Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[rroeder]

Settings seem correct I did have the 7.1 reformatting still on so turned that off, otherwise guess I'll swap out cable if it continues. Not a big deal a couple extra button pushes on the remote but was hoping it was a simple fix

[Jack Priest]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I can’t hear the difference between high clarity on or off. I turned it on anyway “just in case”

I read somewhere that all it does it make the actual player quieter during playback by disabling something.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Jack Priest

I read somewhere that all it does it make the actual player quieter during playback by disabling something.

It says that it disables essentially anything non-essential (including the front panel display) for a quieter playback. While I can readily tell the sonic difference (via internal DAC) between the old and the new UB9000, I completely can’t tell the difference between having the high clarity turned on or off.

[martydmc12]

Originally Posted by danny24

Only thing you could try is to unplug it from power cord in back of unit and let it reset. Plug it back in and see if tray opens up. It's an easy fix though if you can get someone to repair it or send it into Panasonic. Keep trying to eject disc because something may have gotten stuck. Either way looks like it will have to be sent in for repair if it won't eject disc. Also try and eject the disc using your remote control maybe the open button on the front of your player is broken or jammed.

Believe, me I've tried that several times. I've even tried the instructions from the Panasonic manual, which was the following:

Cannot eject disc: 1. 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. 2. Press [1] (right) repeatedly on the remote control until “06 FTO” is displayed on the unit’s display. 3. Press [OK].

I've also done a complete system reset/restore as well, and that also did nothing.

The best way I can describe it, it's as if by trying to eject the disc from the player, it interprets it as "read/play/start the disc". I'm really starting to think it's either the disc itself is corrupted in some way that's causing it to read incorrectly, or something in the player has gone haywire, and doesn't understand open/close tray anymore.

I have yet to find any other discussion on this or other A/V home theater forums with this specific problem.

There are two authorized Panasonic dealers in my city, which I'm planning on taking to next week. I hate the idea of having to take this new of a machine for repairs, and it worries me that their might be more later on down the line. The player isn't even a year old, and was manufactured in June of 2021.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Jack Priest

I read somewhere that all it does it make the actual player quieter during playback by disabling something.

You might be confusing the mention of "reduced noise" with these modes as being audible noise emitted from the player, but they mean "reduced noise" in the sense of less interference in the audio/visual signals of the player.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by martydmc12

Believe, me I've tried that several times. I've even tried the instructions from the Panasonic manual, which was the following:

Cannot eject disc: 1. 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. 2. Press [1] (right) repeatedly on the remote control until “06 FTO” is displayed on the unit’s display. 3. Press [OK].

I've also done a complete system reset/restore as well, and that also did nothing.

The best way I can describe it, it's as if by trying to eject the disc from the player, it interprets it as "read/play/start the disc". I'm really starting to think it's either the disc itself is corrupted in some way that's causing it to read incorrectly, or something in the player has gone haywire, and doesn't understand open/close tray anymore.

I have yet to find any other discussion on this or other A/V home theater forums with this specific problem.

There are two authorized Panasonic dealers in my city, which I'm planning on taking to next week. I hate the idea of having to take this new of a machine for repairs, and it worries me that their might be more later on down the line. The player isn't even a year old, and was manufactured in June of 2021.

I hear you. One other thing to try if you suspect it's the disc is to press stop and get to home screen and eject. Or try and reset settings. I doubt it changes anything since there seems to be some kind of defect with it now.

[martydmc12]

Originally Posted by danny24

I hear you. One other thing to try if you suspect it's the disc is to press stop and get to home screen and eject. Or try and reset settings. I doubt it changes anything since there seems to be some kind of defect with it now.

I tried all sorts of different scenarios. I even put in the USB stick and played a movie off of that, and tried to eject the disc while it was playing. That did nothing either. No matter how many times the disc was completely stopped and I was back at the Panasonic home screen, selecting open/close would show as open (trying to open at least) on the player front screen, but then the disc would just start up again and start to play.

One of my friends joked that's what I get for buying Roland Emmerich's Godzilla.

I'll be curious to see what the diagnosis is when I take it in for repairs next week. I'm afraid it's going to be a long-term problem to fix if it's something in the programming, which could take months to get parts, considering the UB9000 is out-of-stock in Canada on Panasonic's website, as it usually one shows up once or twice a year for a few weeks before they're sold out again. Also afraid that this brand new pristine machine will get scratched and banged up after I take it to a shop. They usually always do, and never seem to be the same again after being opened up and worked on.

On a side note, I decided to bring out my laserdisc player and spin some movies being without a DVD/Blu-ray/4K player. Guess what happened... after a few plays, the tray wouldn't go back in and starting grinding gears, and I got an error. Now my LD player is out of commission as well. Talk about a bad few days for being a physical media collector. Just about ready to throw in the towel and sell my entire collection because of this.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by martydmc12

I tried all sorts of different scenarios. I even put in the USB stick and played a movie off of that, and tried to eject the disc while it was playing. That did nothing either. No matter how many times the disc was completely stopped and I was back at the Panasonic home screen, selecting open/close would show as open (trying to open at least) on the player front screen, but then the disc would just start up again and start to play.

One of my friends joked that's what I get for buying Roland Emmerich's Godzilla.

I'll be curious to see what the diagnosis is when I take it in for repairs next week. I'm afraid it's going to be a long-term problem to fix if it's something in the programming, which could take months to get parts, considering the UB9000 is out-of-stock in Canada on Panasonic's website, as it usually one shows up once or twice a year for a few weeks before they're sold out again. Also afraid that this brand new pristine machine will get scratched and banged up after I take it to a shop. They usually always do, and never seem to be the same again after being opened up and worked on.

On a side note, I decided to bring out my laserdisc player and spin some movies being without a DVD/Blu-ray/4K player. Guess what happened... after a few plays, the tray wouldn't go back in and starting grinding gears, and I got an error. Now my LD player is out of commission as well. Talk about a bad few days for being a physical media collector. Just about ready to throw in the towel and sell my entire collection because of this.

I guess the only other thing to do at this point is to open player up. Remove optical drive and open up the top to get disc out. Than in reverse order put everything back together. Power on and see if it ejects. If it doesn't than it's either an optical drive or motherboard issue. Definitely sounds like something's busted or jammed in the optical drive causing the no eject issue. There may be a belt busted that helps eject the disc. I am not familiar though with the UB9000 disc drive simply because I never had to open my player yet for any reason.

Anyway best to just take it in for repair.

[martydmc12]

Originally Posted by danny24

Anyway best to just take it in for repair.

Yep, I'm still under warranty. I feel if I open it up and do something myself and accidentally break something, I'll void my warranty. Let the authorized dealer deal with it since I'm still entitled to it without having to fork out any of my own money.

In a perfect world, I would hope it's something that would require Panasonic just have me return the player and they send me a brand new one, especially if it's something major in the programming, and not an easy fix like a belt or gear.

This whole experience has me worried for the future, since we're all living in a world where we're at the end of the line for physical players being manufactured... maybe another four or five years, tops? I bought this with the hopes that this would last me the rest of my life, like I had assumed my LD player was supposed to (purchased in 1997). Maybe I'm going to have to think about buying a second and possibly third player for future proofing.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by martydmc12

Yep, I'm still under warranty. I feel if I open it up and do something myself and accidentally break something, I'll void my warranty. Let the authorized dealer deal with it since I'm still entitled to it without having to fork out any of my own money.

In a perfect world, I would hope it's something that would require Panasonic just have me return the player and they send me a brand new one, especially if it's something major in the programming, and not an easy fix like a belt or gear.

This whole experience has me worried for the future, since we're all living in a world where we're at the end of the line for physical players being manufactured... maybe another four or five years, tops? I bought this with the hopes that this would last me the rest of my life, like I had assumed my LD player was supposed to (purchased in 1997). Maybe I'm going to have to think about buying a second and possibly third player for future proofing.

Yeah it's always a good idea to have a few spare UHD players around. Funny how an LD player made in the late 90's still works with some issues but a premier UHD player made in early 2020's starts having issues. Players just aren't as well built as they used to be so good idea to get a few spare players around. Anyway wait for the verdict on what's actually wrong with the player. As you stated it could actually be a bad disc causing all this though unlikely.
If it was the disc than when you unplug and replug the player immediately pressing open should eject it and you stated it didn't.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by shane01

Am I nuts or is the X800M2 an overall better value?

It might be for your use. I'm one of those weirdos who need SDR conversion, and the Panny 820 just shits all over the Sony in that department.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Reignman35

I've owned my 820 for over 2 years, and have yet to notice any excessive fan noise, or any fan noise at all, during use.

Originally Posted by Retroj23

My brother just bought an 820 and it's pretty quiet, not as quiet as my 203 but definitelty not extremely noisy. You need to take that back marine.

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Definitely take it back. That’s not normal.

I just wanted to thank those who got back to me regarding my fan/drive noise issue with the 820. Perhaps I just have really excellent hearing, but I came across numerous threads on other forums (AVS, Reddit), where noise factor concerns were raised.

Walmart surprisingly would not send me a replacement so my only option was to return it for a refund--which I did. This opens the door for me to purchase the 9000 at some point.

Would I buy the 820 again? I definitely would (on sale), and it would be excellent for one of my bedrooms. It played everything I threw at it without issue. It just works! Which is what you want in a player. I just could not stand how loud it was and found that fan to be quite annoying. The HDR optimizer is really awesome as well which is why I plan on getting the 9000.

[IlCorvo]

Originally Posted by IlCorvo

I came across something odd: before I upgraded to a different firmware, my 824 bought in October, had the firmware 1.68. But Pansonic does not mention this type on his website. What firmware is this?

Can somebody help me out with this?

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by IlCorvo

Can somebody help me out with this?

When I bought mine it was 1.64 I guess it is done internally at Panasonic workshop. Upgraded to 1.69 lately because like others were facing flickering in DV.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I just wanted to thank those who got back to me regarding my fan/drive noise issue with the 820. Perhaps I just have really excellent hearing, but I came across numerous threads on other forums (AVS, Reddit), where noise factor concerns were raised.

Walmart surprisingly would not send me a replacement so my only option was to return it for a refund--which I did. This opens the door for me to purchase the 9000 at some point.

Would I buy the 820 again? I definitely would (on sale), and it would be excellent for one of my bedrooms. It played everything I threw at it without issue. It just works! Which is what you want in a player. I just could not stand how loud it was and found that fan to be quite annoying. The HDR optimizer is really awesome as well which is why I plan on getting the 9000.

Maybe u have a malfunction fan. It's an ordinary fan like any electronic device from ups to whatever u can change it by yourself. I ounce opened my 820 just to look around and get an idea what is inside.

[TravisTylerBlack]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Would I buy the 820 again? I definitely would (on sale), and it would be excellent for one of my bedrooms. It played everything I threw at it without issue. It just works! Which is what you want in a player. I just could not stand how loud it was and found that fan to be quite annoying. The HDR optimizer is really awesome as well which is why I plan on getting the 9000.

I honestly think that you had a bum unit. My 820 is totally silent while while spinning both UHDs and standard blu-ray discs. My (awful) old Samsung player, on the other hand, used to hum something fierce- especially while playing certain titles.

That said, the 9000 has the better drive build if you can afford it.

[IlCorvo]

Originally Posted by Scorxpion

When I bought mine it was 1.64 I guess it is done internally at Panasonic workshop. Upgraded to 1.69 lately because like others were facing flickering in DV.

Thank you! Still I find it odd that Panasonic is not mentioning 1.68 as a firmware version for the 824.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by TravisTylerBlack

I honestly think that you had a bum unit. My 820 is totally silent while while spinning both UHDs and standard blu-ray discs. My (awful) old Samsung player, on the other hand, used to hum something fierce- especially while playing certain titles.

That said, the 9000 has the better drive build if you can afford it.

It was definitely defective and it is really unfortunate that I did not get a replacement sent out. Perhaps it's for the best because I think I would be very happy with the 9000.

[sapiendut]

I’m sure you’ll love the 9000

[danny24]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

It was definitely defective and it is really unfortunate that I did not get a replacement sent out. Perhaps it's for the best because I think I would be very happy with the 9000.

The UB9000 is actually discontinued but replaced with the UB9000P1K as you probably know. Crutchfield has the new model along with Value Electronics. It's pretty much the same premium player.

Having used both the 820 and UB9000 I can say the UB9000 is definitely quieter but video looks almost identical.