Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by Hydra Spectre

AV forums didn't accept my account. They thought I was a spammer.
However, there is a chance Ghibli will make 4K discs after How Do You Live?'s release.
Earwig and the Witch was going to be Ghibli's first 4K, especially since it had a Dolby Cinema release with both an Atmos mix and Dolby Vision. But it's utter box office bomb status in Japan convinced Ghibli it won't be a wise idea to make it their first 4K release.

Weird considering My Neighbors the Yamadas was their first DVD release, and it's one of Ghibli's only box office bombs.
Tales from Earthsea did pretty well but still performed well below expectations, which is why it was only released on VHS and DVD even though Ghibli already did Iblard Time as their first Blu-ray release. They waited until Ponyo to do Blu-ray releases, as that film was a massive blockbuster.

There are some non-Ghibli MGVC releases like La La Land, John Wick, and Lone Survivor.
And there are MGVC demo discs from Studio Ghibli. One showed the first six minutes or so of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, one was made up of clips from Arrietty (which is why the full film was upgraded to MGVC on the 2021 box set), and one was the 1995 music video On Your Mark.

Try logging in with google/facebook/microsoft/linkdin/twitter

Someone told me years ago that the UB32 Japan has MGVC. DMR Z1 is the new iteration of UB9000 with a HDD in Japan. This too has MGVC.

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

Try logging in with google/facebook/microsoft/linkdin/twitter

Someone told me years ago that the UB32 Japan has MGVC. DMR Z1 is the new iteration of UB9000 with a HDD in Japan. This too has MGVC.

I can't even log in with Google or Microsoft.
It tells me that the email is already registered to another account.

Also, it would be great if the regionfreedom can also have CFW for the DMR-Z1 that gives it English audio.
I am interested in getting that should I ever move to Japan. But since Filipino local TV stations also use the same ISDB-T standards as Japan, the DVR fuction can work here too.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by chip75

From what I recall it was SONY's 4K upscalers that had the issue if you output in less than 4K there was some funky stuff going on in the darker areas of the image. But this was a few years back.

Sony's UHD players apply DNR to non-4K sources by default unless you switch the video mode to Direct. This is still the case.

[Jumpman]

I just ordered this player. It’ll be here on Monday from Amazon. Anything I need to know about this player before I give it the workout? Tricks? Pros? Cons? Any information will be helpful. Thanks.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

I just ordered this player. It’ll be here on Monday from Amazon. Anything I need to know about this player before I give it the workout? Tricks? Pros? Cons? Any information will be helpful. Thanks.

See link in my signature.

[Kool-aid23]

Originally Posted by Hydra Spectre

The Ghibli discs are the major reason, but I heard there are also many other MGVC discs in Japan.
Also, I am very disappointed that the newer Ghibli box set didn't update From Up on Poppy Hill and Tales from Earthsea to MGVC.
But they managed to update Arrietty, while the newer film Earwig and the Witch is in MGVC.

If I finally have my plans right, I should also get a Sony UHD player for playing SACDs and DVD-Audio.

Greetings,

I understand your situation for I was thinking the same thing years ago. Thankfully, I went ahead and bought the Japanese UB900 (years ago) and just recently purchased the Japanese UB9000. My thinking was mostly for my Ghibli titles, but I also have 11 non Studio Ghibli MGVC titles. If you don't need English sub titles, there are some additional titles as well. I figured the investment was worth it, since this is probably going to be it for physical media. The player is sort of future proof in that it already plays 4k discs and if we ever get 12 bit panels, then MGVC will truly be unlocked to it's full potential. Also, the Panasonic UB900 and UB9000 [JP] players, along with MGVC, are made with some different parts from the rest of the world that are "suppose" to be of higher quality so there's that as well.

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by Kool-aid23

Greetings,

I understand your situation for I was thinking the same thing years ago. Thankfully, I went ahead and bought the Japanese UB900 (years ago) and just recently purchased the Japanese UB9000. My thinking was mostly for my Ghibli titles, but I also have 11 non Studio Ghibli MGVC titles. If you don't need English sub titles, there are some additional titles as well. I figured the investment was worth it, since this is probably going to be it for physical media. The player is sort of future proof in that it already plays 4k discs and if we ever get 12 bit panels, then MGVC will truly be unlocked to it's full potential. Also, the Panasonic UB900 and UB9000 [JP] players, along with MGVC, are made with some different parts from the rest of the world that are "suppose" to be of higher quality so there's that as well.

There are some live action Hollywood MGVC releases such as La La Land and the John Wick films.
But they are available in 4K Dolby Vision from 4Kult in Italy. I can just do a remux of it with the Dolby Atmos audio from the US 4K UHDs while the picture is the 4K Dolby Vision from Italy.

I know Shaun the Sheep Movie is also best on the Japanese release, as it has the highest bitrate and has MGVC. Not to mention the Lionsgate US release is in the wrong aspect ratio.

Also, since MGVC works like Dolby Vision FEL with having an enhancement layer, I am hoping the MGVC would add more film grain to the Ghibli films like how Dolby Vision does that.
Studio Ghibli's restorations are really grainy, and even their digital films have artificial film grain added.

[RocShemp]

The UB820 is currently $399.98 on Amazon. Ended up ordering it today (though I got saddled with $46 tax).

[By_His_Strypes]

Originally Posted by RocShemp

The UB820 is currently $399.98 on Amazon. Ended up ordering it today (though I got saddled with $46 tax).

good deal it was $422 when I ordered mine a couple weeks ago.

[BasedSPACER]

Had my unit arrive today and it had nothing but handshake issues with 4K discs. Just stuck in an endless loop of signal drops. Had no issues with standard Blu-rays, however. Changed HDMI cables, did a factory reset, changed settings and tested everything, every way I could. Gonna try to see if a replacement unit won’t have those issues, but I’m pretty bummed with this experience thus far.

Was upgrading from a Sony X700 that actually almost never gives me any issues, I just wanted to switch to this player so that I didn’t have to switch my video or audio settings every time I watch a disc with DV or DTS Audio (LG C2 doesn’t support DTS).

[Kool-aid23]

Originally Posted by Hydra Spectre

There are some live action Hollywood MGVC releases such as La La Land and the John Wick films.
But they are available in 4K Dolby Vision from 4Kult in Italy. I can just do a remux of it with the Dolby Atmos audio from the US 4K UHDs while the picture is the 4K Dolby Vision from Italy.

I know Shaun the Sheep Movie is also best on the Japanese release, as it has the highest bitrate and has MGVC. Not to mention the Lionsgate US release is in the wrong aspect ratio.

Also, since MGVC works like Dolby Vision FEL with having an enhancement layer, I am hoping the MGVC would add more film grain to the Ghibli films like how Dolby Vision does that.
Studio Ghibli's restorations are really grainy, and even their digital films have artificial film grain added.

Yes, I have most of them. La La Land is actually better than the 4k UHD and won a special award at the DEG Japan blu-ray awards years ago.

The 35mm Studio Ghibli films do retain the film grain and are tastefully done on the silhouette releases. The box set versions have a much finer grain structure on all the releases. Kiki's Delivery Service silhouette release is my go to disc.

The main difference between the silhouette releases and the box set is that the sihouettes are as close as possible to how the films looked at the time of their releases. The box-set is using MGVC to it's fullest to give the films deep colour gradation.

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by Kool-aid23

Yes, I have most of them. La La Land is actually better than the 4k UHD and won a special award at the DEG Japan blu-ray awards years ago.

The 35mm Studio Ghibli films do retain the film grain and are tastefully done on the silhouette releases. The box set versions have a much finer grain structure on all the releases. Kiki's Delivery Service silhouette release is my go to disc.

The main difference between the silhouette releases and the box set is that the sihouettes are as close as possible to how the films looked at the time of their releases. The box-set is using MGVC to it's fullest to give the films deep colour gradation.

Can you please do comparisons?
I thought they were 1:1 the same in terms of colour grading.
Also, how does La La Land compare between the Italian 4K UHD (which has full Dolby Vision) and the MGVC Blu-ray? I already loved how the 4K UHD looked so I doubt that a 1080p Blu-ray would actually be an upgrade even if it is 12-bit compared to the US 10-bit 4K UHD.
The Italian Dolby Vision UHD would be 12-bit, but the audio was sadly downgraded to DTS-HD MA 5.1.

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by BasedSPACER

Had my unit arrive today and it had nothing but handshake issues with 4K discs. Just stuck in an endless loop of signal drops. Had no issues with standard Blu-rays, however. Changed HDMI cables, did a factory reset, changed settings and tested everything, every way I could. Gonna try to see if a replacement unit won’t have those issues, but I’m pretty bummed with this experience thus far.

Was upgrading from a Sony X700 that actually almost never gives me any issues, I just wanted to switch to this player so that I didn’t have to switch my video or audio settings every time I watch a disc with DV or DTS Audio (LG C2 doesn’t support DTS).

You probably got a lemon. Exchange it.

[BasedSPACER]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

You probably got a lemon. Exchange it.

Definitely the plan for now. Hopefully I won’t get back to back duds, wish me luck.

[IlCorvo]

If I buy a 824 and that has the 1.70 firmware, can I still solder the rattlebyte mod with their 1.69 Firmware?

[Naiera]

Why not wait and see what happens with the free jailbreak?

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by Kool-aid23

Greetings,

I understand your situation for I was thinking the same thing years ago. Thankfully, I went ahead and bought the Japanese UB900 (years ago) and just recently purchased the Japanese UB9000. My thinking was mostly for my Ghibli titles, but I also have 11 non Studio Ghibli MGVC titles. If you don't need English sub titles, there are some additional titles as well. I figured the investment was worth it, since this is probably going to be it for physical media. The player is sort of future proof in that it already plays 4k discs and if we ever get 12 bit panels, then MGVC will truly be unlocked to it's full potential. Also, the Panasonic UB900 and UB9000 [JP] players, along with MGVC, are made with some different parts from the rest of the world that are "suppose" to be of higher quality so there's that as well.

Do you think flashing a Japanese firmware on a EU/UK ub820/9000 unlock MGVC? Is MGVC hardware dependent? ( Got Spirited Aaay and The Wind Rises JP blu ray individual releases)

[chip75]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

Do you think flashing a Japanese firmware on a EU/UK ub820/9000 unlock MGVC? Is MGVC hardware dependent? ( Got Spirited Aaay and The Wind Rises JP blu ray individual releases)

I'd keep an eye on what the soft mod is able to achieve before trying to flash the firmware.

[Kool-aid23]

Originally Posted by chip75

I'd keep an eye on what the soft mod is able to achieve before trying to flash the firmware.

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

Do you think flashing a Japanese firmware on a EU/UK ub820/9000 unlock MGVC? Is MGVC hardware dependent? ( Got Spirited Aaay and The Wind Rises JP blu ray individual releases)

+1

I'm not sure, but I would assume there is some hardware spec (drive and memory) for MGVC.

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by Kool-aid23

+1

I'm not sure, but I would assume there is some hardware spec (drive and memory) for MGVC.

Could you please share MGVC menu from UB900/9000. I think I have seen pictures of the menu but it's in Japanese.

Also any chance off taking blu ray pictures with MGVC on and off. Thanks