UB9000 is Panasonic Japan’s flagship UHD player from 2018. Following our initial exposure during the presentation in Mallorca in February, we have eagerly anticipated conducting an in-depth evaluation within our reference cinema. Long-time readers may recall that during the dvdforum era, we proudly and uniquely utilized Sony’s then-flagship DVD player, the Sony DVP-S7700, as our reference unit. This player played a crucial role as we contributed to the evolution of the Swedish DVD market. The DVP-S7700 was a robust machine, manufactured in Japan, featuring a glossy, brushed aluminum finish. Its solid construction and comprehensive support for contemporary image and sound formats (including Philips Video-CD) provided unsurpassed image quality for its time. However, it also carried a price tag of SEK 10,000, a significant sum in 1998.
Reference 1998.
It is fitting that, 20 years later, we are evaluating the Panasonic DP-UB9000, a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player that shares many characteristics with Sony’s groundbreaking model. The UB9000 boasts exceptional build quality, substantial weight, and extensive format support, coupled with a price point that, while considerable, is justifiable given its capabilities.
UB9000 – Appearance, Feel, Technology
Upon unboxing the nearly eight-kilogram UB9000, its premium nature is immediately apparent. Panasonic’s new flagship resembles a high-end, luxury hi-fi amplifier, perhaps designed by NAD. It features a stylish, dark chassis in brushed aluminum and a stable construction with a centrally located drive sled, incorporating vibration-dampening technology to ensure accurate disc reading. The UB9000 exudes a level of solidity and professional design that makes other UHD players appear almost like inexpensive, generic plastic devices.
The unit utilizes a robust power cable, and Panasonic has implemented separate power supply circuits within the UB9000, including one dedicated to analog audio, to minimize interference from power outlets and power surges.
The UB9000 supports virtually every disc format imaginable: Ultra HD Blu-ray in 4K, with comprehensive support for all current HDR standards, from HDR10 to Dolby Vision and HDR10+. This extensive support is notable, as Panasonic’s own top-tier 2018 TVs did not initially support Dolby Vision, a leading HDR format that incorporates dynamic metadata for each frame. The player also supports standard Blu-ray discs (including 3D movies) and DVD movies (including DVD-R, +R, and RW). However, region-free playback via remote modification, a feature available on previous Panasonic models, is not supported. The UB9000 upscales all content to 4K, enhancing both Blu-ray (Full HD) and DVD movies (Standard Definition), delivering impressive results, which we will elaborate on further below.
Image processing is handled by Panasonic’s acclaimed HCX (Hollywood Cinema Experience) image processor, now in its second generation. This processor, recognized for its exceptional color detail, includes a unique HDR Optimizer designed to enhance HDR color reproduction based on source material, ambient lighting, and display characteristics. We will provide a detailed analysis of its performance in the Image & Sound section. For formats with dynamic metadata, such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+, the optimization function is automatically disabled. A useful feature is the ability to display information about the source material, such as the maximum and minimum nit levels, via a remote control button (availability varies by title).
The UB9000 also excels in audio playback, supporting music CDs (including CD-R and RW) with a high-resolution (32 bit/760 kHz) DAC and both analog and XLR (balanced) outputs, making it an attractive option for audiophiles seeking to revitalize their CD collections. Disc loading occurs within seven seconds, and track changes and fast-forwarding are executed without delay. A dedicated article on its audio performance will be published on Senses in the future.
Your CD collection still has life in it.
USB connectivity allows for the connection of external storage devices up to 4TB, supporting formats such as AVCHD, AVCHD 3D, MKV, MP4, and a wide range of audio formats.
The rear panel features XLR outputs for balanced stereo, 7.1 analog connections, and dual HDMI outputs, with one dedicated to audio. In addition to CD audio, the player supports common digital audio formats including WAV, FLAC, AIFF, MP3, and AAC. Notably absent are support for SACD (Super Audio-CD) and DVD-Audio, as well as AirPlay (Miracast from Android is supported). These features are commonly found in media boxes like the Apple TV 4K. Therefore, prospective buyers should consider whether these omissions are critical. The UB9000 includes pre-installed apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube (we recommend exploring The HDR Channel for high-quality HDR content). However, users cannot add additional apps, such as SVT Play, TV4, or HBO Nordic. While these services are accessible through media boxes, the option for user-installed apps would be a welcome addition.
The menus are generally intuitive, although response times could be improved. Overall, movie loading times are acceptable (dependent on mastering), and the Auto settings generally provide optimal configuration, particularly regarding HDR formats. However, it is crucial to verify settings, as our UB9000 (firmware 1.47) incorrectly identified our Panasonic OLED display as an LCD, resulting in suboptimal HDR optimization and a slightly washed-out image. This highlights the importance of manually verifying all settings for optimal performance.
UB9000 – Image and Sound
Now, we turn to the core of our evaluation: the image and sound quality of the Panasonic UB9000. In short, the performance is exceptional. While avoiding excessive technical jargon, it is important to acknowledge that UHD 4K HDR is still an evolving format with some standards yet to be fully defined. As a result, UHD releases and streaming content are often mastered differently, requiring users to verify specifications on a case-by-case basis. While all UHD releases support static HDR (HDR10), the final result is dependent on the display’s support for dynamic metadata formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+ (currently available on Amazon Prime). Further complicating matters, mastering for 1000 or 4000 nits necessitates different display calibrations, a factor that the UB9000’s HDR Optimizer addresses automatically. Color space variations (REC.2020 or DCI-P3) also contribute to the complexity. For a deeper dive into these issues, the AVS Forum offers a comprehensive, technical discussion.
For most users, these intricacies are less critical. Regardless of future standardization efforts, the UB9000 is well-equipped to handle a wide range of content. We evaluated the player with several reference UHD titles, using Panasonic’s THX-certified FZ800 65-inch OLED display.
Mission Impossible: Fallout, a recent UHD release, offers exceptional visual quality. The UB9000 renders the Dolby Atmos soundtrack with impressive clarity and impact during the film’s opening sequence, featuring Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and CIA agent Walker (Henry Cavill) parachuting. The player delivers well-balanced blacks, remarkable detail, and accurate lighting effects, exemplified by the red warning light in the cargo hold and the sharp facial details visible in the illuminated masks. The nighttime Paris scene showcases the city’s numerous light sources with enhanced clarity, thanks to the effective use of HDR.
Check out this scene, from MI: Fallout, at good volume in the UB9000.It, the remake, features a chilling soundtrack that the UB9000 reproduces with remarkable impact in both Dolby Atmos and DTS-Master Audio. The daytime scenes exhibit excellent clarity, and the dark indoor and night sequences are rendered with improved detail compared to our previous reference player, the Panasonic UB700.
Planet Earth II, a UHD benchmark, was previously distributed by Panasonic with many of its UHD players. This BBC production, filmed in native 4K with natural sunlight and vibrant colors, continues to impress. The UB9000 further enhances the color palette and contrast, particularly in nighttime scenes, bringing out the detail in close-ups of the planet’s diverse creatures.
Planet Earth II – still a reference release on UHD.Murder on the Orient Express (Kenneth Branagh’s remake), which we previously reviewed, was filmed digitally in 6.5K and downscaled to 4K. This differs from most cinema films, which are filmed in 2K and upscaled to 4K for UHD release. The UHD version offers a warm and highly detailed image, highlighting the textures in the costumes. While the increased sharpness enhances the visibility of digital effects, the overall presentation, including the robust Dolby Atmos soundtrack, is impressive.
Netflix content (accessed via the built-in app) offers good image and sound quality, although it does not quite match the fidelity of physical UHD releases with Dolby Atmos. The UB9000 includes a function to convert SDR content to HDR, which provides a more subtle effect than the Apple TV 4K. However, the built-in app is slower compared to Apple’s counterpart.
Music playback on the UB9000 is a rewarding experience. The quality is dependent on the source material, but the UB9000 delivers a clean, high-resolution signal, whether decoded by an external amplifier or utilizing the player’s internal DAC. We recommend rediscovering your CD collection, as the UB9000 offers superior fidelity compared to compressed audio formats like MP3 or Spotify’s Ogg Vorbis. High-resolution FLAC files are also supported. While the UB9000 offers a neutral sound signature, its accurate and uncolored reproduction is similar to that of Audio-Technica products.
UB9000 – Verdict
Reference 2018.
As demonstrated throughout this review, the Panasonic DP-UB9000 is an exceptional disc and music player. With Oppo‘s departure from the high-end player market, Panasonic stands alone at the top. The UB9000 supports all major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, which enjoys broad support in both physical releases and on Apple devices. Panasonic’s HDR Optimizer effectively enhances contrast and color management, though it is recommended to experiment with enabling and disabling the feature to determine the optimal setting for specific content.
The UB9000’s price of approximately SEK 13,000 in Sweden represents a significant investment. However, its performance justifies the cost, particularly when compared to the Sony DVP-S7700 from 20 years ago, which cost SEK 10,000 (equivalent to a higher sum today). While more affordable UHD players are available, such as Panasonic’s own DP-UB820, which features the same image processor and HDR optimizer, the UB9000 offers superior build quality, aesthetics, and format support. Its ability to handle current and future HDR standards ensures its longevity, and its image and sound quality surpass any other player we have tested. Despite the price, retailers report strong demand, indicating its appeal to discerning home theater enthusiasts.
For the true home theater enthusiast and image and sound lover, the UB9000 is the top high-end choice available.
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