Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Geoff D]

With a Panny player I'd say "not", not while it's clipping highlights.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

With a Panny player I'd say "not", not while it's clipping highlights.

I wonder if Panasonic is aware of this and if this will be fixed in the future? But first I need them to fix the auto shut off functionality...

I'm on the verge of getting a X1100ES even though it does not do auto DV detect (yet?). I'm hoping it does not behave with DV like the 820 though...

[cfitzpatrick711]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Dolby doesn’t allow the HDR data to be altered. It doesn’t matter how great the DV is, no manufacturer is allowed to alter content. So unless your TV is the Z9D, you won’t be able to see the DV content properly mapped to the TV anyway.

I get that DV doesn't map properly to my LG C6, but like I said some UHD Blus have far superior compression with the DV layer and that outweighs the mapping concern for me.

It would have been better for me to say that I prefer a DV implementation (like the Oppo) that preserves highlight detail as I watch in light controlled room.

[Clark Burk]

Originally Posted by DJR662

I wonder if Panasonic is aware of this and if this will be fixed in the future? But first I need them to fix the auto shut off functionality...

I'm on the verge of getting a X1100ES even though it does not do auto DV detect (yet?). I'm hoping it does not behave with DV like the 820 though...

No projector that I know of is DV capable. It will receive the regular HDR10 output which the Panasonic 820 will deliver with no clipping.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Clark Burk

No projector that I know of is DV capable. It will receive the regular HDR10 output which the Panasonic 820 will deliver with no clipping.

Yeah, I know.

I was referring to using the 820's DV with my TV.

[Robert Zohn]

Just a reminder that Panasonic's $50 Instant Rebate for the UB820 ends Saturday, July 13th. Further, in reading the latest roadmap that goes through September no more promotions are schedulled.

[nachoju95]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Just a reminder that Panasonic's $50 Instant Rebate for the UB820 ends Saturday, July 13th. Further, in reading the latest roadmap that goes through September no more promotions are schedulled.

Hello, Robert.
I just bought the Panasonic UB820!!!! I sent you a message, could you see it? So I am sure that you received the payment and that it was detailed to where the product should be sent.

[bferr1972]

I'm "auditioning" an 820 now, and overall I do like the player very much. I like the HDR Optimizer, but I've noticed it only seems to work on certain HDR10 discs > 1000 nits. Otherwise, I don't see any difference at all.

I am having some weird file playback issues from a USB drive. Some files won't play at all; others will play fine; and others with DTS audio are silent if audio is set to Bitstream, and I have to manually switch to PCM in order to hear it. I had no such issues with the LG 970 the Panny is meant to replace.

For audio tracks, DSD files are decoded first as PCM, which defeats the point, I think. And it won't play 32-bit/192kHZ WAV files at all, even though the manual says it can. In the plus column, I'm happy to see gapless audio playback support.

Now, I'm trying to decide how much of the above is a deal-breaker or something I can live with.

[DJR662]

If you want a player that covers a decent range of various videofiles to be played (from an external HDD), then look somewhere else.

For disc based media, you can't go wrong with this one.

[bferr1972]

Originally Posted by DJR662

If you want a player that covers a decent range of various videofiles to be played (from an external HDD), then look somewhere else.

For disc based media, you can't go wrong with this one.

I get that and agree about disc playback, but, for $450, one should expect the player to support file types as advertised, and it bugs me that it's not entirely the case.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

I get that and agree about disc playback, but, for $450, one should expect the player to support file types as advertised, and it bugs me that it's not entirely the case.

Can't argue with that.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

I get that and agree about disc playback, but, for $450, one should expect the player to support file types as advertised, and it bugs me that it's not entirely the case.

Unfortunately file support is never guaranteed, manufacturers have a habit of changing support willy-nilly whether it's file types or App support.

If you're after file support, you're better off with a PC or a decent media player.

[David M]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

I get that and agree about disc playback, but, for $450, one should expect the player to support file types as advertised, and it bugs me that it's not entirely the case.

There's no way manufacturers can support every type of file. Homemade files aren't made to as rigid and exacting a spec as a BD, UHD BD or DVD.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by David M

There's no way manufacturers can support every type of file. Homemade files aren't made to as rigid and exacting a spec as a BD, UHD BD or DVD.

Some of these file restrictions have been added at studio request to the BDA in order to gain support for 4k playback. Even Oppo had to abide by some of these stricter rules when building the 203 and 205.



That's one reason you cannot play lossless files from compressed packets except licensed disc structured media.



It's their way of saying they're dealing with potential piracy.

[eddievanhalen]

What Panasonic needs is refine its firmware so their players don't make such weird and loud noise that can damage speakers when playing DTS and other codecs converted to PCM inside the player. Everytime I play a file with DTS, FLAC or AAC audio I start with the audio muted and before stopping player I mute audio again.
The issue with video files playing freezing I think I got it sorted out: one of my Toshiba 2 Tb HDD's wasn't recognized by my Toshiba laptop 'though it was recognized by the Panasonic 420 and the Sony X-800.
I did a clean Windows isntalation and the Toshiba HDD remained the same. I opened it, got rid of its USB case and bought a generic USB case fully made of metal for 9.50 Euros and got the 2 Tb Toshiba HDD inside. It works like a charm, I've played 7 movies so far without any issues, no freezing.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3265...OrigTitle=true

[bferr1972]

Originally Posted by chip75

Unfortunately file support is never guaranteed, manufacturers have a habit of changing support willy-nilly whether it's file types or App support.

Understood. The old caveat that support and features are subject to change. In this case, I was looking for just a little bit of daylight between reading marketing materials, making an informed purchase decision, then getting the player home and discovering those changes right out of the box.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by bferr1972

Understood. The old caveat that support and features are subject to change. In this case, I was looking for just a little bit of daylight between reading marketing materials, making an informed purchase decision, then getting the player home and discovering those changes right out of the box.

Basically the Pannys won't play video files with lossless Dolby or DTS audio, there are a couple of fudges like the PCM DTS one but in the main, it's fooked. It seems like almost every time we get a new purchaser in these threads we get the exact same complaint with audio support, but that's kinda the problem with relying on "marketing materials" when making a buying decision: you're not going to get the same information as hearing from people who actually use the player(s). But then with 200+ pages to wade through I can understand why this issue is not always picked up, it should REALLY be made a sticky or put in the first post of the thread or something.

Originally Posted by David M

There's no way manufacturers can support every type of file. Homemade files aren't made to as rigid and exacting a spec as a BD, UHD BD or DVD.

Even so, the OPPO is so good at playing files it puts the Panny to shame.

[sapiendut]

The Pannies’ file support is a joke. I bought an Nvidia Shield because of it.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

With a Panny player I'd say "not", not while it's clipping highlights.

From John Archer's review of the X1100ES:

"There are though, also a few issues to cover. Starting, unexpectedly, with a repeat performance of the Dolby Vision clipping issue also spotted during my recent review of the Panasonic UB820.

For instance, a shot in It on 4K Blu-ray showing Eddie appearing with the sun directly behind him (just before he’s chased by Pennywise disguised as a woman with leprosy) looks pretty much as flared out as it did on the UB820, as subtle toning information goes AWOL from the Dolby Vision image’s brightest parts.

This sort of problem just isn’t supposed to happen with Dolby Vision. The format is supposed to offer an end to end level of control over the picture (most TV and 4K Blu-ray player picture adjustments are locked out when Dolby Vision is in play) that should deliver the best results every time. Yet the X1100ES is now the second Dolby Vision-capable player I’ve seen in a row to exhibit this clipping problem. A problem which is not found during Dolby Vision playback on the older Oppo 203 or 205."

Guess the X1100ES is off my wishlist for now.

[sapiendut]

The current gen of players, the DV are clipping be it Sony, Pioneer or Panasonic. Unless Dolby fixes it, it will be like that. The manufacturers can’t do anything