Execs
- Glorious image and sound high quality
- Dynamic Vary Adjustment settings
- Netflix and Amazon Video with 4K HDR
- Speedy and quiet operation
Cons
- Higher Panasonic fashions have been discounted
Key Specs
- Assessment Value: £300.00
- UHD Blu-ray disc playback
- 4K Excessive Precision Chroma processor
- Streaming video companies
- Twin HDMI
- Wi-Fi
What’s the Panasonic DMP-UB400?
Of all of the electronics giants, Panasonic is by far probably the most dedicated to 4K UHD Blu-ray. It was the primary to place out a 4K Blu-ray participant, the £600 Panasonic DMP-UB900, which has been one to beat since 2016.
The corporate then launched the £400 DMP-UB700 as a junior different. The construct was much less flashy and the analogue connections had been axed, together with the flamboyant sound-improving damping ft.
Subsequent got here the entry-level DMP-UB300, a £250 unit aimed squarely on the non-gamers who would possibly take into account shopping for an Xbox One S purely for a cut-price 4K disc spinner. It is a no-frills choice that does away with as many options as attainable, together with Wi-Fi.
So the place does that depart the Panasonic DM-UB400? It’s positioned because the price range 4K Blu-ray participant that’s a few notches above the naked minimal. At £300, it fulfils that position properly.
Associated: Finest TVs
Panasonic DMP-UB400 – Design and Options
For £300 you’d count on a fairly respectable unit, and the Panasonic DMP-UB400 actually doesn’t disappoint. Though its building is stripped again in comparison with its larger siblings, there’s nothing low-cost about it.
The casing is product of metallic. The UB400 loses the shiny plastic (fake glass) prime and facet panels of the UB900 and UB700, however retains the mirrored entrance flap – which is all you’d see from the couch anyway.
Behind the flap is the disc tray and a single USB port. Panasonic has executed away with the SD card slot. The show has additionally been eliminated – which is a disgrace, because it’s all the time good to know at-a-glance what the participant is doing, or how a lot time there may be left on a movie. As a substitute you might have a single crimson LED, which blinks slowly on beginning up and stays on till you energy down. Not superb, however I’ve grow to be used to it.
What I do like are the bodily energy and eject buttons. They’re much less fancy than the touch-sensitive ones that characteristic on the fashions increased up the vary, however they’re extra responsive – to not point out simpler to seek out when the lights are down.
On the again, there are not any analogue audio inputs however you do get a digital optical output. There are additionally twin HDMI sockets, a helpful characteristic left over from the UB900 and UB700, however lacking from the UB300. It’s for splitting your video and audio indicators.
There’s one other USB port, excessive powered for arduous drives, plus an ethernet socket. There’s additionally Wi-Fi inbuilt (lacking from the UB300), however I desire to make use of ethernet for streaming stability. Streaming apps embody Netflix, Amazon, BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
On the within, the UB400 options the identical 4K Excessive Precision Chroma processor utilized by the UB900. The image ought to, in idea, look simply nearly as good as that high-end machine.
As for the distant, you don’t get the big, backlit machine that shipped with the UB900, however you do get a devoted HDR Setting button.
That’s a helpful shortcut to the UB400’s all-new characteristic: HDR presets. The thought is you can rapidly tweak your participant’s HDR output to swimsuit brighter ambient gentle, with out messing up your fastidiously chosen settings in your TV.
AV purists are more likely to detest such a characteristic, nevertheless it’s efficient and much more delicate than pushing your TV to Dynamic mode (by no means push your TV to Dynamic mode). The HDR Setting button does include a warning that the usual output is the supposed setting, and that it’s best to proceed with warning.
Of the HDR presets, I felt Pure Setting labored properly, whereas Gentle Setting ought to solely be utilized in a vibrant room – and even then, I felt a few of the lighter areas had been a little bit washed out. There’s a separate Dynamic Vary Adjustment menu, in case you wish to get a little bit extra in-depth and override the presets – I usually prevented going increased than the +4 setting.
Final however not least, the Panasonic DMP-UB400 helps 3D playback. If 3D is essential to you and also you’re shopping for a brand new TV, be aware that just one 2017 mannequin – the Panasonic EX750 – is able to displaying 3D.
Panasonic DMP-UB400 – Efficiency
The very first thing I observed when booting up the UB400 is how briskly it’s. I measured how lengthy it took to go from a powered-off state to being on with the disc tray totally open, and in contrast it to the UB700. The UB700 took 16 seconds, a few of which is spent saying ‘Hey’ on its show, whereas the UB400 took solely three seconds.
The UB400 can also be quiet in operation. The loudest it obtained was when it was sat ready in a disc menu, once I recorded about 34dB – roughly what you’d get in a quiet library. In full playback mode, the machine was noticeably quieter at about 30dB. Alongside the sound in your audio system, you’ll battle to listen to it.
As for video efficiency? Nicely, there’s actually nothing cut-price in regards to the UB400’s image. It’s greater than able to displaying the whole lot you need from a 4K Blu-ray. It delivers an insane quantity of wonderful element, mixed with robust distinction and a large gamut of wealthy color. Higher nonetheless, it does all this with extra subtlety and tone constancy than the opposite price range 4K Blu-ray participant, the Xbox One S.
Panasonic says the image efficiency needs to be the identical as that delivered by the high-end UB900 and the UB700, since all of them use the identical chipset and processing. Have a look at check patterns alone and I’d be inclined to agree. However spinning some precise 4K Blu-rays reveals some variation.
In comparison with the UB700, I felt the UB400 wasn’t as nuanced with its wonderful element, and it wasn’t as dynamic both. Scenes that blend a whole lot of gentle and darkish parts didn’t fairly have that impression on the UB400.
It’s the same story with audio: the UB400 does an important job, nevertheless it isn’t as proficient as its pricier siblings. What you get is evident and detailed, with Panasonic’s sometimes wealthy supply. Results placement is exact and panning is agile. The UB700 sound hits more durable, nevertheless. Music and results have extra energy to them and voices seem extra expressive.
These are small variations, although. General, that is nonetheless a wonderful 4K Blu-ray participant.
Ought to I purchase the Panasonic DMP-UB400?
The Panasonic DMP-UB400 is one thing of a candy spot for 4K Blu-ray gamers. It isn’t nearly as good as its premium siblings, however the distinction in efficiency isn’t enormous and the UB400 advantages from a decrease RRP.
In the event you’re a gamer, you would possibly wish to keep on with the Xbox One S because the economical choice. However if you happen to haven’t an curiosity in enjoying video games, and easily need a price range 4K Blu-ray participant, then that is the one for you.
The one drawback for the UB400 is that Panasonic’s different fashions have been in the marketplace for longer and due to this fact benefited from value cuts. It didn’t take me lengthy to discover a deal for the superior UB700, which places it on the identical value because the UB400 – £300. Then once more, I don’t assume it’s going to take very lengthy for the UB400 to grow to be cheaper as nicely.
Verdict
A wonderful price range 4K Blu-ray participant – it gained’t disappoint.
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Used as the principle TV for the evaluate interval
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