I remember when all the manufactures had high end blu ray players, pioneer, Marantz, Denon, Oppo then 4K came and only pioneer and oppo went up to 4k along with Panasonic.......now in 2024 Panasonic is the only one left making high quality affordable options the UB450, 820 and flagship 9000. I know streaming is a huge thing but you can't beat a physical 4k disc especially for sound. Bravo to Panasonic
@@Benjimikey fundamentally, no, though our French friends at Reavon would argue that point. The parent comment made me think that it’s author was under the impression that this was a new model from Panasonic. I may have misread.
I currently own a UB820 as my main player. Love it! I just purchased the UB450 as a backup player. Price is perfect for DA and HDR10! Thanks for sharing!!
Actually the 450 had problems right out of the box. I updated it but the tray would not open or close without using your hand! So I returned it. I checked online and found it will only play Region B if sold in Region B otherwise no.
@@shawncb67the user manual (pg6) online is confusing because it says it will play “ALL”. Have you tried playing a Region B disc? What about 820, will that play Region B?
I own this player for quite a while now, and apart from some performance issues while browsing through the menus, this player is a true bang for the buck!
Not my bag BUT - this is great information. It was well executed. I am sure this took some time to figure out and then displayed to the public in a 8 minute video. You win. We win? Thank you. I feel like you need a super chat in the future. Well done sir.
the first thing I did was replace the small remote with the one for the UB9000... best €10 ever spent. It has been available for years across the world, I got mine in 2019 and then I added the RattleByte mod for multiregion.
You'd prefer the player to do the processing prior to getting to the TV. The HCX processor does a better job than most TV's. I know top of the line Sony does really good upscaling so perhaps it's not so bad with a Sony. However, I'd mucb prefer the Panasonic to process prior to going to my Samsung TV.
Looks like it plays 3D as well… I think I’m a buyer! I always asked why don’t they make a player without the apps (we have them via other options anyways) and just offer Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and 3D. Add playback via USB as a cherry on the top! BTW I got a kick out of your DP wink… and no it doesn’t play double 🤣
Thank you. The first thing you do is connect the ethernet cable and check for firmware updates. I would never recommend keeping ethernet connected to bluray players and smart TVs, except when checking for firmware updates. You can use external streaming boxes for all media. I NEVER recommend WiFi for any electronics when it can be connected via ethernet, as ethernet is more secure and stable.
This sounds like an EXCELLENT addition to add with my Oppo BDP-103 which is still going strong (the display is a bit dull these days and I'm truly bummed that no software updates are available anymore, but I digress...🙌🏾🙏🏾). This will be right on time when I get my 4K copy of Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter in January! Thanks for the awesome info, Techno Dad! Wishing you, your family, and extended RUclips family a Happy and Safe Holiday! 🙏🏾
I own a few different Oppo BDP and UDP models, two of which are currently at OPPO U.S. getting serviced. I'm just curious what you mean by the display being a bit dull? Do you mean the output video image is losing sharpness, or the faceplate readout is fading or what? Oh yeah, Captain Kronos with the lovely Caroline Munro!
@ The front LED display is not as bright as it was and does seem to be fading. I can definitely live with it though. Other than that, it continues to play flawlessly. And indeed, looking forward to viewing the stunning Ms. Munro in glorious Ultra HD 4K! Cheers! 👍🏾🙌🏾
i have panasonic 420 with hdr setting which i love. and an lg ubk90 player for dolby vision. skipped the 820 and instead bought those two i was thinking about getting another 420 before they are discontinued, or should i look at this 450 instead?
Hi, small question: If I have an LG G3 tv, will i notice much difference between the 820 and the 450 when it comes to hdr content, or content in general? I'm deliberating between the 450, the 820, and the x800m2.
Can you please help me? I have an older 2018 4k TV (Samsung Q6 49' QLED) and I want either a 420, 450 or 820 To me the missing apps and wifi in 450 actually sounds great, but do you think I will have more use for the better HDR Optimizer in 420/820? Or no benefit at all?
I have this exact player along with a Roku ultra in my main set up. That is paired with a 65 inch LG B3 OLED TV and a denon AVRX3400H running 5.1. It’s an awesome little set up!
@@TechnoDad Yes, I also have Aperion Intimus 5 series speakers and two SVS SB12 NSD subs. I am in the process of finding a new place to live and when I move I hope to expand to Atmos. I was thinking 5.2.4.
I've got one of these here in UK as I didn't want to rely on PS5 as main player. Mine is region locked for Blu-ray but I have a multiregion BD player for that anyway. Does the job with my small screen and Samsung soundbar/rears set-up.
Hi, I haven’t read the other comments but I just wanted to say I’ve found that I need a high end, Blu-ray player and a lower end Blu-ray player simply because the high-end players will have difficulty reading some not so good for media but of course the compromise that is made is you’re not getting every tiny little bit of quality out of your 4K so that’s where the high-end one comes in so I have two in my system and I find that works well as I also buy a lot of secondhand media so that’s my input for what it’s worth
Isn’t that just a PITA, having two boxes that do the same thing, lol! Wouldn’t you think the high end player would do its job and play the movies without issue? At any rate, thank you for sharing your experience. Sometimes I feel like it is necessary to have a little redundancy.
I have the 420, and with MKV files, it will play the video, but no audio for Dolby Digital Plus or higher end Audio codecs so seeing this, at least the 450 does send a PCM 2 channel track out.
All of a sudden the machine won’t play the 4k format but it plays regular blu ray and DVD I did went back to factory started over can you recommend anything to help me
I'm using a Sony 4k player and wondered if it was alright to have Dolby Vision and HDR10 on at the same time in the player settings? I thought they had to be cycled on/off when switching between the two formats.
Great question! You actually have to cycle that on and off with the Sony, with the Panasonic LG, Magnetar, Oppo, and Revon, you do not have to. That’s the one downside to the Sony, you need to turn Dolby vision on and off.
In some ways for 1080p Blu Rays it can be fun to leave Dolby Vision on. If you have a TV that implements Dolby Vision well (for me the Hisense U8H) some blu rays look better with Dolby Vision turned on vs watching on my Panasonic UB-820 on the same TV in SDR. However on my old Sony X900H the Dolby Vision skin tones were never done right if you had Dolby Vision on for 1080P Blu Rays. So it is hit or miss. Glad I have the Sony and the Panny gives me options.
How about 4K ISO and 3D ISO? Does this player can play these files? If not, which other player (which supports HDR & DV) can do it and which will not cost a bomb?
The 820, when updated, CAN actually do all that plus MORE! HDR10 optimize HDR10 movies, which the other players w/ exception of the 9000, can't do. The 450 actually isn't really new it's simply a device that was only available overseas which is now available in north america. But for the price, 450 has the best value IMHO. 820 is for pro's.
Thanks for the video and info. I just ordered the UB820 used in very good condition on Amazon for $379. I’ve ordered several items in the same condition and except for the box I didn’t notice a difference compared to new equipment. It has wi-fi, a DAC and 2 channel RCA outputs (it has 7.1 if needed) so I can hook it up to my 2.2 system when I stream concerts on RUclips. Looking forward to testing it out.
@ Thanks I saw that but I prefer Amazon. Walmart has some electronics that are made for them specifically to meet a certain price point and I’m never sure when they are or aren’t. Amazon also has an excellent return policy if I’m not satisfied.
It depends if you have control over individual channel levels and crossover points. If you don’t have much control, then I don’t think it’s worth it for you.
Channa I have the UB820. Cool they finally came up with this to come down in price. Question - I have a Roku Ultra 4k but recently it started rebooting over and over and can't get it out of the loop even after pulling the power and HDMI cables. Any ideas?
Too bad about the mkv issue. Too bad the LG UBK90 is no longer as it was a simple barbones player like this that could do all of this plus mkv. The real question then is how reliable is the drive going to be, especially with the notorious issues of triple layer disc freezing?
The 450 model is 5 years old. It was released in the Euro market in summer/fall 2019. We are just getting it in NA now which is very strange. It's a good budget player with Dolby Vision. The optimizer is what makes the Panny special and the 450 doesn't have the feature set. The 820 often comes down to $350 in the US.
I think it might be due to the fact that Panasoinc is releasing OLED TVs in the US. Maybe they wanted to release another option which is lower in price than the UB820. And yes, I found the UB820 for $369 right now at Wallmart - howl.link/fzkizkyul63gd
@@TechnoDad You might want to check out that seller's ratings. Apparently this is not being sold directly by Walmart but a second hand seller, and it's being reported that this is a gray market player. I pulled the trigger on this but when I read the seller's feedback I got a refund. Better be safe than sorry! I did get the 450 from Amazon instead and using my Amazon Prime credit card saved an additional 5 %!
Browsing the manual, looks like it can play media over a network as well. Not a feature I expect to find these days in an affordable player. That does not necessarily mean the same supported formats that work over USB will work over a network but there's a good chance they will. Incidentally, I have played HD and UHD content in .mkv format for some time now. This is mostly from my Oppo but I have done it successfully via a 2015 Vizio TV and with my current 2024 Sony.
There hasn't been a firmware update for the UB450 since December of 2023 so it seems it will not play the (arguably defective) Twister 4K UHD, just like my UB150.
Hey Techno Dad great videos . I have t mobile internet so all I have to do is take a Ethernet cord plug one end into the t mobile modem and one end into the Panasonic player and do an update right. Also how often should I do an update on this player. Get back to asap Thanks Nick
Question, I have the PS5 for my 4K movies. Dont have a lot of 4k movies, I don't consider my self a collector, so does it make sense to pick up this panasonic blu ray player? I got to say it looks nice as a standalone unit.
That’s a tough call…I have both the PS5 and Xbox Series X and I would choose a stand alone blu ray player any day over the gaming devices for 4K disc playback. The only thing this player adds to the equation is file playback. If you don’t have anything like that, this is a big skip for you.
I just ordered the 450 on Amazon the other day, which will be my first 4k player. Lacking built-in streaming apps is no dealbreaker for me since I already own the Roku TV.
@@TechnoDad A little update: Amazon sent me a defective player because it wouldn’t play any BD discs, 4K or HD, but it played DVDs and CDs just fine. Rather than contacting support (which I don’t have for that), I ordered the exact same player on Walmart. Picked it up same day, gave it a try, and everything worked perfectly. I ended up returning the other one to Amazon for a refund. And I’m diggin’ the new player! 👍
Set up mine today and played the Braveheart dvd which it upscaled to 4k I was well impressed with the picture quality (Note) Try the Mel Gibson film narration from the menu as throughout the video he gives some very interesting info regarding the film
@@johnnyfiveotenfive7528 it does play them, but I use a normal Bluray player for cds as the Panasonic doesn't do the metadata even though it is connected to the internet via lan.
I have a Sony X800 and a Panasonic DP-UB420 neither of which handle Dolby Vision- so just picked up one of these 450's...thanks for the review. (the 420 has the Optimizer but that can add problems to the picture quality and I know many people don't use it)
Nice that it can play your files on it :) but i have a panasonic ubp700. I wonder if the ubp450 is an upgrader or downgrade in the picture departement? The 700 lacking the dolby vision.
Just bought the 450. Atmos tracks show as Dolby Digital TrueHD, my Marantz SR8015 does not show Atmos. I think I must have a setting wrong. Any help? My old Sony UBP-800m2 shows Atmos ok.
2 sony m8 players ( both useless) then a sony m800m2 ( also useless, doesn't like triple layer 100gb discs) this looks like a great player mate. I wish we could get a cross between sonys m800m2 buid quality and the panasonic ub820 performance and reliability.
Forgive me for what may be an ignorant question, but do these players ever HAVE TO be plugged into Ethernet? Do they require some constant, ongoing updates, or only when a disc is encountered that doesn't play or play properly?
I was on the fence about getting a newer BLU-RAY player for my new 4K TV but I don't have any 4K disc so this wouldn't do me any reason to buy. However, if I were looking for a 4K BLU-RAY player, I would probably put this on my list. Thank Tecno Dad for this video.
4k player usually upscale, my Blu-ray Discs does look better, and I’ve noticed that some 4k movies are same as blu-ray. I have a Panasonic UB420 that I purchased this past spring, I do see a difference.
@TechnoDad I'm in the UK. Though I must admit, I have never tested the sound via USB, only the picture. I also know that over here we can get the same model TV but with special features ( like less dimming zones).
Where is the difference between 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) and Panasonic Premium 4K Blu Ray Player, UHD DVD Blu Ray Player with Hi-Res Sound, 4K VOD Streaming, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision™, DP-UB450 (Black) and wich one will work butter with my home theater system denon AVR-S760H receiver and my tv is the LG G2 55" oled tv And want to know which one is better for too upgrade blu-ray movies to 4k doby vison just asking
So here is the question! I have an old Sony x800 I think? Non DV….i would like to get something new. How much better is the 820 picture quality vs this 450? I have a 77 lg OLED c2
The 820 (like the 420) has the HDR optimiser which offers settings to optimise HDR for the Nits capability of the display ie select what type you have. If you have a projector or an earlier model less bright OLED, then I think it's a useful feature. It essentially makes a hdr10 4k disc source behave more like Dolby vision. It may also help a Dolby vision source but I only have the 420 myself. Your sony 800 is also Dolby vision capable, but you have to turn it on in the settings. I have the 700 myself..
I think a question on a lot of people's minds is how does it handle BD-100 discs? That is major issue with cheap entry-level players. I've had my Sony x700 since 2019. I love it but sometimes has issues with those triple layer discs. Last 6 months it has gotten more & more glitchy. So I will be looking at getting a new player. But scared to get another cheap model and have same issues. For me, might be worth spending the extra to get better processing power. Again, great video and great pick for the budget-minded out there.
@@TechnoDad I will name some that have been watched withing the past couple of weeks. I don't remember exactly which ones glitched but do know a few did with both me and wife watching. It doesn't do it with every disc. It is random. It even will play a disc fine one time but then the next time lock up. That happened when I watched The Hobbit Trilogy. They played fine when watching. But when I was going through them a second time to get screenshots for review, they locked up. Here are the few recently: Skyscraper, Barbie, Hacksaw Ridge, The Fall Guy, and 5 of the Harry Potter films - Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Half-Blood Prince. Usually the glitch on my player is it will lockup and will not allow me to skip back or forward or do anything. Sometimes, restarting player will correct it. Sometime not and I actually have to unplug the unit and reboot that way. Can be very frustrating.
@@blurayffan66 Wrong. If you follow physical media at all, you would know it is common among the cheaper models that they have issues with BD-100 discs. Every time I have had an issue, it has always been a BD-100. I have NEVER had any issues with any other discs. But it is not a guarantee that it will glitch. It is random. Plus sometimes a disc will play fine one one time and then the next time it will glitch. Rebooting the unit almost always works. Sometimes I have to unplug it to get it to work. Early on, it was not that often but in the last few months it has gotten worse. So I do plan on replacing player in few months. This might be a good option. Just waiting to read more reviews about it since it just got released in the U.S.
@screamingeekmedia ... this type of issue is sometimes hard to pinpoint. For example, many of the 4k discs being sold in the US are made in Mexico at a plant with well know quality issues and people receive brand new releases with scratched discs, dirty discs, loose discs... whereas in Europe their discs are made in Europe and are having a fraction of the playback problems vs. US customers. Cheaper players may be having issues too- I have read the Sony 700 model has some but I have also read people with Sonys higher end x800 player have had some issues with some 100gb disc playback too, and others have zero issues with same discs... all very confusing! I think another thing may be that manufacturers seem to be releasing less and less firmware updates over time- perhaps more frequent updates could help some of these playback issues, not sure.
Why is my LG G4 calling my Denon Receiver a DVD player? I run my Apple TV 4K and 4k blu ray player into my receiver, ARC to the tv. Does that affect my movie or tv quality?
@@TechnoDad I was worried it was receiving it as a 720p signal or something. A lot of settings on the G4 are grayed out, but maybe that's protocol for 4k blu ray movies.
For some reason HDR does not work with Dolby vision on !! I turn it off and the HRD IS awsome and I can work the HRD button to make adjustments I have the Panasonic 820
The hdr button isn't active with dolby vision. The hdr button is only for hdr 10 discs ( not dolby vision discs) you do not need to optimise dolby vision as its already done.
I remember when all the manufactures had high end blu ray players, pioneer, Marantz, Denon, Oppo then 4K came and only pioneer and oppo went up to 4k along with Panasonic.......now in 2024 Panasonic is the only one left making high quality affordable options the UB450, 820 and flagship 9000. I know streaming is a huge thing but you can't beat a physical 4k disc especially for sound. Bravo to Panasonic
Yes! There is one other player but it’s a bit pricey, costing more than the UB9000. I’m glad to see there’s another budget option.
...Sony still making affordable 4K players.
It’s far from a new model though. Other than Reavon, is anyone releasing new models at any price point?
@@AlanGresham ... is there really a demand for a new player at this point?...I think the players currently in the market have everything covered?
@@Benjimikey fundamentally, no, though our French friends at Reavon would argue that point. The parent comment made me think that it’s author was under the impression that this was a new model from Panasonic. I may have misread.
I currently own a UB820 as my main player. Love it! I just purchased the UB450 as a backup player. Price is perfect for DA and HDR10! Thanks for sharing!!
Do you notice much difference between the two for video playback?
I'm considering these two right now, along with the x800m2.
Does the 820 and/or 450 play Region B Blu-ray?
Actually the 450 had problems right out of the box. I updated it but the tray would not open or close without using your hand! So I returned it. I checked online and found it will only play Region B if sold in Region B otherwise no.
@@shawncb67the user manual (pg6) online is confusing because it says it will play “ALL”. Have you tried playing a Region B disc? What about 820, will that play Region B?
I own this player for quite a while now, and apart from some performance issues while browsing through the menus, this player is a true bang for the buck!
Thank you for sharing your experience!
My TV, Blu-ray player and surround sound system is all made by Panasonic. I absolutely love it.
Nice!
Not my bag BUT - this is great information. It was well executed. I am sure this took some time to figure out and then displayed to the public in a 8 minute video.
You win. We win?
Thank you. I feel like you need a super chat in the future. Well done sir.
Thanks! I tried to make it as short as possible.
the first thing I did was replace the small remote with the one for the UB9000... best €10 ever spent.
It has been available for years across the world, I got mine in 2019 and then I added the RattleByte mod for multiregion.
Good call!
Thank you for the review! This answered all my questions about this player
You’re welcome!
do you really need processing when most modern tvs have their own processing? Especially flagship tvs like my G4?
Probably not
You'd prefer the player to do the processing prior to getting to the TV. The HCX processor does a better job than most TV's. I know top of the line Sony does really good upscaling so perhaps it's not so bad with a Sony.
However, I'd mucb prefer the Panasonic to process prior to going to my Samsung TV.
Nope just send the raw data to your tv and receiver to do the work especially if you have a Sony TV which has the best upscaling and processing
how is the spinning-disc-sound from the player?
Doesn’t sound like much, pretty quiet on this player
my ub450 is in. seems like the ub450 fan noise is even lower than ub820 . ub820 has noticeable and audible fan noise from my seating area
@@sasaaronreally hmm I would think the one that cost more would be more
Quiet
Looks like it plays 3D as well… I think I’m a buyer! I always asked why don’t they make a player without the apps (we have them via other options anyways) and just offer Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and 3D. Add playback via USB as a cherry on the top!
BTW I got a kick out of your DP wink… and no it doesn’t play double 🤣
Right? Nobody uses their 4K Bluray for apps anyways.
Just ordered mine through your link! Only 17 left. Thanks for the great, detailed review.
This will be a great backup player for the price
Agreed!!
So is there a software update for the UPB820 ? Iv only just purchased mine .
I'm not sure, I don't have mine anymore.
Check the product page and there should be listed under firmware update.
Thank you. The first thing you do is connect the ethernet cable and check for firmware updates. I would never recommend keeping ethernet connected to bluray players and smart TVs, except when checking for firmware updates. You can use external streaming boxes for all media. I NEVER recommend WiFi for any electronics when it can be connected via ethernet, as ethernet is more secure and stable.
Wonder if it does a great job of upscaling regular Blu-Ray HD videos into 4K level videos?
I currently own the Panasonic UB 9000! It’s a fantastic Blu-ray player
!👍
Nice! The 9000 is still a great option.
The only things missing is a front display and rear analog out for older amp/receivers.
This sounds like an EXCELLENT addition to add with my Oppo BDP-103 which is still going strong (the display is a bit dull these days and I'm truly bummed that no software updates are available anymore, but I digress...🙌🏾🙏🏾). This will be right on time when I get my 4K copy of Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter in January! Thanks for the awesome info, Techno Dad! Wishing you, your family, and extended RUclips family a Happy and Safe Holiday! 🙏🏾
I own a few different Oppo BDP and UDP models, two of which are currently at OPPO U.S. getting serviced. I'm just curious what you mean by the display being a bit dull? Do you mean the output video image is losing sharpness, or the faceplate readout is fading or what?
Oh yeah, Captain Kronos with the lovely Caroline Munro!
@ The front LED display is not as bright as it was and does seem to be fading. I can definitely live with it though. Other than that, it continues to play flawlessly. And indeed, looking forward to viewing the stunning Ms. Munro in glorious Ultra HD 4K! Cheers! 👍🏾🙌🏾
i have panasonic 420 with hdr setting which i love. and an lg ubk90 player for dolby vision.
skipped the 820 and instead bought those two
i was thinking about getting another 420 before they are discontinued, or should i look at this 450 instead?
Does this also play audio CDs? This looks like a model that fits perfectly for my needs!
Yes it does! Panasonic UB450 - amzn.to/3ZqTNAW
To my knowledge all 4K players are backwards compatible all the way down to CD's. So regular Blu-rays, DVD's & CD's.
@NoMoneyG thanks. I have a PS5 (and PS4) but they both don't support audio CDs unfortunately
DP = Disc Player
I believe the UB450 lacks one important feature for HDR that the UB820 has, that is the ability to change subtitle brightness.
Thanks for the tip!
I hear subtitle position and size are also on that list of features but have no confirmation yet.
correction: only brightness and position.
420 can also change brightness and position.
@@johnsmithy7918 the 420 lacks dolby vision and hdr10+
DP stands for Disc Player, doesn’t it?
Ciao volevo sapere se questo modello:LETTORE BLU RAY PANASONIC DP-UB450EG-K legge il dolby atmos tramite la chiavetta usb .Grazie
Thanks Techno Dad ! Nice work
Cheers!
Great review! I was considering either the UB450 or UB820. I'm putting the UB450 at the top of my list!
Nice! It’s a great player for the price.
What you said the 820 doesn't do, mine DOES. Update your player.
Can u elaborate on what features?
Hi, small question:
If I have an LG G3 tv, will i notice much difference between the 820 and the 450 when it comes to hdr content, or content in general?
I'm deliberating between the 450, the 820, and the x800m2.
Can you please help me? I have an older 2018 4k TV (Samsung Q6 49' QLED) and I want either a 420, 450 or 820
To me the missing apps and wifi in 450 actually sounds great, but do you think I will have more use for the better HDR Optimizer in 420/820? Or no benefit at all?
I was really surprised to find this at Walmart great player
100%!
Most likely a 3rd party reseller not direct from Walmart.. Be careful of scams
Will it play DVD audio discs and DTS-CDs?
I have this exact player along with a Roku ultra in my main set up. That is paired with a 65 inch LG B3 OLED TV and a denon AVRX3400H running 5.1. It’s an awesome little set up!
Nice set up! You’ve got all the bases covered!
@@TechnoDad Yes, I also have Aperion Intimus 5 series speakers and two SVS SB12 NSD subs. I am in the process of finding a new place to live and when I move I hope to expand to Atmos. I was thinking 5.2.4.
Just got one. I’m glad I watched this. Thanks.
Awesome, glad you found it helpful!
I AM GLAD YOU WATCHED THIS.
Great about the DV..How about the picture quality , minus the hdr optimiser?
I've got one of these here in UK as I didn't want to rely on PS5 as main player. Mine is region locked for Blu-ray but I have a multiregion BD player for that anyway. Does the job with my small screen and Samsung soundbar/rears set-up.
Does this have cooling fan ?
No
Oops I think I made a boo boo about the UB450 being on sale for $149 at Walmart. I think it's the UB150 for that price. 😂😂😂
Hi, I haven’t read the other comments but I just wanted to say I’ve found that I need a high end, Blu-ray player and a lower end Blu-ray player simply because the high-end players will have difficulty reading some not so good for media but of course the compromise that is made is you’re not getting every tiny little bit of quality out of your 4K so that’s where the high-end one comes in so I have two in my system and I find that works well as I also buy a lot of secondhand media so that’s my input for what it’s worth
Isn’t that just a PITA, having two boxes that do the same thing, lol! Wouldn’t you think the high end player would do its job and play the movies without issue? At any rate, thank you for sharing your experience. Sometimes I feel like it is necessary to have a little redundancy.
I have the 420, and with MKV files, it will play the video, but no audio for Dolby Digital Plus or higher end Audio codecs so seeing this, at least the 450 does send a PCM 2 channel track out.
All of a sudden the machine won’t play the 4k format but it plays regular blu ray and DVD I did went back to factory started over can you recommend anything to help me
I'm using a Sony 4k player and wondered if it was alright to have Dolby Vision and HDR10 on at the same time in the player settings? I thought they had to be cycled on/off when switching between the two formats.
Great question! You actually have to cycle that on and off with the Sony, with the Panasonic LG, Magnetar, Oppo, and Revon, you do not have to. That’s the one downside to the Sony, you need to turn Dolby vision on and off.
@@TechnoDad - Thank you so much! I may have to look into this Panasonic.
In some ways for 1080p Blu Rays it can be fun to leave Dolby Vision on. If you have a TV that implements Dolby Vision well (for me the Hisense U8H) some blu rays look better with Dolby Vision turned on vs watching on my Panasonic UB-820 on the same TV in SDR. However on my old Sony X900H the Dolby Vision skin tones were never done right if you had Dolby Vision on for 1080P Blu Rays. So it is hit or miss. Glad I have the Sony and the Panny gives me options.
Great quick informative video my man!
Thanks!!
This is awesome. Does it support from 110v to 240v power sources?
I'm considering importing one to my country (South Africa)
How about 4K ISO and 3D ISO? Does this player can play these files? If not, which other player (which supports HDR & DV) can do it and which will not cost a bomb?
The 820, when updated, CAN actually do all that plus MORE! HDR10 optimize HDR10 movies, which the other players w/ exception of the 9000, can't do. The 450 actually isn't really new it's simply a device that was only available overseas which is now available in north america.
But for the price, 450 has the best value IMHO. 820 is for pro's.
UB9000 is for the Pros, as u call it. I own a UB820 also.
Which update gives the 820 what you say?
looks good, is the player itself as quiet as the 820?
I’ve watched a few full movies on the player and haven’t noticed any loud noises from the spinning if that’s what you mean.
Thanks for the video and info. I just ordered the UB820 used in very good condition on Amazon for $379. I’ve ordered several items in the same condition and except for the box I didn’t notice a difference compared to new equipment. It has wi-fi, a DAC and 2 channel RCA outputs (it has 7.1 if needed) so I can hook it up to my 2.2 system when I stream concerts on RUclips. Looking forward to testing it out.
Do you want a new one for $370? I see the UB820 on sale for $370 brand new on Walmart. Cick the "products" button in this video and you'll find it.
@ Thanks I saw that but I prefer Amazon. Walmart has some electronics that are made for them specifically to meet a certain price point and I’m never sure when they are or aren’t. Amazon also has an excellent return policy if I’m not satisfied.
@@BobbyBass-x6i Ahhh, copy that!
Hey! TECHNO, is the spacial audio calibration disk better than the built-in sound calibration on my sound bar system?
It depends if you have control over individual channel levels and crossover points. If you don’t have much control, then I don’t think it’s worth it for you.
@@TechnoDad Samsung Q990B soundbar system think it's control in the smarthings app 🤔
Channa I have the UB820. Cool they finally came up with this to come down in price. Question - I have a Roku Ultra 4k but recently it started rebooting over and over and can't get it out of the loop even after pulling the power and HDMI cables. Any ideas?
I had to remove my microSD card to break this loop
@bsd107 good idea.yI got it out of the loop another way somehow thanks
Can it playback a BDMV Blu-ray folder structure that retains all the menus from a USB stick?
Nope
Too bad about the mkv issue. Too bad the LG UBK90 is no longer as it was a simple barbones player like this that could do all of this plus mkv. The real question then is how reliable is the drive going to be, especially with the notorious issues of triple layer disc freezing?
Still just dont like small form factor players. Can i get this in a full length player?
True!
You can mod mkv file so the audio stream metadata is detected correctly.
The 450 model is 5 years old. It was released in the Euro market in summer/fall 2019.
We are just getting it in NA now which is very strange.
It's a good budget player with Dolby Vision. The optimizer is what makes the Panny special and the 450 doesn't have the feature set.
The 820 often comes down to $350 in the US.
I think it might be due to the fact that Panasoinc is releasing OLED TVs in the US. Maybe they wanted to release another option which is lower in price than the UB820. And yes, I found the UB820 for $369 right now at Wallmart - howl.link/fzkizkyul63gd
@@TechnoDad You might want to check out that seller's ratings. Apparently this is not being sold directly by Walmart but a second hand seller, and it's being reported that this is a gray market player. I pulled the trigger on this but when I read the seller's feedback I got a refund. Better be safe than sorry! I did get the 450 from Amazon instead and using my Amazon Prime credit card saved an additional 5 %!
@@TechnoDad i just bought ub450 . do i need hdr optimizer if i have LG OLED TV ( c1) ?
Ive had that model for at least seven years here in Northern Ireland, its a brilliant budget 4K player.
It was only released in 2019.
@Revolver1981 you're correct I found my receipt I bought it in June 2019 , I bought the soundbar in 2017 and my 65 in TV in 2019.
Can you do a comparison video with the UB820?
I don’t own a UB820 anymore….
Will this play DTS:X like Atmos?
Yes it will! amzn.to/4g53r3j
Can it play auro 3d format
Browsing the manual, looks like it can play media over a network as well. Not a feature I expect to find these days in an affordable player. That does not necessarily mean the same supported formats that work over USB will work over a network but there's a good chance they will. Incidentally, I have played HD and UHD content in .mkv format for some time now. This is mostly from my Oppo but I have done it successfully via a 2015 Vizio TV and with my current 2024 Sony.
Ordered one the other day, my first 4k player, glad I got the right one. Thanks for information, should be arriving next week.😂
Awesome, I hope you love it!
There hasn't been a firmware update for the UB450 since December of 2023 so it seems it will not play the (arguably defective) Twister 4K UHD, just like my UB150.
Hey Techno Dad great videos . I have t mobile internet so all I have to do is take a Ethernet cord plug one end into the t mobile modem and one end into the Panasonic player and do an update right. Also how often should I do an update on this player. Get back to asap Thanks Nick
Yes, Nick, that should do it. Do you have any kind of home netwok switch?
Been waiting to replace my first gen LG 4k player, Was going to buy the UB820 or just go crazy to Magnatar. What do you tihnk?
Depends on what your specific use case happens to be
@TechnoDad just 4k playback. Use my zidoo for all media rips
Question, I have the PS5 for my 4K movies. Dont have a lot of 4k movies, I don't consider my self a collector, so does it make sense to pick up this panasonic blu ray player? I got to say it looks nice as a standalone unit.
That’s a tough call…I have both the PS5 and Xbox Series X and I would choose a stand alone blu ray player any day over the gaming devices for 4K disc playback. The only thing this player adds to the equation is file playback. If you don’t have anything like that, this is a big skip for you.
@TechnoDad ... Thank you for your input, I'll take it into consideration.
So if am just playing dvd , Blu-ray, and Ultra Blu-ray's would the Panasonic DP-UB820 still be ok
Yes!
@TechnoDad thank you
@@ddcrocky3831 the 820 is better than the 450.
I just ordered the 450 on Amazon the other day, which will be my first 4k player. Lacking built-in streaming apps is no dealbreaker for me since I already own the Roku TV.
Good choice, that’s exactly how I use mine!
@@TechnoDad A little update: Amazon sent me a defective player because it wouldn’t play any BD discs, 4K or HD, but it played DVDs and CDs just fine. Rather than contacting support (which I don’t have for that), I ordered the exact same player on Walmart. Picked it up same day, gave it a try, and everything worked perfectly. I ended up returning the other one to Amazon for a refund. And I’m diggin’ the new player! 👍
Set up mine today and played the Braveheart dvd which it upscaled to 4k
I was well impressed with the picture quality
(Note) Try the Mel Gibson film narration from the menu as throughout the video he gives some very interesting info regarding the film
Dont you think there is an firmware update coming for the older players to play those 4k atmos stuff?
I heard someone updated their UB820 but it still does not play 4K HDR Atmos files from USB.
Will it play cd's or mp3's for music?. My ps5 won't play em.
I haven't tested it personally but the manual states that it will play MP3 files on BD, DVD, CD, and from USB
@@johnnyfiveotenfive7528 it does play them, but I use a normal Bluray player for cds as the Panasonic doesn't do the metadata even though it is connected to the internet via lan.
@TechnoDad nice. Thank you
I have a Sony X800 and a Panasonic DP-UB420 neither of which handle Dolby Vision- so just picked up one of these 450's...thanks for the review. (the 420 has the Optimizer but that can add problems to the picture quality and I know many people don't use it)
Enjoy!
UB450 can't bitstream Atmos from MKV because your video shows stereo PCM only?
Correct, it's only coming in PCM for MKVs.
Nice that it can play your files on it :) but i have a panasonic ubp700. I wonder if the ubp450 is an upgrader or downgrade in the picture departement? The 700 lacking the dolby vision.
You've just answered your own question....🙄
@steven2809 did I? I mean, just because it has dolby vision doesn't mean its better.
Excellent for the price but one gripe i have with most players these days is the lack of a digital display on the front of the unit.
Yeah, that does suck…
Wonder if a 850 is coming??
Hah! I doubt it...wonder why they allowed file playback on this player and not the higher end ones, like the UB9000?
So if I don't care about the usb thing should I go with the ub820?
Yes, go with the UB820 if you need Dolby Vision and don’t care about the USB playback - amzn.to/4iDY50L
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁🎄🎅❄️⛄
Merry Christmas to you too!!
It Plays DTS-X in MKV.. When I Fast Forward in m2ts it freezes with no chapters to advance. other then that i am happy with the UB450
Just bought the 450. Atmos tracks show as Dolby Digital TrueHD, my Marantz SR8015 does not show Atmos. I think I must have a setting wrong. Any help? My old Sony UBP-800m2 shows Atmos ok.
Were you playing a disc or from USB?
@@TechnoDad I tried both. Read somewhere to turn off secondary audio and now it works! Default was on. Thanks.
Great review and price Channa! - Cheers!
Thanks!
Can I hook up a firestick 4k max second gen to this ?
No, you would hook that up to your TV or AVR
@TechnoDad gotcha 👌🏽
2 sony m8 players ( both useless) then a sony m800m2 ( also useless, doesn't like triple layer 100gb discs) this looks like a great player mate.
I wish we could get a cross between sonys m800m2 buid quality and the panasonic ub820 performance and reliability.
Phone app? Need tv
to see what's playing?
Forgive me for what may be an ignorant question, but do these players ever HAVE TO be plugged into Ethernet? Do they require some constant, ongoing updates, or only when a disc is encountered that doesn't play or play properly?
Not as far as I know - I have a Panasonic 820 and I’ve never connected it to Ethernet and it works fine
@PK-blue Thanks for the info.
I was on the fence about getting a newer BLU-RAY player for my new 4K TV but I don't have any 4K disc so this wouldn't do me any reason to buy. However, if I were looking for a 4K BLU-RAY player, I would probably put this on my list. Thank Tecno Dad for this video.
4k player usually upscale, my Blu-ray Discs does look better, and I’ve noticed that some 4k movies are same as blu-ray. I have a Panasonic UB420 that I purchased this past spring, I do see a difference.
Hello! Does the UB450 plays mkv files with Dolby Atmos codec by USB port?
No
No
I mean, Dolby Atmos True HD by USB
It does not play those, I tried it in the video
This is an updated model. Mine does not have the letters after the 450, I would suspect that they may release an updated 820 with the same capability.
What part of the world do you live?
@TechnoDad I'm in the UK.
Though I must admit, I have never tested the sound via USB, only the picture.
I also know that over here we can get the same model TV but with special features ( like less dimming zones).
Where is the difference between 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) and Panasonic Premium 4K Blu Ray Player, UHD DVD Blu Ray Player with Hi-Res Sound, 4K VOD Streaming, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision™, DP-UB450 (Black) and wich one will work butter with my home theater system denon AVR-S760H receiver and my tv is the LG G2 55" oled tv And want to know which one is better for too upgrade blu-ray movies to 4k doby vison just asking
The ub820 (and 420) has the HDR optimiser. The 450 does not. The 420 does not do Dolby vision, but the 450 and 820 do..
Anybody from the US can tell us if the AC adapter is multi-voltage adapter? As in, can it support 220-240 volts?
Wanted to try it just to see if it would work and saw an update on UB820 thinking it might work but....Nope. lol
I assume you mean file playback?
So here is the question! I have an old Sony x800 I think? Non DV….i would like to get something new. How much better is the 820 picture quality vs this 450? I have a 77 lg OLED c2
The 820 (like the 420) has the HDR optimiser which offers settings to optimise HDR for the Nits capability of the display ie select what type you have. If you have a projector or an earlier model less bright OLED, then I think it's a useful feature. It essentially makes a hdr10 4k disc source behave more like Dolby vision. It may also help a Dolby vision source but I only have the 420 myself.
Your sony 800 is also Dolby vision capable, but you have to turn it on in the settings. I have the 700 myself..
The 450 is auto DV switching and file playback, but the 820 has the HDR Optimizer for HDR10 content.
I think a question on a lot of people's minds is how does it handle BD-100 discs? That is major issue with cheap entry-level players. I've had my Sony x700 since 2019. I love it but sometimes has issues with those triple layer discs. Last 6 months it has gotten more & more glitchy. So I will be looking at getting a new player. But scared to get another cheap model and have same issues. For me, might be worth spending the extra to get better processing power. Again, great video and great pick for the budget-minded out there.
Great question! I’d have to try some out. Do you know of any off the top of your head I can purchase and test out?
@@TechnoDad I will name some that have been watched withing the past couple of weeks. I don't remember exactly which ones glitched but do know a few did with both me and wife watching. It doesn't do it with every disc. It is random. It even will play a disc fine one time but then the next time lock up. That happened when I watched The Hobbit Trilogy. They played fine when watching. But when I was going through them a second time to get screenshots for review, they locked up. Here are the few recently: Skyscraper, Barbie, Hacksaw Ridge, The Fall Guy, and 5 of the Harry Potter films - Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Half-Blood Prince. Usually the glitch on my player is it will lockup and will not allow me to skip back or forward or do anything. Sometimes, restarting player will correct it. Sometime not and I actually have to unplug the unit and reboot that way. Can be very frustrating.
@@screamingeekmedia if your discs are skipping/freezing at random spots it may indicate dirty or faulty discs, and not a player issue.
@@blurayffan66 Wrong. If you follow physical media at all, you would know it is common among the cheaper models that they have issues with BD-100 discs. Every time I have had an issue, it has always been a BD-100. I have NEVER had any issues with any other discs. But it is not a guarantee that it will glitch. It is random. Plus sometimes a disc will play fine one one time and then the next time it will glitch. Rebooting the unit almost always works. Sometimes I have to unplug it to get it to work. Early on, it was not that often but in the last few months it has gotten worse. So I do plan on replacing player in few months. This might be a good option. Just waiting to read more reviews about it since it just got released in the U.S.
@screamingeekmedia ... this type of issue is sometimes hard to pinpoint. For example, many of the 4k discs being sold in the US are made in Mexico at a plant with well know quality issues and people receive brand new releases with scratched discs, dirty discs, loose discs... whereas in Europe their discs are made in Europe and are having a fraction of the playback problems vs. US customers. Cheaper players may be having issues too- I have read the Sony 700 model has some but I have also read people with Sonys higher end x800 player have had some issues with some 100gb disc playback too, and others have zero issues with same discs... all very confusing! I think another thing may be that manufacturers seem to be releasing less and less firmware updates over time- perhaps more frequent updates could help some of these playback issues, not sure.
Considering this
I use my ps5 but eventually systems will no longer have drives sadly
So need one for future
I've had ub820 for about 18 months this player works awesome never had a problem with it
Nice!
Why is my LG G4 calling my Denon Receiver a DVD player? I run my Apple TV 4K and 4k blu ray player into my receiver, ARC to the tv. Does that affect my movie or tv quality?
Best to turn off upscaling in the Denon Receiver and just let the LG G4 TV do the upscaling
The auto naming feature sometimes gets it wrong.
@@TechnoDad I was worried it was receiving it as a 720p signal or something. A lot of settings on the G4 are grayed out, but maybe that's protocol for 4k blu ray movies.
Same specs for the UK? version, was released in the UK months ago, Very good 4K Player
I wouldn’t know, but possibly!
For some reason HDR does not work with Dolby vision on !! I turn it off and the HRD IS awsome and I can work the HRD button to make adjustments I have the Panasonic 820
The hdr button isn't active with dolby vision. The hdr button is only for hdr 10 discs ( not dolby vision discs) you do not need to optimise dolby vision as its already done.
HDR10 works without problems, if HDR10+ is the default preset in the menus then it’s Dolby Vision that gets disabled.
@ didn’t know Dolby vision turns off automatically
@@babymaker13th it's written in the manual, if HDR10+ is selected then DV is bypassed... useful for those pesky Samsung TVs I suppose.
Good consideration. Thank you 🙏
You’re welcome!
Australia too mine as I was interested in seeing Dolby Vision on my 77" LG G3
Nice!
Does it play 3D Bluerays?
Yes it does!
So, can it play all sound formats in mp4 format? Also, can it play Dolby Vision over file playback?
I’m not 100% sure…if you have some files for me to test, I’d be happy to test them.
It's weird that it says it does MKV on the Amazon page. Is that a straight lie or was there a update done that makes this possible now
I think it will play MKVs, just not full 4K UHD with Atmos type of MKV
This is a great deal.
In deed