Panasonic DP-UB9000 UHD Player Review

[Chrise36]

I have just connected my UB9000 to my DAC-equipped pre-amp (Cyrus Pre-XR) and done some testing with the 'the Nordic sound' Blu-ray Disc by 2L.
The display on my pre-amp is displaying a sample rate of 48kHz... so somewhere along the way, the 192kHz stream I'm trying to output is getting downsampled.
I've tried using both optical and coaxial digital output from the UB9000.
Any tips? If the UB9000 is only able to have a max sample rate of 48kHz when playing audio, then it's just a movie disc spinner and CD transport for me really, as I have other gear for playing HQ audio files.

The dac of the Panasonic is of very high quality why would you want to bypass it?

 

[Chrise36]

Sorry for the stupid question, but is it possible to boot Blu Ray movie which I have on my HDD ?
If yes, how that happen?

Try the hdd direct to the tv or you need specific boxes and software usually

 

[TRIPLE A]

Thanks again @formdissolve - I went through the menu settings and made sure I was widening the output to 192kHz. So, I guess this is a HDCP thing for now.

 

[TRIPLE A]

The dac of the Panasonic is of very high quality why would you want to bypass it?

I will run some A-B tests to know for sure, but I'd expect my combo of 1a) digital stream in, to 1b) SOtC 200ultra streamer + SOtC sPS500 PSU + SOtC USBultra regenerator, to 1c) Cyrus Pre-XR DAC via USB, will be better than 2a) UB9000 XLR out, to 2b) Cyrus Pre-XR XLR in.

 

[sernikus]

Another question on audio output!
I have just connected my UB9000 to my DAC-equipped pre-amp (Cyrus Pre-XR) and done some testing with the 'the Nordic sound' Blu-ray Disc by 2L.
The display on my pre-amp is displaying a sample rate of 48kHz... so somewhere along the way, the 192kHz stream I'm trying to output is getting downsampled.
I've tried using both optical and coaxial digital output from the UB9000.
Any tips? If the UB9000 is only able to have a max sample rate of 48kHz when playing audio, then it's just a movie disc spinner and CD transport for me really, as I have other gear for playing HQ audio files.

Only via hdmi it is possible to get 192kHz...optical and coax max rate is just 48 kHz ... it is something related to copyrights , unfortuanately...and same to all "original" hd players , sacd players too...

 

[Jimster480]

I will run some A-B tests to know for sure, but I'd expect my combo of 1a) digital stream in, to 1b) SOtC 200ultra streamer + SOtC sPS500 PSU + SOtC USBultra regenerator, to 1c) Cyrus Pre-XR DAC via USB, will be better than 2a) UB9000 XLR out, to 2b) Cyrus Pre-XR XLR in.

I doubt it would be better. The performance of this device is basically state of the art, so there's nothing that would really perform better in a real-world sense.
Honestly, anything past 105 SINAD is totally transparent, especially because there are currently no headphones or speakers that have been tested which have performance anywhere close to this range. So 105 is a safe stopping point where you will never hear distortion no matter what. I say this because also basically any product that produces 105 or better usually also has near-perfect linearity which is something that is also required to not hear any deviation but just pure sound.

 

[TRIPLE A]

So, no audible benefits to a CD player any more expensive than the UB9000 then? OK gotcha thanks! I like your GITS SAC avatar btw.

 

[Jimster480]

So, no audible benefits for a CD player any more expensive than the UB9000 then? OK gotcha thanks! I like your GITS SAC avatar btw.

Nope! Nothing will have sonic benefits over this player.

Thanks, I've had this Avatar for 20y now... was recently looking for the file itself on my PC for another service...

 

[Chrise36]

I will run some A-B tests to know for sure, but I'd expect my combo of 1a) digital stream in, to 1b) SOtC 200ultra streamer + SOtC sPS500 PSU + SOtC USBultra regenerator, to 1c) Cyrus Pre-XR DAC via USB, will be better than 2a) UB9000 XLR out, to 2b) Cyrus Pre-XR XLR in.

Why would this complicated chain be better? Every switching psu brings more noise in the system as demonstrated by Amir when he measured the SOtm streamer. Why do you consider these devices better?

 

[Fredygump]

I just picked up the UB9000, and it is a much bigger improvement than I imagined it would be. It's the embodiment of "it just works". Previously I had thought I could use a PS5 as a blu-ray player, but using the Panasonic one time made me realize how much I dislike using the PS5. And the video quality was significantly better. Likely it was Dolby Vision giving the improvement. My Sony OLED never looked so good!

I was motivated to buy partly because I saw indications that these players are being discontinued? Panasonic announced they are making cuts, and I've come across speculation that the blu-ray players will be cut. Is that confirmed by anyone? I mean, Amazon prices are discounted, and the price has dropped a little since I ordered 1 week ago.

 

[chelgrian]

I just picked up the UB9000, and it is a much bigger improvement than I imagined it would be. It's the embodiment of "it just works". Previously I had thought I could use a PS5 as a blu-ray player, but using the Panasonic one time made me realize how much I dislike using the PS5. And the video quality was significantly better. Likely it was Dolby Vision giving the improvement. My Sony OLED never looked so good!

I was motivated to buy partly because I saw indications that these players are being discontinued? Panasonic announced they are making cuts, and I've come across speculation that the blu-ray players will be cut. Is that confirmed by anyone? I mean, Amazon prices are discounted, and the price has dropped a little since I ordered 1 week ago.

So Sony just stopped manufacturing BD-R disks.

LG entirely pulled out of the Blu-ray market last year.

Pioneer has just announced it’s stopping making computer mechanisms, it mostly pulled out of the player market years ago.

Right now both Sony and Panasonic are still producing players and pre-pressed disks are still being produced.

In terms of what Panasonic will cut it’s 10000 out of 220,000 employees it’s not known if it’s a across the board hair cut or if they will terminate specific business lines.

 

[Chrise36]

So Sony just stopped manufacturing BD-R disks.

LG entirely pulled out of the Blu-ray market last year.

Pioneer has just announced it’s stopping making computer mechanisms, it mostly pulled out of the player market years ago.

Right now both Sony and Panasonic are still producing players and pre-pressed disks are still being produced.

In terms of what Panasonic will cut it’s 10000 out of 220,000 employees it’s not known if it’s a across the board hair cut or if they will terminate specific business lines.

I guess lasers and mechanisms will become hard to find and expensive eventually

 

[guy soundy]

Is there any UHD player that is on par with the UB9000s video quality (sans Dolby Vision since I find it not be that good) BUT with SACD compability?

 

[LTig]

Is there any UHD player that is on par with the UB9000s video quality (sans Dolby Vision since I find it not be that good) BUT with SACD compability?

Sony X800mk2?

 

[MacCali]

Is there any UHD player that is on par with the UB9000s video quality (sans Dolby Vision since I find it not be that good) BUT with SACD compability?

I bought the reavon xbr 110. I will say no clue if it’s better or worse visually, but the thing I noticed which is a perk for me is the player has no region locks. I did get one of the first versions. So no region lock and SACD, double check if this is still the case if that is a perk for you. I’ve owned the 110, ub820 and 9000. I dumped the 9000 for 820 and currently use reavon on my AVR.

 

[guy soundy]

I bought the reavon xbr 110. I will say no clue if it’s better or worse visually, but the thing I noticed which is a perk for me is the player has no region locks. I did get one of the first versions. So no region lock and SACD, double check if this is still the case if that is a perk for you. I’ve owned the 110, ub820 and 9000. I dumped the 9000 for 820 and currently use reavon on my AVR.

Sounds like a decent alternative, going to check if I can find more about the video quality

Sony X800mk2?

Is that really on par (video wise)?

 

[LTig]

Is that really on par (video wise)?

It has only digital HDMI output, so picture quality is defined by the TV or beamer. Featurewise you have to check yourself.

 

[guy soundy]

It has only digital HDMI output, so picture quality is defined by the TV or beamer. Featurewise you have to check yourself.

Okay, I think I am going with the Reavon though, hope I can find a seller in Europe or my own country.

 

[mike7877]

I bought the reavon xbr 110. I will say no clue if it’s better or worse visually, but the thing I noticed which is a perk for me is the player has no region locks. I did get one of the first versions. So no region lock and SACD, double check if this is still the case if that is a perk for you. I’ve owned the 110, ub820 and 9000. I dumped the 9000 for 820 and currently use reavon on my AVR.

I like the UB820 - excellent video quality and good filters/settings for HDR.

What do you use the Reavon for? SACDs?

 

[chelgrian]

I like the UB820 - excellent video quality and good filters/settings for HDR.

What do you use the Reavon for? SACDs?

I’ve got a UB820, reasons to go for the Reavon might be:
- Nicer case
- Backlit remote
- SACD, if that is important to you
- Faster startup times

The digital side of the 9000 and the 820 are almost identical the differences are the nicer casework and a better multichannel analogue out however given it can’t play SACDs and there are even fewer DVD-As than there are SACDs the analogue out seems a pretty pointless feature to start off with.