Panasonic 4K Blu-Ray Player (DP-UB820-K) Review - Compared to Sony (UBPX800M2)

[@sehnzeleid]

Panasonic has always strived for image accuracy, even back with their DVD and Blu-ray models. Sony goes for a punchier image, not necessarily bad but not as refined, same applies to their DVD and Blu-ray models too.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Makes sense

[@НатальяКикоть-ж4я]

​@@ZGadgetReviewHD-DVD RD-A1 toshiba ???😊😊😊

[@ZGadgetReview]

@@НатальяКикоть-ж4я Gone too soon

[@marsh1118]

I want to thank you for the review. Especially the part that so many other videos leave out... the upscaling. Blu Ray upscaling is one thing but old school DVD upscaling is so important to me and I'm guessing for others as well. Seems like most reviewers are leaving this out. Appreciate seeing Predator on DVD.

[@ZGadgetReview]

You are welcome, yeah, I feel the same way, I still have some DVDs that I most likely won't upgrade.

[@michaelwyckoff7593]

I just got the UB420 for Black Friday on sale. I am satisfied with my purchase😊.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Woohoo Congratulations!!!

[@DrakonR]

Currently in CAD, you can get the Sony for $325 vs the Panasonic for $598. After seeing this, the difference in 4k content and DV doesn't justify nearly double the price for the Panasonic. I guess it would be different if I had a bunch of older blu-rays, but I'm buying strictly UHD discs.

[@c3bhm]

In other forums people say the problem is that Sony players pause/glitch/freeze slightly when disc-layer-changing, which can be super annoying when immersed in a movie,...also the Sony player's don't auto-select Dolby Vision, which must be manually turned on every time you watch a movie with DV. For me the micro-freeze is a total deal-breaker. A problem like that shouldn't even come to market in the first place.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Agree 100%

[@ZGadgetReview]

I personally haven't had that issue (freezing even layers change) it only happened one time on a disc. Having to turn the DV on and off is kind of annoying. But the savings on the Sony seems like a good choice.

[@TheOrderOfN]

Amazon warehouse has Panasonic for 330 usd

[@DrakonR]

@@TheOrderOfN your 3 months too late and Amazon warehouse deals are Russian roulette.

[@Dellerss]

I really wish that I bought one last Black Friday. The Norwegian currency is dropping so fast now that instead of discounts every once in a while we just get price increases on products like this every couple of months. I'm still getting one somewhere down the line, though. Seems like a great product.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Wow sorry to hear that.

[@ayemjhenzi]

I’ve been looking for a review! Im in my 20’s now enjoying classic films and would want to collect dvds. Not a lot of tech reviewers cover this kind of tech. I am so happy I found this!! Thinking if I should get this or the Sony, thank you for the video!

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you, I'm glad you find it useful. There are differences between both players. To me the Panasonic has more features, the picture output is slightly better and it automatically switches between Dolby Vision and HDR (on 4k discs) the Sony one does not do that, you have to change it manually each time.

[@johnnieboy66]

Great breakdown! I have a question, or questions :) So, the "Chroma Upscaling" feature, how do you use that and could you explain it please? Recommended settings for video you feel are best or overall good for most Blu rays and 4K disks? All in all, if you could either answer those questions here or do a video on them, I'm sure it would help us lot who actually have the Panasonic. I have the 9000, so I would LOVE to see you do a vid or at least address my questions. Thank you so much for your hard work 💪

[@JerryBlazer-j8v]

i want to buy a panasonic streaming 4k blu ray player with dolby vision and hdr10+ ultra hd premium video playback, hi-res audio, voice assist - dp-ub820-k (black) now the question is. I have some DVD-R AND DVD+R that have mp4 movies burned on to them disc and that's why I'm asking if this unit will play them?

[@ZGadgetReview]

I see, That I don't know and sadly I don't have anything like that to test it with.

[@patriot1028]

Theres an open box sale at Best Buy for this exact blue ray player right by me for about $250. Im thinking about picking it up, thanks for the review.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Great purchase

[@johnleone1996]

You talking about the 820?

[@ZGadgetReview]

Most likely

[@patriot1028]

Never bought it, I stuck with my PS5 and streaming services 😂

[@ZGadgetReview]

@@patriot1028 😂

[@Brickhouse917]

This is going to be a dumb question, but is it worth getting this if I already have a PS5/Xbox Series X? Will the overall experience for 4k and upscaling on BD and DVD be worth it for a standalone?

[@GetOutSmore]

If your tv supports Dolby Vision, this would give you that which no console supports.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Not a dumb question. To me a standalone player will do a better job than the gaming consoles. It really depends on what kind of viewer you are. What I mean by that, is that if you can notice when a picture is too bright or the colors are over saturated, then a standalone player will make a difference to you.

[@ZGadgetReview]

@@GetOutSmore True

[@Brickhouse917]

Thank you!@@ZGadgetReview

[@AsianMovies247]

Hi.. If you play DVD disc. Does it also come out high quality else well ?

[@ZGadgetReview]

The player will upscale the DVD, so it looks better on your TV

[@cdscf]

Hello! Is this player Regional Free for DVDs and Blu-ray discs? Thank you.

[@ZGadgetReview]

UHD discs are not region coded, when it comes to Blu Ray those are region coded. I don't think the player is region free

[@Wildmutationblu]

Great review. I ordered my Panasonic player today as an upgrade to my LG 4k player.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you. Enjoy your player.

[@jorgmark]

Hello my friend, was worth the update? I have a Samsung and I want to replace it with this panasonic 820 player.

[@ZGadgetReview]

@@jorgmark To me it was, for the Dolby Vision auto detection alone. I don't have to worry about changing the type of HDR manually, picture wise not a huge different between Sony and Panasonic, but I do like all the extra features it has, to get the picture just the way I want it.

[@jorgmark]

@ZGadgetReview thanks for your answer brother.

[@ZGadgetReview]

👍

[@ANUBIS209]

I own a Sony XBR85X900H 4KTV Im a little confused what setting should I select for the HDR TV Type setting since its not an OLED its full array LED backlight.

[@ZGadgetReview]

For that TV you should choose, middle or high luminance LCD. It's based on the brightness output of the TV. Good TV choice.

[@thecovesf]

Thanks for this review. I recently bought a QD-OLED and have been blown away by the picture, specifically streaming content using Dolby Vision. But I now need to upgrade my Samsung 4K player since Samsung doesnt (refuses?) to incorporate DV. I’m torn between the Panasonic and the Sony players. Its nice to see an updated review since many videos were from over well over a year ago. I’m leaning towards the Panasonic because it auto detects DV and HDR content. But going to shop around for a good price.

[@ZGadgetReview]

If you have a Samsung TV, the player still won't give you DV since the TV has to have the DV capability. The DV auto detection helps so much, I don't have to go look for the type of HDR the disc supports anymore.

[@thecovesf]

@@ZGadgetReview Trust me, I know. I did my research. I didnt get a Samsung TV for that reason….among others.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Good to hear 👍

[@higguana851972]

@@thecovesf you stated that you had recently bought a QD- Oled which is a Samsung tv,is that correct because if that’s the case what ever 4k player you buy you won’t get Dolby Vision because Samsungs tv doesn’t accept it.😊

[@thecovesf]

@@higguana851972 check my other reply above. I specifically did not buy a Samsung because they dont do Dolby Vision.

[@This.is.louie.]

Hey! When using the DP-UB820-K or the UBPX800M2 to watch 4K UHD bluray does the disk drive gets loud? I'm using a Xbox Series X and when watching 4K UHD bluray the disk drive gets extremely loud...

[@ZGadgetReview]

No, the disc drive is very quiet.

[@siriuset]

Does the Panasonic convert DTS to Dolby Digital 5.1 on the fly? Thinking of getting one for my C1/Sonos setup.

[@ZGadgetReview]

It'll switch to the best available sound format.

[@Spydrco]

Will this player be a good fit for the Sony A80J?

[@ZGadgetReview]

Yeah, it should work without issues.

[@Javier.Ortega]

For me the sole decision on going with the Panasonic over the Sony is the latter issues with the skipping and freezing on some discs. I currently have the SonyX700, way cheaper and great image but also annoying with said issues.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Hopefully the Panasonic is working better for you

[@junkmail5283]

Thank you for this, perfect video for Cyber Monday choices.

[@ZGadgetReview]

You are welcome

[@jbrei713]

I bought this player back in April of this year panasonic player is absolutely amazing 4k discs look fantastic and regular Blu Ray discs look good too I'm using it on my samsung oled TV it looks great even without dv it looks outstanding...

[@ZGadgetReview]

I agree, it is a great Bray player.

[@egm4305]

Which player? Sony or Panasonic?

[@jbrei713]

Panasonic best buy has it 150.00 off for 349.00 heck of a buy...

[@Geerladenlad]

Will this play All region discs I mean is this player region free?

[@ZGadgetReview]

4K blu rays are region free.@@Geerladenlad

[@bobbubevski2719]

Excellent REAL world comparison , thank you

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you

[@DigitalDawg]

Thanks for what you put into this video. You need to record / edit with more volume.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you for the feedback

[@kidflash209]

Do they make black and white movies look good

[@ZGadgetReview]

I have not watched any b&w movies, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

[@Vokon]

would this player work anywhere? Like lets say i bought the UK Model. Would it work in the Middle East?

[@ZGadgetReview]

I'm assuming it would.

[@Vokon]

@@ZGadgetReview Awesome! I wanted to ask. Have you experienced any artifacts with the UB820 when watching a specific Scene in a movie?

[@Epicdog1115]

Do you know if this supports Dolby atmos because of website I can’t find anywhere?

[@ZGadgetReview]

It does via soundbar or AV receiver.

[@Дмитрий-х1у3ф]

Does it support BDXL discs such as 100GB and 128GB ? And how plays custom BD-R ?

[@ZGadgetReview]

I don't know, but I'm sure that it would... since it's based on how it was formated.

[@majicogarcia8417]

Great comparison and review.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you

[@jkelley2091]

I will not argue about 820 is better picture but you have the settings wrong on the sony it should be set to 444 color and BT 2020 color you have it on 422 and 709 color NOT A FAIR COMPARISION

[@ZGadgetReview]

I will retest.

[@peterpiper5064]

What about the noise made by each player? I had to get the original Sony 800 because everything else sounded like a jet engine and ruined late night viewing at low volume...

[@ZGadgetReview]

the player is very quiet.

[@peterpiper5064]

@@ZGadgetReview Quieter than the Sony? Did you listen to both with no audio playing?

[@secondmindfilms7962]

Is it really worth paying double the price for the Panasonic over the Sony?

[@ZGadgetReview]

For me yes, on the Panasonic the image is better and I really like that it changes between Dolby Vision and HDR automatically so I know that the disc is playing correctly, it also has more picture settings that are missing on the Sony. But of course if those things don't matter to you, the sony would be a good option, the image that Sony outputs is good too.

[@tiddlesraven1111]

does both of these players decode dolby atmos ? or is it dolby true HD ? because i heard they can't

[@ZGadgetReview]

Both players do decode Dolby Atmos, when they are plugged into an AV receiver, or soundbar that supports that sound profile. I am editing the original reply because I realized that it might be confusing.

[@TrollMeister_]

Do both. Not does both.

[@TheOGRizzlers]

Actually streaming netflix, amazon prime and youtube 4k videos look better than watching it on any other device. Question have you tried streaming??? I suggest you try it and let us know what you. Question, what device do you use stream 4k videos?

[@ZGadgetReview]

I have not used the blu ray player to stream content. I use my LG TV, phone and Amazon fire TV to stream content.

[@mustafahussain3972]

Excellent video... exactly what i was looking for

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you

[@alexsuarez8567]

Will this work with my sonos arc an sub for dolby atmos????

[@ZGadgetReview]

It should

[@ENGBriseB]

Does the Panasonic have better audio quality than the Sony 800 M2

[@ZGadgetReview]

I would say that they are about the same.

[@faraon2012]

Not true, panasonic audio quality is suck. 😮 I tried both DVD player and Sony dolby atmos is amazing. 🎉

[@mickyalexandru6894]

Very good and useful comparison .

[@ZGadgetReview]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Omar_Marquez]

Do you think I should get the DP-UB820-K 4k Blu-ray player or the Sony - UBP-X700/M 4k Blu-ray player?

[@ZGadgetReview]

I'm personally very happy with the Panasonic. The image is slightly better and to be the best part is that the player will detect the difference between Dolby vision and HDR 10 and pick the right format. The Sony is not a bad player, but you manually have to choose Dolby vision when watching Dolby vision and that can get a little annoying.

[@Spydrco]

Appreciate this video! Very concise

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you

[@Geerladenlad]

Is this player play discs from around the world is it region free player?

[@ZGadgetReview]

regular blu rays are region locked. I'm assuming the player will work depending on your region 4k blu rays are region free.

[@minhajul8562]

Hi will this 4K player support Dolby Atmos 4K films because most 4K physical films states DTS-HD and Dolby Vision? I’m hoping you really help me thanks.

[@joeblack8915]

I have one of these, and it supports Dolby Atmos when the disc features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and is attached to a Dolby Atmos Soundbar/sound system. Just make sure the audio setup of the disc is set to Dolby Atmos, as I've found that the discs can sometimes default to 5.1 DTS, etc.

[@minhajul8562]

Wow thank you so much for the advice, you’ve been helpful.

[@minhajul8562]

I have 2 more question and I’m hoping you can help and all. How is it exactly do I connect the Panasonic UB9000 4K blu ray player to my Soundbar like how do I hook it up? I’ve opted for the Samsung HW- Q930C /XU 9.1.4 and are both player and the choice of Sound-bar I’ve gone for are good option? Is 9.1 okay should I still go 7.1? The one I have have mentions 17 speakers, Dolby Atmos, audio powers 656, wireless subwoofer and rear speakers, adaptive / adaptamised audio, and supports high resolution audio with 4K pass through. Is everything okay? Apologies I’m just not tech expert hope you can help. Thanks

[@minhajul8562]

I just want to enjoy and get the best best out of my blu ray and Ultra HD blu ray physical media as I’m a film person. I want that home theatres / cinema surround sound. Will my set up be fine for me to immersed?

[@ZGadgetReview]

It'll play Dolby atmos out an AV receiver or soundbar.

[@TheWanderingPrince]

It does not say that it supports Dolby Atmos anywhere. Only Dolby vision.

[@ZGadgetReview]

I supports Dolby Atmos when plugged to an AV receiver.

[@rickven3579]

Thnxs for the vid :) I’m a SONY fan since i was 12 or 13. Have a lot old ‘80 and ‘90s ES stuff and still working like new. Ha a Sony DVD recorder from 1999 and still 100% working. My old 2014 Curved Sony 65” tv still working , i go with Sony. The Panasonic refuse to accept mp4 mov or a extern usb whatsoever. I hope the Sony X800MKII works fine and wont freece the video image because a software fault.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found something that works for you, fingers crossed the Sony player doesn't have any of the issues you've encountered.

[@hcastillo1986]

If I enable dolby vision feature on sony x800m2 then my bluray discs will be converted to dv. i use this feature for my 1080p blurays and disable it for my 4ks bluray( because i do prefer hdr over dv in that specific case ). Does anybody know if I can do the same thing on panasonic 820? Thanks!

[@ZGadgetReview]

I don't think so. Panasonic detects automatically if it the disc is DV or HDR when it is set to on.

[@DroidLocks6971]

.... I Just Watched THE ABYSS On 4K BluRay And Then Looked At THE 4K Of THE ABYSS On Amazon Prime Video .... The 4K BluRay Destroyed The 4K Copy On Amazon Prime ....

[@ZGadgetReview]

That's great to hear. I recently ordered the abyss in 4K disc, waiting for its arrival. I'm looking forward to enjoying it. Thank you for the info

[@DroidLocks6971]

@ZGadgetReview ....I only had DVD Of THE ABYSS and Man The 4K Looks And Sound So Much Better ....

[@ZGadgetReview]

Great!

[@zapdosmtr4961]

Definitely due for upgrade from my Walmart Sanyo $k player but my budget is tight at the moment. IM thinking about getting Klipsch The Fives for my next accessory

[@ZGadgetReview]

That looks like a nice set.

[@xShadowBlitz117]

You can't go wrong with the fives, I got them last year and they sound great once you update them and adjust the EQ

[@ZGadgetReview]

Good to know

[@youtuberyoutuber2495]

I bought my first two ever blu-ray players last year (late I know since they came out in the mid 2000s). But I am concerned if I hook them up to the internet they can get viruses or even hacked. Is it possible that can happen?

[@ZGadgetReview]

No, connecting it to the Internet updates the player firmware. So you don't have any issues playing discs and it can improve picture quality.

[@VinylPro]

how it is about the play different video formats from USB ?

[@ZGadgetReview]

I haven't tested it with a USB stick. I don't really have media stored. Bu I will try t and let you know.

[@VinylPro]

@@ZGadgetReview yes, pliz try it...

[@jhors7777]

Thank you for posting this helpful video

[@ZGadgetReview]

thank you for the comment.

[@Petric2016]

Dolby Atmos?

[@ZGadgetReview]

It does support it when connected to a sound bar or an AV receiver

[@TrollMeister_]

These players came out just before Covid hit. During Covid there was massive disruption in the supply chain and plans for new models were shelved. Now that Covid is gone and the supply chain is closer to normal we may see new models in next year’s CES.

[@ZGadgetReview]

That would be nice, but with best buy's recent exit from the physical media market and the strength of streaming, I would be surprised if companies put resources towards new players.

[@TrollMeister_]

@@ZGadgetReview You are probably right. One indication of new models coming is a price decrease on current models in the months leading up to the announcement. Nothing like that has happened. If anything, the price of the x800m2 has gone up a little. And the ub820 is holding steady due to strong sales and positive reviews.

[@ZGadgetReview]

@@TrollMeister_ Very true.

[@dougieroberts7045]

The problem for me is that both these players are now old players, dated technology, I would be reluctant to commit to buying either presently, my luck would be that if I invested then Sony and/or Panasonic would release their newer models.

[@ZGadgetReview]

I was hesitant when I got the Panasonic too (I've had the Sony one for a few years) but at this point with the way media is going, I don't think that either company will be refreshing their models. They keep updating the firmware, so it shows that they at least have not abandoned them. I think you are safe to get one.

[@XenomorphLV426]

Panasonic HDR optimizer and processor is superior to Sony

[@ZGadgetReview]

Agree

[@bobsibert1968]

Lol, a panny fanboy, Sony has the best processing in the industry!

[@XenomorphLV426]

@@bobsibert1968 I own a Sony OLED, which I love, but the 820 player is superior to any player Sony offers in the same segment.

[@garyhilton656]

Are there any 4k players which zooms to full screen?

[@ZGadgetReview]

What do you mean by zoom to full screen?

[@garyhilton656]

@@ZGadgetReview instead of 16:9 the player fills the tv panel. I have John Wick 4 in 4k which is 16:9 so black bars top and bottom. My TV allows to change the aspect ratio but not with my current player

[@ZGadgetReview]

@garyhilton656 oh, you can set the aspect ratio on the player. If your TV has the capability to set the aspect ratio manually, that's the only other way I think that it can be done.

[@johnleone1996]

​@@garyhilton656You definitely shouldn't do that because you'll lose part of the image

[@garyhilton656]

Yeah I have a PanasonicUB150 which doesn’t allow to change the aspect ratio and wanted to see if this one does?

[@jenvogue5005]

In some parts, the sony had sharper picture than panasonic. Not sold on panasonic

[@ZGadgetReview]

They are both good choices.

[@345ifyhalo]

No Disney+ App?

[@ZGadgetReview]

Nope

[@345ifyhalo]

@@ZGadgetReview thanks for the quick answer. What a shame :(

[@ZGadgetReview]

Yeah, they haven't really updated the streaming services since this thing was launched

[@UnitedWeStandFreedom]

I buy nothing but physical now ! Best way to go always .

[@ZGadgetReview]

Agree 💯

[@juanlicona924]

I had to say and only from my own experience, I had the Sony 800M2 and had the same problem that every body has the freezing that player is defective it should not even be on the market like that, I when for the Panasonic better image and better sound and the HDR optimizer is great feature, Yes is more expensive but it’s totally worth it, the only thing I dont like the remote but not a big deal

[@ZGadgetReview]

That is good to hear. Yeah, the remote could be better.

[@bobsibert1968]

Funny, I sold my 820 and got the much better 800m2!

[@ZGadgetReview]

Nice

[@IxMADMANxl]

Dolby vision don’t work,ub420 is the way to go

[@ZGadgetReview]

On this player? It does work

[@bobsibert1968]

I think the Sony had a much better picture!

[@ZGadgetReview]

They are both really good blu ray players

[@UnitedWeStandFreedom]

I agree i need a new player I'm trying to figure out what to get now lol

[@ZGadgetReview]

Really Sony and Panasonic are both great players. I prefer the Panasonic because of what I mentioned and the automatic switch depending on HDR or Dolby Vision. They both will provide a good picture

[@johnnydarko2736]

This is the worst player I've ever had. It stops playing 4ks after a little over 1 year. My 1st one stopped playing 4ks while the blu ray kept playing discs. I bought another same model. Same exact issue at around the same exact time frame. Funny when the warranty is only for 1 year. Total bullshit and a rip off at $450 pricetag.

[@ZGadgetReview]

I haven't had any issues yet. Hopefully that doesn't happen with mine. 🤞

[@EnriqueMcQuade]

UI looks like it came straight out of 2012.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Yes, the UI looks very dated. That goes for both players.

[@marcopugliares9309]

I dont think this supports dolby atmos.

[@ZGadgetReview]

It does

[@VinylPro]

classic

[@ZGadgetReview]

Vinyl

[@nagabonar275]

Sony terbaik

[@ZGadgetReview]

what?

[@ianthomas3672]

The Sony picture looks miles better.

[@ZGadgetReview]

Got it

[@faraon2012]

Panasonic audio quality is suck. 😮

[@ZGadgetReview]

Good to know.@@faraon2012

[@faraon2012]

​@@ZGadgetReviewI tried both DVD player and panasonic the audio is suck. I have a Soundbar samsung hw-q990b whit my UBP-X800M2. dolby atmos and DTS is amazing very deep. 😂 Very happy whit dvd Sony 🎉