Panasonic DP-UB820EB
An impressive-looking CV translates into a seriously talented all-round performance
On paper, the Panasonic DP-UB820EB looks like quite the prospect. This 4K Blu-ray player borrows much of the picture-processing technology that you find in the company’s flagship 4K machine, the DP-UB9000, but costs less than half the price.
If the UB820 can produce a picture of a similar standard and nail the sound part of the equation, we could be looking at quite the home cinema bargain.
A physical presence
The Panasonic DP-UB820EB is a chunky rectangle of a deck. It’s a lot wider and taller than the usual budget Blu-ray player and the beefier dimensions give it a more substantial look. The bevel cut finish around its edges looks attractive, as does the brushed effect on the top panel. But up close, the player looks and feels a little cheap and plasticky.
You get a matching chunky remote that fits nicely in the palm of your hand. It’s textbook Panasonic – the buttons are a good size and well spread out, even if it doesn’t have a backlight.
The player’s front panel drops down as the drawer extends out, revealing the player’s display (which is also visible with the panel up). Around the back, there’s ethernet for a wired internet connection while twin HDMI outputs give added flexibility for owners who prefer to split the picture and sound for their display and amp.
A set of 7.1-channel analogue outputs isn’t vital given the specifications of modern AV receivers, but it’s nice to have added flexibility should your system need it. The Panasonic will also handle the full gamut of surround-sound codecs found on modern 4K Blu-rays and streaming services, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The DP-UB820 also covers all the necessary bases where HDR (high dynamic range) formats are concerned. There’s HDR10 and Dolby Vision support out of the box, and HDR10+ support too. If your TV supports these formats, the Panasonic will be happy to oblige. The same can’t be said for a number of rival manufacturers’ players.
A press of the ‘HDR Setting’ button on the remote gives you the option of tweaking the HDR intensity to compensate for different lighting conditions. The brighter your room, for example, the harder it can be for the extra punch of HDR to make a mark.
All the key catch-up and on-demand video-streaming services are at your disposal, including BBC iplayer, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Vibrant and immersive
We fire up the player with Blue Planet II in 4K and HDR10 and head to the Galapagos Islands, where we’re greeted with a detailed and sharply drawn volcanic landscape. The picture is as vibrant and immersive above sea level as it is below.
As marine iguanas nibble away at vegetation on the sea floor, the Panasonic picks up an impressive level of detail on their skin, claws, face and even the fine lines that separate their teeth. They convene on a sun-kissed clifftop, where the DP-UB820 paints an eye-catching and immersive picture.
There’s a burst of vibrant colour as a crab feeds on dead skin from the iguana’s back. The crab’s reds, oranges and bluey-whites appear punchy, contrasting with the darker skin of their hosts. We switch to Aquaman in Dolby Vision, and the Panasonic raises the bar even higher. As the pirates arrive to board the Russian submarine, the headlights and red landing lights on their submersible punch through the murky depths. As the action moves inside, the muzzle flash from a machine gun lights up the screen with concentrated, precise explosions. The clean, noise-free picture looks realistic and easily draws you in to admire details and textures.
The DP-UB820 is a decent upscaler too. The original Transformers movie on Blu-ray is a stern test – there’s plenty of noise and the colour balance has a warmish tint – but the Panasonic does a good job of working the picture into something watchable.
The Panasonic complements its exciting picture with a sound to match. This is a weighty and powerful performance that’s capable of delivering explosions with plenty of gusto, but also in a controlled manner. There’s rich dialogue too, irrespective of whether the scene is quiet or characters are caught up in an avalanche of surround effects. It’s a similar case with music playback too.
If you’ve bought into the 4K Blu-ray format and have a suitable home cinema set-up, you need a dedicated player that can deliver on multiple fronts. The DP-UB820 is just that. It’s a great buy.