Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[Robert Zohn]

We're poised for another big year targeting the discerning UHD/HDR BD and streaming enthusiasts.

Happy to report that Panasonic will be launching Worldwide (USA included) the highly anticipated UB820 and UB9000 UHD/HDR BD players.

For USA folks we'll begin to see the UB820 sometime in July and the UB9000 by December, 2018. The EU and some Asian countries started to receive the DP-UB9000 in October.

Now for the first time, users can adjust the tone mapping to your specific displays luminance capacity for the ultimate control of the entire tonal range for all HDR formats and content. This includes streaming content through the built-in Smart apps for those with projectors, monitors or anyone who wants to have control of the luminance tone mapping and "Hollywood Cinema Experience", HCX video processing. Panasonic created and mastered HCX video processing over the years with Panasonic's Hollywood Laboratory.

The UB9000 adds the best possible audio experiences with dedicated DACs and 7.1 analog audio outputs as well as support for all Hi-Res audio formats.

We built dedicated pages for the UB820 and UB9000 with more technical specs and general information.

[Ray O. Blu]

Exciting news! Thank you for sharing this.
Looking forward to hearing more about these units and possibly purchasing one soon.

Just checked out the links for each unit. Nicely done. Very informative.
Both of the units look beautiful. These look like some top notch players.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Panasonic

Thoughts from Panasonic and others about HDR during NAB Show 2018…. https://www.facebook.com/panasonicpr...6597195267922/
Best line, paraphrasing here – ‘SDR is like looking out a dirty window compared to HDR’.

[Geoff D]

The manual for the 420 suggests that the optimising functions on that model will look to the static metadata, so while the 820 comes with DV and HDR10+ somehow I don't think it'll use the dynamic metadata of that content.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

We're poised for another big year targeting the discerning UHD/HDR BD and streaming enthusiasts.

Happy to report that Panasonic will be launching Worldwide (USA included) the highly anticipated UB820 and UB9000 UHD/HDR BD players.

For USA folks we'll begin to see the UB820 sometime in July and the UB9000 by October, 2018 or hopefully sooner. The EU and some Asian countries might be slightly earlier.

Now for the first time, users can adjust the tone mapping to your specific displays luminance capacity for the ultimate control of the entire tonal range for all HDR formats and content. This includes streaming content through the built-in Smart apps for those with projectors, monitors or anyone who wants to have control of the luminance tone mapping and "Hollywood Cinema Experience", HCX video processing. Panasonic created and mastered HCX video processing over the years with Panasonic's Hollywood Laboratory.

The UB9000 adds the best possible audio experiences with dedicated DACs and 7.1 analog audio outputs as well as support for all Hi-Res audio formats.

We built dedicated pages for the UB820 and UB9000 with more technical specs and general information.

Any word on if Panasonic improved the 480i DVD upconversion/deinterlacing of the UB900? That seemed to be its primary weak point. Granted this is a UHD player but still have quite a few DVDs...

I have a feeling once people see the HDR optimizer of these players in action they are going to have a tough time going back to any other 4k players.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by Ruined

I have a feeling once people see the HDR optimizer of these players in action they are going to have a tough time going back to any other 4k players.

So good is the HDR optimizer used on Panasonic players compared to a mid level Samsung 49" set built in HDR tone mapping? What differencies would I see?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by eddievanhalen

So good is the HDR optimizer used on Panasonic players compared to a mid level Samsung 49" set built in HDR tone mapping? What differencies would I see?

It just gives you a fine level of control over the tone mapping so you don't see an image too dim or too bright, you can adjust for optimal looking HDR. It will be more impactful especially on displays under 1000 nits.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by Ruined

It just gives you a fine level of control over the tone mapping so you don't see an image too dim or too bright, you can adjust for optimal looking HDR. It will be more impactful especially on displays under 1000 nits.

Thank you for your answer. My 49" Samsung 4K HDR set must have around 600/700 nits according to what I read on line.
Your explanation about the tone mapping done by Panasonic players sound like a customizable and hardware base Dolby Vision like, which I think is a good thing.

[Robert Zohn]

Just received our 1st 820UB. Panasonic USA received a few units for review and included me as the only retailer with a sample! Here's my very early impressions:

- Very nice all metal build quality. All connection ports are high-grade and the overall fit and finish is very good. *Note, not up to the build quality of OPPO's players, but better than most others.

- Exceptional video quality. You can see the advantages of Panasonics well respected video and chroma processing. The HCX Hollywood tuned processor renders the images from UHD/HDR BD discs beautifully.

- Lots a very cool set-up configurations, see some of my pics below, with more to come.

- Love the HDR Optimizer controls. I was able to set the UB820 up on a few TVs with varied peak luminance capacity and it's easy to dial in the best HDR value for each TV's ability.


I'll be doing more testing, including Dolby Vision HDR over HDMI for Sony X1 Extreme TVs and HDR10+ (once a disc comes out) as I get more time with this player, but for now I can tell everyone with confidence this is a very well engineered advanced UHD/HDR BD player.

We set the price at $499, double boxed and delivered Nationwide.

Here's a few pics, with more to come:









Here's our dedicated page with more detailed information.

[clevice]

ello

today I bought it at an online store in Germany

the Panasonic DP UB824EGK 4K premium BD

I do not know what the difference is from the UB820 to the UB824EGK

Anybody know ?

because in Italy, England, France, Portugal, Spain is marketed the UB820

Thank you

.

[elwaylite]

Awesome, I think I see a 9000 in my future.

[Geoff D]

The UB900 already has those options you've photographed Robert, what about the HDR remapping? Where do you set the luminance level, and is it a fixed set of values or can you put in a manual number?

BTW if this player has the same upscaling as its predecessor then set Edge Correction to +1 when watching 1080p discs upscaled into 4K.

Any signs of the 480i playback being fubar? Is the Dolby Vision already installed and does it work with Sony TVs?

[Robert Zohn]

The controls work better and have more fine adjustable values to adjust. In my post above I mentioned testing the HDMI Dolby Vision HDR with Sony X1 Extreme processor equipped TVs, but I'm heavily involved creating our 2018 TV Shootout agenda and lining up the VIP guest presenters so I can't take my focus off of this time sensitive project.

Here's a couple photos of the HDR optimizer. What it achieves is a smooth roll off of the HDR peak luminance (specular highlights) that matches your TVs peak luminance capability.

[clevice]

What is the difference between UB820 and UB824EGK

[Robert Zohn]

Not sure, ^ but think it's just the region designation that the player is sold in.

[clevice]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Not sure, ^ but think it's just the region designation that the player is sold in.

Thank you so much

a question, it is better that the Sony X-800 ???

I bought UB824 in Germany

and I'm afraid it will not work in PORTUGAL

or who does not receive updates

De PORTUGAL,

[DJR662]

Sweet!

Can't wait to try out this player with my projector.

Robert, is the option to shift subtitles still there? Also to change the brightness of subtitles during HDR?

[Robert Zohn]

The discrete subtitles button is on the top right side of the remote.

I'll check the subtitle brightness when viewing HDR content and get back here.

[stangeek]

Thanks, Robert!

I did not see a page for ordering, so are you still keeping the list of pre-orders?

[Robert Zohn]

Here's our dedicated page with more detailed information and a email link to get on our priority wait list for the 1st USA allotment.