Panasonic launches new UHD/HDR BD player, DMP-UB200

[Robert Zohn]

Panasonic chose Value Electronics as the launch partner for the new DMP-UB200 UHD BD player/UHD Smart streaming device. The new UB200 also features Hi Res audio decoding, Wi Fi and hard wire port, exceptional chroma processing, USB port, and excellent design and build quality.

Panasonic aggressively priced the DMP-UB200 @ $249 to make this premium 4K BD player a compelling offering to the very active UHD BD market.

[PaulGo]

How does this player differ from the 900?

[Geoff D]

The high res audio and chroma processing stuff already sounds very, very familiar to the UB900, as we've been recently discussing in that thread. Sounds like the same (if not slightly better) chip as what's in the 900 so this will be a bargain of gargantuan proportions assuming you don't need/want Dolby Vision. Looks virtually identical to the Euro UB300 model chassis only with wifi.

[Robert Zohn]

One difference from the UB8900 is the single HDMI output on the UB200.

@Geoff, does the UK version decode Hi Res audio formats?

[zoran]

Wow only if it could beat Oppo in its own game provoding DV at 1/2 cost


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Robert Zohn]

Sorry, no Dolby Vision HDR. Panasonic's UB200 is HDR10 HDR capable.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

One difference from the UB8900 is the single HDMI output on the UB200.

@Geoff, does the UK version decode Hi Res audio formats?

There are several UK versions: the 900, the 700 (which loses the THX cert, analogue outs and the fancy remote), the 400 (midi sized deck) and the 300 (midi sized with no flip down frontage, no wifi, no second HDMI). It's the 300 which the US 200 looks identical to, with the addition of Wifi on the US model as I said.

From reading the reviews (from proper places, not asshats like What Hifi) the broad A/V performances of the players are literally identical, including HR audio, it's just those ancillary features and build quality which are slightly different. One little alteration of the slightly newer revision of the chip in the 300/400 is that they have an HLG to PQ transcoding feature which I fully expect to see on the 200.

[PaulGo]

NEW! Ultra HD Native 4K Blu-ray Player, 4K upscaling, Wi-Fi, High-Resolution Audio, Stream-in 4K from Netflix, YouTube and Amazon - DMP-UB200

Details http://shop.panasonic.com/audio-and-...DMP-UB200.html

DMP-UB200
Features

Experience 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback and upscale standard Blu-ray discs to the natural textures and depth of 4K with 4K Direct Chroma Upscaling technology

*For 4K upscaling playback, a TV with the same resolution is required.

Bring cinema-quality viewing into the home with a HCX (Hollywood Cinema Experience) processor for movies the way the directors envisioned them
Access a wider variety of 4K video on demand streaming content with pre-installed 4K apps for 4K Netflix, 4K YouTube and 4K Amazon
Connect to your home audio system for studio master quality playback from a variety of music formats and files*

*The DMP-UB200 is designed for high-resolution audio reproduction. In addition to the conventional WAV/FLAC
/MP3/AAC/WMA formats, DSD (5.6 MHz/2.8 MHz) and ALAC music files can be reproduced.

Includes built-in Wi-Fi for home networking and streaming convenience

[anthonyls]

Will there be a display on this model? It is hard to see from the picture.

[film11]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

One difference from the UB8900 is the single HDMI output on the UB200.

More than one difference (and it's a biggie) on this gimped player...no 3D support. (UHD has to be the most insecure, intimidated format ever foisted on the public.) Guess my next player will be a Sony or Oppo.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by film11

Guess my next player will be a Sony or Oppo.

Have both, Oppo UDP-203 (disc play) and Sony UBP-X800 (streaming). Use both for DLNA media play. Hope to procure a anamorphic lens and use the stretch mode in the 203 for CIH instead of zooming.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Panasonic chose Value Electronics as the launch partner for the new DMP-UB200 UHD BD player/UHD Smart streaming device. The new UB200 also features Hi Res audio decoding, Wi Fi and hard wire port, exceptional chroma processing, USB port, and excellent design and build quality.

Panasonic aggressively priced the DMP-UB200 @ $249 to make this premium 4K BD player a compelling offering to the very active UHD BD market.

Ok how does a stripped down, single HDMI output player w/fan fall under the "premium 4K BD player" category?

BTW it plays 3D per spec's.

[Geoff D]

Yeah, are we deducing no 3D simply from the initial information on the Panasonic site? They haven't even added a list of full specs yet like they usually do.

All the Panasonics have fans though, I don't see how that relates to the 'premium' tag as a negative.

[Robert Zohn]

John, thanks for the correction on Panasonic's new UB200 UHD BD player supporting 3D.

Why would a fan and single HDMI output disqualify this player as a premium product?

It's build and design quality is excellent and the UB200 employees the same highly acclaimed processing engine of the more expensive UB900. The UB200 sells for $249 and supports Hi Res audio and the Smart streaming interface works flawlessly.

[PaulGo]

If the UB200 is similar to the UB300 form the this review it seem it has a budget build quality.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pan...blu-ray-player

[Robert Zohn]

Good review. The only thing I don't agree with is the budget build quality. The chassis and cover is all metal and the overall design and build is very good.

Best of all is Panasonic's well regarded chroma processing performance.

I'll put up the .pdf spec sheet later.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Why would a fan and single HDMI output disqualify this player as a premium product?

Whilst it's not a huge issue, I'd certainly think of avoiding a single HDMI UHD player, in the UK it's about £30-50 to get the extra output.

But it's nice to see prices coming down with entry level players. The US has had great offers on the LG player (I think it's been as low as $125), we really need some limited time offers (bundles and players) over here in the UK as well.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

John, thanks for the correction on Panasonic's new UB200 UHD BD player supporting 3D.

Why would a fan and single HDMI output disqualify this player as a premium product?

It's build and design quality is excellent and the UB200 employees the same highly acclaimed processing engine of the more expensive UB900. The UB200 sells for $249 and supports Hi Res audio and the Smart streaming interface works flawlessly.

This player is a transport basically by design. How can you tell people honestly its build and design quality is premium? Have you opened it up and inspected it design?

Look at the DMP-UB900 going for $499


Here is the DMP-UB200 for $249

[PaulGo]

It also appear the UB200 has no optical or coaxial output.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

It also appear the UB200 has no optical or coaxial output.

None of the Panny UHD players do apart from the top dog 900 as pictured.