Panasonic DP-UB9000 UHD Player Review

[Chrise36]

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

Is that really on par (video wise)?

Only panasonic have the two models with video optimiser chip.

 

[Orion76]

Just because the Panasonic line can be a bit confusing-
420 has HDR Optimizer but no Dolby Vision.
450 has Dolby Vision but no HDR Optimizer.
820 has both.
9000 has all the features of the 820, ups the build quality- it weighs 20 pounds- and adds the fancy two channel DAC reviewed here. The video and audio circuits have separate power supplies, for what that's worth.
Will add a pic of the internals on the 900 vs 820

 

[BJL]

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

Is that really on par (video wise)?

The X800M2 supports Dolby Vision & HDR 10. It can be set to upscale SDR and 1080p to output 4K. Or it can be set to send the native resolution of your source to the TV for upscaling. Or it can be set to upscale DVD to 1080p and send that to the TV for upscaling to 4K.

If you have a recent model TV, it will most likely upscale better than either the Sony or Panasonic, which are years old designs.

And it supports both DVD-Audio and SACD. A much better value than the Panasonic 9000, unless you need the analog audio output. As far as build quality is concerned, the X800M2 has an internal metal frame, a metal outer case, with a plastic fascia and side trim. It is quite solid, unless you prefer to pay hundreds for an aluminum face plate.

 

[MacCali]

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

What do you use the Reavon for? SACDs?

Honestly I just bought it cause I wanted a reavon. The SACD was a plus, but I got it for resale value if i chose to sell it in the future. But I purchased a bunch of 4K’s from Europe and I know I can remove the region lock but it worked straight up on the reavon.

Also was not going to pay those foolish oppo prices.

I’ve been wanting to get a nas setup and run a plex server with a zidoo. But haven’t built up the courage to dish out that kind of money. Been on an audio pause since July of 24, I spent way too much money on audio

 

[MacCali]

Just because the Panasonic line can be a bit confusing-
420 has HDR Optimizer but no Dolby Vision.
450 has Dolby Vision but no HDR Optimizer.
820 has both.
9000 has all the features of the 820, ups the build quality- it weighs 20 pounds- and adds the fancy two channel DAC reviewed here. The video and audio circuits have separate power supplies, for what that's worth.
Will add a pic of the internals on the 900 vs 820

We still have yet to test the ess performance, right? Sorry been a cool minute I’ve been away and I know the dac did change.

 

[funkera91]

Dear all, after one month correspondation with Panasonic team, finally they gave me info about the DAC which they use:

"DAC: An ESS DAC is used for current production DP-UB9000EB1, on the other hand an AKM DAC is used for DP-UB9000EB."
I hope that I helped a bit!

 

[MacCali]

Dear all, after one month correspondation with Panasonic team, finally they gave me info about the DAC which they use:

"DAC: An ESS DAC is used for current production DP-UB9000EB1, on the other hand an AKM DAC is used for DP-UB9000EB."
I hope that I helped a bit!

Our previous confirmation, on this review thread, is you can tell by serial number. Not sure if they reintroduced AKM back into production models or not. Which would make what you said easier to identify, otherwise we have models before this serial with AKM and ESS with serials above this serial.

Personally, buying a used one would be worth it. I paid 900 for mine new and still returned. Could not justify the purchase by any means

I was going to send my reavon in to Amir but there’s only digital outputs.

 

[mike7877]

Honestly I just bought it cause I wanted a reavon. The SACD was a plus, but I got it for resale value if i chose to sell it in the future. But I purchased a bunch of 4K’s from Europe and I know I can remove the region lock but it worked straight up on the reavon.

Also was not going to pay those foolish oppo prices.

I’ve been wanting to get a nas setup and run a plex server with a zidoo. But haven’t built up the courage to dish out that kind of money. Been on an audio pause since July of 24, I spent way too much money on audio

That'd be a nice setup! Don't think about the cost if that's all that's stopping you - if you're going to buy it anyway, it'll cost the same in the end - you're just delaying the inevitable! xD

You can buy the Zidoo and use an old laptop and a couple USB drives for storage in the mean time


I didn't know much about the Reavon - I thought it cost about as much as Oppo.. looks like they were a good value

 

[MacCali]

That'd be a nice setup! Don't think about the cost if that's all that's stopping you - if you're going to buy it anyway, it'll cost the same in the end - you're just delaying the inevitable! xD

You can buy the Zidoo and use an old laptop and a couple USB drives for storage in the mean time


I didn't know much about the Reavon - I thought it cost about as much as Oppo.. looks like they were a good value

Not sure if anyone has measured the 200 model. But personally I think that’s what drove down the price of oppo 203 and 205. Those things were foolishly priced.

Honestly my only delay on purchase is being so busy with life and work. The pandemic opened the floodgates of personal time. Movies and music nearly all day. Unfortunately that’s washed away and now I barely get two hours of stereo or headphones time weekly.

Zidoo was merely for the lazy slob convenience factor for me personally, and I mostly only have movies. In addition my library is not that huge, so simply locating and inserting a disc into the player shouldn’t be a painstaking burden

 

[David_M]

I wished it did so I could retire my OPPO UHD-205

I know this is an old post, but why would you want to retire the 205?

 

[Descartes]

I know this is an old post, but why would you want to retire the 205?

I misspoke I will use the 205 until the wheels come off

 

[David_M]

I misspoke I will use the 205 until the wheels come off

I have mine ... still brand new in box ... only opened it once when I wanted to update it to the latest firmware the day they announced their shutdown and re-boxed it. It's just been sitting pretty in my small college room, since I don't have space for an HT system ofcourse. After graduation and being more financially liquid, I hope to move into a larger space and get a proper system. I hope there's no damage to an electro-optical system that's been sitting idle for years.

 

[delta76]

I have mine ... still brand new in box ... only opened it once when I wanted to update it to the latest firmware the day they announced their shutdown and re-boxed it. It's just been sitting pretty in my small college room, since I don't have space for an HT system ofcourse. After graduation and being more financially liquid, I hope to move into a larger space and get a proper system. I hope there's no damage to an electro-optical system that's been sitting idle for years.

you probably get some profit selling them off actually.
Unless if you want to use the DAC, feeding signal digitally to a DAC will be cheaper and more flex

 

[David_M]

you probably get some profit selling them off actually.
Unless if you want to use the DAC, feeding signal digitally to a DAC will be cheaper and more flex

I get your point and almost came close to selling it several times to make ends meet, but I couldn't get myself to do it. This is my endgame BD player as I scrumbled money to buy it at its $1,500(?) initial price. I believe the era of high-quality BR players with super audio is coming back. So-called high-quality 4K streams can't compare with the audio and video quality from BR players.

 

[delta76]

I get your point and almost came close to selling it several times to make ends meet, but I couldn't get myself to do it. This is my endgame BD player as I scrumbled money to buy it at its $1,500(?) initial price. I believe the era of high-quality BR players with super audio is coming back. So-called high-quality 4K streams can't compare with the audio and video quality from BR players.

Yes you can keep playing Bluray, I do too. But here are two things to consider:
- You can buy UB9000 for cheaper, with warranty, and play just as good. Even cheaper if you don't need the premium feel (UB820)
- You can rip your bluray then put them away. store all the movies in your NAS for convenience while not missing any quality

Just a thought . Of course if you want to keep you Oppo, I can understand. Owning a premium device that is rare in the wild is a feeling usually underrated

 

[David_M]

This ...

Yes you can keep playing Bluray, I do too. But here are two things to consider:
- You can buy UB9000 for cheaper, with warranty, and play just as good. Even cheaper if you don't need the premium feel (UB820)
- You can rip your bluray then put them away. store all the movies in your NAS for convenience while not missing any quality

Just a thought . Of course if you want to keep you Oppo, I can understand. Owning a premium device that is rare in the wild is a feeling usually underrated

 

[formdissolve]

I get your point and almost came close to selling it several times to make ends meet, but I couldn't get myself to do it. This is my endgame BD player as I scrumbled money to buy it at its $1,500(?) initial price. I believe the era of high-quality BR players with super audio is coming back. So-called high-quality 4K streams can't compare with the audio and video quality from BR players.

Not to be a wet blanket.. but is that even getting firmware updates anymore? Last one I see is 2019. I know some people were saying they were having issues with some newer 4K discs the last few years, so was just curious. I had a line on a really good condition example for cheap-ish, but passed on it and got the Panasonic instead because it is still getting support.

 

[David_M]

Not to be a wet blanket.. but is that even getting firmware updates anymore? Last one I see is 2019. I know some people were saying they were having issues with some newer 4K discs the last few years, so was just curious. I had a line on a really good condition example for cheap-ish, but passed on it and got the Panasonic instead because it is still getting support.

What's changed about the new 4K discs?

 

[formdissolve]

What's changed about the new 4K discs?

The main thing that changes is authentication keys for encryption. I know there are other reasons like authoring and functionality, but encryption is the main reason players get firmware updates these days.

4K UHD discs debuted just about 10 years ago (Blu-Ray will be 20, and DVD will be 30!), so firmware from 2019 will soon be 6-7 years out of date. I know my old Sony X800 (original with no Dolby Vision) has had a bit of trouble with some modern discs, so I just use my Panasonic since it has newer firmware (among other reasons). I'm not saying the Oppo will for sure have issues playing discs, but I have seen posts on Reddit and other AV forums with people saying they have had issues with discs.

Just something to think about as more companies exit the 4K player market.

 

[delta76]

What's changed about the new 4K discs?

it depends, there are new updated content protection standards. This is very strict on consoles like PS5 (you have to update your PS5 version to play certain games, to avoid jailbreak). In theory there might be 4k discs that refuse to play on player that do not have up-to-date standard, but that would be rare.