Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Tok

I agree HDR in general does not work with projectors but I find JVC’s DTM to be sufficient on most content. It’s still not quite ‘set it and forget it’ but good enough that I feel I don’t need an external VP.

The thing is whether spending $5K after spending $16K on a projector is worth the expenditure. Testing the madVR Extreme, IMO, os not worth the extra $16K. But I’ve never had a Lumagen for long enough to be able to determine whether it’s worth the expenditure.

[HeavyHitter]

I bought my used Lumagen closer to $3K which is the typical price. At $16K on the EE, no way! Aside from the DTM, the auto detect aspect ratio feature is great for scope screens (no more need to use the motorized lens memory and lens shift), and the 4K upscaling is the best I've seen so I use my Oppo 103D for 1080p since the Panasonic 420 has no Source Direct 1080p mode.

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by Batfink1978

So I bought a 820 multi region from TPS in November. I've started to notice several things including freezing and skipping plus DV problems with Kino releases and a few other releases.

Tonight we watched 2 blurays the first was crimson rivers region A Kino release, the second was Arachnophobia. Now I upgraded from a 450 player which the only real problem I had was it freezing on criterion 4k discs. I never had these disc freezing problems at all.

So is my machine faulty or what. The player is up to date and so is the TV. Any idea? I've emailed TPS to see what they say but it's seriously annoying as it happens at random.

Get in touch with TPS. You have 3 year warranty. I had issues with my second UB820 out of the box. I sent them the disc the player had issues with and they fixed it.

[Bernardo A.]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

Get in touch with TPS. You have 3 year warranty. I had issues with my second UB820 out of the box. I sent them the disc the player had issues with and they fixed it.

How do those region free players work? Are they physically modified?

I thought Blu-ray players couldn't be unlocked via software.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Bernardo A.

How do those region free players work? Are they physically modified?

I thought Blu-ray players couldn't be unlocked via software.

They're usually modded internally.

[Bernardo A.]

Originally Posted by chip75

They're usually modded internally.

Many years ago, a Brazilian tech company released a region free player. You had to change regions before watching a disc from another region, but it was highly successful. This player is now rare and highly sought after here.

But they went out of business. And our physical media market all but ended.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I bought my used Lumagen closer to $3K which is the typical price. At $16K on the EE, no way! Aside from the DTM, the auto detect aspect ratio feature is great for scope screens (no more need to use the motorized lens memory and lens shift), and the 4K upscaling is the best I've seen so I use my Oppo 103D for 1080p since the Panasonic 420 has no Source Direct 1080p mode.

If I’m getting one it will be to do NLS stretch for 2.0:1 and 2.2:1 ratio and turn them into 2.4:1. Upscaling I will most probably will never use as I practically never watch anything that are not 4K outside of YouTube. Even at $3K it’s still a bit tough although nowhere as tough as EE, of course.

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by Bernardo A.

How do those region free players work? Are they physically modified?

I thought Blu-ray players couldn't be unlocked via software.

Yes. TPS used to use the Rattlebyte mod (hard mod). Now they use some other hard mod chip.

[mcaveney]

I just picked up an UB820, and I'm noting that the instructions say that I should be using an HDMI cable that supports 18gbps. I have no idea if any of the cables I currently have do this, would I get a warning on-screen if this isn't the case, or would I just not get the full benefits of Dolby Vision?

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

You don't have to purchase a 48 Gbps cable for a 4k Blu-ray player. A cheap, premium certified 18 Gbps cable will do just fine since the top spec is 60 fps at 4k and that's only a tiny fraction of 4k Blu-ray discs. For the short interface from player to surround processor, I have had great success with Monoprice's Slim Line Certified 18 Gbps cables. The added benefit is no strain on the HDMI ports as the cables are very light weight.

We're not dealing with an advanced gaming system that needs 120 fps at 4k.

Originally Posted by mcaveney

I just picked up an UB820, and I'm noting that the instructions say that I should be using an HDMI cable that supports 18gbps. I have no idea if any of the cables I currently have do this, would I get a warning on-screen if this isn't the case, or would I just not get the full benefits of Dolby Vision?

I quoted a previous answer to someone else’s question. Amazon US has Monoprice or Blue Jeans hdmi cables for reasonable prices. Make sure you’re buying a PREMIUM CERTIFIED version, and keep the length between 6-10 ft for better results.
Do not spend $50 or $100. We’re sending 1’s and 0’s, not analog, so it either works or it doesn’t.

[thebarnman]

Originally Posted by mcaveney

I just picked up an UB820, and I'm noting that the instructions say that I should be using an HDMI cable that supports 18gbps. I have no idea if any of the cables I currently have do this, would I get a warning on-screen if this isn't the case, or would I just not get the full benefits of Dolby Vision?

As long as you see the image without breakups, it's working.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

The JVC DTM is definitely good, but having recently picked up a Lumagen their recent DTM updates have significantly leaped frogged over JVC's. Kris Deering posted recently how Stacey Spears visited his place and was shocked at how good the JVC + Lumagen looked and actually outperformed some of his mastering displays.

It’s pretty wild how far it’s come in the 18 months I’ve had mine.

[Member-222782]

Just got a UB820 as a second player. Pretty expensive but it's on a lot of "best players for your money" lists. I've been meaning to pick up another player for years but haven't had time to research much. Best Buy pushed me over the edge by upping my credit limit and I financed it so the financial hit won't be hard. May as well use the credit since they're no longer in the physical media business and I don't buy appliances as often as I do movies.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by thebarnman

As long as you see the image without breakups, it's working.

Though one has to make sure it’s not just doing 1080p because the cable doesn’t have the bandwidth for 4K.

[Ben_C]

Almost certainly going to replace my 820 with another one pretty soon. Had intermittent issues of glitching 4K discs (which play fine most of the time and then randomly glitch another), but seems to be happening more and more recently.
In the last few days - Conan the Barbarian glitched a tiny bit only during the end credits, same with the second Jurassic World film, and then the third Jurassic World film shit a brick on the first menu screen, but then played fine until the 2 hour mark. The rest of the film played fine on the PS5.

Don’t really want to shell out, but the viewing experience is severely hampered with random glitching

[Tok]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I bought my used Lumagen closer to $3K which is the typical price. At $16K on the EE, no way! Aside from the DTM, the auto detect aspect ratio feature is great for scope screens (no more need to use the motorized lens memory and lens shift), and the 4K upscaling is the best I've seen so I use my Oppo 103D for 1080p since the Panasonic 420 has no Source Direct 1080p mode.

If you have other things like a wider than 16:9 screen then a VP makes more sense. For those of us that use a fixed screen I find a VP a hard upsell just to possibly get slightly better HDR. I think a lot of those scenes that showed how ‘much better’ the madVR is than JVC’s DTM were cherry picked and I’m pretty sure they had the JVC set in such a way to maximize the improvements for the madVR. Show me a completely blind comparison where no one from JVC or madVR is involved. And there’s also the question is the madVR actually showing an accurate image as intended or is it brightening images that were meant to appear darker.

[Tok]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Just got a UB820 as a second player. Pretty expensive but it's on a lot of "best players for your money" lists. I've been meaning to pick up another player for years but haven't had time to research much. Best Buy pushed me over the edge by upping my credit limit and I financed it so the financial hit won't be hard. May as well use the credit since they're no longer in the physical media business and I don't buy appliances as often as I do movies.

I think BB is going to regret pulling out of the movie business. I have little reason to go there now or use my BB card. I previously earned $100s a year on Rewards points. So much that the last two OLEDs I bought I used over $350 in certificates on each set along with the sets being on sale that I doubt Best Buy liked me as a customer.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Tok

If you have other things like a wider than 16:9 screen then a VP makes more sense. For those of us that use a fixed screen I find a VP a hard upsell just to possibly get slightly better HDR. I think a lot of those scenes that showed how ‘much better’ the madVR is than JVC’s DTM were cherry picked and I’m pretty sure they had the JVC set in such a way to maximize the improvements for the madVR. Show me a completely blind comparison where no one from JVC or madVR is involved. And there’s also the question is the madVR actually showing an accurate image as intended or is it brightening images that were meant to appear darker.

I kind of used to think that about the cherry picking and I cannot speak to what madVR is doing. But I've done my own comparisons so I don't have to be convinced. I could easily sell my Lumagen for what I paid, but it's a keeper. Chad B - one of the top calibrators calibrated my set-up back in December and he was equally impressed as me. But seeing and using the Lumagen the last couple of months is believing. It offers a more dynamic range and has less clipping versus the JVC. It also provides better shadow detail in lower APL scenes. For example, the JVC DTM at +1 or +2 really clips highlights on a number of different films, but offers a satisfying level of brightness. The Lumagen can go this bright, yet not clip. Also, the JVC DTM is not set and forget where as on the Lumagen it is. Using the JVC DTM at -1 minimizes clipping (although still clips too much for my liking), but sacrifices overall APL and range creating a flatter image. You get the best of all worlds with the Lumagen. I would say this. The JVC DTM is good on most content, but the Lumagen DTM is great on all content. Also, the JVC is not actual true DTM. Part of it is actually static and it still emphasizes metadata which is a mistake.

[Tok]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I kind of used to think that about the cherry picking and I cannot speak to what madVR is doing. But I've done my own comparisons so I don't have to be convinced. I could easily sell my Lumagen for what I paid, but it's a keeper. Chad B - one of the top calibrators calibrated my set-up back in December and he was equally impressed as me. But seeing and using the Lumagen the last couple of months is believing. It offers a more dynamic range and has less clipping versus the JVC. It also provides better shadow detail in lower APL scenes. For example, the JVC DTM at +1 or +2 really clips highlights on a number of different films, but offers a satisfying level of brightness. The Lumagen can go this bright, yet not clip. Also, the JVC DTM is not set and forget where as on the Lumagen it is. Using the JVC DTM at -1 minimizes clipping (although still clips too much for my liking), but sacrifices overall APL and range creating a flatter image. You get the best of all worlds with the Lumagen. I would say this. The JVC DTM is good on most content, but the Lumagen DTM is great on all content. Also, the JVC is not actual true DTM. Part of it is actually static and it still emphasizes metadata which is a mistake.

Is this comparison against the updated FW3.0 DTM? Just curious. I’m not saying the JVC is necessarily perfect but unless doing a side-by-side or you know the source material well I doubt one would notice the difference. I’m sure the Lumagen is an improvement. Question is though is it a $3k-$5k improvement for most? I think I’d rather update some of my sound system to more powerful subs or upgrade my heights to something that’s a closer match from KEF.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Tok

Is this comparison against the updated FW3.0 DTM? Just curious. I’m not saying the JVC is necessarily perfect but unless doing a side-by-side or you know the source material well I doubt one would notice the difference. I’m sure the Lumagen is an improvement. Question is though is it a $3k-$5k improvement for most? I think I’d rather update some of my sound system to more powerful subs or upgrade my heights to something that’s a closer match from KEF.

Yes, compared against the the FW3.0. As I said, the difference is notable in general on all material. Like anything else, whether it's worth it or not is like anything else in this hobby. To me it is, but other upgrades may or not be depending price whether on projectors, speakers, etc.