Oppo DV-980H or Panasonic DMP-BD30 for SD-DVD’s?

[The13thGryphon]

Although I am interested in acquiring a Blu-Ray player at some point now that the Hi-Def video format war is over, I don’t have a single BD-DVD at the moment… and I do have several hundred standard def DVD’s. Therefore, I want a machine that will up-convert my SD-DVD’s to HD with the highest possible video quality. I need a player that will output both 720p and 1080p in top quality. My current projector – a Panasonic AE700U – tops out at 720p, but I’ll be picking up a newer projector later this year.

Additionally, I don’t have a need for DVD-A or SACD, so I’m not worried about that capability. I have around a thousand Redbood CD’s, and an incredible sounding transport/DAC combination I’m very happy with, so I’ve just never purchased any of the “higher definition” audio disks.

So, the question is this… Does the Oppo 980 play up-converted standard DVD’s with a better PQ than the Panny BD30? Or the other way around?

I could save a few dollars overall if I was able to just buy the BD30 and be done with it. But if the PQ of the Oppo would be significantly better when up-converting SD-DVD’s, then I’ll get an Oppo now, and pick up a Blu-Ray player down the road when BD-DVD’s prices become more realistic.

Feedback from anyone that has direct experience with both the Oppo and Panasonic players would be greatly appreciated.

[George Bellefontaine]

I don't own the Oppo, so I can't compare its upconversion to the BD30, which I do own. I can say that the BD30 does an acceptable job, but I have a feeling the Oppo will do it better. I use a Helios H4000 and use it to upconvert my standard dvds over component. That's because I have two PJs in my HT but only use the 1080p baby for HDM via HDMI. I don't have an HDMI capable receiver and don't want to spend a small fortune for switchers and more HDMI cables that may or may not work, so the Helios takes care of standard dvds, of which I have a thousand or more, and I have to tell you it brings standard def, not quite, but very close to hi-def.

[Hdale85]

If you can find something like an XA1 or XA2 player on clearance or something soon they are supposed to be one of the best upconverting DVD players out there. Granted the HD-DVD part of it wouldn't be to useful but you might be able to find one rather cheap so its an option?

[littlesaint]

If I were going the Oppo route, I'd look at the 981 which is supposed to be the better video player, though I'm not a big fan of the DCDi chip it uses. Oppo is also prepping the 983 for this spring/summer, so you might want to wait for that as well. If you want to invest in Blu-ray, I'd also wait until spring/summer when new hardware comes out. The new stuff should be pretty good, and it will also drive down the prices on current hardware.

[The13thGryphon]

Thanks for your insight everyone. It sounds like Oppo is going to be the better solution for standard def DVD's. The new DVD-983 sounds like a winner. I might manage to get my current DVD player to limp along for a while longer, but it's starting to get real buggy. It is not always responding to input from the front panel, and it is also getting pretty finicky about playing a disk.

I'll wait for the new DVD-983 if I can... but if not I'll have to make a decision between the 981 and the 980? I've read about the macroblocking issue with the 981, but honestly don't know if that would likely be a problem with my setup. Is it happening with LCD based projectors?

[comeup]

If money is no issue I would go for the Pioneer BDP45HD which is one of the best blu-ray players out there and a top line up converting player for a grand. It decodes all the new sound formats DTS HD, TRUE HD, DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS its the only player that decodes all the formats at the time being if I'm not mistaking.
I do have an Oppo 981 and it is an remarkable player its almost as good as my Denon 3910 a $1500 player I would go for the Oppo if standard is a must.

[artv4]

anybody have any info on the panasonic dmp-bd10a?

[impala454]

I have an XA2 and I'd assume that some time in the very near future they'll be dirt cheap. Awesome upconverting player. The BD30 is excellent too, although I will use the XA2 so as not to wear down the blu-ray player

[june]

Hello 13thG,

I have both players (oppo 981hd & Panny bd30) both hooked up to a 60'' sony xbr2. I did a a/b/comparisonwith the dvd ice age 2. the oppo did look better but not a $300 difference. IMHO, i would buy the panny because it a blu-ray player. i waited until the war was over before i made a purchase.

i love the sound over the picture that is why i brought the oppo. the oppo is a region free player & dvds from hong kong (region 3) sound much better than our ntsc stuff. also more dts titles on region 3. but now with blu-ray, our region 1 dvds has the region 3 sound beat.

so now the oppo is used for standard / region 3 dvds. i watch a lot of kung fu / hong kong action films.