For the person that wants a top of the line 4k player Amazon has the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K Reference Class 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player for $767!
This is the updated version and nothing much was changed, other than going from a AKM to ESS DAC but you wouldn't see a difference IMO.
Biggest complaints have been price and no SACD or DVD-audio support, that has not changed unfortunately.
It's a better player than the 820/420 and IMO biggest jump is in the AQ, just a tad more on this new version. Caveat is only really noticeable on a good setup.
This is sold by Electronics-Trade BTW
From Panasonic's website:
The Reference-class Blu Ray DVD player uses a HCX processor to optimize color, clarity, and detail in 4K/HDR formats such as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Enjoy vibrant, theater-worthy video and audio in 4K UHD Blu-ray with 4K upscaling, VOD 4K streaming, voice assist, and more. Plus, pure audio performance with analog audio circuits that include a high-performance D/A converter and XLR balance.
Enjoy your library of special-edition Blu Ray, DVDs, or streamed content with spectacular, theater-quality video and audio
HCX processor renders finely nuanced colors and rich, detailed images that film creators intended in HDR playback; supports four 4K/HDR formats: HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)
High-performance D/A converter with a balanced XLR, with dedicated audio power supply; alumite-treated aluminum chassis has high rigidity and a lower center of gravity to reduce vibration
ESS 32-bit/768kHz DAC for high-resolution processing; connect to your home theater with twin HDMI, 2 channel balanced XLR/RCA output terminal, 7.1 channel, optical and coaxial audio
Control the DP-UB9000 easily using just your voice, with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (sold separately)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W4JM24G
13 Comments
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This isn't the player you expect it to be. This is a top of the line with DACS for people who have high end audio gear. This isn't something for people who just use sound bars on their living rooms.
I was really seriously considering it if I wasn't in the middle of adding and or replacing room treatments!
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I was really seriously considering it if I wasn't in the middle of adding and or replacing room treatments!
Buy now think later would be the best action to take next time
Besides room treatments will make a WAY bigger improvement in sound than this!
If it was $500 I would have followed that advice in a heart beat! 😜
Besides room treatments will make a WAY bigger improvement in sound than this!
If it was $500 I would have followed that advice in a heart beat!
That said, whether the UB9000 (at it's sale price) is perhaps a personal preference (based on which features matter most and what they are worth), as well as whether the better build quality and components.
I had ordered the UB820 on sale a few days ago because it was so much less than the UB9000, but thought it through (before opening the box) and could personally just not get over the cheap build quality for the price paid and returned it unopened today (got it yesterday).
I liked the HDR Optimizer and auto Dolby Vision detection, but for ~$423 on sale ($448 sale price - $25 Amazon coupon) + tax (not factoring in 5% Discover cashback) I felt it should have better build quality.
My three Sony UBP-X800M2 players - two of them $200 brand new on sale and one $180 before they raised prices) are far more solid and also heavier. Even now they are $250 new on sale and the UB820 is $448 or so (the $25 coupon I got is not something I would count).
For $198 more than the UBP-X800M2, the UB820 should have better build quality, but it is worse.
I returned the UB820 (still unopened) after 1 day and bought a second UB9000 when i found a deal for a "Gold 10/10" condition open box 'clearance' UB9000 with full warranty from a major A/V store for $799 as a backup.
My first UB9000 was a great Woot deal on sale for a brand new one before the $100 price increases a year or two ago). I knew it was heavy, but when I got it and lifted it I realized just how much heavier it is than other BD players.
Since Blu Rays will no longer be sold by Best Buy after this holiday season and many manufacturers already stopped producing Blu Ray players a few years ago, I decided to splurge on a second UB9000 (hopefully last me forever).
The UB9000 has more differences than reviews tell you (i.e. in addition to the much better build quality and components, projector benefit (not a factor for me) and 7.1 channel analog audio capability (definitely a plus for many of us), it apparently also has a different drive and is reportedly better at reading discs than the UB820 (even though the UB820 is fine and arguably better than the X800M2 at reading discs, although I never had an issue with my 3 Sony UBP-X800M2 players.
The UB820 weighs only 5.3 lbs whereas the UB9000 weighs 17.2 lbs!
The UBP-X800M2 weighs 8 lbs (not bad considering it is $250 on sale, vs $440 for the UB820).
If the UB820 had better build quality, I would have kept it.
Since new BD player models seem to only be getting introduced by high end firms (e.g. Reavon and Magnetar), both of which cost far more than the already not insignificant price ($799) I paid for each of my two UB9000 players, I am just worried about long term longevity, so rather pay the extra $374 for a UB9000 (vs. a less extensive UB820) before these are discontinued and become even harder to get (aside from resorting to the used market).
If players were going to keep being introduced and produced, I would have given the U820 a shot or not bought anything new right now and waited for my original (first) UB9000 and / or any of UBP-X800M2 players to die before spending more on another player now.
tldr = The UB820 is a great player.
Personally for the price ($500 before discounts / when not on sale, $440 on sale currently at Amazon it not expired), like many people note, it should have better build quality - it has a completely plastic front and is low weight.
I do not want it to die after 3 or 4 years for the $423 I had paid (before returning it).
The '$330 when not on sale and currently $250 everywhere' UBP-X800M2 weighs 60% more than the UB820!
The pictures of the UB820 internals vs. UB9000 internals made my mind up, along with other facts, such as its much more solid disc tray mechanism.
The UB9000's better disc reading is a nice bonus but not a major factor frankly, given the UB820 is already known for reading a variety of discs really well (including 100GB BDs.
See the comparison photos here:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpos...count
Full discussion thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthr...p?t=3
So I think, like anything, whether to buy the UB820 or UB9000 is not so black and white and depends on one's needs etc.
It's a somewhat personal preference.
For me the $380 difference was worth it (already having one UB9000 made it easier), not that it was easy since $799 I paid for each of my UB9000 players is obviously a decent amount.
It was also easier for me (after thinking about it a lot) given that the $799 (great deal) I paid is $400 less than MSRP and $300 less than it usually is when on sale.
I figure it is a long term investment and will save elsewhere.
That said, whether the UB9000 (at it's sale price) is perhaps a personal preference (based on which features matter most and what they are worth), as well as whether the better build quality and components.
I had ordered the UB820 on sale a few days ago because it was so much less than the UB9000, but thought it through (before opening the box) and could personally just not get over the cheap build quality for the price paid and returned it unopened today (got it yesterday).
I liked the HDR Optimizer and auto Dolby Vision detection, but for ~$423 on sale ($448 sale price - $25 Amazon coupon) + tax (not factoring in 5% Discover cashback) I felt it should have better build quality.
My three Sony UBP-X800M2 players - two of them $200 brand new on sale and one $180 before they raised prices) are far more solid and also heavier. Even now they are $250 new on sale and the UB820 is $448 or so (the $25 coupon I got is not something I would count).
For $198 more than the UBP-X800M2, the UB820 should have better build quality, but it is worse.
I returned the UB820 (still unopened) after 1 day and bought a second UB9000 when i found a deal for a "Gold 10/10" condition open box 'clearance' UB9000 with full warranty from a major A/V store for $799 as a backup.
My first UB9000 was a great Woot deal on sale for a brand new one before the $100 price increases a year or two ago). I knew it was heavy, but when I got it and lifted it I realized just how much heavier it is than other BD players.
Since Blu Rays will no longer be sold by Best Buy after this holiday season and many manufacturers already stopped producing Blu Ray players a few years ago, I decided to splurge on a second UB9000 (hopefully last me forever).
The UB9000 has more differences than reviews tell you (i.e. in addition to the much better build quality and components, projector benefit (not a factor for me) and 7.1 channel analog audio capability (definitely a plus for many of us), it apparently also has a different drive and is reportedly better at reading discs than the UB820 (even though the UB820 is fine and arguably better than the X800M2 at reading discs, although I never had an issue with my 3 Sony UBP-X800M2 players.
The UB820 weighs only 5.3 lbs whereas the UB9000 weighs 17.2 lbs!
The UBP-X800M2 weighs 8 lbs (not bad considering it is $250 on sale, vs $440 for the UB820).
If the UB820 had better build quality, I would have kept it.
Since new BD player models seem to only be getting introduced by high end firms (e.g. Reavon and Magnetar), both of which cost far more than the already not insignificant price ($799) I paid for each of my two UB9000 players, I am just worried about long term longevity, so rather pay the extra $374 for a UB9000 (vs. a less extensive UB820) before these are discontinued and become even harder to get (aside from resorting to the used market).
If players were going to keep being introduced and produced, I would have given the U820 a shot or not bought anything new right now and waited for my original (first) UB9000 and / or any of UBP-X800M2 players to die before spending more on another player now.
tldr = The UB820 is a great player.
Personally for the price ($500 before discounts / when not on sale, $440 on sale currently at Amazon it not expired), like many people note, it should have better build quality - it has a completely plastic front and is low weight.
I do not want it to die after 3 or 4 years for the $423 I had paid (before returning it).
The '$330 when not on sale and currently $250 everywhere' UBP-X800M2 weighs 60% more than the UB820!
The pictures of the UB820 internals vs. UB9000 internals made my mind up, along with other facts, such as its much more solid disc tray mechanism.
The UB9000's better disc reading is a nice bonus but not a major factor frankly, given the UB820 is already known for reading a variety of discs really well (including 100GB BDs.
See the comparison photos here:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpos...count
Full discussion thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthr...p?t=3
So I think, like anything, whether to buy the UB820 or UB9000 is not so black and white and depends on one's needs etc.
It's a somewhat personal preference.
For me the $380 difference was worth it (already having one UB9000 made it easier), not that it was easy since $799 I paid for each of my UB9000 players is obviously a decent amount.
It was also easier for me (after thinking about it a lot) given that the $799 (great deal) I paid is $400 less than MSRP and $300 less than it usually is when on sale.
I figure it is a long term investment and will save elsewhere.
Weight seems to be important to you, for me not that much.
From personal comparison of the 9000,820,420 within my setup the performance difference was not big at all.
The 9000 was overall better and agree built better but for me the 9000 didn't add much of anything for the big jump in price. TBH the audio was the biggest difference but not for the price difference.
As a matter of fact the 420's only difference vs the 820 was DV and often the performance was pretty minor.
The 420 when on sale is a steal imo.
All three do share the HCX processor and Optimizer so not a big surprise.
I bought the 820 new for $375.
I've ran into the 820 as open box at BB for around $350 maybe 3 times and still could not justify it to replace my 420.
I've had both for over 2 years without any issues.
This is a nice player but even in my good setup I just can't justify the cost even at this price, which was great!