Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Not sure I follow. You are aware that the Optimiser changes the MaxFALL as well as the MaxCLL, yes? So when it's on the 1000 nit (OLED or Medium/High LCD) modes then the Optimiser will cap MaxCLL at 1000 nit and MaxFALL at 800 nit IF the content exceeds those figures. So if you had a disc which had MaxCLL of 1245 nits and MaxFALL of 1000 nits then turning on the Optimiser would change those to 1000 and 800 respectively. But for MaxFALL under 800 nits then it will leave it unchanged whilst capping the MaxCLL to 1000 if it still exceeds 1000 nits.

Does that make sense?

It makes perfect sense. I knew the Optimizer capped the MaxCLL but didn't realize it also caps the MaxFALL as well. I'm assuming the picture would look different if it was capped at 800 nits vs say 1,000 nits for the MaxFALL? This would explain why I see a bit of a difference between the HDR10 layer vs the Dolby Vision layer. That and the fact it's 12 bit vs 10 bit.

[PUsokrJosh305]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

For DVD playback then I do think that the Panny 820/9000 line is demonstrably worse than any MediaTek-enabled equivalents, but hey, we keep getting trolled, uh, I mean, told that no-one watches DVD so that doesn't matter.

This is true. Just how Panasonic views streaming apps on their 4K UHD Players, DVD playback isn't really focused on. Should it be? Absolutely since you are paying $500-$1,000 for the player. But I will say, I don't play that many DVDs on my 820. But that's just me. Those of you who have 100's of DVDs expect a great player and Panasonic seems to be on the low end when it comes to DVD playback.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by PUsokrJosh305

This is true. Just how Panasonic views streaming apps on their 4K UHD Players, DVD playback isn't really focused on. Should it be? Absolutely since you are paying $500-$1,000 for the player. But I will say, I don't play that many DVDs on my 820. But that's just me. Those of you who have 100's of DVDs expect a great player and Panasonic seems to be on the low end when it comes to DVD playback.

I don’t think Reavon and Pioneer have any of their players even have streaming capability and they are priced at $1000 - $2000

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

I don’t think Reavon and Pioneer have any of their players even have streaming capability and they are priced at $1000 - $2000

Considering the Panasonic's streaming abilities .....

I would rather my disc player not have streaming abilities.

I even like DVD play back on my Panasonic UB9000. For a DVD, it looks really good.

I realized I didn't have a copy of Wolf Creek so I started seeking one and found it streaming for $10 and on DVD for $3. I decided I would get the DVD and the HD streaming copy but after watching the DVD I never bothered getting the HD streaming version.

[panasonicst60]

Originally Posted by pbz06

I currently have a UB9000 and a PS5, and previously had an Oppo 203 (sold). This is on a 77 Sony A9G so my observations and opinions may not be applicable to a projector. Talking big picture picture quality, the Panny and Oppo are 1a and 1b. The Panny has slightly better chroma upsampling and a hair sharper upscaling (and more ringing?). Features like the HDR Optimizer come in handy as a tool to play around with, and from what I hear their HDR to SDR conversion is top notch. Apparently it does suck with DVD deinterlacing, but I haven't watched a DVD in over a decade.

However, I much preferred Oppo's UI look and feel, and also some minor video settings that allow you to send 4:2:2 10-bit for example.

Either way, unless you have them side by side and are pixel peeping, it's a wash and both are in the upper tier.

With the PS5, I'm likely going to get heat for this but I also found it to be top notch and just about equal quality. Most people online are sensationalistic and just copy paste "omg the panny is so much better, not even close" and ironically enough either they don't own a PS5 nor tested it with S&M or test patterns. Its only shortcoming is no dolby vision support really. Unless I'm looking at the test patterns wrong, the chroma looks just as good as anything I've seen (flipping my TV setting between Custom which rolls off chroma anyway, and Graphics which maintains 4:4:4). When people get a new player like an 820, they expect to see massive differences and I'm sure they convince themselves they see it, the same way new speaker cables seem to magically make an audio signal more punchy/airy/dynamic/forward/walnuty lol. Nope.

In a blind test just watching a movie in motion, I'm convinced almost nobody except Geoff would be able to tell a difference from normal seating distance especially.

With that said, I do understand and believe the Panasonic is the best of the best (overall), just saying I see it more in the margins and I wouldn't push someone into FOMO territory to make them feel they need to "upgrade" if they are already happy with a PS5.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Considering the Panasonic's streaming abilities .....

I would rather my disc player not have streaming abilities.

I even like DVD play back on my Panasonic UB9000. For a DVD, it looks really good.

I realized I didn't have a copy of Wolf Creek so I started seeking one and found it streaming for $10 and on DVD for $3. I decided I would get the DVD and the HD streaming copy but after watching the DVD I never bothered getting the HD streaming version.

Disc players should just be disc players. There is not a single player that I have tried that I want to use their streaming capability, or lack thereof.

[andrewl923]

Been waiting for months for the UB820 to drop to $400, does this go on sale often?

[chip75]

Originally Posted by andrewl923

Been waiting for months for the UB820 to drop to $400, does this go on sale often?

Have you tried Best Buy's open box deals? just over $400 if there's stock in your area.

[andrewl923]

Originally Posted by chip75

Have you tried Best Buy's open box deals? just over $400 if there's stock in your area.

None anywhere near me.

[bhampton]

Save up for the 9000 but either way Best Buy doesn't double box and crutchfield does.

Crutchfield has the 820 new and scratch and dent.

[TravisTylerBlack]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

May 2023 may be a good time for a new UHD universal player.

What type of features would you like to see included in a potential new UHD player?

When it comes to Panasonic, I'd personally really like to see improved DVD upscaling performance. My TV does a much better job upscaling 480p content on its own when I direct-stream rips through my Plex server, which really shouldn't be the case for a $500 player.

The optimizer could also benefit from a "custom" option that allows for further tone-mapping refinement beyond to the current one-size-fits-all presets.

Oh, and on a superficial level the UB820 interface design is terribly clunky/dated. The one thing I liked about my old (otherwise crappy) Samsung player was the sleek interface, which sort of resembled a console menu and used external data to display title artwork. Perhaps the same one they use for their smart TV menus?

[martydmc12]

Originally Posted by UndyAHundy

I'm having this same issue. Did you ever get a resolution?

I took it to my local authorized Panasonic dealer, and they called the next day and said nothing was wrong with it. The tray opened fine for them without a problem whatsoever. They said they tried a bunch of different discs of their own, CD's, DVD's, Blu-ray's, 4K discs, and had no issues.

Their theory was that the disc artwork might have had a very tiny bubble or some sort of bump on it, possibly naked to the eye, and it just wasn't sitting in the tray correctly, causing it not to open. When I unplugged the machine itself, moved it around from carrying it to the shop, the disc would have shifted inside, thereby allowing it from not being stuck. That was their theory anyways, and I'm not even 100% sure if buy that. The couldn't diagnose any other reason it for this to happen. I haven't had a problem since.

I know it sounds crazy, but unplug your player, pick it up, move it around, maybe even turn it upside down or on its side, then plug it back in and see what happens. I'm honestly curious to find out if this is indeed a solution to this problem. If you try this, please let me know the outcome.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by TravisTylerBlack

What type of features would you like to see included in a potential new UHD player?

When it comes to Panasonic, I'd personally really like to see improved DVD upscaling performance. My TV does a much better job upscaling 480p content on its own when I direct-stream rips through my Plex server, which really shouldn't be the case for a $500 player.

The optimizer could also benefit from a "custom" option that allows for further tone-mapping refinement beyond to the current one-size-fits-all presets.

Oh, and on a superficial level the UB820 interface design is terribly clunky/dated. The one thing I liked about my old (otherwise crappy) Samsung player was the sleek interface, which sort of resembled a console menu and used external data to display title artwork. Perhaps the same one they use for their smart TV menus?

God yes re: the bolded. If they can set the nit level for 350, 500, 1000 and 1500 then why not let us have some more granular control over it? It's not like all the various HDR adjustment settings don't do something similar, but without a frame of reference you don't know exactly what you're doing to the picture when you adjust them. But being able to adjust it by 100 or even 50 nit increments would be aces.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by martydmc12

Their theory was that the disc artwork might have had a very tiny bubble or some sort of bump on it, possibly naked to the eye, and it just wasn't sitting in the tray correctly, causing it not to open. When I unplugged the machine itself, moved it around from carrying it to the shop, the disc would have shifted inside, thereby allowing it from not being stuck.

I'm not sure something you couldn't see would cause a disc to get stuck and it would have to be the nearest point of exit to stop the tray coming out (and turning the player on would spin the disc to a random point).

[martydmc12]

Originally Posted by chip75

I'm not sure something you couldn't see would cause a disc to get stuck and it would have to be the nearest point of exit to stop the tray coming out (and turning the player on would spin the disc to a random point).

My thoughts exactly. The disc was Godzilla (1998) 4K UHD, and I've looked over the disc several times, and find it is a smooth as smooth can be.

The entire ordeal has me concerned it could happen again, and if so, what really is the problem causing it. The fact now that UndyAHundy is experiencing the same issue, makes me wonder if there are more cause for alarm with this problem for other owners of this model player.

[samuelkhan999]

Peeps. Just bought the 2021 50 inch QN94A I the UK. Its a HDR2000 QLED and a in between model in the UK of the QN90A and QN95A series.

Question is. I got the UB820. Does it make sense using the HDR optimiser or not on this TV

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

Peeps. Just bought the 2021 50 inch QN94A I the UK. Its a HDR2000 QLED and a in between model in the UK of the QN90A and QN95A series.

Question is. I got the UB820. Does it make sense using the HDR optimiser or not on this TV

Sure does. Make sure to set your player to LED in the HDR Settings menu.

[samuelkhan999]

Any future settings where HDR optimiser can max out at 2000 - 3000 nits?

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

Any future settings where HDR optimiser can max out at 2000 - 3000 nits?

If you had a TV display that could reach that mark, you wouldn't even need an "HDR optimizer" in the first place...

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

If you had a TV display that could reach that mark, you wouldn't even need an "HDR optimizer" in the first place...

The HDR Optimiser helps[. I've got the 50QN94A that can hit 2000 nits.].
For eg. I'm watching Mad Max Fury Road. It's mastered in 4000 nits. Nits range for the movie is 3000 to 9000 nits. The HDR optimizer clips it for a 1500 nits tv and optimises the hdr. Therefore the Nit range for the movie will be 1200-1500 nits.