Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I would seriously consider Chad B coming out just once. He will optimize your entire system A-Z. It will be well worth the money.

I'll consider it; it's amazing how the comments in this thread went from "You'll be fine! Default out of the box settings are simple -- like they were with your display!" to "Oh, well, yeah...this is a totally different animal now" and "For once you make a point (about all of this being daunting)" and "Get someone to set all this up for you"...

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

I've read that quite a few UHD TV owners simply leave their displays in the default HDR modes without tweaking any controls; is this advised?

It really depends on the user, some turn off all post-processing options, some stick to default settings. Some are in-between.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by chip75

It really depends on the user, some turn off all post-processing options, some stick to default settings. Some are in-between.

But aren't some settings that switch on by default when an HDR signal is detected PREFERRED -- such as Local Dimming: HIGH and Backlight: MAX?

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

I'll consider it; it's amazing how the comments in this thread went from "You'll be fine! Default out of the box settings are simple -- like they were with your display!" to "Oh, well, yeah...this is a totally different animal now" and "For once you make a point (about all of this being daunting)" and "Get someone to set all this up for you"...

For the 820 player settings you definitely don't need Chad, but for the display SDR and HDR/2020 calibration I think it would help a lot. I mean even with my plasmas and just 1080p, his cals made a difference compared to my calibration disc and out of box settings.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

But aren't some settings that switch on by default when an HDR signal is detected PREFERRED -- such as Local Dimming: HIGH and Backlight: MAX?

I would imagine they're on to give customers what they perceive to be the preferred look. If TVs shipped with Movie mode as default, most people would return their sets to the store!

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by chip75

I would imagine they're on to give customers what they perceive to be the preferred look. If TVs shipped with Movie mode as default, most people would return their sets to the store!

So a HIGH local dimming and backlight setting aren't REQUIRED to get the most out of HDR material?

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

It's comments like these that have me concerned about the Panasonics' "ease of use"...

Not really. I admit it is annoying. And the oppo does remember position. But as far as I'm aware, Panasonic is the only one with luminance control. And it is easy to do both.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

How does that help me grasp how the settings and controls work in the display and player?

Do you ever download the users manual for these to read though? Here is the UB820 manual in pdf. Then you can do a hypertext search on any term to get your answer, such as luminance.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Do you ever download the users manual for these to read though? Here is the UB820 manual in pdf. Then you can do a hypertext search on any term to get your answer, such as luminance.

That said, no Panasonic manual mentions the subtitle luminance control? It mentions the subtrke option screen but gives NO details... Same as the ub900. Which is why I had to ask.

[HeavyHitter]

There are some picture settings not listed in the 820 manual for SDR/2020 either if I recall.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

Have a quick break while my wife is getting her workout done.

Projector owners, DO NOT USE standard HDR out. Just use SDR2020. DO NOT USE any tone mapping you already had (Chad curve, Arve curve). You need to calibrate your projector for a 2.4 gamma and use 2020 color (or equivalent). Figure out what your peak white nit level is and use that as a starting point for setting the brightness with the slider. I would suggest a 5x multiplier to start. SO, if you have 100 nits, you want to start with 500 nits for the slider. The default level of the slider is 350 (mid point that it starts on). If you go lower, the number gets HIGHER, if you go higher the number is LOWER! All the way up is 100 nits, so you'll hav not figure out the math for what each step is. Start with that and then you can adjust up or down if you feel the need to with different films. It does not have to be perfect, just get yourself close. I've found that 5x is a good place to start and most of the time somewhere between 4 and 6x works for just about every film. If a film is on the darker side for your taste, go to 4K. If it is a really aggressive HDR movie like Mad Max or John Wick 2, 6x will give you more dynamic range for a bit more punch.

Now, with SDR2020 the HDR Optimizer DOES do something. The reason a lot of you aren't seeing any difference between on and off is because the majority of titles on the market are mastered to 1000 nits. With HDR Optimizer OFF, the player is defaulting to a 1000 nit based tone map. With it ON, the player is adjusting the tone map based on the MaxCLL or MaxDML (which is 1000 for A LOT of movies!!!). If MaxCLL is less than MaxDML, it uses CLL. If MaxCLL is higher than DML, it uses DML. If MaxCLL is 0 it uses DML. If all are zero, it uses 1000. So I would suggest that you turn is ON. The only title that I feel this could cause an issue with is Sicario, as it has a MaxCLL of 0 and MaxDML of 4000 but the MaxCLL is actually really close to 1000, so this is a title where HDR Optimizer OFF will actually look MUCH better. Otherwise, On would work with 99% of titles more effectively.

I DO NOT recommend using regular HDR out with the HDR Optimizer plus your Arve curves or what Chad did. That is applying overlaying tone maps that are already aggressive because of low light output. That is a recipe for issues galore. So SDR2020 for projectors!!!

Good luck!

Just to be perfectly clear, I'm not 100% clear on which items you mention are projector settings and which are player settings. Eg when you say "DO NOT USE standard HDR out. Just use SDR2020", given you say " HDR out", do you mean a setting on the player output? I don't see anything in the Panasonic manual for a sdr2020.

Currently I just have the old ub900, and On my projector I have it set to SDR2020, running a custom gamma curve. So I'm guessing I leave it on the projector sdr2020, and on the projector from custom gamma curves to gamma 2.4, and then on the player, I'm then unclear what I do there.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Do you ever download the users manual for these to read though? Here is the UB820 manual in pdf. Then you can do a hypertext search on any term to get your answer, such as luminance.

Yeah...

I'm talking about THIS statement that I directly replied to:

I am now tossing hundreds of DVD’s to charity. The stores are now half BD’S half 4K UHD BD’s. While you’ll be safe with HD physical media, 4K UHD BD’s are now becoming more mainstream. This is something to consider

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

That said, no Panasonic manual mentions the subtitle luminance control? It mentions the subtrke option screen but gives NO details... Same as the ub900. Which is why I had to ask.

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

There are some picture settings not listed in the 820 manual for SDR/2020 either if I recall.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

So a HIGH local dimming and backlight setting aren't REQUIRED to get the most out of HDR material?

It really depends on the user, but if you're setting the backlight and other settings to max out you're leaving yourself nowhere to go if you do need a bit more.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

I agree, the manual is pretty poor as a reference. Just like a lot of manuals. Take my Sony projector. The delivered one was rubbish, and the downloadable one was better, but it still lacked enough detail - eg showing options they were not available in certain situations (like dynamic iris under 3d) without explaining what available when.

[evan201]

Been running the UB820 on my new Sony X940E with luminance set to Medium/High for map to 1000 nits. Have the HDR slider set to +8 on most HDR10 material that I've viewed so far and man it looks outstanding. Everything else is set to 0. Need to check out some 4000 nit movies to see how it looks there as well, but damn its great. DV content looks beast as well.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

I agree, the manual is pretty poor as a reference. Just like a lot of manuals. Take my Sony projector. The delivered one was rubbish, and the downloadable one was better, but it still lacked enough detail - eg showing options they were not available in certain situations (like dynamic iris under 3d) without explaining what available when.

Considering that a large percentage of manuals are no digital the laziness that goes into them is astounding, it makes no sense not to include detailed descriptions of what each setting actually does.

Samsung are probably the worst, their 1 size fits all manual is a waste of time.

[ronboster]

I think everyone would agree, the manual does have important information in it....and it obvious we wouldn't be on this site (or any other HT hobbyist site) if we didn't see the benefits, which are discussions like this.

Not to put words in JohnAV's mouth, but I think he's saying to read the manual and get a basic understanding of many of the important functions. When trying to learn about something new (we don't know, what we don't), so it's important to cast a wider net....which the manual would help in that process.

Especially, someone who finds the settings unduly complicated, which is how IntelliVolume described himself/situation. That's not a "slam" but reflecting what IntelliVolume said. With any new product/technology, we are starting from that position.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by chip75

It really depends on the user, but if you're setting the backlight and other settings to max out you're leaving yourself nowhere to go if you do need a bit more.

How could one possibly need more if these controls are maxed? I would think the brightness levels would be off the hook in these position...

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

I get that -- but EVERYONE here was making it seem like these players are COMPLETELY plug and play with no worries of any kind for a novice new to the format with regard to setup. Of course, I'll have to eventually BUY one because there's no choice, but I'm merely expressing -- as did another member here -- my concern for being able to get a player like the Panasonic up and running in the most ideal way based on the display I own and what the player will be connected to.

It would be real swell to buy a 4K disc player and you just enter your TV's brand/model make and year of manufacturing (or front projector's serial #) inside its menu and the player automatically set all the parameters for optimal picture quality.*
...And the same for audio (TV speakers, soundbar brand and model number, SSP, AV receiver, speakers and subwoofers) for best delivered sound performance.

That'll be the day.

* It's similar to the end user manuals for remote controls that can learn some operations from various audio/video components of different manufacturers. You enter the four digits codes supplied @ the end of the instruction manual (for remote codes) and voila.