Panasonic UB820/UB9000 w/HCX video processor & dynamic conversion adjustment

[Todd Anderson]

Just put Panasonic's UB820 on Black Friday sale, $100 off so it's now $399.99 plus a bundle deal option.

Solid player!

 

[phillihp23]

@robertzohn with the recent release of the movies Midway (37:17 39:19) and Knives Out by Lionsgate on 100GB Discs when playing in DV on the Panasonic UB820 and UB9000 the movies freeze for about 5 seconds in specific areas. This has been noted by various owners. This issue is not present when played in HDR. Some have contacted Panasonic and have merely received a send the player in. It has been replicated by various owners and the issue was not present when tested on other brand players. It seems to be a possible firmware issue with the 100GB discs. Are you able too push this issue with Panasonic?

 

[Robert Zohn]

Yes, I reported the Lionsgate Dolby Vision HDR playback instability. Hope to see a fix for this soon. However, I never use the Dolby Vision HDR layer when playing a BD or streaming as I prefer the SMPTE base layer, HDR10 with Panasonic's priority HDR Optimizer tone mapping.

 

[SRW1000]

@Robert Zohn do you have any information from Panasonic on when the latest firmware might be available to download for the 9000/820/420 models?

New units are said to be shipping with version 1.64 and version 1.66 has been available for the Chinese versions of these players for months now, but the Panasonic website still shows 1.60 as the current version for the US, which dates back to July of last year.

Thank you for any information you might be able to get from Panasonic,

Scott

 

[Robert Zohn]

Sorry I do not know when we'll see the next firmware update on the UB9000.

 

[NBPK402]

I just picked up a UB820, and was very pleased with the picture. I did not realize how old of a model this was, nor did I know DV was available that long ago.

 

[Robert Zohn]

Just wanted to give everyone an update on the UB9000P1k price increase. A little good and bad news..

First the bad news, UB9000P1k supply is limited and the price goes up at 12pm ET tonight, July 4th.

We were able to keep the price increase down to $100. It was originally thought to be a $200 increase.

BTW, the UB820 sale also ends at 12pm ET tonight so the UB820 goes back to $497.

 

[Asere]

@Robert Zohn Do you know how good the HDR Optimizer control is on the DP-UB820 and the Sony A80J? Looking at the video from HDTV TEST Vincent made it seem like the HDR optimizer could be more beneficial for LCD tv's then OLED's since they get brighter. There is a scene when he uses an OLED and the picture gets darker with the HDR optimizer ON vs brighter. Maybe I misunderstood.

 

[Robert Zohn]

I do recommend Panasonic's UB820 for all OLED TVs. In the HDMI user menu settings select the HDR options to Display Type "OLED" and then you also must enable the HDR Optimizer.

To enable the HDR Optimizer as it’s off by default. Select “enable” in the sub menu to turn on the HDR optimizer. You can exit that menu after you have selected HDR Optimizer “ON”.

 

[Asere]

I do recommend Panasonic's UB820 for all OLED TVs. In the HDMI user menu settings select the HDR options to Display Type "OLED" and then you also must enable the HDR Optimizer.

To enable the HDR Optimizer as it’s off by default. Select “enable” in the sub menu to turn on the HDR optimizer. You can exit that menu after you have selected HDR Optimizer “ON”.

Thanks Robert. I thought video calibration/settings should be done within the tv and not with within the avr or players. At least that's the old thinking. I take it is different these days correct?

 

[Todd Anderson]

Robert’s opinion may differ, but I think a lot of it comes down to what kind of processor your TV has and what kind of outboard processing you have access to.

if your TV is struggling with HDR, the 820 is a really good option, IMO!

 

[Robert Zohn]

You are both absolutely correct. Always set all of the source devices to pass through when available, and only calibrate the TV. The only exception is if you have a high-end dedicated video processor.

Panasonic's HDR Optimizer only function is to reformat the EOTF PQ curve to match your TV's or projector's peak luminance capability. We're not using the UB820 for any other processing and your TV will still take care of the Tone Mapping and all other decoding and processing.

The advantage of Panasonic's priority HDR Optimizer is so you can see the full dynamic tonal range and all of the color volume on movies that are graded at higher peak luminance than your display can manage. For example when you play a 4K HDR Blu-ray disc graded at 4,000 Nits or 10,000 Nits your TV does not know how to properly manage the highest peak luminance levels and throws our some of the peak luminance gradation and color.

Once you get your UB820 properly set-up it's easy to toggle between HDR Optimizer on and off to see the difference in the picture quality and performance.

 

[Asere]

Thank you! My only hesitation is will I use it since I stream these days. My Oppo 103D us just sitting there. The HDR Optimizer sounds very tempting though even if I watch something on the player once a month that's a plus but it has to really shine in the HDR department for me to keep it.
How does the HDR optimizer work if the content is in Dolby Vision?

 

[Robert Zohn]

You can watch all of your streaming content through Panasonic's UB820's Smart apps menu and take advantage of the HDR Optimizer for 4K HDR content.

 

[Asere]

You can watch all of your streaming content through Panasonic's UB820's Smart apps menu and take advantage of the HDR Optimizer for 4K HDR content.

I feel dumb now lol. I didn't think about that. I am so used to using the A80J Google apps I forgot I could do that and also because I havent used the Oppo. I may consider it then. Thank you!

 

[Robert Zohn]

Please try the HDR Optimizer a/b test with the 4K HDR Blu-ray disc in a dark room so you can see the image quality differences more easily.

 

[Asere]

Please try the HDR Optimizer a/b test with the 4K HDR Blu-ray disc in a dark room so you can see the image quality differences more easily.

I got the ub820 yesterday and I tried a couple of 4k discs with 1000 nits mastered and 4000 nits and with the HDR optimizer on or off I see no difference. I think most likely it is because the A80J has better tone mapping.

 

[Robert Zohn]

Love the aggressive Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale Prices for the UB9000P1k and UB820!

UB9000P1k is now $949.99 and the UB820 is $399.99 all prices include double boxed shipping!

 

[Robert Zohn]

Here's more details on Panasonic's Promotional Calendar: