Panasonic DP-UB420

Not bad at all – I've got the newer model and so far so good. It's does its job so quickly And even works well with the remote control Got a sharp picture quality though, don't like it takes a bit to turn On And get going. Over All would recommend As I've played all the New titles On it including the James Bond 007 movie Show details

Magnificent UHD video performance without breaking the bank – We've owned our Panasonic DP-UB420 for 13 months. The video performance is magnificent! Outstanding 4K/HDR content display and high resolution audio file support at an affordable price. We have experienced a few hiccups with this player. Within a few months after purchase, the player sometimes would not play 4k dvds, but blu-ray and regular dvds… Read more ·  1

still played fine. Just before the end of the 12 month warranty, the player stopped playing 4k dvds completely. The player was 2 weeks out of the 12 month warranty period. I contacted Panasonic's customer service by completing the customer support form on their website. I explained the problem and asked if they could assess the player for repair or replacement. To my surprise, I got a reply to email 2 hours of completing the form. They explained that we could have the player assessed by an authorized service store, if the problem was considered to be from a manufacturing fault, Panasonic would cover the assessment fee of $60 + repair costs. But, if the problem was not found to be from manufacturing, then we would be liable for paying the assessment fee, and also repair costs if we decided to go ahead and get it fixed at our expense. They provided the address of the nearest authorized repair shop which was in the same post code we live, so very close to us. The assessment was conducted within 2 days, and the problem was found to be a manufacturing problem. So, Panasonic honored the warranty and paid for the repair costs. Panasonic handled all the paperwork directly with the repair shop. We picked up the player from the repair shop 4 days after dropping it there for assessment. We can watch our 4k dvds once again. I was very impressed with Panasonic's customer service. I contacted them on Monday early afternoon, they replied within 2 hours and after a few emails back and forth on that same afternoon, we had the address where to take the dvd player for assessment. We dropped the dvd player at the repair shop on Tuesday morning, and today on Friday afternoon we picked it up. So, we had the player fixed in 5 days which I think is amazing.

What I love about the Panasonic DP-UB420 player:

* Outstanding UHD image quality * High resolution audio file support * Support for both free and on demand streaming services, including YouTube, Netflix and Amazon, and 4K videos can be played in MP4 format. * WiFi connectivity * Affordable * Great customer service by Panasonic

What I dislike about this player:

* No display, so we are always looking on the TV screen. There is a very discreet red light dot that indicates the player is on, but that's about it. * Lack of support for Dolby Vision format. Panasonic more expensive 4k players offer support for both HDR/HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats, but not offered with this cheaper model. * Remote control: I really miss a button to turn on subtitles like my previous Samsung player had. The only on demand streaming service that "deserved" a dedicated button on this Panasonic player is NETFLIX. I hate where the Netflix button was placed as it is pressed quite often by mistake. I am not a Netflix user, so I get annoyed with that button quite often. * Lack of support for Super Audio CD. This is definitely not a player to enjoy listening to CDs. *Noisy. This player is not quiet. Noise is only noticeable at the beginning of reading disks, specially 4k.

Overall, the DP-UB420 provides an outstanding home cinema performance at an affordable price.

This has to be one of the worst players I have ever had – This is my review for Panasonic 4K ULTRA HD Blu-ray Player, model DP-UB420GNK, built September 2020. I needed to update of this review and downgrade my star rating of this bluray player to 1 star. This review is going to be long because 4K players can be complicated. This player is marked in the rear for region 4. This is a Panasonic entry model… Read more

4K Ultra HD blu ray player. My overall experience with this player and Panasonic Australia has been disappointing. This player has some absurd limitations with serious faults of which I am fed up with together with the terrible and difficult people from Customer Care, Panasonic Australia where I reported the fault to.

I do not recommend that you purchase this Panasonic 4k bluray player, DP-UB420GNK.

Prior to purchasing this 4k Bluray player I contacted Panasonic Australia support and to see if my tv model was compatible with this 4k bluray player. I also had to contact Pioneer Australia support to ask if my current AV Receiver was compatible with this 4k bluray player. There was a lot of prior online reading and prior research for me to do just so I would know if the Panasonic DP-UB420GNK was compatible before I bought it. In the end I didn't need to worry so much about compatibility with the HDMI connection with my older Tv set and audio equipment.

Initially there was a DVD region issue. At first, this Panasonic DP-UB420GNK did not support DVD discs from other regions. I contacted Panasonic Australia support to sort this issue out. I was advised with the following: "Local product is designed to play local content and Panasonic would be happy to enhance your unit for multi region content. Our Authorised service provider can assist with unlocking your player to Multi region. This is a free service offered by Panasonic if you are able supply a copy of your receipt to them." So I personally took this to a Panasonic Service provider in regional Victoria, one hour drive away from my home. Even though this player is under warranty Panasonic Australia did not provide to send this item to the Service Provider by courier which was disappointing. I really didn't want to drive that far and I have a disability.

I contacted the Panasonic service centre where I was told "you need to bring this player today, very shortly, because the person who does that kind of service is leaving this afternoon at 3pm as his going on holidays." I didn't like Panasonic Australia stuffing me about and not providing me with more options with service. I took the player there the same day and the service provider assisted with unlocking this DP-UB420GNK player to Multi region. (I've only had this player for 9 days).

Note: the unlocking to play DVD discs from other regions is for (shop bought) DVD discs only with Panasonic DP-UB420GNK.

This Panasonic DP-UB420GNK does have issues playing particular discs borrowed from public libraries. These are the discs which have the RFID magnetic disc tags (large round overlay/sticker with silver for security or theft). 30, 40, or 1:21 minutes into the movie the picture distorts and froze and the discs become unplayable and it's annoying. ( Just to compare, I've played these discs on my older Sony standard bluray player and there weren't any issues with playing them).

With this review I have added photographs of the fault with the distorted and frozen images and I have added photographs of one of the a bluray discs which has issues containing the RFID tag. The title of the film on the bluray disc is VIVARIUM (2019). There are two photographs of each of the 2 sides of the Vivarium disc which also shows the undamaged and immaculate condition of the reflective side of this bluray disc.

So Panasonic have to do improvements to resolve such playback issues with this 4k Bluray player and also under Australian Consumer Rights and Guarantee they also need to provide remedy for this problematic player.

Although this player DP-UB420GNK is still under warranty Customer Care, Panasonic Australia will not honour the warranty and today they said "that there's nothing they can do" and they can't provide a remedy. This is appalling from Panasonic Australia. So I will be taking this issue and lodging my complaint with the ACCC.

Prior to purchasing this player, Panasonic never informed myself that this player has issues or limitations with playing such library discs. This is meant to be a disc player but it has issues playing discs. With the warranty and consumer rights, this player does not do all the things someone would normally expect them to do and is not fit for the purpose of playing some discs including discs borrowed from libraries. This players has faults when playing every single blu ray disc I've borrowed from the public library. The discs are in unscratched, undamaged and clean, in fact the discs are in immaculate condition so I have taken photos of the surface of the bluray discs to support this review.

One of the reasons I purchased this model was because it has HDR10+ feature (the Sony player 4k Ultra HD, model UBP-X700 supports HDR10 but not HDR10+. This Sony model also had too many negative reviews). So I chose to go with Panasonic. I have a compatible Panasonic tv set in FHD so I didn't have issues with compatibility and connectivity. ( I don't have a 4K Tv set). Many others who complained that their own model 4K Bluray player did not allow to connect with their FHD tv set.

I believe that some 4k UHD Blu-ray players need to be connected to a compatible tv set with HDMI input which must support HDCP version 2.2 (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). This is a code to stop illegal copying of discs. So if your Tv set doesn't have HDMI 2.2 your 4k bluray player may not allow you to get a picture on your tv set. If you're using a AV receiver it also must support a 4k 'pass through' all connected with 4k High speed HDMI cables. I was just lucky that mine connected ok with my 6 year old Panasonic tv set and with my 8 year old Pioneer AV Receiver.

The Operating Instructions have some information for HDMI Advanced Settings and advises on the HDCP Output Setting "if you connect to a TV that does not support HDCP 2.2 via an amplifier or a speaker some images may be displayed as black screens. In that case select "HDCP 1.4 Limit". So I did this HDCP1.4 setting and it connected fine with my 6 year old Panasonic tv set.

This player will play 4k Blu-ray discs with the region 4, B, as it's marked in the rear. If you have video files of movies you would like to play, most of the file formats are compatible with this player but only if they're on a connected USB device. The DP-UB420GNK will support MKV video files burnt on to discs, all other video files must be on a USB device.

This player also supports shop bought: blu-ray discs, DVD discs with menus, audio CD discs(aiff).

Some other good features with this model is that the DP-UB420GNK supports High Resolution Sound for BD Videos with 16 bit, 24 bit, 32 bit. It also supports Hi Res Sound with playable media discs such as, DVD-R, DVD-R DL with formats FLAC, ALAC, DSD (DFF, DSF). CD-R, CD-RW with formats FLAC, ALAC.

The Operating Instructions has information in the Sound Settings which provide various Sound Effects including upsampling up to 32bit (if possible), Night Surround, Remaster, and Digital Tube Sound and 5 other sound/frequency settings. This player also has a High Clarity Audio setting for improved audio. It also supports File Formats (on a USB device) aif, aiff, WAV, M4A, WMA with a maximum sampling rate of 32 bit.

I would like Panasonic Australia to also make available firmware update to also support audio CD discs in 24 or 32 bit. And a firmware update to support with most files on DVD disc -R, +R, RW etc please.

The DP-UB420GNK has built in WiFi for streaming in 4k HD. It supports 4k internet video with Netflix, Prime Video and Youtube. The choice of applications was somewhat lacking. Pre-installed with Netflix, Youtube, Abc iView, Sbs on Demand, Telstra, Tunein Radio, were the only decent Apps.

The firmware installed in my DP-UB420GNK was Firmware 1.64 I've searched online and found that Panasonic Japan had a firmware update Enhanced firmware version: 1.66C for this specific model which provided for unlocking their multi region DVD and was available for downloading onto USB. I tried that and it didn't work for me. I wish Panasonic would get their act together and supply its Australian customers with a firmware update which includes unlocking and support of multi region DVD discs.

4k Ultra HD players required myself to do a lot of research so I could find out prior to purchasing if this player DP-UB420GNK is compatible and able connect with my old tv set or my AV Receiver. I also had to go to various websites including Youtube to read and watch so I can understand the HDMI connectivity issues others were reporting or complaining about. I didn't have the HDMI issues because this player allowed for a HDMI setting to HDCP 1.4 which is a very useful feature of this model.

I wish that manufacturers of 4k Blu-ray players would be upfront and advise of such connectivity and compatibility issues with the individual Blu-ray players they're selling and be direct in advising and providing such information with their advertising or at least print such information on the outer packaging about such important technical information and make it simple to understand.

Another good feature with this player DP-UB420GNK has a HDMI setting where people like myself who have a FHD tv set, (or non 4k, non UHD Tv set) can be made compatible with selecting HDMI, HDCP 1.4 (although you it will not display all of the features of 4k discs eg. HDR10+)

Other people had to upgrade to a 4k compatible tv set or a compatible AV Receiver in order to connect other 4k Blu-ray players. Others who bypassed the copy protection used a Pro2 HDCP2214V2 HDCP2.2 to HDCP1.4 HDMI Video Converter. I didn't need to do all of that.

After I sorted out the DVD region issues, and HDMI compatibility setting of HDCP 1.4 this player DP-UB420GNK didn't perform as well as I was expecting it too. It was disappointing because I can't tolerate the limitations and the faults of this brand new Panasonic DP-UB420GNK anymore.

This 4k player is not so simple, so to do some of the settings and for better understanding you will definitely need to download the pdf, Panasonic Operating Instructions Blu-ray Disc Player Model No. DP-UB420GNK of 47 pages (lacking with this 4k Bluray player) this was not included in the box. Only a printed copy of Basic Operating Instructions with Quick Start Guide was included in the box. I definitely need to refer to the full Operating Instructions of 47 pages to understand the operation of this 4K player, (yet again i had to go to a web site to download this long pdf).

Overall this player and Customer Care, Panasonic Australia was a great disappointment. This is player is meant to play discs but it has serious issues playing some type of bluray discs including those from libraries. Hundreds and thousands of people like myself have been borrowing discs from libraries in Australia this player can't cope with such discs and together with Panasonic Australia it has seriously let me down. Don't buy this Panasonic player.

Wireless connection drops out frequently. Menu sometimes does not even appear – Firstly its overpriced. I paid $165 about 1 and half years ago. The wireless connection drops out especially when watching On Demand TV. Sometimes when you turn it on the menu does not appear at all and oyu have to unplug it and restart. Also the version I bought only provided Netflix, ABC IView, SBS on Demand and some other rubbish no one wants.… Read more

There is no way you can get 7Plus or 9Now or TenPlay. The only part that works well is the DVD playback. Avoid it and buy a Smart TV. Very disappointing product from Panasonic.

Big things in small packages – I did much research and decided to buy this player as it suited my needs the most. I wanted a player that would bring out the best of my extensive DVD and Blu-ray collection. I have no intension of buying into yet another format with the silly prices of Ultra 4K disks. The unboxing was underwhelming when you see it in real life, a small thing the… Read more

size of a 1980's clock radio. The cost cutting is obvious everywhere, even to the owner's manual, the tiny remote control and the no display window is a first for me. Another big disappointment is you cannot code the remote to work with a non-Panasonic TV. But where this small player does excel is the way it up samples and plays my DVD's in combination with a HD 4K TV. So much more detail is brought out from the 576 and 1080 disk format. Quite stunning actually, so much so the negatives soon disappear.

Simple to use but remote needs improving! – After a couple of months of use we've not had any major issues and enjoyed watching HD blu-ray documentaries and films. Playback is stunning! The HDMI in and out is handy for use with our soundbar. The build quality is good for the price but the remote really needs improvement. I constantly press the Netflix button by accident. Another annoyance… Read more ·  1

is that you seem to be unable to return to the menu in DVDs because the menu button on the remote is unsupported (these are new DVD box sets as well).

Easy to set up – It is very easy to set up except that the HDMI cable is not included. I have no complaints regarding video and audio. However I am quite disappointed by the not user friendly remote control.

a HUGE step up from standard Blu-Ray – Read a number of reviews, this had some of the best due to its video & audio output from Standard or 4K. Easy to setup - just go through all the menu items to make sure you haven't missed any that may compromise output, connected to a recently purchased 65" 4K UHD TV without issue and we had liftoff !! Played .mkv files from the NAS without any… Read more

problem - stunning to see a 1080p BR in 4K, so much detail. Next we tested with the Mad Max Fury Road 4K UHD HDR version - all I can say it WOW what an experience. The picture was absolutely stunning with vibrant colours, great audio - a true cinema experience in the home. Now to go through all the .mkv files and do some binge watching to see them in their new glory. Plenty of Video & Audio outputs provide future proofing so you can use it now with an older style Receiver (no HDMI input/output) but have the knowledge that when you upgrade your receiver this unit will still be there to provide its exceptional output for your new equipment.

Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Bluray Player - with dual HDMI outputs – I bought this to experience 4K video on my 4K TV - Love it ! I did a bit to research before buying as I have a receiver that the original Bluray Player was connected to (it has a Hi Def pass through) and wanted the best bang for my buck, and I didnt want to go out and spend thousands because I would need a new receiver with a 4k Pass through.… Read more ·  1

there are only a few 4K players that have dual HDMI outputs, one for 4K video the other for Audio output. Installation and setup took minutes, was simple and relaxing. I have a number of Panasonic devices and had NO issue tuning the remote to a "separate chanel" so it wouldnt interfere with the other devices. I was watching my first 4K Bluray 20 minutes after I got home.

The unit has an RJ45 network socket and has wifi connectivity. it can be used to access Netflicks Stan etc etc.

Great picture and quiet operation real quality & Value

On the down side, the instructions for "tuning the remote to a different channel" were online and a bit fiddly but doesnt detract from the great product !