In today’s streaming-centric home video market, it can be easy to overlook the existence of 4K UHD Blu-ray players. The fact of the matter is that there are fewer disc players out there than in the past, with less industry competition on the whole.
While it’s true that LG and Samsung have left the consumer disc market, and that Sony is in the process of phasing out disc production with its PlayStation 5 console, one company is still sticking to its optical media guns: Panasonic.
Indeed, Panasonic is still around and kicking in the 4K UHD Blu-ray space, at least for the foreseeable future. In fact, it’s Panasonic that has produced one of the most ubiquitous and universally loved 4K UHD players of all time: the DP-UB820.
Why does everyone love the Panasonic DP-UB820 so much?
A 4K UHD Blu-ray player that hits all the right notes
So, what makes the Panasonic DP-UB820 so special? After all, externally speaking, there’s nothing crazy to write home about. The unit is an unassuming rectangle with a dull black colorway, with very little in the way of visual flourishes to call its own.
Unsurprisingly, it all primarily comes down to audiovisual quality. The DP-UB820 is capable of playing back most every 4K UHD disc without a hitch, while also supporting a mariad of formats and AV specifications. Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and 7.1-channel surround sound are on deck, as are Dolby Vision, and HDR10+.
The DP-UB820 also features high-quality 4K upscaling right out of the box, which many on the internet describe as being best-in-class for the price range. In fact, many Reddit users have cited the player as being the ‘holy grail’ of 4K players, thanks to its excellent AV performance and its non-astronomical price tag.
Speaking of price, at an MSRP of $550, the DP-UB820 isn’t the cheapest piece of kit around, but it’s well within the realm of mainstream 4K UHD players. In other words, while you can get a superior experience by spending thousands of dollars on reference-grade hardware, the DP-UB820 strikes the perfect balance between quality and accessibility.
Upscaling on some 4K players is a bit hit-or-miss, with the effect sometimes doing more harm than good, but on the DP-UB820, the dedicated upscaler chip does wonders to improve upon standard Blu-ray discs and DVDs. On top of this, the player has a variety of extra goodies on deck for adjusting picture quality, making for a well-rounded overall experience.
Panasonic’s DP-UB820 isn’t perfect, of course. It’s not the quietest or smallest disc player out on the market, and its built-in remote features an unsightly Netflix button front-and-center. Even with these quirks in mind, however, the player remains one of the best values in the physical media space, particularly if you’re able to snag a unit on sale.
