Blu-ray Players / Panasonic DP-UB420-K vs Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K
Panasonic DP-UB420-K vs Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K
Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K
Balanced XLR and 7.1 analog, THX certified — the audiophile Panasonic.
Wins overall by 1.7 points
Quick Verdict
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K takes this by a clear 1.7 points. Balanced XLR and 7.1 analog, THX certified — the audiophile Panasonic. The Panasonic DP-UB420-K only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K and Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K are both current-generation blu-ray Player models, and the Panasonic DP-UB420-K is $902 cheaper than the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K ($297.99 vs $1,199.99). On Connectivity, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads (9.8 vs 6.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. On Audio Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads (9.5 vs 6.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. On Build Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads (9.5 vs 6.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. Overall, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.9/10 for the Panasonic DP-UB420-K. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Panasonic DP-UB420-K | Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $297.99 | $1199.99 |
| Release Year | 2019 | 2019 |
| Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and CD. No SACD and no DVD-Audio | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and CD. No SACD. DVD-Audio and Blu-ray 3D support are not explicitly confirmed by Panasonic for this model |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. No Dolby Vision | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG |
| Dolby Vision | No | Yes |
| SACD Playback | No | No |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream over HDMI; the detailed bitstream matrix is not published | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream |
| HDMI Outputs | 1 | 2 — one AV and one dedicated audio-only output |
| Analog Outputs | None — optical digital only | 7.1-channel RCA, balanced stereo XLR and stereo RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital |
| Streaming Apps | Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Video | Yes, including Netflix with surround sound |
| Upscaling & Processing | HCX processor with 4K upscaling | HCX processor with 4K upscaling and HDR Optimizer |
| Network | Both Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet | Both Wi-Fi and Ethernet |
| Region Free | No — Region A and Region 1 | No — explicitly not region free |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on disc playback quality and HDR handling. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.0 — a 3.5-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 6.5 against 6.0 — a 0.5-point margin on how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build Quality
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.5 — a 3.0-point margin on chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 9.8 against 6.0 — a 3.8-point margin on HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Panasonic DP-UB420-K if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $902 cheaper.
Choose the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores 9.8/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores 9.5/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores 9.5/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores 9.0/10 here (disc playback quality and HDR handling).
- • Features matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores 8.5/10 here (streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback).
Pros & Cons
Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Pros
- +The HCX processor is the same picture engine family as Panasonic's flagship, at a third of the price
- +HDR10+ plus HLG and Wi-Fi built in
- +Plays Blu-ray 3D
- +Voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- −No Dolby Vision, which is the main reason to step up to the DP-UB820
- −Single HDMI output with no separate audio out
- −No analog audio outputs
- −Panasonic has announced no successor and has not refreshed this line since 2019
Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K
Pros
- +Balanced XLR outputs and 7.1 analog make it the most connectable player you can buy on Amazon
- +THX Certified with a genuinely rigid aluminium and steel chassis
- +ESS 32-bit/768kHz DAC and a serious audio section
- +Same excellent HDR Optimizer and dual-format HDR as the UB820
Cons
- −Its video performance is close to identical to the UB820 at more than double the price — you are paying for the audio section and chassis
- −Availability is the real risk: sold out on Panasonic's US store and out of stock at major retailers
- −No SACD
- −Two Amazon listings exist for this model and it is unclear which is canonical
- −Cannot cast from Android
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores higher on Connectivity (9.8/10 vs 6.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores higher on Audio Quality (9.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Which is better for Build Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores higher on Build Quality (9.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K or the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores higher on Picture Quality (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling.
Is the Panasonic DP-UB420-K worth the price difference over the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the cheaper option at $297.99 versus $1,199.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the better fit if you mainly care about 4k-uhd or home-theater. The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K is the better fit for audiophile.
What's the warranty on the Panasonic DP-UB420-K vs the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K ships with a 12-month warranty; the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Panasonic DP-UB150-K — $179.99
Premium Option
Magnetar UDP800 MKII — $1799.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.