Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

looks like you're going to beat me to the punch here.... I know you have your reservations (as I do)... please keep us updated on your experience with the player once you get it

Will-do, AKORIS...yeah, I am VERY concerned that this thing is gonna be too complicated to set up for simple disc-watching; and, I am concerned about DVD upconversion performance (I've become very spoiled by the upconversion of my OPPO BDP-83's Anchor Bay chip, which has been beyond reproach -- totally).

[danny24]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

Will-do, AKORIS...yeah, I am VERY concerned that this thing is gonna be too complicated to set up for simple disc-watching; and, I am concerned about DVD upconversion performance (I've become very spoiled by the upconversion of my OPPO BDP-83's Anchor Bay chip, which has been beyond reproach -- totally).

Sweet! congrats on the purchase of the ub820. I don't have this machine but for simple plug and play there wasn't anything difficult about setting up the UB900 as I have stated previously.

DVD upconversion was very good with the UB900 but I don't have the BDP-83 to compare it to.

If you at all feel disappointed with this player you can always return it. I don't think you will be disappointed at all though. Just buy a 4K UHD to spin on it and enjoy.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

Will-do, AKORIS...yeah, I am VERY concerned that this thing is gonna be too complicated to set up for simple disc-watching; and, I am concerned about DVD upconversion performance (I've become very spoiled by the upconversion of my OPPO BDP-83's Anchor Bay chip, which has been beyond reproach -- totally).

I be very interested in the dvd up-conversion and how it compares with the all the top players , Panasonic,Sonys,Pioneer and Oppo .

[ray0414]

Picked up a Ub820 from a member over at AVS at a very good price tonight. Should have it next week. Excited to do some direct comparisons with my Oppo 203. I do have 2 copies of Ready Player 1 4k so I can do fast input switching to see the differences (and lots of 1080p doubles as well) . I plan to keep both players though since the Panny doesn't an input like the Oppo does.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by ray0414

Picked up a Ub820 from a member over at AVS at a very good price tonight. Should have it next week. Excited to do some direct comparisons with my Oppo 203. I do have 2 copies of Ready Player 1 4k so I can do fast input switching to see the differences (and lots of 1080p doubles as well) . I plan to keep both players though since the Panny doesn't an input like the Oppo does.

Well there is lots of reasons to hold onto the Oppo 203, I have not been able to compare it to the UB820 as I don't have it (have the UB900) but the Oppo 203 is one of if not the best (the Oppo 205 is the best) UHD 4K players out there. If you did sell it and sellers remorse kicks in it would literally be a pain in the you know what to get back. Those reasons alone should be enough to hold onto it.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

You know what I'm also pissed about, but can do nothing about it until I buy a new AVR to complete the upgrade path? I won't be able to use one cable to send all audio and video through a receiver (because I'm using an older Onkyo 1.3-compliant AVR), so I won't be able to see the on-screen menu prompts anymore when I do my regular "system diagnostic" checks.

You can still use the receiver's on-screen display with the Panasonic, but if you're outputting 4K it will just be audio-only. Until you get UHD BDs you can output video/audio to both the TV and receiver at 1080p.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by danny24

Sweet! congrats on the purchase of the ub820. I don't have this machine but for simple plug and play there wasn't anything difficult about setting up the UB900 as I have stated previously.

DVD upconversion was very good with the UB900 but I don't have the BDP-83 to compare it to.

If you at all feel disappointed with this player you can always return it. I don't think you will be disappointed at all though. Just buy a 4K UHD to spin on it and enjoy.

Thanks Danny.

Does the AudioQuest HDMI cable I picked up -- which is exclusive to Best Buy (I only grabbed it because I was there ordering the player) -- look like it's going to be good enough for a connection to my UHD TV?

[evan201]

Originally Posted by evan201

Hey guys,
I have a Sony X940E that is capable of about 1250 nits max on 10% widow I believe. Should I set the UB820 to Super High or just OLED/Medium luminance for this display? I know Super high maps to 1500 nits, but my display can't quite get there leading me to think OLED mode or Medium/High which maps to 1000 would be better.
Also is there any real difference between Medium/High setting vs. OLED mode? I thought they both map to 1000 which seems redundant.

Anyone have a comment on this?

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by sa5150

I be very interested in the dvd up-conversion and how it compares with the all the top players , Panasonic,Sonys,Pioneer and Oppo .

Well, I'll only be able to report what I find with the 820; I can only compare it to my old OPPO Blu-ray player, the BDP-83...

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by chip75

You can still use the receiver's on-screen display with the Panasonic, but if you're outputting 4K it will just be audio-only. Until you get UHD BDs you can output video/audio to both the TV and receiver at 1080p.

I didn't think of that, Chip (leaving the player to output 1080p until I get the new discs); but what did you mean by "it will just be audio only"?

[AKORIS]

re: a couple recent posts--

I've always been confused about the output level of a 4k player---

you usually have the choice of 1080p, auto, or the 4k option (the number escapes me for a moment)

if you plan to play both regular and 4k blu ray, why wouldn't you choose "auto" which supposedly outputs the max resolution for any source?

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

I didn't think of that, Chip (leaving the player to output 1080p until I get the new discs); but what did you mean by "it will just be audio only"?

If you're outputting 4K to your Samsung, then you can only output audio to the receiver through the second HDMI output. So audio only.

Originally Posted by AKORIS

if you plan to play both regular and 4k blu ray, why wouldn't you choose "auto" which supposedly outputs the max resolution for any source?

Auto will output the highest resolution the display can receive. It won't switch between 2160p and 1080p for UHD BDs and BDs it will be constant. The Panasonic's don't have a source direct option.

You may want to select 1080p for Blu-rays and let your TV upscale the image, but it's something you'd have to experiment with. That's probably the only time you'd not use Auto (the other is if you want to force the output).

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by chip75

If you're outputting 4K to your Samsung, then you can only output audio to the receiver through the second HDMI output. So audio only.



Auto will output the highest resolution the display can receive. It won't switch between 2160p and 1080p for UHD BDs and BDs it will be constant. The Panasonic's don't have a source direct option.

You may want to select 1080p for Blu-rays and let your TV upscale the image, but it's something you'd have to experiment with. That's probably the only time you'd not use Auto (the other is if you want to force the output).

one of the reasons I'm asking is because my Samsung 8500 4k player has never been satisfying to me in regards to blu ray PQ (4k looks great!). On newer movies blu rays look fine but older titles such as 70's or 80's flicks (which have a stronger grain field typically) look too grainy. This is why I have 2 players and use each player accordingly depending on what I watch.
One of the things that appeals to me a lot with this Panasonic player is how everyone's raving about how good regular blu rays look. I would love to have simply one player that makes everything look good!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I would love to have simply one player that makes everything look good!

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Panasonic, they make solid players and you've got plenty of options to adjust the picture and lots of picture modes.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by chip75

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Panasonic, they make solid players and you've got plenty of options to adjust the picture and lots of picture modes.

sounds good! now I just need to get one... I'm the kind of guy that likes to walk into a store, look at a product, and then take it home in the box when it comes to electronics...

but it's looking like I may not be able to with this player. I've checked 3 Best Buy stores within my range and none of them have it in stock and all of them are offering free shipping to my home or store within about a week....

[IntelliVolume]

Does anyone here know exactly what the "automatic" noise reduction settings actually do on the Samsung televisions in particular? I realize this is the Panasonic 820/9000 thread, but I will be connecting an 820 to my Samsung NU8000 very soon and always like to take advantage of noise reduction algorithms in source players and displays, and I can't seem to find any information online regarding what an "auto" noise reduction setting with these new UHD/4K displays is actually DOING...

Why is there no HIGH noise reduction setting on my Samsung display? Not that I would ever use such an aggressive setting, but my previous Sony SXRD had noise reduction options of Off, Low, Medium and High, and even an Auto setting (which didn't seem to be available when I used an HDMI connection). My new Samsung NU8000 has what's called "Digital Clean View," which is their noise suppression algorithm, and it's only available in Off, Low or Auto modes...but why is there no High option available here? I am just curious...

Now, getting back to the AUTO setting -- what is the difference between LOW and AUTO for Digital Clean View, does anyone know? And how would these noise reduction platforms work in conjunction with the Panasonic 820's myriad of noise reduction controls -- would the overall effect be way too aggressive and detail-robbing?

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

sounds good! now I just need to get one... I'm the kind of guy that likes to walk into a store, look at a product, and then take it home in the box when it comes to electronics...

but it's looking like I may not be able to with this player. I've checked 3 Best Buy stores within my range and none of them have it in stock and all of them are offering free shipping to my home or store within about a week....

That's unfortunate, AKORIS; only one Best Buy near me had the player in stock, but it wasn't really "near" me, so I had to order one from the more local location...the thing I've noticed with stores like BB is that the average consumer that shops in one isn't in the market for a quasi-premium disc player like the Panasonics (they had plenty of the cheap Samsung and LG players on display though at my location)...there's like no demand for them, so you have to order one or get it online if you want it through their chain.

What's strange is that I'll see people shopping for a $1,000 phone over in the cellular area of the store, but there's zero interest for a disc player that costs $500...

Priorities, I guess...

At any rate, I hope you can get an 820 soon; I'll let you know when mine is here and I have it up and running.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

Does anyone here know exactly what the "automatic" noise reduction settings actually do on the Samsung televisions in particular? I realize this is the Panasonic 820/9000 thread, but I will be connecting an 820 to my Samsung NU8000 very soon and always like to take advantage of noise reduction algorithms in source players and displays, and I can't seem to find any information online regarding what an "auto" noise reduction setting with these new UHD/4K displays is actually DOING...

Why is there no HIGH noise reduction setting on my Samsung display? Not that I would ever use such an aggressive setting, but my previous Sony SXRD had noise reduction options of Off, Low, Medium and High, and even an Auto setting (which didn't seem to be available when I used an HDMI connection). My new Samsung NU8000 has what's called "Digital Clean View," which is their noise suppression algorithm, and it's only available in Off, Low or Auto modes...but why is there no High option available here? I am just curious...

Now, getting back to the AUTO setting -- what is the difference between LOW and AUTO for Digital Clean View, does anyone know? And how would these noise reduction platforms work in conjunction with the Panasonic 820's myriad of noise reduction controls -- would the overall effect be way too aggressive and detail-robbing?

Noise Reduction (DNR) is usually unnecessary for HD videos like Blu-Ray, but can help make old or lower-quality sources—like VHS tapes or some SD broadcast channels—look better. If you watch anything in that category, try turning DNR on and see if you like it. But for HD content, it’s best to leave it off.

If you ever heard people complaining about a image where faces look plastic this is what happens with excessive DNR where the image quality makes something that was sharp with artifacts look soft by removing them, and in the process removes all the fine detail and grain. Normally just don't use DNR at all on any of your devices, be it your player, AVR, or TV.

[IntelliVolume]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Noise Reduction (DNR) is usually unnecessary for HD videos like Blu-Ray, but can help make old or lower-quality sources—like VHS tapes or some SD broadcast channels—look better. If you watch anything in that category, try turning DNR on and see if you like it. But for HD content, it’s best to leave it off.

If you ever heard people complaining about a image where faces look plastic this is what happens with excessive DNR where the image quality makes something that was sharp with artifacts look soft by removing them, and in the process removes all the fine detail and grain. Normally just don't use DNR at all on any of your devices, be it your player, AVR, or TV.

Very good analysis, and I agree with what you say about what is normally shunned about noise reduction...

However, my question was related to the AUTO function on displays like my Samsung -- what is AUTO actually doing compared to, say, LOW, and why is there no HIGH option (even though I wouldn't use it)?

For the record, I do a lot of DVD viewing, and noise reduction really helps with some older, heavily-compressed transfers; I actually prefer using it subtly on both the source and the display.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by IntelliVolume

However, my question was related to the AUTO function on displays like my Samsung -- what is AUTO actually doing compared to, say, LOW, and why is there no HIGH option (even though I wouldn't use it)?

The Samsung will detect areas that it thinks are problematic and adjust accordingly (so it will be more or less depending on the content), the other settings will be blanket adjustments.

I think we've discussed it, but as the TV doesn't receive any analogue signals they may have removed the most aggressive option.

But as with other settings, their function and usefulness is only confirmed with experimentation.