Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[NKB2017]

Thanks guys... I assume its a close call ?

[Lobra]

Originally Posted by kingofhearts

Dear Robert,

Here is a minor quibble I would ask you to pass on to Panasonic:

You can currently adjust subtitle positioning in the UB820 while in the middle of a 4K movie, but NOT outside of a movie. Although I typically adjust the subtitles to a bottom position of -12 (drops the subtitles into the lower black bar on letterboxed content), it always resets back to 0 when I put in a different disc.

It would be a simple, and seemingly easy fix, to allow subtitle position to be adjusted outside of a movie, and to allow the UB820 to memorize this position for other content.

Can you please pass this along? Thank you.

Hello, guys!

Sorry if this has been answered before.

I was looking for information on subtitle seettings on Panasonic players and I came across this post from 3 years ago.

Do you guys know if Panasonic solved this issue?. I mean, can you now adjust subtitle parameters and keep them even if you change discs?.

[deeppurpleman]

Originally Posted by Lobra

Hello, guys!

Sorry if this has been answered before.

I was looking for information on subtitle seettings on Panasonic players and I came across this post from 3 years ago.

Do you guys know if Panasonic solved this issue?. I mean, can you now adjust subtitle parameters and keep them even if you change discs?.

I can't on mine.

[5meohd]

Is anyone using one of these players with a 1080P display?

I have a bottom of the barrel LG 4KUHD player connected to my 1080P system for viewing certain films that only have 4K masters available via their UHD disc and now that Arrow and others are releasing UHD without the bluray counterpart Im really wanting a better solution. I can't afford a quality 4K projector right now. And likely not for another 2 years or more. So im wondering if a better player that has video controls will get me better results.

Currently it depends on the film but most often the contrast and color are quite flawed.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by 5meohd

Is anyone using one of these players with a 1080P display?

I have a bottom of the barrel LG 4KUHD player connected to my 1080P system for viewing certain films that only have 4K masters available via their UHD disc and now that Arrow and others are releasing UHD without the bluray counterpart Im really wanting a better solution. I can't afford a quality 4K projector right now. And likely not for another 2 years or more. So im wondering if a better player that has video controls will get me better results.

Currently it depends on the film but most often the contrast and color are quite flawed.

If you save a bit, you ought to contact AV Science in upstate New York. They sometimes can procure allotments of official, new factory refurbed JVC Reference Series 4k projectors at a pretty reasonable price. They're double inspected, once by JVC and once by AVS before shipping out.

That way you can end up with a pretty solid projector for a more average-person price.

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by 5meohd

Is anyone using one of these players with a 1080P display?

I have a bottom of the barrel LG 4KUHD player connected to my 1080P system for viewing certain films that only have 4K masters available via their UHD disc and now that Arrow and others are releasing UHD without the bluray counterpart Im really wanting a better solution. I can't afford a quality 4K projector right now. And likely not for another 2 years or more. So im wondering if a better player that has video controls will get me better results.

Currently it depends on the film but most often the contrast and color are quite flawed.

I am for the time being. Just buy a UB420 with confidence. It's the best choice for HDR->SDR conversion.

[IlCorvo]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

I was reading through disclaimers on my UB820. It had rattlebyte written over it. So basically TPS (THE PERFECT SIGNAL) used rattlebyte mods to mod the UK blu ray player

So, if I buy the mods directly from rattlebyte I would get the same quality?

Still safer to purchase from TPS I assume, as they give you a three-year warranty.

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Panasonic HDR Optimizer is not about tone mapping the content. Tone mapping will still be done by your TV.

Panasonic's HDR Optimizer has one function and that's to reformat the EOTF PQ curve to closely match your TV or projector's peak luminance capability, which makes it easy and possible for your TV to take over and perform the tone mapping.

The advantages are very easy to see in an a/b comparison by just selecting the HDR Optimizer on/off while watching any HDR content.

Panasonic's HDR Optimizer is most important for any projector or any OLED TV or LCD that does not have a peak luminance capability of more than 1,000 nits.

It's not about competition between Dolby Vision HDR and Panasonic's HDR Optimizer. Although they are in the same category of HDR the functions are completely separate and different.

Panasonic's HDR Optimizer is a very accurate application that follows the original EOTF, but with the PQ formatted to follow your display's dynamic tonal range. So for example when you select "OLED" display it starts the EOTF at 0 nits and maxes the peak luminance at 1,000 nits so your OLED TV can take over and beautifully display the full dynamic tonal range with the full color volume.

Sorry for bring this up again. Thank you for your input Robert. So if I understand correctly, you don't think we are actually applying 2 different tone maps at the same time when the Optimizer is ON on HDR mode, but rather just changing the EOTF data before it gets tone mapped at all?

Thank you in advance

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Oscarilbo

Sorry for bring this up again. Thank you for your input Robert. So you don't thing we are actually applying 2 different tone maps at the same time when the Optimizer is ON on HDR mode, but rather just changing the EOTF data before it gets tone mapped at all?

Thank you in advance

That's exactly what it's doing: the Optimiser is applying its own tone map to bring down the highlights and then the TV's tone mapping is doing whatever it's doing.

And what is "changing the EOTF data" if not tone mapping? That's exactly what tone mapping is there to do, to take the absolute luminance signal and best adjust it to fit whatever display.

Also mixed messages there, first saying that the Optimiser reformats the EOTF curve and then that "it's a very accurate application that follows the EOTF curve". Can't have both, it either reformats it to follow an arbitrary tone curve or it doesn't. Hint: it does reformat it, smoothing out the steep logarithmic curve of the PQ EOTF above 100 nits into a more linear gamma-style progression of brightness. Graphs available on request.

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That's exactly what it's doing: the Optimiser is applying its own tone map to bring down the highlights and then the TV's tone mapping is doing whatever it's doing.

And what is "changing the EOTF data" if not tone mapping? That's exactly what tone mapping is there to do, to take the absolute luminance signal and best adjust it to fit whatever display.

Also mixed messages there, first saying that the Optimiser reformats the EOTF curve and then that "it's a very accurate application that follows the EOTF curve". Can't have both, it either reformats it to follow an arbitrary tone curve or it doesn't. Hint: it does reformat it, smoothing out the steep logarithmic curve of the PQ EOTF above 100 nits into a more linear gamma-style progression of brightness. Graphs available on request.

Thank you Geoff. Yes, I remembering Kris Deering advice about "overlapping" two different tone maps, and I remember he mentions it could have negative impact on the resulted image. I've always wandered what would be those problems caused by this overlapping, using a projector in HDR mode?

[Geoff D]

As most people who use the Optimiser do so without incident then the dual mapping wouldn't appear to be a problem. That the Optimiser changes the static metadata to lower figures (if higher than the target level) that match where the Optimiser's mapping takes over is what helps to reduce the dual mapping effect, i.e. the TV doesn't think it's dealing with something as severe as what the content actually is so it goes easier on on it.

So even though the Optimiser will not physically tone map the image output of Goodfeathers in any way, shape or form no matter what nits level it's set at (because its MaxCLL of 247 nits is below even the 350 nit level of the special projektor mode on the 9000) it will adjust the display metadata to 247 nits max and so the display won't think it's dealing with a 4000-nit piece of content.

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

As most people who use the Optimiser do so without incident then the dual mapping wouldn't appear to be a problem. That the Optimiser changes the static metadata to lower figures (if higher than the target level) that match where the Optimiser's mapping takes over is what helps to reduce the dual mapping effect, i.e. the TV doesn't think it's dealing with something as severe as what the content actually is so it goes easier on on it.

So even though the Optimiser will not physically tone map the image output of Goodfeathers in any way, shape or form no matter what nits level it's set at (because its MaxCLL of 247 nits is below even the 350 nit level of the special projektor mode on the 9000) it will adjust the display metadata to 247 nits max and so the display won't think it's dealing with a 4000-nit piece of content.

I see.. so it shouldn't be catastrophic as one might have thought. Its basically a little help, although of course not resolving everything either.

[tama]

Using the Optimizer hasn't had any negative impact that I've seen while using it on my Sony OLED while also engaging Sonys version of DTM (which unlike LGs can follow th PQ EOTF curve more faithfully).

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Oscarilbo

Thank you Geoff. Yes, I remembering Kris Deering advice about "overlapping" two different tone maps, and I remember he mentions it could have negative impact on the resulted image. I've always wandered what would be those problems caused by this overlapping, using a projector in HDR mode?

Kris specifically told me NOT to use the Optimizer on the latest JVCs which have DTM.

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Kris specifically told me NOT to use the Optimizer on the latest JVCs which have DTM.

Interesting. Although in having DTM the optimizer would be redundant I guess. But what about a beautiful HDR mode on a projector that does not have DTM? I think there is still useful

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Oscarilbo

Interesting. Although in having DTM the optimizer would be redundant I guess. But what about a beautiful HDR mode on a projector that has not DTM ?

I'll be upgrading to a new JVC (possibly a laser unit depending on price) based on the upcoming Cedia announcement, but I have been happy with the Panasonic Optimizer used in conjunction with my RS440. Static curve, but much better than what the projector can do and better that custom 'Arves' as well.

[Oscarilbo]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I'll be upgrading to a new JVC (possibly a laser unit depending on price) based on the upcoming Cedia announcement, but I have been happy with the Panasonic Optimizer used in conjunction with my RS440. Static curve, but much better than what the projector can do and better that custom 'Arves' as well.

Great news! I envy you! ... Have you been using your current projector in its HDR Mode with the optimizer On ?

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Oscarilbo

Great news! I envy you! ... Have you been using your current projector in its HDR Mode with the optimizer On ?

I'm actually tone mapping using the SDR 2020 mode on the 820 (with Optimizer on) and my calibrator created a custom SDR 2020 mode on my RS440. Even though my RS440 doesn't have a DCI filter, it's wider gamut has pretty good coverage once calibrated. I've got the iris fully wide open and using high lamp to get as many nits as possible. 2.4 calibrated gamma as that matches the output of the 820 SDR2020 mode.

RS440 P3.jpg

[Yami]

I have a TPS modded UB820 that I'd like to use external subtitles with, if that's possible. From what I gather, it's possible with enhanced firmware from RegionFreedom - is that correct? Any problems with that if the player is already modded?

[Wormicide]

With all the Dolby Vision issues and lack of updates from Panasonic is this player still recommended? Or would it be better to get a UB420 and then a X800M2 for Dolby Vision?