Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K UHD Multi-Region Blu-ray Player

Panasonic DP-UB9000 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player

The Panasonic DP-UB9000 is the reference Ultra HD Blu-ray player in Panasonic’s range, built around the HCX (Hollywood Cinema Experience) processor and certified by THX for both image and sound. It plays Ultra HD Blu-ray, 3D and standard Blu-ray, DVD and CD, supports every HDR format in consumer use — HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG — and pairs its video performance with an audiophile analogue stage that includes balanced XLR outputs and a 7.1-channel analogue output.

Key features

• HCX processor with 4K High Precision Chroma Processing
• HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG support
• HDR Optimizer tone mapping for any display
• THX certified image and sound
• Balanced XLR and 7.1-channel analogue outputs
• Twin HDMI outputs separate audio and video
• High-resolution audio playback to 384 kHz/32-bit and DSD 11.2 MHz

HCX picture processing

The HCX processor applies Panasonic’s Hollywood-tuned colour science: chroma is upsampled with high precision so colour edges in 4K HDR material stay clean, and the HDR Optimizer adjusts the player’s tone mapping to the actual brightness capability of the connected television or projector, set by display type. That second feature matters most with projectors, whose peak brightness sits far below the 1,000-plus nits HDR discs are mastered at. 4K upscaling handles standard Blu-ray and DVD, and picture presets include Cinema and Fine Cinema modes.

Analogue audio stage

Unlike most disc players, the UB9000 treats audio as a first-class output. A dedicated high-grade 32-bit DAC section feeds stereo outputs on both RCA and balanced XLR, and the stereo RCA set doubles as a 7.1-channel analogue output for connection to amplifiers without HDMI. High Clarity Sound processing switches off video circuits during music playback, and the player handles FLAC, WAV, ALAC, AIFF and DSD files from USB or the network at up to 384 kHz/32-bit PCM and 11.2 MHz DSD.

Twin HDMI and build

The twin HDMI arrangement sends video directly to the display and audio-only to the receiver, with a low-jitter process on the audio output — the classic solution for systems whose AVR cannot pass current HDR formats. The chassis is a heavy, low-vibration design with a thick aluminium front panel and sound-insulating feet, 430 mm wide and 7.8 kg.

Smart features

Built-in dual-band Wi-Fi provides 4K streaming apps and DLNA network playback, voice-control compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, smartphone mirroring, and BD-Live. Front and rear USB ports (USB 2.0 and 3.0) accept storage for file playback, including external hard drives.

Position in the range

The UB9000 sits at the top of Panasonic’s disc-player line, above the UB820 and UB450. The differentiators are the parts AV enthusiasts actually connect to: the balanced XLR stage, the 7.1-channel analogue output, the heavier chassis and the THX certification. For systems built around an external DAC or a processor, the UB9000 is equally at home as a pure transport over its twin HDMI outputs.

Specifications

Panasonic’s full manufacturer specification for the DP-UB9000 is listed in the Additional Information tab.