Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Robert Zohn]

Just wanted to add, that Panasonic's UB820 and the UB9000 will pay all audio formats over your network that are from any Kaleidescape. They do block audio that is not from a royalty certified device. This is also true for Pioneer's new LX500 BD player and most other brands other than the OPPO BD players.

[Geoff D]

...and all Kaleidescape owners can breathe a sigh of relief, fanning themselves with $100 bills as they do so. But for most folks they're gonna be shit out of luck trying to use the Pannies as competent file playback devices, because they just aren't competent file playback devices.

[elwaylite]

If you want to play network files, get an ATV4K with infuse Pro or a Shield and Kodi (if you don't have an Oppo).

[Robert Zohn]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

...and all Kaleidescape owners can breathe a sigh of relief, fanning themselves with $100 bills as they do so. But for most folks they're gonna be shit out of luck trying to use the Pannies as competent file playback devices, because they just aren't competent file playback devices.

Yes, but it's not limited to Panasonic players, this is a copywrite compliance issue. Panasonic and most other CE manufacturers abide by all copywrite laws.

[CBCstillmatic]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

...and all Kaleidescape owners can breathe a sigh of relief, fanning themselves with $100 bills as they do so. But for most folks they're gonna be shit out of luck trying to use the Pannies as competent file playback devices, because they just aren't competent file playback devices.

Is that something they can change if they wanted too? Probably my only real bummer about this player thus far is it will not play the Dolby demo files I have on my usb stick. I used to use those to demo Dolby Vision and Atmos to friends and family. The X700 played them after it got its DV update. Not a deal breaker but a bummer as I don’t think I have anything else in my setup that will play them other than the TV but then I think I lose Atmos. I’m certainly not gonna buy another piece of equipment just for that either. Oh well.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by CBCstillmatic

Is that something they can change if they wanted too? Probably my only real bummer about this player thus far is it will not play the Dolby demo files I have on my usb stick. I used to use those to demo Dolby Vision and Atmos to friends and family. The X700 played them after it got its DV update. Not a deal breaker but a bummer as I don’t think I have anything else in my setup that will play them other than the TV but then I think I lose Atmos. I’m certainly not gonna buy another piece of equipment just for that either. Oh well.

They could, but they won't.

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Yes, but it's not limited to Panasonic players, this is a copywrite compliance issue. Panasonic and most other CE manufacturers abide by all copywrite laws.

Copyright concerns don't seem to bother Sony or OPPO, but there we are.

[CBCstillmatic]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

They could, but they won't.



Copyright concerns don't seem to bother Sony or OPPO, but there we are.

So the USB ports are basically for loading wallpapers and firmware updates? I mean why did they put 2 USB ports on this thing and even label one for external hard drives if it’s so inept at handling files?

Well at least this player is fantastic with discs which is my main use for it anyway. Guess I’ll have to start demoing real content instead of demo files lol.

[Geoff D]

Dude, when the original UB900 was first released in May 2016 it couldn't even play HEVC files, it took months for them to add it. File playback is the very definition of an afterthought on the Pannies.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by Bigbro

@Acuris: Are you sure you are trying this while a HDR 10 without the + and without DV is running. Only than the button will do what you want it to do.

I've got both of those options set to off as my TV does not support it.

It was all working fine up until I started playing with the SET 1, SET 2, and STANDARD settings where you can customize each.

All of a sudden the tone mapping option did not come up and it went directly to "OPTIMUM HDR ADJUSTMENT" where I can turn the optimizer on or off, adjust Dynamic Range adjustment as so on.

I know that in the Standard mode you cannot make adjustments-- I toggled between all 3 and in all cases the tone mapping options did not come up anymore.

Surely someone must have had this happen and it must be something simple but I cannot figure it out.

[CBCstillmatic]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Dude, when the original UB900 was first released in May 2016 it couldn't even play HEVC files, it took months for them to add it. File playback is the very definition of an afterthought on the Pannies.

Eh maybe one day they’ll add it but as long as it doesn’t die, lock up or start freezing constantly like every Sony X800 and X700 player I’ve had, I’ll gladly do without the demo files or find another way to play them.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

so, this is my 3rd day of owning this player and while testing discs tonight I find that my HDR setting button on the remote is suddenly not working. This is the button that you hold down for a second or 2 and then you can switch from standard to bright room and such...

It simply goes to the same menu that you would have selecting OPTION on the remote where you can adjust settings but not the HDR tone mapping.

I don't know what did but I must have selected something that caused this.

Hoping that someone can help here as I really like this feature that can brighten the picture when needed.

Originally Posted by Bigbro

@Acuris: Are you sure you are trying this while a HDR 10 without the + and without DV is running. Only than the button will do what you want it to do.

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I've got both of those options set to off as my TV does not support it.

It was all working fine up until I started playing with the SET 1, SET 2, and STANDARD settings where you can customize each.

All of a sudden the tone mapping option did not come up and it went directly to "OPTIMUM HDR ADJUSTMENT" where I can turn the optimizer on or off, adjust Dynamic Range adjustment as so on.

I know that in the Standard mode you cannot make adjustments-- I toggled between all 3 and in all cases the tone mapping options did not come up anymore.

Surely someone must have had this happen and it must be something simple but I cannot figure it out.

Robert-- you're the expert and seem to know this player very well-- any ideas on what I did?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by CBCstillmatic

Eh maybe one day they’ll add it but as long as it doesn’t die, lock up or start freezing constantly like every Sony X800 and X700 player I’ve had, I’ll gladly do without the demo files or find another way to play them.

My X800's been fine, it's the OPPO I've had more problems with.

[CBCstillmatic]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

My X800's been fine, it's the OPPO I've had more problems with.

Yeah I think there are reports like that from every player honestly. I started to think it was something I could be doing since the original X800 I had my One X sitting on top. So I thought maybe a heat issue but every Sony since was on a shelf by itself with no extra heat source above or below it. My home theater gallery needs to be updated as it shows it sitting on a monitor riser over my One X but not even a day after I took that pic I moved it to be safe as I don’t normally like to stack anything and that riser wasn’t as tall as I thought when I bought it. Each player would work flawlessly for a few months before slowly exhibiting problems. It would start with a random freeze here and there until it became multiple times per movie. Then it would get bad enough where the player would just lock up on start up and basically become unusable. They would feel overly warm or hot too when I grabbed it to unplug it but not sure where the extra heat would be coming from once I made sure to move the placement away from everything else.

Anyway I am praying this Panny doesn’t end up the same. Actually come to think of it, could it be the power conditioner they are plugged into? That would be the only other culprit I could possibly think of.

[merkman]

Originally Posted by elwaylite

If you want to play network files, get an ATV4K with infuse Pro or a Shield and Kodi (if you don't have an Oppo).

My understanding up to a week or so ago was the Shield TV was the only way to playback 4K files with Atmos audio. I was interested, but didn't know that I needed to spend ANOTHER $200 when I already have an Apple 4K TV and other options, even if they don't playback files with Atmos audio.

I know the last time I looked, Infuse own website said they can't support Atmos, though they do support most over Dolby formatted audio. Did that change? I'd be thrilled to hear if it has. I don't own Infuse, but would be happy to purchase the app if it works with Atmos files

[Robert Zohn]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

They could, but they won't.

Copyright concerns don't seem to bother Sony or OPPO, but there we are.

Correct any manufacturer could pass and or decode all audio formats that they have the decoders built-in, ripped or original. It's also true that Sony's BD players will decode ripped advanced audio over USB, but most if not all of Sony's Premium a/v devices will not pass or decode DTS:X or Dolby Atmos that is not a original file.

Hope no one form Sony legal reads this.

Originally Posted by CBCstillmatic

So the USB ports are basically for loading wallpapers and firmware updates? I mean why did they put 2 USB ports on this thing and even label one for external hard drives if it’s so inept at handling files?

Well at least this player is fantastic with discs which is my main use for it anyway. Guess I’ll have to start demoing real content instead of demo files lol.

You can use the USB ports for any still image, audio and or audio and video files, but not ripped files that don't have the copywrite flags.

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Dude, when the original UB900 was first released in May 2016 it couldn't even play HEVC files, it took months for them to add it. File playback is the very definition of an afterthought on the Pannies.

I understand and agree, wish we had more test engineers to debug things before they release and waiting months for fixes is frustrating. With that said with my frequent interactions with Panasonic HQ is that they are very receptive to fixes and enhancements and want to make the BD players the best they can be.

In all of my reports to Panasonic BD engineers they have addressed my suggestions quickly. No everything I ask for is done and some items take more persuasion or just more time to engineer and deploy, but overall my experience with the top engineers is exceptional and very welcoming.

When I write to the engineers and product managers I list the description of what I want and next to it I say how much in % I anticipate they will increase sales. I put a rather aggressive sales increase for this and after sending a reminder they wrote back saying of course we could do this, but Panasonic abides by all copy protected regulations.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

Robert-- you're the expert and seem to know this player very well-- any ideas on what I did?

It's probably worth trying the default settings option to see if it helps.

Home>Setup>Player Settings>System>Default Settings

Failing that, try a factory reset:

*While the unit is off press and hold [OK], the yellow button and the blue button on the remote control at the same time for more than 5 seconds. “00 RET” is displayed on the unit’s display.
*Press > (right) repeatedly on the remote control until “08 FIN” is displayed on the unit’s display.
*Press and hold [OK] for more than 5 seconds.

The first option keeps most of your data, the second wipes everything. It's probably quicker than troubleshooting.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by CBCstillmatic

Anyway I am praying this Panny doesn’t end up the same. Actually come to think of it, could it be the power conditioner they are plugged into? That would be the only other culprit I could possibly think of.

This is tantamount to blasphemy in some circles but I've never bought into the mains conditioner hype at all. PERHAPS if one has such incredibly expensive studio-grade equipment that can render every last audio nuance then it'd be worth it, but when I tried one with my piddly little set-up it made the audio WORSE, sounding really hard and flat in louder passages of play, like it was actually limiting the AVR's power supply rather than just "conditioning" it.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by chip75

It's probably worth trying the default settings option to see if it helps.



Failing that, try a factory reset:



The first option keeps most of your data, the second wipes everything. It's probably quicker than troubleshooting.

I'm getting a message of Network Connection Started that I didn't have before if that means anything.

I went in and popped in LOGAN this morning and suddenly everything was fine again. Then I popped in ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (same disc that started all this crap last night) and it's back to the option settings but no tone mapping. Then I reset everything to factory settings... and nothing changed.
This is nuts!!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I'm getting a message of Network Connection Started that I didn't have before if that means anything.

I went in and popped in LOGAN this morning and suddenly everything was fine again. Then I popped in ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (same disc that started all this crap last night) and it's back to the option settings but no tone mapping. Then I reset everything to factory settings... and nothing changed.
This is nuts!!

What happens if you put Logan back in again?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Correct any manufacturer could pass and or decode all audio formats that they have the decoders built-in, ripped or original. It's also true that Sony's BD players will decode ripped advanced audio over USB, but most if not all of Sony's Premium a/v devices will not pass or decode DTS:X or Dolby Atmos that is not a original file.

Hope no one form Sony legal reads this.

Its limitations by design against the Panasonic’s SoC compared to Mediatek SoC. Your making excuses for Panasonic lack of capability citing legality. Sure they will claim that and you repeat the same excuse as a rep.

Look OPPO was highly visible by thousands of users, Blu ray association, Hollywood, and other content owners, if there was a issue do you think Oppo and Sony would not have removed that capability?