TechDigs.net
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Oppo Digital just released its latest 
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Yes, Tim J. The DV-970HD and DV-981HD both support SACD. Oppo's user guide on the 970 don't mention HDMI only analog output for SACD. Yes, the OPDV971H is the only model that won't play SACDs. |
Tom H.
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This article perpetuates the myth that "upscaling" offers substantial performance benefits over a well-designed 480p units. MPEG decoding, deinterlacing, and core video performance all make a difference. Scaling 720x480 to 1080i or 1080p just doesn't. If viewers could reliably tell the difference in a blind test between two otherwise identical players, one upscaling and the other outputting 480p. I'd be stunned. |
TechDigs.net
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Tom H. Thanks for the feedback. We agree that there's a lot of hype around upscaling. That said, our experience in side-by-side tests with good 480i and 480p DVD players is that there's also a real benefit in the good upscaling players like the Oppo. The question is the video processor. If you have a dedicated video processor (e.g. DVDO iScan or similar) or a very high-end built-in unit (few average HDTVs have them), the benefit of the higher-end video processor in an upscaling DVD player is probably not there. However, if you don't have a good video processor in your HDTV (which many people don't), the video processors in these upscaling units do make a difference on larger-sized fix-pixel (non-CRT) displays. Are they as good as true HD content players, no. Are they worth $150 to $250, for many people we say yes. When used with average to low-end HDTV, they really can help a lot. Thanks again for the comments. TechDigs.net |
Dan P.
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When watching a movie I like all my components (DVD player and receiver) to be inconspicuous. Do you have the option to turn off the front display panel? And if so, is that setting preserved in non-volatile memory so it doesn't have to be reset every time you cut off the power to the unit? |
Dan S.
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Tom H. and TechDigs: So, if I have a new Sony 1080p LCD HDTV, is it worth it to get an upscaling player? Or should I just look for a really good 480p player? If the latter, any suggestions that are cheaper than the Oppo and offer all the playback options? Thanks in advance, Dan |
TechDigs.net
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Dan P. Yes, you have the ability to: 1) Leave All On 2) Turn off just the LED buttons (leaving the vacuum fluorescent display on) 3) Dim All 4) Turn all of (not just LED, but also the VFD text) Unfortunately, none of them are maintained through cutting the power and #4 isn't even maintained when turning off the unit. In my opinion an oversight. I spoke with Oppo today and they said they are re-evaluating this and may change the setting with a firmware update. I guess we'll have to wait and see. TechDigs.net |
TechDigs.net
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Dan, on the whether the Oppo makes sense for a Sony 1080p LCD HDTV. Two questions in my mind: 1) Which Sony model (size & model #) do you have? 2) How large is your DVD library (do you rent or own). 3) Do you have any plans for hi-def players (including PS3 or Xbox 360 HD-DVD). In general, I'd say if you have a really cheap DVD player now, the Oppo probably isn't a bad decision. If you don't own DVDs and want to spend the $$$ on hi-def (not something I recommend right now), then the Oppo may not make sense. |
Dan (S.)
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Ha, I can't believe 2 Dans posted questions at the same time. Good thing Dan P. added an initial. I will now forever make sure to call myself Dan S. As to your questions, 1. I have the 40v2500 2. I probably have about 75-80 DVDs, and I watch them a good deal. 3. I am comfortable waiting 18-24 months for the 'Hi-def Wars' to settle down. I have an old (maybe 3 years or so) Toshiba 5-disc player. It is being moved somewhere else, so I will be buying SOMETHING to replace it. I am looking at everything from the 'cheap' Philips upconverter, to the Samsung 960, to the Oppo 981. I think the 'region-freeness' of the Oppo, in addition to the DVD-A and SACD capabilities are making me lean in that direction. BUT, if I would not see a big difference in PQ or SQ from an 'only' 480p DVD player (that still is region-free and plays those audio formats), AND is cheaper, I'd like to add it to my list. Do you know any models that Tom H. was referring to? Thanks again for your help. Nice site. Dan S. |
BeenThere2
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Can you please do a side by side comparison of this unit VS. the NeoDigits HELIOS H4000? Here's a link: http://neodigits.com/new/body/products/h4000/h4000.asp They seem to be similar in their features, and the H4000 is about $60 less (plus it includes the HDMI cable). I'm curious to how they stack up against each other. I know that the H4000 also has VGA out, and unlike a lot of other units, it upscales through the analog component ports as well as the HDMI port. Thanks. -BT2 |
TechDigs.net
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Dan S. I think you will definitely notice a difference. Coming in digital (HDMI) as opposed to analog (component) and the fact that the video processing in the Oppo will exceed that of your Sony for upscaling makes it worth it in my mind. The known good quality 480p DVD players that got previously good reviews are being eclipsed by not only upscaled digital connections, but also good video processing quality. In our opinion, the is an example of this -- great balance of price and quality. Historically, you would have paid much more for (usually over $500) for the same or lesser quality. I can't recommend a cheaper non-upscaled DVD players over the Oppo with an HDTV like yours. I also haven't been very impressed with other sub $200 upscalers like Samsung's low-end model. We have a Helios on the way and will be testing that soon. Unfortunately Amazon doesn't yet have it, they're return policy is excellent. However, Oppo offers a 30 day money back guarantee. Unfortunately, they don't refund shipping like Amazon. My suggestion is buy one and if it doesn't warrant the extra $100 to $150, return it. We'll be interested in how it works for you. Thanks for the kind words! |
TechDigs.net
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BT2: You read my mind. We have an H4000 on the way. More info to come. |
HellasVagabond
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How can people tell if their Upscaler Built In their HDTVs is good or not ? I dont want to buy the Oppo 981 only to find out that i get 0 improvement over my Philips 963SA with Film Mode enabled on my SONY 55A2000 ( EU MODEL ). SO id rather see an test between Built In Scalers rather than more DVD Tests. |
TechDigs.net
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HellasVagabond: It's a tough problem for reviewers (thousands of combinations) and you're asking the right questions. The improvement from a high-end 480p player like the 936SA with decent upscaling in the 55A2000, probably means the benefit of the Oppo would be limited. If your set was an XBR2 model, with it's better scaler, I couldn't recommend the Oppo unless you had a very low-end, budget-level DVD player (under $75 US or very old). With an older, but good, player, you're right on the border line. Frankly, your own ability and tendency to pick out deficiencies will determine the value you receive from going to the Oppo. So, would I do it? Yes, but only if I could return it. However, after getting the Oppo, I did keep it in my case. You might enjoy some of the other capabilities like DivX and you will gain some benefit from a digital connection to the TV, but overall, the improvement will be marginal for most viewers. Good luck, let us know what you do. TechDigs.net |
Larry R.
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I am currently using a Denon 1910 upscaling player with a sharp DT500 Projector. The 1910 also does double duty witha samsung 42" hi def plasma. Neither of these displays do 1080p. I am intrigued with all of oppos good press. Am I going to see a big difference in picture quality with the oppo? |
HellasVagabond
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Actually the 55A2000 EU model IS the same as the USA XBR2...At least it has the same insides as the XBR2 but has the same cell as the USA 55A2000. So far the quality im receiving is breathtaking in conjuction with the TVs Film Mode which makes the film almost Life-Like. Sure i can return the oppo if i get it but i will loose 50$ in Shipping Fees if it aint that Good. A test of the oppo981 in comparison with older high-end dvd players with film mode on is such screens would be a good thing. I would make such a review and i will if i decide to get my hands on the oppo or just wait to get the Toshiba HDDVA A2 or the Samsung BlueRay. |
TechDigs.net
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HellasVagabond: I didn't realize that about the EU model, thanks for the info. Based on your experience, I don't think the Oppo will add much at all. The scaling in the XBR probably isn't as good as the Oppo. However, to me the decision to buy technology like the Oppo isn't instead of HD-DVD/Blu-ray, it's really for extending the life of a DVD collection. In your situation, you've already extended the life of your DVDs with a great DVD player (the Philips) and the XBR with its good scaler. For others, the Oppo can add a lot of value if they don't have a good solution. Besides, it's not clear which high-def format will prevail – or will it be digital distribution. When those players are closer to $200 and the winner is clearer, then that will be an easier decision. For now, one can't be pinching pennies and considering either of those formats. |
HellasVagabond
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Well 450$ for a BlueRay Player ( Samsung ) Isnt much even now considering i gave 500$ to get the 963SA 2 years back. However im sure that OPPO will produce a BlueRay or HDDVD device soon that wont cost above 400$ in order to go up against brands like Samsung , Sony , Toshiba , LG , Panasonic. Id rather wait for one of these.. |
anders
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The Oppo sounds great, now I just needs to know what kind of speakers I should go with? My TV is a Sony 40XBR3. Any ideas? I neeed a 2.1 set up, since the wife won't like the speaker cables running across the floor and I don't want the wire less. |
TechDigs.net
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Anders: Speakers are very personal and dependent on the room, what you watch, etc. Do you have a home theater receiver? If not, then I would seriously consider the Yamaha YSP-1100 Sound Projector and a sub-woofer. You'll get decent surround sound (not as good as a true 5.1 speaker system, but not bad) and it includes the audio amp, etc., if you don't already have it. Good luck. |
Jason
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I'd appreciate some help here. I have a BenQ PE8720 with the built in Oplus scaler. I'm trying to figure out if I will get more visual bang out of my SD DVD buck if I pick up the Oppo 981 to handle my upscaling instead of using the in-projector scaler. Any advice is truly apprecaited. |
TechDigs.net
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Jason: Not knowing what DVD player you have, I'll assume it's pretty decent. Also, I haven't formally reviewed the BE8720. However, what I have seen of it is that the video processing in the 8720 is excellent. Unless I'm mistaken, I think it's Faroudja DCDi, not the Oplus. That's also what's in the Oppo. If you have a decent DVD player, I don't think you'll get much benefit with the Oppo. The only benefits I can think of are reducing cables to your projector (switching HDMI) and flexible playback options like DivX, SACD and DVD-Audio. |
MS
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I own a 1080i , 50 inch VIZIO plasma HDTV which has farroudja DCDi chipset built-in although I am not sure how much role it plays when hooked up to a DVD player through HDMI . My current DVD player is PANASONIC DMR-ES46 which is sort of middle end . Some movies like "Zorro 2 " don't appear that crisp while some others like "fantastic 4" appear more sharp . Would oppo DV-981HD help improve anything in my case ? Thanks . |
TechDigs.net
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MS: My experience with that Vizio display is that the Oppo implementation of the Faroudja DCDi is better than the Vizio. You'll still see a difference between those DVDs, but the overall picture should improve some. Don't expect miracles. |
HD-Diddy
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Hello Everyone, Thanks for the great advice. I have the Sony 40v2500 LCD as well and am goin to purchase the OPPO DV-981HD player now. I am looking for a small 2.1 surround sound to accompany my home theatre. The Yamaha YSP-1100 is out of my budget for surround sound. Do you have any other recomendations? Just looking for something to listen to DVD's and my Ipod. Thanks! |
TechDigs.net
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HD-Diddy: For a 2.1 surround system, we haven't looked at many beyond the Yamaha YSP systems. The 800 is less than the 1100 and performs very well. Based on cursory listens, two solid budget choices worth listening to are the Soundmatters MainstageHD (http://www.soundmatters.com/mainstagehd.html) and Sharp SD-SP10 (http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelLanding/0,1058,1738,00.html). I wouldn't consider them as good as the 1100, but for their under $400 price, definitely a prospect. |
Norm
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Hi Guys, I have read a lot of reviews and I still don't know witch player to buy I own a Hitachi 57f500 Projection 1080i HDTV Format CRT Display,I wrote Oppo and they suggest the 971 the only problem is it doesn't support SACD,would the 981 do the job for this TV set? Thank You. |
TechDigs.net
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Norm: They're right, if you don't want SACD the 971 is great. However, if you want SACD, the 981 would also be a great match. Just run it at 1080i (use the HDMI button to switch it). Also, you'll need an HDMI to DVI cable -- don't spend much, you don't need to. |
Mark F
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I have a Panasonic plasma and am considering one of the OPPO DVD players. The Panasonic includes both HDMI and component inputs. I was looking at the 971H since 720p is probably all I will ever use (the display handles 720p and 1080i). I see that the 971H uses DVI, but comes with a DVI-HDMI adapter cable, however, the audio is separate. This creates a small problem when switching from my HDMI cable box (which includes audio) to the 971H. I think on my display, the line level audio inputs are associated with the component video inputs. I don't know if I can display video from the HDMI source and audio from the component source. This seems awkward so that's why I'm looking at the 981HD. With this unit, I can just use an HDMI switch box to switch between the cable box and the DVD player. I also read that the 981HD will not work with displays that are not HDCP compatable. I looked at all the info on my display and nowhere does it mention anything about HDCP. Does anyone have any further information about this issue? Thanks |
TechDigs.net
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Mark F. If you are using your TV for audio, it can present problems. In that case, the 981 might be simpler. In terms of HDCP, if your display is HDMI, by definition HDMI has HDCP built-in. So the 981 probably makes the most sense to you. A solution I don't recommend (because of cost), but something to be aware of is a DVI Audio to HDMI adapter (http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3570). While it doesn't make sense at $299, I thought you might find it interesting. |
Did I do the right thing?
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Hi all! Great job on the reviews TechDigs!!! Very helpfull! I own a 40XBR2 and was in need of a good Upconverting DVD player. After reading many good things about the OPPO 981 on the http://avsforum.com/,I decided to go for it. I could've gotten the cheaper OPPO 970 but wanted the Genesis/Faroudja Chipset. So I ordered the 981. It's on it's way. Now I'm reading here that the XBR2 will do a sufficient job on upscalling versus the OPPO 981. That's great. In your opinion, should I keep the OPPO 981 or return it and get the 970 instead. Hmmmm... never an easy purchase now-a-days!  Thanks in advance! |
TechDigs.net
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Hello 'Did I do the right thing?' Thanks for the kind words. The 40XBR2 is very good and does a pretty good job upscaling, but not perfect. The Oppo 970 is really designed to complement high-end external processors like the DVDO iScan as opposed to a built-in Faroudja's in HDTVs. So will the 40XBR2 be as good upscaling with the with the 970 as it will with the 981. It'll probably compete, but in the end the 981 would win. This is especially true as Oppo is known to continue to improve their devices with firmware, so they would likely push the Faroudja further than you might see Sony push it. The question previously asked was whether to replace an existing high-end 480p DVD with the 981, that was tougher if you weren't planning on spending the $$$. However, if you are buying a new DVD player anyway and have a 1080p set, I definitely would recommend the 981 over the 970 -- unless you wanted to implement something like and iScan and unprocessed 480i over HDMI (which is what the 970 excels at). So, I would stick with the 981 if it were me. Good luck. Let us know what you think. |
David
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Hi, I'm considering buying this player and use it with my Hitachi 42PD9700 but I was wondering... For the same price I can get a Denon 1930 (friends of mine will get it for me with the same price tag as the Oppo), so I'm really wondering which one of these two player is the best... Thanks in advance |
TechDigs.net
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David: They're both good players with very similar specs, best is not easy to pick here. The component output option of the 1930 gives it an edge -- if that's useful to you. Also, if you're a 'Denon home' with CI implemented, then the Denon will also give you that. The multi-region option in the Oppo is easier to implement (Denon requires a firmware upgrade with some mixed reviews). From casual views (we haven't done a 1930 review yet), the Denon may perform better playing SACD. The Oppo appears to have a few performance benefits over the Denon when it comes to the Faroudja implementation including 3:2 pulldown artifacts and burned DVD playback compatibility. In both cases these are subjective and you'll get differing opinions from respective fans. Oppo tends to tweak their firmware more than most manufacturers and provides updates more often - one could argue that's bug fixing, however there have been real benefits in their updates on the 971. Oppo comes with an HDMI cable, Denon doesn't (not worth too much, but worth noting). In all, that's a pretty wishy-washy answer, because frankly they're pretty close. When we do our test of the 1930, we may be able to provide a better answer. However, our current thinking now you'll be hard-pressed to see too many differences. At the same price, you won't go wrong with either. For most buyers who would have to over US$100 for the Denon, the Oppo is clearly the better buy. |
Alan
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Using a Sony 40 inch XBR2 or 3, which are supposed to have good upconversion & signal processing, I'd really like to see the following comparison: DV-970HD using it's native 480i HDMI output & upconverting in the Sony TV vs: DV-981HD using it's 1080p upconversion & HDMI output & going directly into the Sony TV. If the Sony upconversion is really good, it would save $80 on the DVD player. |
TechDigs.net
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Alan: On the XBR2, I would definitely get the 981, the results will be better. We haven't tried the XBR3, but since it has the same DRC (2.5) that the XBR2 has, the recommendation is probably the same. Unfortunately, the scaler in the XBRs isn't as good as that in the 981 for use with the unscaled 480i signal from the 970 (which only can compete when it goes into to a very high-end scaler - one that is better processors included in most displays). |
L. Hastings
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Sorry if this has been asked somewhere and I missed it. I recently bought a Westinghouse 47" LCD TV and DVD's look "OK" with my progressive-scan DVD player I'd like to know how much of a difference the new Oppo player would make. I think the TV itself has a Faroudja processor (not 100% sure though). Would I notice a big difference between the player I'm using now and the new Oppo? Thanks. |
TechDigs.net
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L.Hastings: You'll notice an improvement with the processor in the 981 over using the Westinghouse scaler. Whether it's worth $230, is a personal decision. If you watch a lot of DVDs, it's probably a good investment. If you mostly watch broadcast HDTV, HBO, etc., it may not be. |
Bagman
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I have a Sony SXRD KDSR50XBR1 Projection TV. I bought the OPPO 981 a few weeks ago (to replace an older Sony 480P DVD plater); about the only thing i have had time to watch was a Santana concert that probably was not that good to start with. I read on the OPPO site that the 981 needed to be "carefully calibrated" when used with a DLP TV. I also noticed the comments above relative to the quality of the upscaler in the TV versus the 981. I run the HDMI thru a Yamaha RSV2600 but it is set to passthru. My questions are: When OPPO says it needs to be calibrated I don't know if they are talking about the TV or the 981; I assume the TV. Do you know if this applies to an LCD rear projection such as the Sony SXRD. Also, is the OPPO 981 a better upscaler than the Sony SXRD XBR1? In other words, did I make a good purchasde? |
TechDigs.net
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Bagman: Yes, the 981 has a better scaler than the XBR1. In terms of the calibration, it depends on your set. The Oppo 981 has about 5% increments in calibration, your TV set probably is more granular (more adjustable). So in general, your TV set is the best place to do it. |
Steve
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I have an oppo 971 feeding the Top of the line Sony XBR 32" Digital 4:3 CRT with 16x9 display ability at 480p, 720p and 1080i. When I use the oppo 971 I notice these oddities. 1. Each resolution setting on the oppo produces a change in black level. 480p being the grayest milkiest black and 1080i being the blackest black. 2. When trying to play a 4:3 (1.33:1) TV show or any film with an aspect ratio less than 16x9 (1.77:1) at 720p or 1080i the result is a vertically squashed image. It does not expand to it's normal aspect ratio. Example: "Quatermass and the Pit" is 1.66:1 and at 720p and 1080i it is vertically squashed even though I have a 4:3 TV with the ability to vary its display aspect. Only when outputting at 480p will the DVD player output movies and TV shows at their proper recorded aspect ratio and allow my TV to sense and adjust for that. 3. Even after calibration using a test disc it is clear the 971 has a yellow cast to it and emphasizes yellows and desaturates blues. Mystic from X-Men looks more black than blue. My Sony DVPNS725P DVD player displays her as blue like I saw her in the theatre. Is there anything that can be done? I hate having to shift to 480p when I want to watch TV shows because the black level comes up significantly and requires me to recalibrate to avoid washout. |
TechDigs.net
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Steve: We no longer have a 971 test unit to test out your problems. My suggestion is that you call Oppo [1-650-961-1118]. They're tech support is excellent and they can probably help you with your problems. Let us know what you find out. |
Brooks
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I have a Pioneer 433 (commercial) 42" plasma that has RGBH component and a DVI inputs on a second card I purchased. My Sony DVD recorder has RGB but no digital output, so I am using the composite connection. The Oppo 981 might be a big improvement. What HDMI to DVI cable do you suggest? |
TechDigs.net
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Brooks: It doesn't matter much. It's a digital signal and we haven't seen a difference from the budget cables to the really expensive Monster cables. There's too much made of cables when it comes to digital signals. So, the US$12 to US$30 cables you'll find at Amazon.com and Buy.com will work just fine. Also, you can get an adapater such as (http://www.buy.com/prod/ Acoustic_Research_AP_088_Performance_Series_HDMI_DVI_Ad apter/q/loc/111/90140123.html) for an existing cable and I think you'll be satisfied. |
TechDigs.net
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An important update for everyone who is going from HDMI to DVI is to turn on RGB Enhanced. This is an undocumented feature in the Video Setup Menu. This will substantially improve the pictures and reduce macro blocking on DVI sets. It can also be turned on HDMI sets, but it won't have any impact. |
Lewis
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I have a Sony KDS 50A2000 HDTV and an old Sony DVP-NS300 DVD player. I'm sure the Oppo 981 would do better than my current DVD player, but how much better? |
Chad
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I have a mitsubishi ws-55315 projection tv with 1080i resolution. I am using a Sony dvp-ns755v progressive dvd player now. Am I going to notice much difference with the oppo? I purchased a Samsung HD-860 upconverter and my sony looked much better. |
TechDigs.net
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Chad: The WS-55315 doesn't upscale well, but because it's a CRT projector, it tends to look a bit better than fixed-pixel displays. Even so, I think you'll notice a difference. The 981 is overkill for this set, but if you plan to replace it, the 981 gives you more for a future 1080p set. The 971 would be a better match for the WS-55315 since it's 1080i. Regardless, you'll definitely want to calibrate your set if you haven't. Your last sentence is a bit confusing. The HD-860 is a DVD player, so is the Sony you're referring to another TV (not the TV in your original question)? Regardless, the Oppo 981 and 971 performs substantially better in a few different areas such as 3:2 pull-down than the HD-860. |
TechDigs.net
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Lewis: 'but how much better' is really tough to answer. The scaler in the 981 is better than in your Sony. Will you notice a difference, probably. Will you be glad you spent $230 for that difference -- it depends. How much do you watch DVDs? How less satisfied are you with your current DVD setup than say HDTV. Not that I'm suggesting that the 981 will get close to an HDTV signal, just that if you aren't dissatisfied with the current difference, there's no point in upgrading. Will it change your life? No. Will it make your DVDs look a bit sharper with more detail and less artifacts than you currently have. Yes. Is that worth $230? Only you can answer that. |
Darryl G.
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I recently purchased Mitsubishi WD-57732 (1080p). I can find any info on what upscaling processing chip it has (assume their Plush1080p). Do you have any idea which one? Currently it's connected to Sony NC665P Progressive Scan dvd player (using component cables). DVDs look great with the WD-57732 upscaling . Will the Oppo DV-981HD upscale processor exceed the TV's processor to provide noticeably better picture quality? Thanks in advance TechDigs. |
TechDigs.net
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Darryl G: Unfortunately, we don't have experience with the WD-57732. Based on our experience with other sets in the same price/capability range, I'd say you would experience better picture quality. How much better? Not as much as between your current DVD setup and broadcast HDTV. Regardless, with a DLP, you'll need to calibrate black levels if you were to get the Oppo. If DVDs look great now, then the old 'if it ain't broke...' may apply. |
fireballmivec
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Hi Great job on the reviews TechDigs! I own a Hitachi LCD and was planning to upgrade my 720p HT projector to the latest Mitsubishi HC5000 1080p projector. After reading many good reviews about the OPPO 981,I decided to get it. I am using the cheaper OPPO 970 and the DV-S9 Pioneer DVD player but wanted the new Faroudja Chipset. So I ordered the 981. In your opinion, should I keep the OPPO 981 for my HD LCD Hitachi and get Sony P3 for the Mit. Hmmmm... spending too much. |
TechDigs.net
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If you're going to pair a DVD withh the 720p HT, then I'd just do the 971. Saves a few bucks and handles 720p as well as the 981 -- unless you want to do SACD or DVD-Audio. For the HC5000, I'm assuming you mean PS3 when you say P3. If you're a gamer and want Blu-ray, that is reasonable. As a Blu-ray player, it's okay, but a bit noisy. If you're not a gamer, I suggest you hold off a few weeks to get a clearer picture of Blu-ray/HD-DVD at CES. There could be some interesting news including LGs Blu-ray/HD-DVD combo. Also, the PS3 won't perform as well as the Oppo upscaling standard def DVDs. Hope that helps. |
Daniel
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When it comes to cd rebook through analogue output is it true the 970hd is superior than the 981hd?? |
TechDigs.net
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Daniel: The DV-970HD has an audio-only mode that turns off video circuitry to eliminate any potential interference. In terms of format support, the 970 and 981 support the same formats (SACD, DVD-Audio, redbook, etc.). So yes, overall the DV-970HD does do audio a bit better than the DV-981HD, however the DV-970HD isn't a great match for video if you don't have a high-end video processor (external such as an DVDO iScan or very high-end internal system on the higher end HDTVs). While it does upscale to 720p/1080i, it really excels at a digital 480i signal over HDMI so that a good scaler can turn upscale the data using the cleanest possible So, if you care about video and don't have a high-end video processor, I wouldn't get the DV-970HD. The 971 and 981 will perform better. However, if audio is your primary focus or you have such a processor, the 970 is a good unit. |
Norm
said:
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Thank you very much for your help on a previous question  I have another question for you, i have a Hitachi 57f500 and you tell me that the 981 would be a good match, but would you know if my Hitachi is HDCP compliant? I've read all the specs and can't find anything? |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Norm: My memory of the 57f500 was that it was one of the early DVI HDTVs with HDCP and I'm aware of other 57f500 users having success with upscaling DVD players that require HDCP. However, like you, I can't confirm HDCP definitively in the specs. While a few 'sales' sites on the net reference DVI with HDCP, Hitachi's own product archive online doesn't state it. Do you use HD cable over DVI from an cable box with HBO or similar? If so it definitely requires HDCP so you have it. I'm sorry I can't give you a definitive answer. |
Norm
said:
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Hi TechDigs, Forget about the previous question i found the info on another site (Digital RGB Input (DVI w/HDCP) . Thanks anyway and keep up the good work . |
Alan
said:
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TechDigs said "So yes, overall the DV-970HD does do audio a bit better than the DV-981HD, however the DV-970HD isn't a great match for video if you don't have a high-end video processor (external such as an DVDO iScan or very high-end internal system on the higher end HDTVs). While it does upscale to 720p/1080i, it really excels at a digital 480i signal over HDMI so that a good scaler can turn upscale the data using the cleanest possible" Question: What higher-end HDTV's have the very high end internal systems you describe? Thanks, Alan |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Alan: Obviously it varies and depending on what you're trying to watch different models do better than others. To get a better feel for performance areas, look at the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark (http://techdigs.net/content/view/59/42/) which gives you a good idea of various parameters. Off the top of my head, at $4,000 the Sony KDS-R60XBR2 (rear projection) performs well in many the parameters including 3:2 pull-down. At $8,000, the Pioneer PRO-FHD1 Plasma also does well, although still not as good as the 981 - but close. Examples of the higher end projectors do really well include the Sony VPL-VW100 & VPL-VW50 and Sharp XV-Z20000. There are clearly others, but they vary and depend on which factors are most important to you. While some may equal the 981, it's hard for an HDTVs costing less than $5,000 to substantially beat the 981. However, because they upscale any signal, they'll help other sources like PS2 games and Wii games. But if DVDs are your focus, the 981 is one of the least expensive ways get improvement. Especially as we start to see more low-end 1080p sets such as the new 47" 1080p Vizio. |
Tommc
said:
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I am planning to buy the Sharp Aquos LC-42D62U TV, would the Oppo DV-981HD player be an excelent match to the Sharps 1920x1080p resolution? Is the Oppos up-converter better than the one in the Sharp LC TV? Sharp has 2 HDMI connections. I had earler concered getting the Samsung DVD 860HD player with HDMI connection and cable here in Chile. In Chile I do not have many choices from excelent to good DVD player with HDMI connections. How would you rate the Samsung player? Thanks, Tom |
Darthfunk
said:
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I currenty own the Oppo 970 which is hook up directly to my 32" Sharp LC-32BX5M LCD TV (1366 x 76 http://www.sharp.com.sg/SharpProducts/products_main.asp?prodCatID=10&prodSubCatID=36 would upgrading to a Oppo 981 benefit me in terms of PQ? I dont think my Sharp LCD has a good scaler. Is it true the Faroudja video chip set on the 981 is superior than mediatek on the 970? If the 981 can give me a better PQ than the 970 its definitly worth the upgrade for me. Thoughts? |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Tommc: I think you would benefit from the Oppo 981, it's upcoverting capability is better than that of the Sharp LCD you refer to. The Oppo 981 substantially out-performs the Samsung in resolution and video processing. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Darthfunk: The 970 doesn't have the scaling capability of either the 981 or 971. Given your HDTV is not 1080p capable, the 981 is overkill. The 971, would be an improvement, but only in artifact reduction and issues like 3:2 pull-down. How much you'll notice this at 32" is debatable, but I think you would find some improvement. |
Tommc
said:
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Thanks for the needed info concerning the Oppos with the Sharp LC TV. How would you rate the Samsung DVD 860HD against other low cost players using HDMI and component cables? I fully expected that the Oppo 981,971 would be the best. I need a second player to use before I can order and receive the Oppos 981HD here in Chile. Would I be better off finding a player to hook up to the Sharp using just the component cables? I plan to use this player in another room with a CRT TV,a Sony 29 inch. after getting the Oppos player. Thanks, Tom in Chile. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Tommc: I wouldn't worry about getting an HDMI player for the interim. Instead, a basic progressive scan would be fine and will work well with your CRT after you get the 981. |
Norm
said:
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One last question for you: The more i read reviews the more confused i get :-, this is still for my Hitachi 57f500 CRT display, now i know on a previous question we said that the 971 would be a good choice however it is no longer available, OPPO wrote me and said that the 970 would be a better choice for my CRT,the only problem is is that it doesn't have the faroudja chip so i will loose in video quality, plus on one of the reviews they say 970 if you have a 50 inch or - and 981 over 50 inches,and you were also saying in a previous answer that if your HDTV is not 1080p capable, the 981 is overkill???????? Please Help. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Norm: Sorry to confuse. We didn't know that Oppo was discontinuing the 971. It makes sense though. Because Oppo doesn't upconvert using the component output, so you only get the benefit if using the HDMI. Therefore if you don't us the HDMI port, then the 970 would be fine. That's not your situation though, you should get the 981. It's a bit overkill, but you won't have that TV forever. I see that the 971 is available on Amazon right now (search Oppo 971 at http://amazon.com), you might consider that option too. Your choice. Either way you can't go wrong with the 981 or 971. But I would go for either the 981 or 971, not the 970. |
Darthfunk
said:
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Thanks TechDigs. What iam going to do is make a 1on1 comparision when i get the 981. I'll very likely stick to the 981 since it has a superior scaler and reduces artifact.You are right its abit overkill but if its goner give me some improvement i'll go for it. Thanks again! |
Tommc
said:
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I need some help concerning using the Oppo981HD connected to a TV via HDMI connections. Will the Oppo 981HD play DVDs that have been copied through its HDMI output to a HDCP compatable Tv, Or will I have to make other connections? Thanks, Tom. |
momaw
said:
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Hi there. Great review and thanks for all the advice so far. It is very much appreciated. I have an LG DT-42PY10X which has DVI in. Previously I have been running a Denon 1920 HDMI-DVI solution. I recently added a Yamaha RX-V2700. When I ran my Denon through the HDMI on the 2700 it stopped working. I managed to get both my Toshiba HD-XA1 and HD-E1 to work through the 2700's HDMI to my LG's DVI, but no matter what I do I cannot get the 1920 to display through the 2700. As my toshiba's are region locked I am looking at the Oppo as a universal region free upscaler. Do you know if I will be able to get it to display running through my 2700 (and why my denon doesn't)? Also, if I get the oppo and run it HDMI-HDMI into the 2700 and then HDMI-DVI into the tv, should I still set the RGB or will this not work as it is going through a second device (the 2700). Thanks. It is driving me crazy trying to find an SD DVD player that works through my AVR to my TV. Thanks |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Tommc: HDMI shouldn't be a problem for DVDs. What the HDCP in HDMI does is make sure that if there is copy protection on the DVD that it's adhered to in the connection between the DVD player and the display. If there's no copy protection, then it doesn't kick in. Either, I think you're fine |
SXRBoy
said:
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TechDigs: This is a GREAT string. Thanks for all the excellent insight and information you continue to share. Question: I just bought a KDS-R60XBR2. I own a 2.5 to 3 year old Pioneer Elite DVD player (DV-45A). Is it worth investing in either the Oppo-981 or the Helios H4000 to extend my current DVD library? Thanks in advance for your assistance. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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SXRBoy: Thanks! I am in the middle of a Helios H4000 review. Right now I can't recommend it over the 981. I don't want to go into details until the review is complete, however I'd say stick with the 981 if you buy something. While the DV-45A is good progressive 480p DVD, the Oppo beats it hands down in most video processing areas. So, you would see a benefit. Are you happy with it now? |
Rick in Pahrump, NV
said:
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I have a Panasonic DVD recorder, model DMR-E80H. I am running component cables into a Denon AVR-4306 which upconverts to 1080i. From there, HDMI takes the signal to a Mits 73-727. Would I find any great improvement by getting the Oppo 981 and passing the 1080p signal through the Denon to the Mits? |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Rick in Pahrump, NV: The DMR-E80H doesn't have good video processing abilities. The 4306 is pretty good scaler. However, I think starting with the DMR-E80H asks a lot of the 4306. If you aren't satisfied with the current results, then I'd say upgrade. If you think it looks really good (try running it straight and see how much better it is), then I wouldn't do it. If you decide to get a 981, you should set it to 1080p so that it sends a 1080p signal to the 4306. That way the 4306 will just pass it through. That means you'll be processing on the Oppo which is what you want. |
jimr
said:
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Thanks for the great review and thread. I currently have a Neuneo HD2085 (which I think was recently renamed as the Helios 4000). It can also upcovert to 1080p over HDMI and I have it connected to a samsung hl-s5087w dlp. Unfortunately I am not very pleased with the picture, it's softer than I'd like, it seems to crush blacks, there is a lot of background noise no matter how much I calibrate and it also pauses for up to seven seconds at random spots before the player catches up. Will I notice an improvement with the Oppo 981? I have an extensive DVD library which I primarily use my TV to watch. Any help would be appreciated. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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jimr: Thanks! I am in the middle of an H4000 review. From what I've seen so far, I think you'll notice a better picture with the 981. Perhaps quite a bit better. I don't want to fully disclose my findings as I'm not done, but if you have to decide today, the 981 is the way to go. I'm seeing similar problems to what you're seeing. |
Ray
said:
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I'm thinking of purchasing a Sanyo PLV-Z5, does this projector have a good scaler? Which Oppo player (970/981) would be best suited for this? Thanks for your input. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Ray: I don't have a lot of experience with the PLV-Z5. At 1280x720, it's a good match for the 971, however that unit may be discontinued (although Amazon still has some). The 981 would also be good. As far as the 970, without having hands on with the PLV-Z5, I can't be sure, but my gut tells me that at less then $2K, Sanyo's probably not going to be able to add much video processing horse power. So I would probably go for the 981 -- the Sanyo won't out-perform it, but I'm not as sure as some (would you get buy with the 970) due to my limited knowledge of that projector. |
Greg M.
said:
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I need a new dvd player and am looking for the best bang for my buck. i dont look to purchase the blue-ray or hd-dvd technology anytime soon, so i was considereing the Oppo 981 and the Pioneer dv-46av. these are two players in approx. the same price range and am wondering witch is the better option? Can you help me out? Thanks a lot! |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Greg M: Sorry, I can't answer that one yet. I have the Pioneer in the review queue. Wish I could help. If it performed like the 45A, the answer is easy (981). However, I think Pioneer made some improvements. I can say you won't go wrong with the 981, I can't say if the 46av is as good or any better. |
Dan D
said:
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I just ordered the 981 yesterday - it is already on the way via FedEx and will arrive tomorrow! I currently have a Sony DVP-NS755V DVD/SACD player and a Samsung HLR4667W DLP HDTV. While I have been overall very satisfied with the DVD player, I realized while watching movies broadcast by networks in HDTV (which looked stunning compared to what my DVD player was producing) that there must be better DVD players out there that could come closer to that. Hopefully I'm right. Anyway, I have a couple of questions. First, should I set the Oppo DVD player for 720p or 1080i? The TV is compatible with both. I know progressive is better than interlaced; but 1080 is better than 720, right? Or is this just a question of personal taste? Second, how DO networks get movies to look so great when they broadcast in HDTV? I presume they do not have HD-DVDs or Blu-Rays of movies that are not available in this format to the general public, right? So do they just use top-of-the-line DVD players, or is the secret somehow in the fact that they broadcast in HDTV? My understanding is that HDTV can't really improve the source that much, for example a regular DVD played over HDTV is just going to look like a regular DVD. But again, the picture quality seems to be considerably better than what I've been able to get with my 3-year-old Sony DVD player connected via component video cables. OK, that is probably a long enough set of questions. Anxiously looking forward to a reply, and also to receiving my DVD player tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully I'll be able to hook it up soon! |
TechDigs.net
said:
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momaw: I'm willing to bet that the 981 will have no trouble with your 2700, but I can't guarantee. Usually that kind of problem occurs because the device (like the Yamaha or Denon) thinks the HDMI connection isn't being correctly maintained. We've seen some problems with earlier digital (especially DVI) devices - the 2700 new, but the 1910 is a bit older and could be the culprit. Even though it's DVI, it does have HDCP and so it's HDCP could think there's an integrity problem in the chain due to incompatibility. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Dan D: I'll be curious if you notice an improvement. Please let us know. I think you will, but your eyes are the best judge. Be aware that you should calibrate DLP - especially your black levels (preferably on the TV as the levels on the 981 aren't as granular) to get the best performance out of the Oppo. With uncalibrated DLPs the Faroudja chip in the Oppo can display macroblocking (square blocks in dark areas). Also, if you run the Oppo to the DVI port on the Samsung, be sure to turn on RGB Enhanced. This is an undocumented feature in the Video Setup Menu. In terms of 1080i or 720p, for sure 720p. The reason is that you don't want to use the de-interlacer on the Samsung, you're better off using the one on the Oppo. The networks don't use DVDs. It's been HD quality tape and it's becoming digital. So they aren't upscaling at all. In fact, there compressing (not resolution, but quality) at the network and at the cable or satellite company so it doesn't look as good as most Blu-ray or HD-DVD transfers. |
SXRDBoy
said:
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Thanks for the insight TD. I was happy with the DV-45A but that was with my 3 year old Panasonic 45" LCD. Looks like I will have to grab a 981 to take full advantage of the KDS-r60xbr2 that I just got hooked up this evening. I saw reference earlier to a "Film Mode" on the Sony....where in the set-up menus would I find that setting? I couldn't find it when I looked for it tonight. Thanks. |
Chris
said:
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You can call Oppo & they will send a HDMI & DVI cable FREE! |
Rick in Pahrump, NV
said:
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Thanks for your response, but I am a little confused. (Maybe a lot!) You said if I get the 981, I should run it at 1080p through the Denon and into the Mits. I was under the impression that the WD-73727 only accepted up to 1080i. Will it, in fact, take the raw 1080p from the Oppo 981 and not do any upconversion from 1080i? If that's the case, it is a pleasant surprise to me. Thanks, Rick |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Rick in Pahrump: Oops, I was thinking more about the 4306, not the WD-73727. In your specific circumstance you should try a couple of things, but The decision in the end is whether to let the Oppo deinterlace it or the Mitsu. However every combination is different. 1080p monitors that only support 1080i inputs are a tricky circumstance, so try these things and see which you like best: 1) 720p A) Run 720p out of the Oppo. B) Set the Denon to 720p output. 2) 1080p A) Run the Oppo at 1080p into the Denon. B) Set the Denon to 1080i output. 3) 1080i A) Run the Oppo at 1080i into the Denon. B) Set the Denon to 1080i output. You might also try connecting directly at 1080i and 720p as a baseline. In the end, do which you like the best. If you don't have a good way to objectively evaluate it, I suggest the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark - http://techdigs.net/content/view/59/42/. Let us know what you decided you liked best. |
Dan D
said:
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Thanks for your response. After posting yesterday, I started seeing lots of info about DLP sets having macroblocking problems with the 981. So now I'm kind of freaking out about that. (Worst case scenario though, I just return it within 30 days) Due to a snowstorm, now I won't get my 981 until tomorrow at the earliest. My plan is to set it up, tweak the settings using the THX optimizer on a Star Wars DVD (I don't have a fancy calibration DVD) and hopefully get it working to my satisfaction. I'll be connecting via HDMI, which brings up a follow-up question. Currently my TV sends audio out through an optical cable to my receiver (with internal mute on the TV turned ON), so I have true digital 5.1 audio for TV broadcasts, football games etc. My receiver does not have HDMI, so I know I am supposed to hook up my 981 so that video goes to the display via HDMI, and audio goes to the receiver via optical cable. But what would happen if I set it up so that both video and audio went to the TV via HDMI from the DVD player, and then I left the receiver set to "TV" instead of switching it to "DVD" - would that not result in the audio signal still being ouput to the receiver in true 5.1 digital sound, while requiring me a) not to buy another optical cable and b) not to have to switch the receiver to "DVD" every time we put in a movie to watch? This is kind of a nonsequitur, I know, but I was just curious about this. I'll probably just set it up the way it's supposed to be set up first, and if the DVD player doesn't have horrible macroblocking problems then I'll fiddle with this other stuff. But I'd like to find out if you have any thoughts on this. Thanks again. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Dan D: As I mentioned in the post above, the Faroudja chip in the Oppo can exhibit macro-blocking on an uncalibrated set. However, if you calibrate it and get the black levels right. We have tested the 981 on a Samsung DLP and saw good results after calibration. If you leave HDMI audio on, it will send it to the TV. However, like you said, no 5.1 audio (unless you run digital audio back out to the receiver from the TV -- not sure if your model can do that). So it should work if you can do that and you wouldn't have to buy another optical cable. Let us know what you think. Spend the time to calibrate the black levels especially. |
Dan D
said:
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I will do my own research on this as well, but here's a kind of stupid question about calibration. Is there a site out there where people can post their customized settings for TVs, DVD players etc.? Since there are basically "optimum" settings for every piece of equipment out there, I would think there would (or should) be a place where you could enter a model number and come up with optimal brightness, contrast, sharpness etc. There are DVDs out there for $40 or $50 that help people do this, but again I would think that because of this, there are some pretty objective things everyone agrees on that makes an ideal image on a TV, and then it would just be a matter of having a database where people could contribute their settings, which over time would establish some average "best" settings for every model out there. Or is this just nowhere to be found? Or have I just come up with a brilliant, million-dollar idea and floated it out in the public domain for free? Or maybe it just depends on the combination of TV and DVD player that makes this kind of thing impossible? |
Pierre
said:
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I just bought one from Amazon. I am getting a Sony KDS-R60XBR2 tomorrow. Will I notice a difference in this with my TV? I have an LG 1080i upconverting dvd burner ... it will move to another tv. Thoughts? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Dan D: Good idea on the calibration. Problem is depending on the device, the stage of the bulb life (when it comes to DLP projection for example), the ambient room lighting, etc., the millions (billions?) of combinations would all be different. To really calibrate it, you need to do it on your specific set of integrated devices in your specific environment. So, the easiest and most cost-effective way is to buy or rent a movie with the THX certified DVD with the calibrator on it. The two that come to mind are Cars and The Incredibles. You may also want to head to the THX store (http://www.co-store.com/thx) and get a pair of the $1.00 optimizer glasses which help with fine tuning. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Pierre: I think you will notice a difference. How much of a difference depends on how demanding you are. However, quantitatively with a test like the Silicon Optix HQV (http://techdigs.net/content/view/59/42/), there is definitely a difference in a number of areas. |
schmoe
said:
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I'm into high end 2 channel audio, but I also just picked up a samsung 40 inch 1080p lcd set. Right now I'm using a go video dvd/vcr player to play my dvd's and cd. Which oppo will provide the best option in sound? Can I get a benefit from using dvd audio and sacd in a two channel sound system? Could I connect the 981 via rca connections to a krell preamp for two channel benefit? |
Tom B.
said:
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Recently I bought a Panasonic plasma HDTV TH-42PX6U, pretty much the same model as the 60U. I need to know what's the best upconvert DVD player under $500. I've been searching and searching and searching through forums and all over the net for the right answer. I know my TV is a popular one and I'm wondering what other people have had success with. I tried the Sony DVP-NS75H and was NOT satisfied. After much research I have heard that the Denon 1930CI, Samsung HT960, Denon 757, and the Oppo DV971HD/DV981HD are all good models. Please tell me I can watch my DVDs on my new plasma at DVD quality and not what I have seen so far. I had tried adjusting the settings on my HDTV and on my DVD player to get better results but never achieved DVD quality. Also, do I need to buy a calibration disc and what one would you recommend? Any help you can give would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Schmoe: Oppo promotes the fact that the DV-970HD has 'optimized analog audio circuitry for great audio quality', however we haven't tested it or compared it to the DV-981HD. So how much more it's optimized is not something can speak to. Both the DV-981HD and DV-970HD can can play SACDs in Multi-Channel, 2-Channel or play the CD layer in hybrid SACD disc. Yes, you can connect both the 981 and 970 via RCA. The 981 will clearly provide better video performance. Whether the analog circuitry in the 970 will provide better audio performance is not something we have tested. One suggestion is that you review the standard and advanced 970 manuals at Oppo (http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd_support.html). There's a lot of information in the advanced manual about audio. |
Jean Pierre
said:
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Hello, Like the above member I have a Panasonic plasma but a classic TH42PX60U. I also have two DVD players: one is a Panasonic DVD S77 which is already upconverting through HDMI using Faroudja technology and a Pioneer DV 588A which allows me to watch PAL DVD's through components in 480P (no DVI or HDMI on that one). I sincerely plan to purchase the Oppo 981HD to replace the Pioneer 588A since it seems to be able (if I understood correctly) to upconvert and transcode at the same time native 576 PAL DVD's to 720P NTSC. Did I understood correctly? If yes, I am assuming the Oppo will probably make a great difference on PAL DVD's, but will it be also able to replace the Panasonic S77 as well for NTSC DVD's? Thank You very much in advance since it is really a question I would like to find answer. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Tom B: The 981 should provide excellent performance for your Panasonic. It performs better than both the Denons mention (although the 1930 is close) and it's much better than the Samsung HT960. It'll clearly perform better than the DVP-NS75H. In terms of getting DVD-quality, you'll get better than DVD-quality (480i/480p) on the Oppo 981. You won't get full HD-quality (in your case 720p/1080i), but it will look very good (just about as good as you can get given the source). For your set, if you can still get the 971, that would be enough, unless you want SACD audio CDs. The 981 will be fine, but the 1080p setting won't be used on your set. For calibration, start with one of the THX Optimizer DVDs (Cars and Incredibles for example) mentioned in the article. If you want more, there are other commercial choices, Avia and DVD essentials are very good. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Jean Pierre: Yes, it will both upscale NTSC content and play Pal content (see region free setting above). However, one area we didn't test - upscaling quality on PAL DVDs. I plan to get one for testing the 981 and other players. As as I do, I'll publish the results. If anyone else has done this test, please chime in. |
Jean Pierre
said:
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Thank You for your prompt reply!! Any video advantage over the Panasonic dvd S77 (except 1080P capability) for NTSC DVD's? |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Jean Pierre: Yes, the 981 may do a bit better at a few film conversions and it may also edge out the S77 if you had a 1080p set. However, if you already own an S77 and are happy with it, they're not different enough for us to recommend replacing the S77 with the 981 unless you want to combine your two units. |
Dan D
said:
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Just got the 981 yesterday, I've been playing around with it and comparing it with my Sony DVP-NS755V for several hours. Here is my preliminary report. So far, I have not noticed any macroblocking issues on my Samsung 46" DLP, which I have calibrated using the THX Optimizer on "Star Wars" to get the black and white levels balanced. So either I don't know (or don't care) what macroblocking is, or it is not an issue. Maybe I am just not a true videophile. Hey, nobody's perfect. The picture quality on the 981 connected via HDMI is not noticeably improved over the Sony connected via component cables. Maybe a tiny bit crisper, compared with the Sony which might be a tiny bit softer. But you would really have to A/B it to notice the difference - at least that is my experience from my limited time comparing. Suffice to say, I was not blown away by the difference. Finally, I had inquired about whether you could run audio via HDMI and then have it circuit via the TV via optical cable back to the receiver and out throught the speakers (Oppo CS thought not). Actually you can, however so far I could only come out in stereo - not 5.1 surround. It occurred to me that my HDTV does not have DTS (not sure that any do) so that wouldn't work anyway. In any case, the Oppo sounds great wired via optical cable direct to the receiver. So if I decide to keep this unit (jury is still out), I'll run audio direct to the receiver via optical cable, and video direct to the display via HDMI. |
Patrick T.
said:
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I have a Pioneer Elite 50" (PRO-1140HD) and HK DVD22. I'm wondering if I'll see better PQ from the Oppo 981? I plan on buying either PS3 or 360 later this year so I shouldn't be looking at an upconverting DVD player but the 981 is very affordable. I can always move it into my room with my LCD once I get the game platform. |
schmoe
said:
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I'd like to know if there is a real benefit to SACD or DVD audio in two channel mode. Is the only benefit of these formats noted in multichannel mode? |
Mike K
said:
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Thanks TechDigs - this is a great thread! I'd like to better understand the possible value in using with a Sanyo PLVZ4 projector. I just returned a Toshiba HDMI upscaling DVD player to Costco (80 bucks) that produced good output, ir looked the same in 720p and 1080i but had major problems reading certain burned disks. I know the 970 does 1080i and the 981 can go up to 1080p. Is the chipset worth the extra money over the 970? Also, will the Sanyo PLVZ4 chipset handle this with a cheap non-upscaling player just as well? According to one review: "The Sanyo projector produces a slightly sharper image on DVD sources whether you feed it 480i and let it de-interlace the signal and upscale it to 720p, or if you feed it 480p, and just let the Sanyo upscale the signal. How slight is the difference? If you saw one projector and watched it for 10 minutes, took a 10 minute break and then viewed the other on the same source material, I seriously doubt if you would notice anything - even if you are looking for it. But side by side, you can pick it out." I'd rather buy a DVD replacement that supports HDMI and more features and DVD format types - is Oppo 981 still my best choice? I wish the USB and media slots were on the 981 and then this might be an even easier choice. Thanks |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Patrick T: You should see a better picture from the 981. As with any upscaling product, don't expect a life-changing experience, just better quality, less artifacts in 'tougher' scenes and overall improvement in clarity. Neither the PS3 or the 360 do a good job at upscaling, so they're not going to be as good as the 981 for standard-def DVDs. Of course hi-def DVDs in those gaming machines will look better, generally much better than the 981. The only hi-def DVD player I've seen that competes on par with the 981 in upscaling standard-def DVDs is the Toshiba HD-XA2 with the Silicon Optix Reon-VX chip - it's beautiful. So, if your goal is upscaling and you want a sub-$300 solution, the 981 is very good. If you really want hi-def AND a good upscaling DVD player, my favorite right now (although I can't recommend spending the $1,000) is the HD-XA2. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Mike K: Thanks! Lot's of questions, however most low-end projectors benefit from a bit better chipset. Without direct experience on the PLVZ4, I can't speak first-hand, however there's no question that the chipset in that projector isn't on-par with that in the 981. Will you notice a difference, yes, for many it will be if they're looking for it and on the tougher scenes. Will everyone notice a difference, no. I can tell a difference, whether you can depends how picky you are. The 981 and 970 both do a beautiful job reading burned DVDs, so you don't have to worry about that. In the |
TechDigs.net
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Schmoe: Unless you have a very capable hi-fi setup (read over $10K+++++) and the ear to match, I think you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference between most SACD or DVD-Audio discs in 2-channel mode from a standard CD. |
schmoe
said:
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I actually have a very good system with krell,ps audio and B&W components. I'm choosing oppo as I don't want to spend a high amount on the digital end given the rapid changes in tech-it just doesn't seem worth it. Last question. These players play hdcd, do they actually provide the encoding for improved sound with these discs, or do they only play them as standard cd sound? |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Schmoe: On your system, you may actually notice a difference. If that's more your focus than video, I'd take a close look at the 970. Our review wasn't focused on that, so we can't speak to the benefits of the 970 vs. 981 for audio. I'm going to call Oppo Monday (if they're open on the holiday) to see if I can get a clear answer on the key differences between the 970 and 981 for audio and the question on HDCD for both. You have my curiosity up. |
jimr
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update: I ended up purchasing a 981 to try it out. I am VERY satisfied with the picture. Much, much better than the neuneo/helios. Blacks are better, no softness, no noise, no pausing...awesome. Also the sound output for optical is much better: 192khz versus 96khz. I have it hooked up to a 1080p DLP but I've found the macroblocking to be a minor issue after calibrating contrast and brightness levels using DVE on the player. One last question for you: When you ran the HQV test did you have the TrueLife option on or off? In the manual they recommend leaving it on because it uses more of the Faroujda chip but I have found the pictue is slightly clearer with it off. What are your findings? Thanks again for helping me decide to purchase this great player. |
MikeP
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What about the oppo and the 46" Aquos ? I just purchased this LCD panel and it is great, my older pioneer player is still useable but I like the upconvert to near hd on this tv. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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MikeP: I'm assuming you're talking about the LC-46D62U (a 1080p LCD). They're a good match. The upscaling ability of that HDTV isn't going to be as good as the optimized processing in the Oppo, so you will see improved results. Don't expect HDTV, but it definitely improves DVDs. |
MikeP
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Yep that's my tv, I'll definitely get on oppo's site and get the 981HD, Thanks for all of your advice, it's good to know that you can get great tech support and advice here. |
stikman334
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I've purchased the Samsung HL-S6187W and I'm waiting for its eventual arrival (It's on Back Order). This is my first HDTV and I'm very interested in the 981 as my choice for a upconversion DVD player. My current player is approximately 4 years old and from what I've read here, at best, is outdated in performance levels. The Samsung HDTV comes with a "DNIe" chip which I believe is similar to the Faroudja chip. Am I doubling up on video processors, or will the Samsung handle the task of upscaling? I ask because, despite all the praise I see here ( and elsewhere), you gave the 981 a "7" for performance. Performance is what I'm looking for in a player. I understand that upscaling isn't HD per se, but I do want the best picture quality available (at a decent and reasonable price). I do plan on connecting the devices via HDMI as well. |
TechDigs.net
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stikman334: You are correct, the HL-S6187W has similar processing compared with the 981. However, our experience is that the 981 does a better job with 3:2 and 2:3 pull-down, noise reduction and jaggies. We saw more definition and clarity coming from the 981 compared to a standard 480i or 480p DVD over component with Samsung's DNIe. Not earth shattering, but a bit better. Bear in mind that on that the DNIe doesn't kick in when you send it a 1080p signal, so you won't be doubling up, but yes you'll own similar chips in both. Also, keep in mind that the DLP set will need calibrating to assure you don't have macroblocking on your DLP with the 981. This wasn't substantial, but calibrating the black levels (and everything else) is worth doing. |
MikeB
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I'm interested in the 981. My current setup is a Sharp Aquos LC-42D62U, DVD player is my Xbox 360 and my HD-DVD player is the add-on player. Since my television does not have a VGA port, I can't use my Xbox 360 to upconvert to anything above 480p, which is a shame since the Xbox 360 has a very good scalar. I have a library of about 150 dvds and also rent quite a bit (I rent HD-DVDs when they're available). My question is would it be a wise investment for me? Would I see a marked difference when using the Oppo at 1080p as opposed to the Xbox 360 at 480p when watching standard dvds ? Thanks in advance. |
John V
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Great review. I want to replace my old DVD player. Do you recommend DV-981 for Pioneer PDP-5070HD + Onkyo TXSR-674 receiver set-up? I am not sure if DV-970 or DV-971 would work better with that TV. |
Luis R,
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Hi, i have a Sony BRAVIA 40" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV Model: KDL-40S2010 1366 x 768 720P, so my question is: whic dvd is better to use with the DV-970 or DV-981 and if is 981 could my tv have problem using the 1080P fuction by accident thank you |
Dustin M
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Excellent review. I have a Sharp AQUOS 42" 1080p LCD. Is it worth getting an DVD upconverter or am I better off just sticking with my progressive scan player? Samsung DVD-HD960 vs. Oppo OPDV981 which would be better? Thank you so much. |
Robertg7
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Just found your site today...great info! I sold my Oppo 971 to a co-worker and bought the Oppo 981 since I have the 1080p Sharp LC37D90U display. I had the hdmi "handshake" issue but this was resolved when Oppo sent the latest firmware update (Batch: 0-1227B Release Date: December 27, 2006)to me free of charge on a cd. I have the Oppo going to my display at 1080p. However, it is difficult for me to tell the picture quality difference from my Oppo 971. Thus, I want to try the DVI option to determine if there is a picture quality difference between the hdmi and dvi inputs on my display Thus, I assume I just turn on "RGB enhanced" on the 981 "Video Setup," change the colorspace on my Sharp display to "RGB," hook up via a HDMI to DVI cable, and then just do a little calibration tweaking? p.s. For audio, I have the Oppo 981 hooked up via coaxial to my Onkyo 504 receiver. Thanks for your help! |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Schmoe: According to Oppo, the differences that one would notice with the 970 were really when compared with the 981. It turns out that with the 981 the sound quality is NO DIFFERENT than the 970 under any circumstance. Here are the key points: - When listening to SACD or DVD-Audio in multi-channel or 2-channel mode over HDMI, because they're devices are not HDMI 1.2, they convert the audio into high-quality PCM. That's 48-bit 88.6 KHz PCM over HDMI. - With the analog outputs you can listen to SACD or DVD-Audio in multi-channel or two-channel mode. - As previously stated, you cannot listen to SACD or DVI-Audio over toslink or digital coax. - When you run 2-channel SACD you do are accessing the higher quality encoding compared to a standard CD and that will work over analog or HDMI. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Mike B: You would probably notice some difference between the Xbox 360 at 480p (you might try 480i and see how the Sharp does deinterlacing and upscaling) and the Oppo, but if you are renting HD-DVD, it begs the question whether you really will use it enough. It's not going to be monumental, so you have to decide if that incremental increase in quality is worth $230. For me it would be only because the Xbox 360 is so loud (fan and disk). |
TechDigs.net
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John V: I would not get the 970 for your setup. If you can get the 971 still, it would work fine (if you don't want SACD). If you can't, then I would get the 981. |
TechDigs.net
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Louis: For your setup the 971 (if you can still get it and don't want SACD) or the 981 would be better. You can easily put the DVD in 720p mode, so your concern about 1080p is not an issue. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Dustan M: The 981 would work better than the Samsung in my opinion. It's not just an issue of upscaling, but artifacts from 3:2 and 2:3 pulldown conversion as well as jaggies and noise are much better on the 981. Is it not monumental - it depends on how picky you are. ON a 42" set it's harder to see, however it is better. As far as compared to progressive, I'd say it's worth it. Especially if you a re dealing with an older unit that might not support a variety of disc formats (DivX, DVD+-R, DVD+R DL, etc.) - if that interests you. At the end of the day, it's a personal call to spend $230 -- how much time do you spend watching DVDs and how important is their quality to you. |
John V
said:
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If money was not an issue, how does Marantz DV4001, recommended by installer, compared to Oppo?? What do you think of Marantz-brand receivers in general, I can't find any reviews. Thanks a lot! |
Jad
said:
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I have Sony KLV-V40A10 LCDTV and currently using my old Pioneer DV525 dvd player which is intermittently failing now... I was holding back for awhile waiting for HD-DVD or BluRay to come out but was put off by the price... I have not tried using an upscaling DVD player and I thought maybe the 981HD is a compromise today.. what do you think? |
Robertg7
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P.S. Forgot to mention that when I do go to the Video Setup screen on the Oppo 981 the "RGB" option does not appear. Is this because I have the Oppo 981 connected via HDMI? So, if I connect via a hdmi-dvi cable to verify any difference in picture quality vs. HDMI, the "RGB" option would appear on the Video Setup screen? (I am only considering doing this to see if I have the dreaded "green tint" on my Sharp HDMI input which the Oppo firmware was supposed to eliminate). |
Ross
said:
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I just bought the DV-981 from oppo website last week, i have a lot of movies from europe, so my question is do i need to upgrade the dvd download some files to watch the movies or the dvd is already upgrade? thank you |
Luis
said:
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"""For your setup the 971 (if you can still get it and don't want SACD) or the 981 would be better. You can easily put the DVD in 720p mode, so your concern about 1080p is not an issue. "" Hi, is me again the one with a Sony BRAVIA 40" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV Model: KDL-40S2010 1366 x 768 720P,, maybe can you tell me why i can't see one dvd in more than 480p signal please, thank you |
Tom B
said:
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I recieved the 981 and hooked it up to my Panasonic plamsa (TH-42PX6U) yesterday via HDMI. I spent a few hours adjusting the settings on my plasma and in the 981 Setup menu and couldn't create a "near HD picture" as the Oppo claims to do. To tell you the truth I'm finding little difference between the Sony DVP-NS75H that I just returned. The video has a trail-effect, color (especially skin tones) are way off, detailed backgrounds are grainy and not very sharp. Playing a DVD without upconversion @ 480p is as crisp, clear, and smooth as it should be when upconverted, only the detail is as good as VHS. I can't believe all my DVD's are worthless now that I've invested in this new 42" plasma. Am I doing something wrong here? I tried tweaking the video with the THX Optimizer and that didn't work very well. I have all the settings at default on the 981. The movie I'm using is The Phantom Menace, which should look really good since it is a THX DVD. But it looks like crap. I understand I won't have HD quality video, BUTTTT should I not have DVD quality? My plasma is only a 42", so the detail should not be that destorted?! UGH... |
Sam C
said:
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Tom B, I would suggest that there is some problem with your Panasonic Plasma or that some setting like aspect ratio, zoom or something. I have the Oppo 981 hooked up to a Sony 60" SXRD XBR2 1080p TV and Phantom Menace is very sharp at 1080p. Compared to 480p on the 981HD, there is no increase in resolution (i.e., I can see everything at 480p that I see at 1080p), but the picture is smoother and the colours appear to be deeper. I think that it is because the Oppo's conversion of the DVD's native 480i/p to my TV's native resolution (1920x1080), the process called scaling, is better than the TV's. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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John V: The price difference between the 981 and that Marantz aren't that different (at least compared to the high-end Marantz devices). Unfortunately, we don't have experience with the DV4001, so I can't comment on it. I'm not surprised an installer likes Marantz. They make good gear and they cater to the installer market. Dollar for dollar, I like other product lines such as Outlaw Audio, NAD and Oppo for example. That doesn't make Marantz bad, they're not, they're very good - especially at the high end. Just not the best bargain for the dollar. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Jad: It is a compromise when compared to the hi-def formats. However, if you have a lot of DVDs, it can be one that makes sense. Even on a 40" screen, you will gain benefit when compared to the DV525. With the DVD525's 480i out, you're counting on the KLV-V40A10 to do all the heavy lifting. While the an outstanding HDTV, the DV981HD will connected to it will look better than the DV525. The question is whether you own a lot of DVDs that you want to look good. If you mostly rent, then prices by the end of 2007 of hi-def players will likely be in-line. Most of the lower-priced models won't upscale standard DVDs as well as the DV981HD, but that's not why you'll be getting them anyway. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Robertg7: On a 37" display, you're going to have a hard time benefiting from 1080p for upscaled content. So, I don't think you're going to get a lot of 1080p benefit from the 981 over the 971. The SACD is the key side-benefit. Do, however, make sure that you're sending a 1080p signal from the 981 - I'm sure you are, but just in case. The RGB option won't make a difference on HDMI and using DVI instead won't improve the picture. On the green tint, as we don't have the LC37D90U here to test right now, I can't speak to this issue, keep working with Oppo and let us know what you find out. Good luck. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Ross: To make the DV981HD region-free, you must (from the article above): Can be made Region 0 (region free) by: 1. Power Up the unit with NO Disc in the tray. 2. Press SETUP on the remote control 3. Press the 9 button on the remote control 4. Press the 2 button on the remote control 5. Press the 1 button on the remote control 6. Press the 0 button on the remote control 7. A Service Menu will appear 8. Select 0 (zero) to make the player into a Region Free DVD Player 9. Press SETUP on the remote control to exit NOTE - The 0 (zero) in #8 above sequence represents the Region Code 0 - Region Free. If you want to set to a specific region, just replace the 0 with the region number that you want. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Tom B: One thing to be aware of that unfortunately is the case with plasma displays (although it's becoming more uncommon) is that its native resolution 1024 x 768, so while it has more than 720 vertical pixels, it doesn't have enough pixels to natively show 16:9 at 720p. It's 1.333333 to 1 (which is what 4:3 is) instead of 1.777777 to 1 (which is what 1280x720 and 1920 x 1080 are). For example, the TH-50PX6U is 1366x768 so it's 1.778 to 1. Therefore, your set has to do some things to get things looking right. It's a nice HDTV and has had good results so we didn't expect this to be a problem when working with the Oppo, but we also didn't test it directly. It could be that the Oppo and your set are fighting a bit on resolution. It shouldn't be this way, but it could be. A few dumb questions. Do you have it set to 720p, what about 1080i? Also, when you calibrated did you use the adjustments on the set (you should, they're more granular than those on the Oppo). Also, how does it look with an HD signal (from satellite, cable or OTA?). Let us know what you find. I urge you to contact Oppo and see what their recommendation is. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Luis: I can't specifically predict why you can't see the DVD in more than 480p, however I'm assuming you are using a DV981HD player (just confirming). In that case, press STOP on the remote, and then pre the HDMI button until you see 720p as your display option. Also, I wanted to be sure that you are connected using the HDMI output on the back of the DV981HD and not S-Video or composite. I know it's a dumb question, but I just wanted to be sure. |
Jad
said:
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Thanks for your advice. I own a lot of DVD movies and you're right the DV525 will have to rely on my HDTV to do the heavy lifting. That said since my player is failing now I decided jump in and place an order for DV981HD, I think it's the best compromise today and I'm not only buying for DVD movies alone but the universal format it offers... hope to get my hand on it soon. |
Mark
said:
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I have the Panasonic th42px60u (1024x768, 720p, blah, blah...) and purchased the Oppo 970 before Xmas--and evidently just before the release of the Oppo 981. Work kept me from home and plasma, and I haven't even opened the 970 box. Not sure if I'm past the 30-day return period, but your review and comments (bro, you handle the questions so well) have me questioning my purchase. Should I exchange the 970 for the 981? I also received a box set of Sam Peckinpah movies that I haven't played yet; there will a great deal of blood in slow-motion, and I want it to look its best. Thanks for the help. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Jad: Going from a DV525 (circa 1999-2000) to a DV-981HD is a great example of an upgrade that will make a difference. As opposed to the disappointment from those to making a minor move like going from a OPDV971H to a DV-981HD and hoping to notice substantial difference, it just isn't there. However, going from a 480i DVD with an eight-year-old chipset to the 981 will make a difference in a number of areas. You'll now be able to play most any disk type (as I remember the DV525 wouldn't play anything but commercial DVDs and CDs). It will also perform much better in everything from 3:2 pulldown and 2:3 pulldown to jaggies, noise and layer switching delay. Overall, you're DVD library will be reinvigorated. Enjoy. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Mark: Thanks for the note. Forgetting the TH-42PX60U for a minute, there is a difference between the 970 and 981. The 970 is designed to work better with high-end external processors and the 981 is designed to work better with HDTVs with any level of processing. The 970 will do a decent job of processing (probably still better than a majority of average HDTVs), just not as good as the 981. I'm not sure that I would recommend you making a move from the 970 to the 981 with your HDTV. If you didn't have any DVD or a basic 5+ year old model, it might be a different discussion, but the difference between the 970 and 981 probably isn't going to be worth the hassle. Try it out and see if you are satisfied. As you may have read above, Tom B is noticing an issue with the 981 and the TH-42PX60U that has us a bit stumped. I'm hoping he gets an answer from the guys at Oppo. Question for you, have you tried your player with any DVDs? How does it look and compare to an HDTV signal. I'm not suggestion that it should be as good, just somewhere between a basic department store DVD player and HDTV. Also, be sure you run it at 720p and 1080i to see which works better. Oh yeah, enjoy Straw Dogs on the big display. |
John V
said:
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Should DV981HD be connected directly to TV (PDP5070HD) via HDMI, or connection thru a receiver is OK (also via HDMI)? What is preferred? I am choosing between OnkyoTXSR-674 and Marantz SR5001 receivers. Thanks! |
TechDigs.net
said:
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John V: Connecting through a receiver should work fine with no problems as long as the receiver doesn't muck it up. If the receiver is compliant, it shouldn't screw things up. Most of the troubles come from HDCP (the copy protection scheme in HDMI) which Oppo does implement, so if your receiver doesn't do it right, you might not get a signal. At TechDigs.net we run both through a receiver (Denon [HDMI] and Outlaw Audio [DVI]) and an HDMI switch (depending on who and where). All work fine. In terms of these specific Onkyo and Marantz, both are HDMI 1.1 and should not have any issues with the DV-981HD, but make sure you can return either. We haven't tested your specific configurations, but don't foresee any problems. |
Nathan S.
said:
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I just have a question concerning the difference between the Oppo DV-970HD and the newer 981HD. I have a 32" Samsung LN-S3241D that can run at 1080i. Now I know that upconverting to 1080p won't really display on my tv but in the future I want to upgrade to a 1080p monitor. In the meantime, will I notice a difference between the 970HD and the 981HD on my tv or will it be roughly the same? Or would it just be worth upgrading now for when I do have that 1080p resolution? Any and all thoughts would be great. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Nathan S: On your LN-S3241D, you can run either Oppo at 720p or 1080i (I'd probably choose 720p, but test it out). The 981 with the Faroudja chip will do a bit better job of processing movie frame rate conversion (such as 3:2 pulldown and 2:3 pulldown) and do a bit better job with noise reduction and jaggies -- on your current set and a future set. Is it worth it, if you want to keep the DVD for a while, I'd say yes, but I tend to be picky. If you plan to go to 1080p, it's the extra $80 is probably worth it. |
Tom B
said:
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Yesterday I spoke with an Oppo representative in regards to the quality output I'm recieving on my TH-42PX6U from the Oppo 981. He told me the 981 as well as the 971 are going to produce softer video, not as sharp as the 970. But as far as the rest of the mess, it must be my panasonic plasma. The Oppo guy told me that when watching a DVD movie, a good CRT set is going to look better than an HDTV because the contrast is around 100,000:1, much higher than the 10,000:1 that that Panasonic boasts about (even though the Plasma TV Buying Guide site reveals that the actual contrast ratio is somewhere around 788:1). I don't think I'm being too picky, the picture detail and quality looks similar, if not less to VHS. After talking to the Oppo guy I called Panasonic once again about the problem and they suggested resetting the TV under the setup menu. Apparently when you adjust your picture settings enough it can set them off balance and resetting the tv is a way to get them correct. Not much of a result came from that however. |
Tom B
said:
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So Panasonic is going to send someone to look at my TV sometime in the next few days. The oppo guy recommended I buy the Digital Video Essentials calibration DVD; something that might produce better results than the THX Optimizer which hasn't done much. What a headache this whole thing is. Here I've had the TV for a month and half and haven't been able to sit through a movie without a complaint. I've tried calibrations I've found online that people have recommended and no luck. I've heard of repair people that come to your home and professionally calibrate your settings for you. In the Panasonic (and I assume all HDTVs) there is a hidden service menu where you can further alter the video settings; a more technical version of calibration only to be tampered with by a professional. When I bought my plasma set it was a display model that had been used continuously, but only for two weeks. We'll see what Panasonic has to say when they come I guess.... |
Tom B
said:
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To answer your questions.... I am only adjusting the settings on the TV as you suggested and everything in the Oppo setup is at default with the True Life on. I do have the Oppo outputting at 720p, matching the native resolution of the TH-42PX6U. And I don't have a satellite signal to compare DVD video to. Only interested in watching my movies on it for now. Do people buy HDTV's primarily for watching HDTV or for watching DVD's also? Thanks for all your help!!! You guys rock!! |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Tom B: We're very interested in what you find out from Panasonic. Many people use HDTVs to watch DVDs. The big challenge with fix-pixel displays (Plasma, LCD, DLP, LCoS) is that they look their best when the source material is at their native resolution. If your computer is an LCD you can see this easily. Change it's display resolution from it's default (be sure to remember what it is) such as 1280x1024 to something like 800x600. It'll get fuzzy because it's interpolating the data. Your Plasma has to do the same thing. It's taking the the signal from the Oppo (1920x1080i, 1208x720p or 720x480p - depending on what you select) and turning it into 1024x768. While it should do a good job of that and you should be pleased with the result, it's easier said than done. As a side note, the Oppo is doing the same thing the other direction, taking DVD quality and upconverting it to the chosen resolution. When you start looking at the math, it's a wonder any of this works. However, customers shouldn't have to worry about math. |
jDuB
said:
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i have just recently purchased a samsung hls6188w (sister to the hls6187w) dlp 1080p capable hdtv. this is my first hdtv and am new to the whole home theater scene and would like some insight on some problems that have occured on the dvd playback on this set. i recieved a samsung hd-960 dvd 1080p upconverter and ran it via hdmi to my tv. animated movies appear fine(nothing special)but movies such as pirates of the carribean and troy were unacceptable in heavily shadowed scenes,displayed heavy grain and pixalation(which i believe to be the definition o this "macroblocking" everyone is raving about)if not its still unbarable to watch.i dont believe it to be the tv itself because it performs great from my hdtv cable-box through the hdmi.also it seems as though the picture for dvds is better through component but thats not what this tv set is suposed to be capable of. ive also tried a panasonic upconverter with the same results as the first.also i should mention that i have played with the picture settings using a calibration disc from monstercable.com .i have recently become interested in the oppo 981 after reading one great review after another until i heard of people having the same tv as me and the oppo produced heavy noise and it needed calibration(if so is this something the average joe can calibrate or no?) in closing to my long winded rant, i hope to hear any suggestion or advice concerning macroblocking with this setup and what i should do to remedy this. |
Chris A
said:
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I have a 3+ yr. old Philips 963SA DVD player hooked to a Samsung LE32R72 LCD TV via component. I'm contemplating moving to the Oppo 981 player as a replacement to the 963SA. Do you think that this is a worthwhile move, picture-wise? (I will be connecting the DVD player to the TV via HDMI). Great review by the way, and many helpful comments |
jDuB
said:
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does anyone know if matching the 981 with a sammy dlp is worth it or should i go with the 970(oppo says the 970 isnt meant for 50"+ tvs and i got a 61") basically what is the best dvd player to combine with my current dlp sammy 1080p and recieve the best picture i can get or one than doesnt have a ridiculous amount of noise (at least a player thats not a blueray or hd yet) |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
JDuB: We wish we could give you a definitive answer, but can't. We haven't tested that specific DLP HDTV. Given the problems with Macroblocking you're seeing, the 970 might not be a bad idea. It won't looks as good as the 981, but if you have massive Macroblocking problems, it might look better. You have a similar chip to the 981 in your Sammy, however as we understand it, it won't be activated when you connect with HDMI, only component. We've seen the 981 on Samsung DLPs and it can look good when tuned, however we haven't seen the 1080p DLP. The sammy can be calibrated without too much effort (average joe with something like Avia or DVD Essentials). If you move on the 981, I'd call Oppo and talk to them about it to get their advice. You can return it if it won't work for you. Thanks! |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Chris A: If you watch a lot of DVDs and have a good eye, you'll notice a difference. However on a 32" set it'll be less than if it were a larger set. Your benefit will come from the improved processing of 3:2 pulldown, etc. If you are happy now, I'd say don't do it. If you are not and want a bit more, give it a shot. Remember, it won't be HDTV, just better than DVD. Thanks for reading and commenting! |
Keith
said:
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Hi. Great site. I've got a Sony KDLV40XBR1. It's not 1080p, so the 981 probably isn't worth it. Would I see a big difference between the 970 and 971? Thanks. |
Rainforce
said:
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Hi, Is it also possible to get 576i/HDMI from the 981 to use an external Scaler? Thanks |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Keith: The 971 will look better on the KDLV40XBR1 than the 970. The 981 isn't necessary, but would also work fine. The difference between the 970 and the 971 will be in processing 2:3 pulldown, anti aliasing, etc. A the 970 is really designed to have an external processor (better than most HDTVs), it's not doing much of it's own. The 971 is designed to feed a clean (as much as it can) upscaled signal to the TV and not have the TV do any heavy lifting. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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Rainforce: No the 981 will not output 576i, the the 970 does. If you have a good external scaler, then the 970 is the right target for you. |
tomjohn
said:
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I have a westinghouse 37 inch lcd w3(1080P). I am in the market for a new dvd player. will I benefit from an oppo unit, if yes which one would you suggest? I am not technically advanced, but I have a good eye for video quality. After watching the same movies on dvd that I have watched on HD cable, I wonder if upscaling would make me happy. I need a new dvd player regardless. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
tomjohn: The 981 is the right unit for your setup. Whether you would benefit depends on what DVD you are using today. It won't be as good as HD - period, it will be better than a standard DVD. |
Rich
said:
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I have a Pioneer Elite 940HD 42 inch Plasma. Would the Oppo 970 or the 981 deliver the best video from DVDs? |
Thrown
said:
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I have an Mitsubishi LT 46231 46" 1080P and a Panasonic DVD-S52S on order to arrive any day. The Panasonic has HDMI connections and will convertt 720P or 1080I output . Will the Mits processor scale the 1080I well and make up the PQ difference, or would the 981 do that much better job with my Mitsubishi LCD? |
Kevin
said:
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I just purchased a panasonic th-42px6oou. I also am purchasing the oppo 981, mainly to have the sacd benefit. What would be the best setting on the oppo? Great site!!! I've learned alot so far |
Sonny
said:
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I purchased the 46" Samsung lcd 1080p (LNS 4695d). I have read good reviews on the Oppo 981. Would that be a good purchase, or is the video processor in the tv good enough not to warrant the 981? If not the Oppo, what about any other dvd players under $250? |
mike
said:
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if you plug into the l+r sterio,can you still plug a sub into the suround side or is it all or nothing. |
lkadeg
said:
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I am planning to use the 981 for 7:1 surround sound system. Will the 981 work. Only have seen 5:1 mentioned. Debating between a denon 4306 or 4806ci for my system which will have both a sony 60" XBR2 and a 100" projector screen. 1) would it be better to spend alot more $ and get a denon dvd such as a 2930 or go with the less expensive 981 which seems to have great reveiws? 2) looking for help in deciding between the 4306 and 4806 . one difference is the 4806 upscales to 1080 while the 4306 just ? switches to 1080. Will there be a noticeable difference? I'm willing to spend the extra $1000 if the overall performance ( audio and video) is noticeable. Any opinion would be appreciated. Thanks |
Nelson
said:
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can this play VCD? |
Campineiro
said:
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I have the Samsung 40" LN-40R71 LCD HDTV with a native resolution of 768p (1366x76. I am considering the Oppo 981 but what is the optimal signal to throw at a display which falls between the 720p and 1080i/p specs ? 720p is the closest match so what will the display do with it ? Upscale to fill the screen or just display the 720p and not fill the screen. What will the 768p display do with a 1080i or 1080p signal ? Down-scale to 768p and throw away information or cut off edges ? Have you performed tests to see which is the optimal setting in this scenario? Is the difference even noticable on a 40" display. Cheers, Campineiro PS - Great thred... |
schmoedoctor
said:
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well I finally got my 981. I have a question about LPCM rate on the audio setup page? How do I know which one is best for my system. I've set it up for 192k but I'm not sure if my system supports this. Since I'm getting sound with that rate does my system support it or is it possible that its produced at a lower sampling rate? |
Robertg7
said:
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My display is a Sharp LC37D90U, Onkyo receiver with 7.1 sound, and Oppo 981. For about past 3+ weeks have hooked up the Oppo to the Sharp via hdmi-dvi, set the Oppo RGB option to "enhanced," hooked up to the Onkyo via coaxial. Result is now that the sound + picture are great...my wife agrees (very important)....I might have been seeing things vis-a-vis the "green" push or tint via the hdmi connection on the Oppo so tried the RGB option and prefer it since - to my eyes anyway - there is now no "green" affect of any kind. P.s. On another forum it was stated that the Oppo 981 brightness setting defaults to "-1" after the player is turned off even though it says "0." It was suggested to turn the brightness back to "+1," then "0" to get it "right." Oppo is supposedly aware of this and working on a firmware upgrade. Thanks for all the great info on this site! |
RobSev
said:
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I would appreciate your advice if I would see much of an advantage with oppo 981. I have Sim2 Domino 30H (that has hdmi, 1280x720) projector. The projector is specified with Deinterlacer: Faroudja chip set, DCDi™, 3:2 pull ; and Video processor: DTI, CTI, comb filter, noise reduction. I am currently running with an old Sony DVD player 525 that I wanted to upgrade, though the picture through component is very good, though I have little to compare it with. The question is given the chipset with the projector, would I see an improvement. Thankyou |
newtohdtv
said:
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I have a Sharp 52" 1080p LCD. I tried the Denon 757 and was impressed by the PQ. But after reading your review of the OPPO 981, I wonder if there is any reason to spend more for the Denon than I would have to spend for the 981. As far as PQ is concerned, do you think the Denon have any advantage over the OPPO. Also, it seems the OPPO is more flexible (in terms of settings) than the Denon. Is that correct? |
TechDigs.net
said:
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lkadeg: The DVD world is not a 7.1 medium. 7.1 is Dolby Digital Plus or DTS-HD. You'll not find content in the DVD world that is 7.1, it's on HD-DVD and Blu-ray. Therefore, the Oppo (and the 2930 for example) really don't support 7.1. |
FLOCAFE
said:
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I have a pioneer PDP-5070HD.This tv i think accepts 1080p .Will the 981 be a good dvd for that tv?Is there any issues that i should be worried?Should i wait for a blue ray oppo dvd that upconverts regular dvds? im thinking to buy the pioneer VSX84TXSi A/V Receiver with HDMI outputs,and aperion speakers.What do you think for this combination (PIONEER PDP-5070HD/OPPO 981/PIONEER VSX84TXSi A/V RECEIVER AND APERION SPEAKERS). I need your proffesional opinion for the 981 DVD WITH THE 5070HD TV AND THEN WHAT DO YOU THINK FOR THE REST OF THE SYSTEM THAT IM PLANNING TO GET? |
Wayne
said:
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Great review! Just got a Hitachi 55HDT79 - Ultravision series 55" Plasma. I don't know what kind of scaler is in the TV, but wondering about the improvement from the Oppo DV981. Thoughts? Also considering the Samsung HD-960, but the price delta is marginal. Currently using an older Toshiba SD-3750 single DVD player. Thanks. |
tomjohn
said:
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Thank you for your advice about the 981 Oppo. I've had it for 4 days, and I am really impressed with it. Until the format war is over and everything coming out is available in 1080P, the 981 will do just fine. It is an unbelievable product. |
Nelson
said:
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I have a Mitsubishi MD-65732 HD DLP television and wanted a new upscale DVD player. I am looking at buying the DENON 1930CI…which is upconverts to 1080p. Is this a good DVD?? A little pricey for a player..Read some reviews its all positive…Is it worthed to buy this?? Or the OPPP DV981 will do the same job for less.. Thanks. |
FLOCAFE
said:
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i called oppo and they reccomend me for my system the 970.they told me that the 981 has some issues with the pioneer pdp-5070hd tv and it needs special calibration.on the other side the 970 its ready to go.what do u think |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
The primary issue with Faroudja the 971 and 981 and some DLP and plasma TVs is macroblocking. If you want to assure that you don't have to deal with macroblocking, the 970 is the safe bet. While many users including our own testing have had good results with the 971 and 981 on DLP sets as long as you are willing to spend some time calibrating, some users have found they can't eliminte macroblocks in very dark scenes. What do you lose by going from 981 to the 970? The 970 doesn't process some films modes as well as the 981 and also doesn't remove jaggies as well. Also, the 970 is only 720p or 1080i. That said, it's a very solid player. The 970 is especially good if you have an external video processor because it can output 480i over HDMI. |
Bill K.
said:
|
Thanks for your great article about the OPPO up-converting DVD players. Very timely for me, because I just bought a Samsung 32" LCD TV LN-S3292) and I have about 100 old DVDs I would like to play. My question is, since the TV I purchased is a "720p and 1080i" TV (not a 1080p), is the 981 overkill? Perhaps I just need the 970? The difference in price is really not an issue, so if indeed the 981 will really have a better picture (and sound) and an overall better set of componants--I'll go for it! Thanks very much, Bill |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Bill K.: The 970 won't provide quite the results the 981 will. Some consider it minor, but the jaggies and movie decodes are a bit better on the 981. Yes, it's more resolution than you need, but the chipset is better. If $$ difference doesn't matter, go for the 981. |
Bill K.
said:
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Thanks! Quick and informed response. Appreicate it. |
Gene Jockey
said:
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Great site. Thanks. I have seen so many HDTV models discussed, but not mine. I have a new Samsung 46" LCD (LNS-4695) 1080p. In your opinion, will I see major benefit from the Oppo (or any other 1080p upscaling DVD player) compared to the one I currently have which is a JVC Progressive Scan player that outputs at 480p? Clearly I recognize that the Oppo is far superior to the JVC I have, so I guess I am asking about how good is the scaler etc built into the Samsung LNS4695. Many thanks. Gene |
Rich
said:
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I spoke Oppo twice and both times they recommended the 981 as the preferred player for my Pioneer 940. Yet they recommended the 970 to FLOCAFE for his Pioneer 5070. Aren't the panels essentially the same? Are the 981 macroblocking issues in plasmas something they have just become aware of ? Your advice would really be appreciated. Rich |
Claudia
said:
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MULTIREGION - NO PICTURE Hi, I just received this DVD player, and tried to make it region free follwowing your instructions. I have the Oppo hooked up to my Onkyo 674 receiver (hdmi) and then to a panasonic TH-50PX6U (also via hdmi). When I tried to play a region 2 DVD, the sound worked, but no picture shows. Any thoughts why? Thanks! Claudia |
Joe
said:
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Hi, I have the Sony KDL-40S2010 and I have the Xbox 360 HD DVD player. I am considering a 46" or 52" 1080p set in the near future, after all the banding, clouding (Mura) and flashlight problems have been corrected. My question is will the DV-981HD improve the image quality of some of the dvds, such as The Matrix or Predator, as I am unsure of the upscaling ability of the Sony KDL-40S2010? The newer regular dvds, such as Van Helsing and the Punisher display quite well. Thanks, Joe |
lubdub1
said:
|
Hi, I just bought the Pioneer PRO-FHD1 1080p plasma and have a low to mid-level Sony progressive scan DVD player that is about 3 years old. The DVD player doesn't have any digital video outputs, only component video. I've heard the DVD upscaler in the TV is very good, and am wondering if it is worth it to buy the Oppo 981. I have a feeling the picture will be better with the Oppo 981, but am not sure if the improvement in picture would be mainly due to the use of HDMI cables (vs. component video) or if the upscaler in the DVD is better than the TV. Thanks!!! |
Bill K.
said:
|
Well, here I am TRYING to buy the OPPO 981 directly from OPPO. I tried to order on line and the final step won't transmit to OPPO. THEN, I tried to call and order it and I received a recording that no one is available to take an order. Service can make or break a company regardless of how good a product may be. |
HDED
said:
|
Great thread!! I just spent a long time reading through everything. I am about to buy a Hitachi 55HDT79 - 55" and can not decide if want to deal with the potential Macroblocking issue with the 981 , or go straight to the 970. Any thoughts??? Wayne – you mentioned you have the 55HDT79, which player did you decide on? Thanks. |
Bernie asks:
said:
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I purchased an OPPO DV-981 HD player about two weeks ago. I have been playing many DVD's on it to evaluate it. I have a Sharp LC42D62U HD TV set. To my eye I cannot notice any difference in picture quality at the different resolution settings. I went up the scale from 420p all the way to 1080p. The pictures all look the same. Am I missing something or am I not setting up the player correctly? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Claudia: If you made your player region 0 capable using the instructions above, then it's not clear why. It could be an HDMI issue, you might see if you get a picture with a composite output. I know that's not what you want, just want to see if anything works or it's a disk issue. You might also try another disk and also try Region 2 -- just to see if that works (as opposed to region 0). |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Rich: They are a bit different (native resolution) and I suspect a few other items. However, I can't say why they would recommend the 970 for the 5070. We haven't seen macroblocking significantly on plasmas - more so on DLP. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Gene: The Oppo is a better scaler than the Samsung 4695. If you watch a lot of DVDs, you'll benefit. Whether you'll find it worth $220, is personal. If you're going to replace a DVD player anyway, it's worth it. If you're satisfied with your current DVD, then there's nothing wrong with waiting (things always get better and cheaper). |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Joe: Like we've recommended for others, the scaler in the Oppo 981 is better than your HDTV. Short of higher-end TVs such as the Olevia 7 series with the Realta chip, there aren't many that are better than the Oppo. It should help most movies. Is it worth the $230? That's your call. For me, it would be as I find the Xbox 360 DVD way to noisy for quiet moments in movies. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
lubdub1: It's not just the HDMI cables, it's the scaler too. If you're going to upgrade your DVD player anyway, the 981 is an excellent choice. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Bill K: I'm sure success is hitting them. I know they follow this thread, so hopefully they'll here. Amazon may be a good option for you. |
TechDigs.net
said:
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HDED & Wayne: We haven't tried the 981 on the 55HDT79. However, we haven't seen substantial macroblocking problems on plasmas with the 981. DLP we've seen more. That said, with the Faroudja chip, macroblocking is a side-effect, so it's something to be aware of. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Bernie: On a 42" it's tougher to notice the difference between 720 and 1080. When you say you don't notice the difference, do you mean between the modes or between an old component 480i/p DVD and the 981? Also, which DVDs are you using the test it out? Try out dark scenes in V for Vendetta, the Matrix and The Fifth Element. Or, if you want to compare scaling and film translation try out the HQV benchmark disk with your old dvd and the 981. |
Gene Jockey
said:
|
Thanks for the informative and unbiased comment. A follow-up question, if you don't mind. Given that DVD players that upconvert to 1080i are considerably cheaper then those that do the full 1080p upconversion, given the Samsung 4695 as my TV with its full 1080p capabilites, will I be able to detect much difference between a 1080i upscaler and a 1080p upscaler. I'm all for saving money if I won't be able to tell the difference anyway Gene |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Gene Jockey: I'm not sure which DVD players you're comparing. Not all upscaling DVD players are created equal -- at all. For example, I can't recommend the Samsung or Philips under $130 upscalers. With the LNS4695D, anything short of 1080p will require upscaling at the TV to get the picture to the TV's native 1920x1080p. That said at 46" the difference between 720p and 1080p is sometimes hard to see. I think the bigger issue is going to be the processing of 3:2 pulldown and jaggie removal. That's where the DV981HD shines. So, given your HDTV, if I was going to buy an upscaling DVD player, I'd get a 1080p unit and the DV981HD is a good choice. |
lubdub1
said:
|
Hi, Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify, you think the scaler in the Oppo 981 is better than the one built into the PRO FHD1?? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
lubdub1: Unfortunately, we haven't tested the PRO FHD1 scaler. I've also heard it's very good. You can test this yourself somewhat. How does a 480i signal (DVD or standard broadcast) look compared with an HD signal? If you are pleasantly surprised with the 480i signal, it may be that the scaler is capable enough that you the benefit from the 981 may not be worth it. So, what do you think? How do you think the 981HD performs. Do you have the HQV benchmark DVD? If you do, see how it performs with all the Sony DVD processing turned off and your PRO processing turned on. |
HDED
said:
|
Thanks for the input! One other question: I intend to run HDMI straight to the TV, and either coax or TOS to the receiver. Do you know if their is any sound quality differences coming off the OPPO between coax and TOS? Thanks! |
lubdub1
said:
|
I tried a few DVD's in 480, including some from the Star Wars series and was less than impressed with the picture. The HD through my cable provider was leaps and bounds better than the DVD picture. I was able to have the same movie on simultaneously (HDTV and DVD) and toggled between. There was no comparison. I do not have the HQV benchmark DVD. I have been meaning to get it. As far as turning the DVD and PRO FHD1 processor on/off, I'm not sure I know how to. Is it an easy thing to do? I thought it was automatically on and would upconvert any non-1080p signal it received. I was hoping that since the TV is such a high-end model that the upscaler would be better. Oh well. Looks like I'll get my hands on a 981, both for a better scaler and a digital connection. Does that sound like the right thing to do? Thanks again! |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
HDED: I've noticed no difference between coax or toslink. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
lubdub1: You won't go wrong with the DV981HD, however remember a DVD will never look as good as an HD signal. 1920x1080 is about 2 million pixels, DVD (720x480) is about 346,000 pixels. With that in mind, there's only so much that can be done up converting a DVD 6 times to HD. The Oppo does as good a job as anything we've seen under $1,000, however, it's still a DVD. |
Teacherman
said:
|
Just got the DV981HD. I'm using it with a Sony 1080i 50" rear projection HDTV LCD. I had an old Sony DVP-S570D DVD player that served me well and never wanting for picture quality. I definitely can see the picture improve moving up from 480p to 1080i. I have some questions on picture resolution: What resolution was my old Sony DVD player? On the Oppo (definitely on 1080i, and from what I double-checked at all resolutions), I see differences between how various DVD's are portrayed: Nemo widescreen takes up the entire screen. Azumi takes up the entire screen. Lord of the Rings still has the letterbox black bars top and bottom, as does Kill Bill, however now the height of those bars are decreased making for a larger picture. What's going on? BTW, I haven't noticed the macroblocking issue yet. I calibrated with the THX Optomizer, but I'm no videophile, either. |
Teacherman
said:
|
I think I answered my own questions. My old DVD player was still set to 4:3 mode. I notice a touch of green to the DVD picture switching from the Sony to the Oppo. Is it normal to have to adjust the Hue when switching video components? So does this mean that I have to adjust video levels when switching between cable and DVD? If so, what if I get PSP3, is that a 3rd component that I have to adjust to? The situation really isn't that bad. I'm happy with the picture on cable and DVD after readjusting the hue 2 clicks to the red to correct the greenish quality. I come from hi end 2-channel audio with no tone controls, so adjustments possible with video stagger me. |
lubdub1
said:
|
Hi, Thanks for the info. I'm going to pick up the 981 and see if it makes a difference. I think that using the HDMI connection will help significantly and hopefully the scaler in the Oppo will work better than the one in my tv. I know it will never be true HD, but I definitely think I can improve on the picture I currently have using a DVD. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Teacherman: The DVP-S570D is non-progressive scan DVD player. Therefore it's 480i. The reason different movies show at different aspect ratios is that they were filmed at different aspect ratios. On the Oppo (definitely on 1080i, and from what I double-checked at all resolutions), I see differences between how various DVD's are portrayed: Nemo filmed at 1.78:1 (aka 16:9) Azumi filmed at 1.78:1 (aka 16:9) Lord of the Rings filmed at 2.35:1 (so it's wider than 16:9, therefore black bars required) Kill Bill filmed at filmed at 2.25:1 (so it's wider than 16:9, therefore black bars required) Glad you don't have any macroblocking issues. Calibration does help. Thanks! |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Teacherman: On the green tint, there are a lot of factors. If you calibrated using the THX Optimizer (with the glasses) on the Oppo, you should be able to get it to be correct. It depends on how your setup is wired. Generally, if you use one input (preferably HDMI) for the Oppo and another for TV you could tweak each of them (assuming your set allows you to calibrate per input). |
Teacherman
said:
|
My television set has the ability to adjust levels for each input. I am using the HDMI input for the Oppo. Life is much easier now. Thank you for the help. |
Sunil K Lakhotia
said:
|
I got mu Oppo 981HD yesterday and am very disappointed to find that 1080P didn't work with Pioneer PDP5070HD. Is this a known issue? Is there any work around for the same? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Sunil K Lakhotia: The PD5070HD is a 1,365x768 set. It's specifies that it can accept a 1920x1080p signal, but obviously it can't display it. While I'm surprised that it wouldn't accept the DV-981HD connected via HDMI would at 1080p, I'm not sure it's going to make a big difference. A 720p signal is the choice I would make if i can't get to work at 1080p. What you want, is the DV-981HD deinterlacing the video and 720p would do that. However, I think it's worth a call to Pioneer and possibly Oppo. We're not aware of anything unusual in terms of signal on the Oppo at 1080p so the PD5070HD should accept it at 1080p. Either, I can imagine you want to assure yourself that you're getting the best out of your setup. |
ka
said:
|
Could you share the options you used for the Video Setup Page? I just received an Oppo DV-981HD player which I have connected via HDMI to a Pioneer PRO-FHD1. I have set the output to 1080p and the options on the General setup tab are correct and I'm using the factory defaults for the Video options with TrueLife On but all other options set at zero or off. So far I have to say the Oppo is not just unimpressive, but quite inferior to playback of standard DVDs from my PS3 via HDMI, so I'm assuming I need to change some of the options. In particular, large flat areas of color such as the default Oppo screen and all Pixar animation discs easily show extreme amounts of artifacts or blockiness when the picture is paused, but the artifacts are noticeable in motion as well. Since I don't see any of this from the PS3 output on standard discs I'm hoping that I just need to tweak the settings on the Oppo to fix the problem. Note that the Pioneer is new enough that I haven't had it calibrated yet, so that may be a factor. |
schmoedoctor
said:
|
well I finally got my 981. I have a question about LPCM rate on the audio setup page? How do I know which one is best for my system. I've set it up for 192k but I'm not sure if my system supports this. Since I'm getting sound with that rate does my system support it or is it possible that its produced at a lower sampling rate? |
buckey_boy
said:
|
I have my 981 hooked up to a Sony 40V2500. I am pretty happy with the picture, although I have also noticed the "green push" some others have commented on. What I am most curious about is the grainy picture I tend to get. It looks similar to a movie being projected on a screen. Is this a symptom of the upconversion, or are the some settings (TV or DVD) that someone would suggest? |
e goya
said:
|
I have an Oppo 970 in order to listening music mainly and I very satisfied with the cd and hdcd performance, but I have some doubts as for SACD and dvd audio playbacking. The sound is natural and clear but I have this question: which would be the major quality sound differences between Oppo 970, Denon and Marantz players regarding the sacd and dvda performance? Thanks in advanced. |
Cloudhiker
said:
|
I have a Toshiba 42HL196 which has 1080P native resolution but maximum input resolution of 1080i via HDMI. I currently have a Denon DVD-2900 480P universal dvd player. Do you think the Oppo 981 with be a noticable improvement for me and if so what resolution should I output it in? Also, do you think the analog output from the Oppo will match the sound qualito of the Denon for SACD or DVD-Audio? I assume it should sound fine via HDMI to my Denon AVR-2807 letting it do the Digital to Analog conversion of the multi-channel audio. Thanks for your great answers  |
Thrown
said:
|
I have a month old Mitsubishi LT 46231 46" 1080P TV and a Panasonic DVD-S52S. I read reviews (not this site) how mind blowing the picture would be and a great value at under a $100 the Panasonic DVD player would be. I have the Panasonic connected via connections and is suppose to convert to 1080i output. I am not impressed. Will the 981 improve on the fuzziness the Panasonic PQ? Is the Mits a high quality scaler? Thanks in advance. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Cloudhiker: The 2900 does a pretty nice job of decoding, so the movie modes should look prtett good. Of course since it's outputing 480p over component, it probably won't be as crisp as the 981. However, I would say on a 42" set that doesn't accept 1080p input, the difference isn't going to be worth the $$. Depends on your eye. We haven't tested the audio enough to give you an honest sound quality comparison. Sorry, can't answer that one. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Thrown: The DVD-S52S is not a great upscaling DVD player, so mind blowing is not a characteristic I would give it. In fact, even the best upscalers won't completely blow your mind. The reason is that you're also watching HDTV broadcast signals and other sources -- which blow away any upscaler. That said, the 981 is a much better DVD player than the DVD-S52S - not even close. Your LT-46231 has a pretty decent scaler compared to some. It's not as good as external scalers and probably not as good as the tweaked scaler in the DV-981HD. However, you can test this: 1) Connect your Panasonic is connected via component to the Mitsu. 2) Set your Panasonic to 480i (I'm pretty sure that model has that option). 3) Turn off all processing in your Panasonic (film or movie mode, etc. off). 4) Turn on the film or movie mode processing in your Mitsu. If you don't like the results, then the scaler in the Mitsu isn't doing the job you're hoping for. If it looks better than the Panasonic, then you can be sure the Mitsu has a better scaler than the DVD-S52S (which I'm pretty sure you'll find is true). Let us know what you find. In that case, the DV-981HD connected via HDMI could be the ticket. Make sure you're realistic. No matter what, it just won't look as good as an HD broadcast signal. |
Thrown
said:
|
Thanks for the detailed suggestions. The Panasonic S52S did not have the 480i setting but it did motivate me to try a number of things. First I tried using my old DVD player the Sony DVP-NS725P which is three years old and cost about $125.00. Actually the Sony looked acceptable, better that I expected in progessive 480p film mode. I then tried the Panasonic via HDMI at 1080i with it's manual in hand to decipher every technical term on the menu. Almost all of the most important settings were hidden away under "other settings" "other menus". The Panasonic S52S has a some what flimsy drawer and the remote has no "open/close" function but I am very satisfied with the PQ. With the Mits LT-46231 LCD and the S52S the PQ looks very close to the 1080i broadcast from my cable company. I don't know if the Mits LT-46231 LCD is doing most of the upscaling or it's Panasonic but can't see going out now and buying the OPPO DV-981HD (unless I just want to try it on the 30 day money back guarantee with OPPO) The Panasonic will do the job for what I wanted it to accomplish hold me over until the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD war is over and the prices are in the $250 to $350.00 price range. At $82.00 the Panasonic S52S is a great bargain. |
TacRedline
said:
|
Great thread, thanks to all the TechDigs people for the posts!  |
HarryBrown
said:
|
Okay, I give. I've connected the DV-981 to my Sony KDS with the HDMI cable, and I've made the player region-free...but still I can't play my PAL discs. (I get sound, but no picture, like Claudia above.) I would blame the TV, but I can still play PAL discs on my old Philips. Am I missing something simple here? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
HarryBrown: I suggest you try a couple of things: 1) Change the resolution using the HDMI button on the remote. You don't want to be on 576p. 720p, 1080i or 1080p is what you should be on. 2) If that doesn't work, connect the DV-981HD using the s-video or composite video connector instead of HDMI. It's not a good solution, but will help the troubleshooting. Was your Philips an HDMI output or component? Good luck. Let us know what you find. TechDigs.net |
Davidinvideoland
said:
|
I'm running a Sony KDL46v2500 "true 1080p" TV with a pioneer DVR533 DVD and Hard drive recorder through component video outputs, which I assume means it is outputting 480p. I'm assuming I will see a significant difference in PQ if I hook up an OPPO 981HD through the TV's second HDMI input. (My apologies since I know you've seen many questions about many configurations, but I haven't seen my TV specifically mentioned. I'm assuming that the "standard" bravia processor in my TV is inferior to the OPPO -- and it certainly doesn't have anything near as good as the Faroudja technology in the OPPO. Comments? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Davidinvideoland: Your TV doesn't offer substantial processing capability as you stated. Also, it may not process anything if you have send it 480p and have film processing (2:3, etc.) turned on in the DVR-533. The DVR-533 has some processing capability, but not as good as the DV-981HD. Whether it's substantial or not depends on your definition of substantial. The question comes back to the problems you can identify today in your current setup. If you are happy compared with broadcast HD, then I would do nothing. If you notice a lot problems with artifacts, jaggies, etc., then you'll probably get substantial enough benefit. So, will you see a difference? Yes. Will the difference be worth $230? That depends on how you answer the question above and how many DVD movies you watch. |
Davidinvideoland
said:
|
Thanks for your quick response. I'm not familiar with any capabilities in the DVR-533 that can be turned on or off or adjusted - such as 2:3, etc -- it's a pretty simple machine. Certainly on DVDs that I burn myself on my computer (eg using NERO 7 on its highest quality setting) I see lots of jaggies right now. Main viewing seats are only about 6 feet away from the TV so its sounds like I would certainly notice an improvement. I also notice from news reports from the 2007 CES that Pioneer and others will be introducing 1080p upconverting units for $100-150 but these don't seem to include Faroudja processing technology. I guess this means not all 1080p upconverting will be equal either. Do you have any info on these new models coming out and whether they will be real competition for the OPPO 981? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Davidinvideoland: Our pleasure on the responses. On your own DVDs, jaggies, etc., depend on so many factors, I can't comment. How a commercial DVD (such as the anamorphic versions of Lord of the Rings, Fifth Element, Good Fellas to name a few) look is a more predictable comparison. You probably will see improvements. Yes, we saw the a few units that are 1080p upscalers at CES, they're not all created equal. The Faroudja is not the end all, but it's pretty good. We'll have to see how the rate as they come out, we hope to test a few. Thus far, we haven't seen anything under $1,000 that can beat the Oppo. That said, there aren't too many units out there. Either way, you'll like what you see from the Oppo. |
Perry
said:
|
Have you tested how it does with scratched disks (We can't avoid these with my 18 mo old :-). My old Pioneer 444 gets stuck and wont fwd to the next OK frame. Are there any DVD players that are known to be better at handling this? |
Perry
said:
|
Another question: Does it play MP3 music CD's? I saw WMA but no mention of MP3 in the specs. Can it play MP3/WMA music recorded on DVD's? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Perry: On overly scratched DVDs. We tried a couple of pretty used Netflix DVDs that had quiet a few scratches with no hiccups. However, without an 18 month old in the lab, we exactly can't replicate your environment. That said, an old 444 probably won't have error correction as good as the Oppo. On MP3s, oops, yes it does support MP3! Some how it missed our features list. Thanks for your comments. |
Confused!!!
said:
|
Hi, I have ordered the new Samsung LNT 52" LCD .. I am so confused about what DVD player to buy.. I was looking at the OPPO DV981HD, Yamaha, & Samsung.. I want the most bang for my buck.. I have read almost all of this page & have seen nothing about this television.. Just looking for some guidence.. Thanks!! :- Great job on all the comments & suggestions!! |
dom
said:
|
Buyer Beware! I bought one of these for my 65" panasonic 1080p plasma and it is a lot worse than my XBOX 360 (running at 480i).. I guess if you have a decent TV then this thing is a waste of time. It was grainy and jerky in comparison to just letting the TV take the strain. |
Ray
said:
|
Hi, would you consider the 981 processing very close or even on par with the Denon 2930CI (given its superior HQV chipset)? I intend to use it on my Sony 60" SXRD 1080p projection TV via HDMI watching lots of DVDs at a viewing distance of 9 feet. I'm not sure if the difference in video & audio performance is worth paying close to 3x the price for the 2930, though it's built like a tank. On the other hand, I feel 981 may have other advantages like less picky on playback media, better aspect ratio control? Your opinion is very much appreciated to help me decide? Thanks! |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Ray: We're big fans of the Silicon Optix HQV chipset. The 2930CI probably edges the 981 in a few areas including noise reduction, but most differences are relatively minor. The biggest difference that most people would notice between the 981 and the 2930 is the macroblocking on some DLP and plasma sets. You shouldn't experience that with the SXRD set. Buying the 2930 would not be a bad decision by any stretch, it's an awesome player. But there's no question that the 981 is a great product at less than a 1/3 the price. With the good Oppo return policy, you might try it to see if you are satisfied with the results. What are you using today? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Confused: I assume your new TV is the LNT-5265F. With that set, I think the 981 is a good match. I like it a lot better than the Samsung upscalers. Do you watch a lot of DVDs? What DVD player do you have today? |
Confused!!!
said:
|
About a 5 year old Panasonic 5 disc changer...LNT-5265F, that is the TV I received yest.. It is an Awesome set!!! Got it set up yest & & now have to have the cable people to come out & do some re-wiring.. So much for plug & play, anyway.. We watch som movies.. My daughter watches the most of them..The panasonic doe not look that bad.. considering it is the lowest quality possible... |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Confused: That sounds great. Compared to your existing Panasonic the 981 will perform better in a number of areas. The real question is how important that is to you. If you watch a lot of cable movies (e.g. HD HBO, showtime, etc.) then it may not be worth the $$. If you watch a lot of DVDs, then it probably will be. |
Confused!!!
said:
|
Thank you!! You are so right!! I might wait a while!!! |
jp
said:
|
I recently got a Sharp LC-32D62U and the Oppo 981. I'm confused as to what settings I should be using on the tv. I've left the Oppo's at the defaults. I have the tv's "dot by dot" enabled as well as "film mode" Any suggestions on how to get the best picture? Also when trying the thx optimizer on "Cars" I cant see the drop shadow. I could see it with my old player. Should I adjust my picture settings? Thanks!!! |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
JP: I would do dot-by-dot and film mode. Also, make sure the 981 is sending 1080p (hit the HDMI button until it says that). On your TV, adjust the picture settings until you can see the drop shadow, follow the THX instructions. |
jp
said:
|
Thank you for the quick reply! Should I trun off the noise reduction on my tv since the dvd is a pretty clean source? Will leaving it on reduce the quality? Thanks again! |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Noise reduction on your TV should be off, and probably is. Try it both ways and decide. |
Raww
said:
|
Hi. I have a Toshiba 34HFX84 with "CrystalScan HDSC" upcoverting. I'm in need of a new DVD player, and I want to know if i'll get a better upcoverting result with the Oppo player. It'll be connected via HDMI and we do watch a lot of DVDs. Do you know, or can you point me to somewhere I can find out? Thanks. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Raww: The movie conversion features like 3:2 pulldown should be better in the Oppo than your TV. Because it's a CRT, it's not fix resolution so it will tend to be more forgiving with lower resolution content than a fixed pixel display (every other HDTV beside CRT). That said, if you are going to be buying a new DVD anyway, the Oppo will do an excellent job. For your needs, I would say that any in the Oppo line (981, 971 or 970) should work well. The choices are really budget, features and any plans for future TVs. If you can see a new HDTV in the future, I would go for the 981. |
Raww
said:
|
Thanks for the speedy reply and advice! |
raggy
said:
|
Hello....... Lots of interesting info. My qestion is... which, if any, of the Oppo players would work best with my 42 inch Hitachi 42HDT79 plasma HDTV. It has a native resolution of 1024x1080i unlike other plasma tv's of that size. Also, would I benefit from an Oppo player? Or is the Hitachi's biult in scaler superior? Thank you. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
raggy: We don't have direct experience with the 42HDT79 so rather recommend based on a guess, I'm going to suggest you call Oppo Digital directly. My guess is that the processor in the 981 would be superior, however at 1024x1080i, I don't want to committ to that. You can reach them at: (650) 961-1118 The questions I would ask are: 1) Which is the best match for this specific HDTV? 2) Will the macroblocking issues with the 971 or 981 be an issue with this HDTV? 3) For this HDTV, which of their products would they recommend and why? We'd be interested in what you hear. |
raggy
said:
|
I'll Definitely let you know.... They are closed now... will try tomorrow... Thanks for the reply.. |
MacinDoc
said:
|
jp, I was just wondering how your calibration went, and which settings you settled on. I am looking at having the exact same hardware setup as you. |
raggy
said:
|
Well... called Oppo and spoke to a rep. 1/ recommeded the 981... better scaler than Hitachi 2/ macroblocking should not be an issue.. 3/ also asked about the Audio chipset in the 981... it is by cirrus logic... all sounds good to me... I think I'll give it a go.. Any input? Thanks |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Raggy: Great new know about your Hitachi and the Macroblocking. The Cirrus Logic audio is also in the 970. |
Zman
said:
|
Hi Gang. I am in the midst of buying the following equipment for my LR, 19' x 15'.. A Samsung LNT4065 LCD HDTV (1080) and the Yamaha YSP1100.. I want to hold off on the HD vs. Blue-Ray thing until we have a clear winner (although I think Blue-Ray will win).. With the above equipment, would the OPPO DV-981HD - DVD player work well do you think? I have an older Samsung DVD player (non up-converting model). * Do you think you will see a good difference on the 40" LCD HDTV? * I was planning on running the HDMI cable to the LNT-4065 LCD terminal and the DVD audio (fiber optic) to the YSP-1100.. Would that work ok as the YSP-1100 does not handle HDMI connections.. * One last question.. The Yamaha YSP-1100 I was planning to go with, will it work in a corner location with an open back wall (our back wall is open to the kitchen). Have you heard the YSP-1100? Thoughts.. Zman |
Alan Kaf
said:
|
Do the Blue-Ray or HD players have upconverters for watching standard DVDs that's as good as the upconverters & processing in the OPPO DV-981A? --Alan |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Zman: - You will see a difference. At 40" how much difference is dependent on your eye. However, the processing of jaggies, etc., will be better with the 981. - Yes, running video to the TV (through HDMI) and audio to the Yamaha (optical) would work fine. - The Yamaha YSP-1100 is amazingly good. It is a compromise, but does work well when it has walls to bounce off of. Because it bounces sound off walls, an open back to the kitchen could be a problem. I suggest if you buy it, make sure you can return it. Also, it really needs a subwoofer for the full experience. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Alan Kaf: All the high definition players upscale with varying results. The best unit we've seen is the Toshiba HD-XA2  with the excellent Silicon Optix Reon HQV. We think it is better than the Oppo Digital DV-981HD. However, it is over $300 more (street prices). Our big concern is which format (if any will win). If you aren't worried about that and have the extra $300 to spare, the HD-XA2 is an excellent upscaler in addition to an excellent HD-DVD player. We haven't yet seen the brand new Samsung BDP-1200. However, given that it also has the Silicon Optix Reon HQV processor, we expect it to perform very well too. As we've mentioned, other Blu-ray and HD-DVD players do upscale, however we haven't seen their performance out pace the DV-981HD. |
henk bouwman
said:
|
great work on the feedback from your end techdigs!! i am currently watching dvd's with a LG 32LC2R LCD-TV 32 inch, and a jvc xv n55 dvd player, i wanted to upgrade my dvd player, and came across the DV-981 HD will i also be getting a better image from a 32 inch screen?? and is the dvd audio and sacd sound only supported through the hdmi cable?? i won't hear anything when i connect it with the optical connection on my amp?? greetings from holland |
henk bouwman
said:
|
and dous the player supports : H.264 format?? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
henk bouwman: Thanks for the kudos. You would probably gain some benefit from the video processing (3:2 pulldown, jaggies, and a few other items). However, on 32" the benefit isn't If you don't have HDMI in your receiver, to get the full DVD-Audio/SACD benefit (5.1), you would have to use the six RCA jacks instead of optical. Without it, the DV-981HD can downsample to stereo, but what's the point. Unfortunately, no, the DV-981HD does not support h.264. It Does support DivX. |
henk bouwman
said:
|
if i would use the rca jacks, would i get the same results as hdmi?? on the reciever?? and would 720p.HDTV.x264-CTU files be a problem?? dv-981hd is still a better player than my jvc... |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Henk Bouwman: The RCA jacks would provide effectively the same results (multi-channel PCM through the HDMI and 5.1 through the RCA jacks) except that the RCA connection is analog so it could introduce noise (although probably not much with reasonable cables). 720p x264 files put onto a DVD would not work on a DV-981HD. They would need to be transcoded to preferably DivX (Xvid) and no larger than a the DivX Home Theater profile (which is 720 x 400 for 16:9 material). Yes, the DV-981HD is better than your JVC. |
Jody Rosner
said:
|
I have an older Gateway Plasma "UltraBright" 42" - basically ED and not HD (gosh, I feel outdated!). What advantages do I have with the OPPO 981? I did have a Denon 1910 which just died and costs more to repair or replace than the OPPO. Any advice? Thanks! |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Jody Rosner: The DivX capability may be of interest to you and the video processing of the 981 is excellent. However, with the upscaling on an EDTV, the benefit will be minimal at best. If your Gateway has a DVI input, then the 981 should work (although I suggest giving Oppo a call first to confirm). The primary benefit of getting the 981, if it works, is a bit of investment protection if you decide to get an HDTV in the near future. |
henk bouwman
said:
|
is oppo going to come up with a h.264 capable player?? |
henk bouwman
said:
|
is there a player who has this capability?? |
Dons5488
said:
|
I have a Sony KP-65WS510 rear projection HDTV with a DVI input (720P and 1080i). Which one of the OPPO players would be best for this TV? |
Frank S.
said:
|
i have just received my Samsung 4061F 1080P ,LCD HDTV , I have an approximately 3 year old sony 480P DVD player , not upscaler,when I play a DVD my TV says its playing in 480P.I don't know if my TV can change it to 1080P I've only had it a couple days,if you know please tell me . I have been reading alot about this OPPO 981HD upscaling DVD player ,, It really sounds good , and would like to know if I will see a big improvement with the OPPO, Thanks for any advise or help. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Dons5488: The OPDV971H or DV-981HD would be the right players for your TV. Either will work well with your current TV, the DV-981HD would be a better choice if you think you might move to 1080p in the near future. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Frank S: In order to upscale to 1080p on your Samsung, your current DVD player should be set to 480i (let your TV upscale and deinterlace). I know it sounds wrong, but most HDTVs upscale interlaced signals better than progressive signals - however your mileage may vary (read the manual for your HDTV). The DV-981HD will perform better than your current DVD player. Whether you will notice a big improvement depends on what DVDs you watch, how much you watch and what your comparing against. It will not look as good as an HDTV signal over the air. Generally, it will not look as most decent HDTV signals. It will look better than some cable/sat signals that are overly compressed. It will look better than your current DVD player. You should notice less jaggies, better resolution, less noise and better processing of 3:2 conversion as well as other movie modes which translates to less artifacts. On a 40" TV whether you'll find the difference worth the $230, depends on how picky you are. On a larger TV the answer is clearer, however there is definitely a difference. The question for you is whether you are dissatisfied with watching DVDs on your HDTV compared with HDTV broadcasts? If not, then I would not upgrade. If you are, then the Oppo could be a good option. |
Frank S.
said:
|
i tried my DVD player in 480i ,, and the TV just played it in 480i .. i don't know why ,, but there is a difference in 480i and 480p ,,so im still unsure about getting an upscaling dvd player, does it really play in 1080P? ... also my cable HD channels only play at 1080i i understand thats normal , but you said the upscaled dvd to 1080p will not be as good as the HD cable channels , is that correct ,, thanks again |
J BROWN
said:
|
I CANNOT GET A VIDEO PICTURE VIA THE HDMI TO MY SAMSUNG DVI THE OPPO LOGO APPEARS BUT AS SOON AS THE 981 PLAYER STARTS LOADING THE PICTURE GOES BLANK AND STATES NO SIGNAL. BOTH ARE SET FOR 720P-60H.I TRIED A NEW CABLE BUT NO CHANGE. PICTURE IS FINE VIA COMPONENT.I SENT THE FIRST ONE BACK AND OPPO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM SO THEY SENT ME A NEW UPGRADED ONE,BUT STILL NO PICTURE.I'M WONDERING IF THE DVI COULD BE BAD ON MY SAMSUNG ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED THANK YOU |
J BROWN
said:
|
ON PREVIOUS QUESTION COMPONENT OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN VIDEO OUT THANKS |
carol
said:
|
I just bought a Sony 46" 1080p XBR2. My DVD player has died. My understanding is that you recommend the Oppo 981. There are two extended warranties offered at $29 for one year and $45 for two years. I cannot find anything that shows what the manufacturer's warranty is - do you know? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Frank S: When you plug in your DVD 480i using component, while your TV shows the source as 480i, it is upscaling it. In order to test whether your TV is scaling better than a DVD player, that's how you would test it. The question is whether your current DVD player looks better using 480i than 480p. If you find it does not, then the scaler in your TV isn't performing very well and the Oppo would perform better. In terms whether a DVD upscaled to 1080p would look as good as a broadcast signal (at 1080i or 720p), it generally won't. The primary reason is that upscaling something that is 480 lines (i or p) just can't be improved enough to look better than something that is acquired at 1080i or 720p. The latter just has much more data. Think about it like your digital camera. It's the reason that a 1 megapixel camera won't create large prints that look as good as a 7 megapixel camera -- no matter how much you work on it in Photoshop. So, in summary, if you don't notice an improvement running your current DVD using 480i (compared with 480p), then an upscaling DVD player will provide benefit. But, it'll never perform as good as a quality broadcast HDTV signal. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
J BROWN: Not knowing the model of your Samsung TV, it's difficult to know what the problem might be. My suspicion is that it's an older model that may not have HDCP (copy protection). Because of copy protection restrictions, upscaling DVD players often require HDCP in your TV to get a 720p or higher signal. A couple of options. 1) Try a different DVD. 2) Try running at 480p. If either work, it's probably that your HDTV is older and does not have HDCP. While these weren't widely sold and aren't common, they do exist. If your HDTV has HDCP, it could be a firmwire issue. |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Carol: Welcome to TechDigs.net. The 981 is a good match for your XBR. Oppo Digital has a one year warranty (https://www.oppodigital.com/OPPO-Product-Warranty.html). Generally we don't recommend extended warranties, but some people like them. |
j brown
said:
|
guess the model #would help samsung HLN617W the oppo worked fine the first month i used the first player,then one day it just lost video. thank you |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
j brown: We have tested the DV-981HD with the HLN617WX (very similar if not identical to your model) and experienced no problems. I don't think it's the HDCP issue in my previous post, as this model implements HDCP and does so nicely. Here are some things to consider: 1) Does DVI work from any other device (HDTV box, etc.)? 2) Can you test the Oppo with any other other HDTV that has HDMI or DVI (or computer monitor with DVI or HDMI). Depending on the answers above, some things to consider are: 1) Cable. Not often, but sometimes cables can fail. 2) Are you running through a receiver or video switch? If so, try direct. 3) Settings. Is there a chance you changed something, consider doing a factory reset on the Oppo. Let us know what you find. |
j brown
said:
|
i have an hd cable box with hdmi which is directly connected by an hdmi-dvi cable (MONSTER).cable works fine even with 720/1080i programs.Used a new hdmi-hdmi cable,supplied by OPPO,from the dvd player to a new (MONSTER) hdmi-dvi connecter.---no picture.Did a factory default with no improvement.Need to use composite hookup even for osd menu. Picture is good with other connections.Will try another hdmi set shortly.When the player is shutting down a quick "blink"( NO COMPATABLE MODE)comes up before the(NO SIGNAL)stays on.OPPO sent me my current,new player,upgraded with 1227 I've been on with the OPPO tech and they can't seem to find a problem either.SO... thank you for all your effort.Guess i'll know more after trying another monitor j |
HHo
said:
|
I've got Philips 37PF9631 and a Panasonic S52. I've just purchased OPPO 981 hoping that the picture quality would be better. I could not see any significant PQ improvement over the Panasonic S52. I've used Shrek DVD to test both players. I've got significant PQ improvement going from LG298H dvd player (via HDMI at 720p) to Panasonic S52 (same setting as LG). But I just couldn't get the same improvement I was expecting going from S52 to OPPO. I've set the OPPO to PAL (video2) and at 720p, sharpness at low. Is there anything that I'm missing to setup the OPPO?. Do I have to use different DVD titles to verify the PQ improvement? as Shrek on both S52 and OPPO look excellent. |
j brown
said:
|
my OPPO works with another HDMI monitor so i've called in a SAMSUNG tech to check my monitor thanks j |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
J Brown: Thanks for the update. Good luck on getting your Samsung connection resolved. |
J BROWN
said:
|
MY MONITOR JUST GAVE UP THE GHOST AND STATED DVI NOT HDCP COMPATIBLE,PLEASE REMOVE FROM DVI CONNECTION SO HELPFUL... J |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
j brown: No kidding. What did Samsung say? That shouldn't happen. I'm assuming (based on the model), it's not in warranty, but geez. |
J BROWN
said:
|
TECH SAY'S I NEED A NEW VIDEO BOARD,WHICH MEANS BOTH A DIGITAL AND ANALOG.EXTENDED WARRANTY? OF COURSE NOT!!! 800$ THINK I'LL USE MY COMPONENT CONNECTIONS AND MY OLD PIONEER DVD PLAYER UNTIL WiHD COMES OUT IN FRONT PROJECTION. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP AND SHOULDER j |
j brown
said:
|
yes,it is under warranty as i rechecked, will let you know later what is happening thank you j |
Thao Ngo
said:
|
To Dan expert and Techdigs.net: I have a 2007 Panasonic model TH-42PX75U. My whole idea of getting the Oppo upscaler is for the graphic. We just want to see beautiful video graphic. Is it worth to get the Oppo 871 model or just get the others like Sony or Panasonic upscalers? Thank you in advance. Thao |
Dan
said:
|
I am thinking about buying an oppo 981 but wonder if it is over kill for my Pioneer Elite PRO-1130HD. If it is, what 480p DVD players support 480p over HDMI and are as good a transport as the Oppo? |
TechDigs.net
said:
|
Dan: The 971 or 981 would work well with your 1130. The upscaler in those will work better than taking 480p and upscaling on your HDTV. If you watch many DVDs, it's a relatively cost-effective way to get a decent DVD picture on your HDTV. |
Mark
said:
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im have on the way the Hitachi 42PD9700 plasma, i am currently running an old £250 denon dvd player i got about 4 years ago, will this player make any difference to any aspect of viewing is it worth an upgrade? |
bitwise
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Could you pl. advise on which model to buy - the 981 or the 970. I have a Sony KDSR50XBR1 LCoS TV. |
TimM
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I know this is another of the same questions, but here goes from a UK / PAL perspective... I currently have an old (but very reliable) Sony DVP-S325 player from the early days, that feeds out an RGB signal via SCART which is PAL resolution (for PAL DVDs), i.e. 576i (obviously 480i for NTSC DVDs). My TV is a Samsung LE40F71BX (40" 1080p LCD) and DVDs played on it via RGB SCART look to me fairly impressive, although I'm used to the quality of the old Sony player and perhaps don't realise how much better it could be (or not). A lot of forums rave about Oppo and say it will be much better than any scaler in a TV, but I'm not so sure. Given many of my DVDs are 576i will an Oppo upscaling make much of a difference compared to my TV doing it? (although I'd be upscaling to 1080p which is double the resolution)? Does anyone have any opinions on the TV I've got in it's built-in upscaling capability or on the quality of my DVD player? I did play about once with some HTPC software trying to upscale and I could get images out of my PC that had seemingly better black levels and contrast but I'm not sure if it was actually a better picture. Problem is my PC was very underpowered for the job so it stuttered like crazy. One advantage I can see of an upscaling HDMI player is I can get 1:1 mapping on the TV which means no overscan so more picture. Via SCART the picture is overscanned. Down side is anything wider than 1.77:1 will show larger black bars compared to the overscanned equivalent. |
Kevin M
said:
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I will be hooking up my 981 tonight to my new sony 40V2500 tv. I will have an HDMI going from the OPPO to the tv and an optical audio line going to an Integra DTR 6.5 A/V receiver. Would you please suggest/list the settings you would recommend for the OPPO in this situation? I read once that most of the settings(video) should be left at their factory presets but some (audio definitely, video possibly) need to be set up initially. Thanks very much. |
Paul L. Moss
said:
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Hi, I just jumped into the home theater arena and am a complete novice at setting everything up. I have obtained the following equipment based upon reviews I have read in magazines and on the internet. HDTV - Sony XBR3 46" 1080p, Receiver -Denon AVR-4306, DVD - OPPO-981. I would appreciate any advice on how to properly set these components up and tie them all together. Thank in advance. I am really glad I stumbled upon your web site. It appears to be an excellent one. Also, would like to see a review and discussion of the Denon AVR-4306. Thanks. plmakusa |
Benn
said:
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Hello Techdigs - I have a Sony 60” KDS-R60XBR1 HDTV. I currently have the Toshiba D-R5 DVD player, which is around 1.5 years old. The picture quality is pretty good for the most part, but I've been contemplating getting the DV-981HD. I'm assuming the upscaler in the XBR1 is pretty good, would I notice a picture quality increase by using the DV-981HD ? |
Benn
said:
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sorry, one other thing. when playing DVD's on my Toshiba dvd player I mentioned, it looks best when the dvd player is set to 1080i. This means my Sony XBR1 is doint the interlacing, right? But I've seen you mention that with the Oppo, you should set it to 720p so the Oppo does the interlacing. But wont it look not as good, since I'm sending out a lower resolution? (720 vs 1080). |
JP
said:
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I have a Sony WEGA® KD-34XBR970 CRT - Does upscaling work well on CRT monitors? Will it help me? |
Paul
said:
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Ran into this site after reading much about Oppo's great DVD players. This is a GREAT forum. TechDigs.net is very knowledgable and I hope you guys can provide more insight on the DV981HD. Is the HDMI 1.3? I heard wonderful things to come with this version. I am still debating whether to get this DVD as price is reasonable for its features and great reviews vs. Blu Ray for my Panasonic TH-42PX75U. I did see someone else with the same plasma model (dated 5 June 2007). There was no further responses from TechDigs.net. I can only assume that the 981 would be great for this Panasonic unit. Thanks and I look forward in getting your response. Oh, if this DVD does not have the HDMI 1.3, will it come out with one? Regards, Paul |
JurgenS
said:
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Hello, I just bougt a 46" SAMSUNG HDTV (LE46M87BD). I have a Yamaha DVD-S2300 DVD/SACD player with a Harman Kardon AVR8500 receiver. For me audio is very important. I listen a lot of SACD CD's. Of course I want to get te best out of my HDTV, so I'm thinking to buy the OPPO 981. Are there some audiophiles who can tell me about the audio quality of the OPPO? |
joe
said:
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I am looking at the Pioneer Elite 50" (PRO-1150) 720p HDTV. As many of the new HDTV's, this TV upconverts to 1080p /1080i. As I search for a good compatible DVD player, I have come across the well regarded Oppo DV-981. A big selling point in this DVD is its ability to upconvert. However, if the TV already upconverts, I'm not sure that I want to upconvert the signal from the DVD only to have it re-processed at the TV. Wouldn't this only serve to further degrade the picture as a result of the multiple 'translations'. Am I better off to buy a non-upconverting DVD (assuming there is such a thing), or would I turn off the upconversion processing in the TV or DVD (assuming this can be done)? Appreciate your advice. Any recommendations on ‘compatible’ DVD players? |
j.gonzalez
said:
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I am getting an Onkyo 605 and will be running the Oppo through it to a samsung ln-t5265. In that system, would I benefit from the Oppo 981? Or would any good quality player do? |
Dave B.
said:
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I have a PE8720 (720p), yes with DCDi, and would like to know if the DV-970 would look just as good as the DV-981 if both were output at 480p over the HDMI. The question really is are both de-interlacer capabilities (970 vs 981) equivalent in performance? I can use the PE8720's DCDi to do the upscaling. Unfortunately the PE8720 does not allow 480i over the HDMI interface in which case the DCDi in the PE8720 could do both the de-inerlacing and the upscaling. I ask because the DV-970 is almost $100 cheaper. Thanks. -Dave |
audiodiscusseded
said:
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I'm sending back my second OPPO 981HD because it can't track all the way through any of my NEW or OLD DVD's. And, in case you haven't noticed the forum moderator took a hike back in June. ADD |
vince
said:
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i have a 60 inch vizio plasma that has a native resolution of 720 p and use a samsung 870c upconverting player. would an oppo player give me a noticably improved picture and if so would the faroujda on the latest 981 player improve it even greater? |
Vasanth
said:
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Hi, I just bought Sony KDL-40W300A (1080p model - India). It has Bravia EX engine with DRC 1.0. My DVD player is Bose 321 GS-II having progressive scan but no upconversion. Do I need to upgrade to Oppo-981 that will improve the video quality? |
vasanth
said:
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Hi, I have my cable box in India that has only RF video, no component. Is there any hardware that upconverts RF to 1080p? |
Cutter
said:
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I just bought the OPPO 981 on, CNET and your recomendation. I am still waiting for it to be delivered, although FedEx says it will be here this Friday on 01/11/2008. I just bought a Panasonic TH50PZ700U which is a 50" Plasma 1080p HDTV. My question is, do you think I made the right decision with the OPPO 981. I wanted to get a Blu Ray player but after plopping down about $2400.00 dollars on the Panasonic I decided to try the Oppo 981. I hope OPPO will be making a Blu Ray in the near future for less than $400 to $800 dollars. I have about 200 DVD's and I was useing a 4 year old Sony DVD player with my Venga 32" sony HD set. |
Ron
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I just purchased and installed a 37 Inch Sharp Aqus 37" TV that has 1080p capabilities. I have the HDTV Plus Reciever and DVR. My next step is to add a DVD Player. I don't want to add one that will not eventually support 1080p. To the best of your knowledge what DVD Players are on the market now that don't have a supercrazy price and that are compatible with my established base equiptment. Beyond what I have already done on my own I am technically lot components. A nice sound system accompanyment would be my third step....but a capable DVD Player first. Thank you for any advice that you can offer on whats out there. |
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