. My display is about 650 nits. Some discs look better with the 500 nit option and others better with the 1000 nit option.
Any clue how to customise the option to better suit an OLED?
I tested Deadpool with the Basic settings and got much more details. Blade Runner 2049 saw no change with that setting at all. I do feel an option for 750-800 nits would be better for OLED displays.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I just realized that the 9000 have HDR to SDR conversion without deleting the WCG.

And no HD Fury product needed this time.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I just realized that the 9000 have HDR to SDR conversion without deleting the WCG.

Originally Posted by COACH10810

The UB820 will also have this feature, if I remember reading correctly.

And Panasonic is the best @ performing this conversion for people requiring it.

[Mobe1969]

It is really good to see a manufacturer going to these lengths to come up with a great product implementing great ideas.

[LordoftheRings]

They are taking over Oppo.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

They are taking over Oppo.

Please tell me that after you been waiting for their DV update a few months from now.

[E6AtmosVuduDV]

Any Best of the Best is worth a Little Wait.
Especially at fair prices.

[BdoUK]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I just realized that the 9000 have HDR to SDR conversion without deleting the WCG.

Isn't this a feature that a lot of projector owners used with the Oppo? I recently upgraded to a JVC RS540 and it sounds like the Panasonic may have just the feature set required to pair very well with my projector.

[LordoftheRings]

That's what the rumours are.