Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[SS-3]

So, I started testing my third UB9000 yesterday. Discs that had issues such as Gladiator 2 4K, Meg 2 4K, and Terrifier (Umbrella 4K) all play fine in the new player. Kind of like the last two players that I had. They start out fine but start having issues a bit after 12 months. Fingers crossed that the third time is a charm and this UB9000 doesn't have issues for many years as compared to months.

[RalphoR]

I hate to spend silly money but has there been any issues with the Magnetar 4k players like these Pannys are having? Where's Pioneer or Oppo when you need them? The market is ripe for a return.

[SS-3]

Originally Posted by RalphoR

I hate to spend silly money but has there been any issues with the Magnetar 4k players like these Pannys are having? Where's Pioneer or Oppo when you need them? The market is ripe for a return.

I have the Panasonic UB9000, Oppo 203, and Reavon X100. The Panasonic has the best video processing out of the three, IMHO. It would be interesting of Oppo or Pioneer introduced a new player, which I assume would have better video processing than player that are 8 plus years old.

The Magnetar looks nice and the reviews have been positive. However, there is that very steep price that you mentioned and how will they hold up in the long run. I would like to see how they're doing after 5+ years for that kind of money.

I should note the Oppo drive mechanism is the best of the three. It plays anything you throw at it and has been doing so for me, for over eight years now.

[jchano123]

Hi all i have had my sony UBPX800M2 for a few years and am getting tired of it. Just sold it on ebay and want to replace it with the Panasonic UB-820. Where is the best place to buy the 820? amazon has it at $400 but I'm afraid it'll get tossed around too much in shipping - is it better to buy in person? best buy or abt? those places have it for $500 though. any thoughts?

[SS-3]

Originally Posted by jchano123

Hi all i have had my sony UBPX800M2 for a few years and am getting tired of it. Just sold it on ebay and want to replace it with the Panasonic UB-820. Where is the best place to buy the 820? amazon has it at $400 but I'm afraid it'll get tossed around too much in shipping - is it better to buy in person? best buy or abt? those places have it for $500 though. any thoughts?

I purchased my first UB9000 with shipping to home from Best Buy. That was a mistake, the box arrived in very rough shape. It even had a nice size chunk of cardboard missing. The player was fine, even thought it only lasted about 15 months.

The other two replacement players I opted for in store pickup. The player is packed with other items going to Best Buy. Both boxes arrived in nice condition.

I can't speak for ABT on whether or not they pack and ship with an outer box. However, Amazon and Best Buy do not ship with an outer box to your home, for these players.

In store pickup is a bit of a hassle because you have to drive there. But for me, it was worth it. I much rather have a damage free box than something that looks like it's been through a meat grinder.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by jchano123

Hi all i have had my sony UBPX800M2 for a few years and am getting tired of it. Just sold it on ebay and want to replace it with the Panasonic UB-820. Where is the best place to buy the 820? amazon has it at $400 but I'm afraid it'll get tossed around too much in shipping - is it better to buy in person? best buy or abt? those places have it for $500 though. any thoughts?

I bought mine from B&H. They ship fast and mine seemed just fine when I got it in December, and has played fine ever since. I've always been pleased with the shipping, packing, and fast service from B&H.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/

However, I also got it with a nice discount due to my employer to get it under $400. Currently their regular price is also $497. I think it was going for something close to $400 around Black Friday, but you're going to have a long wait for that price, especially with all the tariffs about to get piled on.

Personally with that price difference I'd get it from Amazon. If it's DOA it's easy to return. It also comes with a 1 year warranty. However, given how many people complain about problems with their 4K players of every (or now each) brand, you may want to get an extended warranty regardless of who's tossing it around.

[jchano123]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

I bought mine from B&H. They ship fast and mine seemed just fine when I got it in December, and has played fine ever since. I've always been pleased with the shipping, packing, and fast service from B&H.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/

However, I also got it with a nice discount due to my employer to get it under $400. Currently their regular price is also $497. I think it was going for something close to $400 around Black Friday, but you're likely to have a long wait.

Personally with that price difference I'd get it from Amazon. If it's DOA it's easy to return. It also comes with a 1 year warranty. However, given how many people complain about problems with their 4K players of every (or now each) brand, you may want to get an extended warranty regardless of who's tossing it around.

Thank you, that's helpful. I forgot that ABT has a price match guarantee so I will explore that option tomorrow. another question - i wasn't aware that the UB820 didn't have Bluetooth built in like my current sony does, and I am pretty exclusively using Bluetooth headphones - what is the solution to this? I found people saying to use the Bluetooth from my tv but since its a holiday model it doesn't have Bluetooth either. One of the reasons I'm getting rid of the sony is the janky Bluetooth - latency issues or issues connecting.

[DRC72]

Originally Posted by SS-3

I purchased my first UB9000 with shipping to home from Best Buy. That was a mistake, the box arrived in very rough shape. It even had a nice size chunk of cardboard missing. The player was fine, even thought it only lasted about 15 months.

The other two replacement players I opted for in store pickup. The player is packed with other items going to Best Buy. Both boxes arrived in nice condition.

I can't speak for ABT on whether or not they pack and ship with an outer box. However, Amazon and Best Buy do not ship with an outer box to your home, for these players.

In store pickup is a bit of a hassle because you have to drive there. But for me, it was worth it. I much rather have a damage free box than something that looks like it's been through a meat grinder.

Got mine through Crutchfield, and they package their shipments much better.

[Braktastic]

I assume that any issues the UB820 would have with degrading and pixelating over time the UB9000 would also since the "guts" are the same, more or less?

[mogwai_macabre]

My 820 is also starting to go after about 5 years. Same issues as everyone else seems to be having. Pixelation, freezing. Some regular Blu-ray don't play at all, but work fine in another older player.

Not really sure where to go from here.

[Telemachus]

Originally Posted by jchano123

Hi all i have had my sony UBPX800M2 for a few years and am getting tired of it. Just sold it on ebay and want to replace it with the Panasonic UB-820. Where is the best place to buy the 820? amazon has it at $400 but I'm afraid it'll get tossed around too much in shipping - is it better to buy in person? best buy or abt? those places have it for $500 though. any thoughts?

I got mine from Amazon because I dropped it to $325 during a sale with credit, zero issues after I got it, they did not double box it for some reason, which I was nervous about at first but no damage and player has been near bulletproof. Crutchfield is also a great option I got my Sony from them very cheap.

Originally Posted by mogwai_macabre

My 820 is also starting to go after about 5 years. Same issues as everyone else seems to be having. Pixelation, freezing. Some regular Blu-ray don't play at all, but work fine in another older player.

Not really sure where to go from here.

I think I'm in the beginning stages of noticing this, certain discs I have played before without issue are giving me problems, I throw them in the Sony and flawless, but it's less than 5 titles so far. I'll enjoy this player as long as I can, I have used it nearly everyday since I bought it.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by mogwai_macabre

My 820 is also starting to go after about 5 years. Same issues as everyone else seems to be having. Pixelation, freezing. Some regular Blu-ray don't play at all, but work fine in another older player.

Not really sure where to go from here.

Five years seems pretty damn good for this player. I can't get mine to last more than two. I wonder if that simply comes down to use and subsequent "wear and tear".

Originally Posted by Telemachus

I got mine from Amazon because I dropped it to $325 during a sale with credit, zero issues after I got it, they did not double box it for some reason...

You have to be careful with Amazon and double-check they're not trying to ship in the manufacture packaging at checkout. There's a "Hide What's Inside" option that should result in double-boxing.

[I5o]

Originally Posted by mogwai_macabre

My 820 is also starting to go after about 5 years. Same issues as everyone else seems to be having. Pixelation, freezing. Some regular Blu-ray don't play at all, but work fine in another older player.

Not really sure where to go from here.

Gidday mogwai_macabre,

May I suggest if you are handy and confident in replacing your UB820 disc drive with a shiny new UB9000 disc drive bought directly from you local Panasonic parts online store. I have installed back in 2024 a UB9000 disc drive into my UB820 without any issues plays BD, DVD + 4K. Here is a photo showing the original UB820 disc drive lying outside and the working installed UB9000 disc drive. Good luck. cheers

[evilzedar]

One of my 820s has started to make what I think is drive noise, a rhythmic sound that I can hear during quieter scenes. It's pretty distracting...

[kosvines]

Originally Posted by I5o

Gidday mogwai_macabre,

May I suggest if you are handy and confident in replacing your UB820 disc drive with a shiny new UB9000 disc drive bought directly from you local Panasonic parts online store. I have installed back in 2024 a UB9000 disc drive into my UB820 without any issues plays BD, DVD + 4K. Here is a photo showing the original UB820 disc drive lying outside and the working installed UB9000 disc drive. Good luck. cheers

Is there a lot of soldering involved, or is it basically a plug and play (like installing a disk drive in a computer)?

[I5o]

Originally Posted by kosvines

Is there a lot of soldering involved, or is it basically a plug and play (like installing a disk drive in a computer)?

Gidday kosvines,

No soldering involved. It is plug and play but one must be very gentle and careful especially pulling out the delicate ribbon cable attached to the MOBO then one you have the original UB820 disc drive out then very carefully remove the ribbon cable from the old drive and gently push it into the new UB9000 drive. I would recommend using a small plier with its teeth covered with sticky tape so as not to damage the delicate ribbon cable. This allows for safer and accurate removal of the ribbon cable and installing it onto new disc drive. Because if one bends or damages the delicate ribbon cable then one has to hunt around for a new replacement. Like a PC drive one is careful and slow installing onto the MOBO or SATA cable. Keep the old drive as a backup or for possible spare parts. Good luck cheers

[tama]

My UB820 stopped playing UHDs last March. Would only play BDs. Had it for 2 and a half years. The new one I bought to replace is now starting to struggle when loading. Either delayed loading or in the last 30 days says cannot read disc. Luckily for now popping them out and back in works.

If this players goes the same at last I'm done buying these players going forward.

[armus]

Originally Posted by I5o

Gidday mogwai_macabre,

May I suggest if you are handy and confident in replacing your UB820 disc drive with a shiny new UB9000 disc drive bought directly from you local Panasonic parts online store.

Which drive did you use? The TXP0036 got replaced by the TXP0184 but there’s also the TXP0126 and TXP0034 that comes up for the UB9000. Any of these cost around $220-250, so I won’t be in a tempted to get one unless/until I start to see issues.

[I5o]

Originally Posted by armus

Which drive did you use? The TXP0036 got replaced by the TXP0184 but there’s also the TXP0126 and TXP0034 that comes up for the UB9000. Any of these cost around $220-250, so I won’t be in a tempted to get one unless/until I start to see issues.

Gidday armus,

I could only find new old panasonic stock that is the TXP0036 so I got two just as a backup back in 2024. Also the disc drive models you mentioned were talked about here in this area of the forum giving the years of production sorry I didn't keep the link. Thankfully I did my purchase because now with all this tariff stuff some parts I think will become more expensive because they are not made in the USA. IMHO the way I see my purchase as a small insurance for the future when such parts may also become obsolete or hard to find. BTW I also tested a UB900 disc drive on my UB820 and it worked fine. Good luck cheers

[I5o]

Originally Posted by tama

My UB820 stopped playing UHDs last March. Would only play BDs. Had it for 2 and a half years. The new one I bought to replace is now starting to struggle when loading. Either delayed loading or in the last 30 days says cannot read disc. Luckily for now popping them out and back in works.

If this players goes the same at last I'm done buying these players going forward.

Gidday tama,

Shame your UB820 disc drives giving troubles. If you happen to be handy might I suggest in case you kept the old UB820 maybe you can remove your current working newer disc drive into it and see if there is improvement in playing discs. Obviously your original UB820 disc drive laser is not able to play 4K discs. if that works then you have spare UB820 mobo and casing to keep as a backup. And if you feel confident you could open your old disc drive and carefully clean the laser areas and then reinstall and see if it works. Good luck cheers