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Panasonic has raised the prices of its UHD Blu-ray players, and the increases affect several models in the company’s lineup. The changes are especially noticeable for the popular UB820 and the flagship UB9000. The former now officially costs $649.99, while its launch price was $500. The UB9000, meanwhile, has gone up from $999 to $1,299.99, although you can already find it in stores for much more. Panasonic did not give an official reason for the hikes, but a likely explanation is rising component costs, primarily memory.
Panasonic's UHD Blu-ray players are getting noticeably more expensive
Panasonic is one of the last major manufacturers remaining in the UHD Blu-ray player market. Other firms, such as LG, Oppo, Samsung and Reavon, have already withdrawn from the segment, meaning the choice of available players is becoming increasingly limited. Alongside Panasonic, companies like Sony and Magnetar remain on the market. The Japanese maker also offers one of the widest ranges, covering both entry-level and very expensive models. In the United States the cheapest model, the DP-UB150, is now officially priced at $209.99. The DP-UB450 and DP-UB154 are priced at $299.99. The DP-UB420 is listed at $369.99. The most attention, however, is drawn by the popular DP-UB820, known in some markets as the UB824. Its official price has risen to $649.99. That's $150 more than the launch price in 2018, when the unit cost $500. The increase does not mean everyone must immediately pay the full new price. Some retailers still sell the UB820 for less, and in the United States you can find offers around $540. In Europe the player is also available at prices below the suggested US price, though exact amounts depend on the country and the retailer. Panasonic has not officially commented on the price changes, so the reason has not been confirmed by the manufacturer.
UB9000 now costs as much as $1,800
There is an even bigger problem with Panasonic’s flagship UB9000. Its official price in the US has risen from $999 to $1,299.99. That represents a $300 increase over the device’s original price. In practice, however, finding a UB9000 for the official $1,300 may be very difficult. According to available listings, the unit already costs around $1,700 to $1,800 in many stores. Such a high price makes the purchase hard to justify even for physical media enthusiasts. Panasonic’s increases come at a time when the costs of components used in consumer electronics are rising. Memory chips are becoming particularly expensive, driven in part by growing demand from data centre infrastructure being developed for artificial intelligence. Similar price hikes have already affected streaming devices, including Apple TV 4K, Roku and Google TV Streamer. Rising component costs are also a problem for console makers such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Panasonic has not, however, confirmed that this factor is behind the new prices of its disc players. The situation is particularly interesting for the UHD Blu-ray market, which has remained niche compared with streaming for years. At the same time, Panasonic players are among the most frequently recommended devices for people who collect physical films. Rising prices may therefore further increase the cost of entry into the world of 4K Blu-ray discs. It is also not yet known whether similar increases will be introduced in other markets.
Panasonic has significantly raised the prices of UHD Blu-ray players in the US. The popular UB820 now costs $649.99, while the flagship UB9000 is officially $1,299.99, though its retail prices reach as high as $1,800. Panasonic did not explain the reasons for the increases, but one likely cause is rising component costs, especially memory. In an era of streaming's growing dominance, collectors of physical media must therefore reckon that the equipment needed to play them will become increasingly expensive.
source: flatpanelshd
