OPPO Players

[Rod S]

Folks,

This is probably a simple one for those in the know but I couldn't find the specific info on the Oppo website.
So I understand both the OPPO DV-980H and 981HD are multi-format NTSC and PAL but are they multi-region and if not is it an easy mod?
Right now I'm considering a Pioneer or the Oppo and need the 110-220V, multiple regions and multiple formats.
Any info welcomed.

Cheers, Rod

[Ovation]

I believe it is multi-region out of the box, but I'm not absolutely certain of that.

[june]

Region Codes

Not Ture,

Please check this website for the codes for both machines:

http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/asp/pid.153/qx/details.htm

or

http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/asp/pid.137/qx/details.htm

I own the 981HD model. The reason for buying this unit was for the the region free usage. I get most of my films from www.dddhouse.com most are in DTS but the bitrate compaired to our ntsc dvd is like`separates vs. receivers. Also the 1080p upconvert is a plus also. I A/B F.F. Rise of the Sliver Surfer our dolby digital compaired to their DTS version and it was a night & day difference. This was a well spent $250.00. Also I hope I never have to go HD or Blu-ray. This Oppo will give them both a run. $250 vs. $1000.

[Rod S]

June,

Class info much appreciated. Looks like I'll have an early Christmas present this year.

[joetama]

Do you have have issues getting films from DDDHouse that aren't in English?

[june]

Joetama,

Yes the old "Shaw Brothers" kung fu films are subtitled but films like :

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=7567

or

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=7685&LanguageID=0

Both titles are in english. Hoping for a "Transformers" DTS version.
By the way the old "Shaw Brothers" kung fu films are uncut also. We missed so much violence.

[joetama]

June,

That is awesome. I might have to check them out...

[june]

980h?

Now I want the 980H for the bedroom. Does anyone know if the "HDMI to DVI" cable will work for upconverting to 1080i? My Sony TV in the bedroom only has a DVI input. I know upconvert only works through HDMI. The cable is $23.00 http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/as...qx/details.htm

[avrtRick]

Im 93% positive it works,
I know theres differences in our situations but my sammy set top box upconverts the incoming signal and outputs it through DVI so im positive for your setup application it will work without a problem

[PewterTA]

I have the 971 and it upconverts to 1080i through the DVI to HDMI cable that came with it. I'm going to be selling it here in the next couple days, so I'll have it up on the site if anyone is interested.

-Dan

[audioqueso]

I just bought the DH-970HD. VERY easy to change to no region lock. Open the menu, and hit 4 keys, the end. Picture quality is beautiful too! I'd recommend it.

[june]

aq,

now you must order:

die hard 4:

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=7685&LanguageID=0

fant. four: silver surfer:

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=7567

i did an A/B test with silver surfer and the dts region 3 version blew away our dolby digital region 1. the picture quality was different also.

now die hard 4, please call your neighbors this will rock the system!! region 3 is 139mins but our region 1 is 140mins "unrated" i'll A/B this film after it come out later this month.

my friends are chasing hd-dvd & blu-ray for picture quality. but i'm chasing the sound. with these oppo players i'm getting the best bang for my $$$.

last thing, dvds from dddhouse may take 5-7 days to arrive.

[avrtRick]

Hi there,

This question is for owners of the 980.
will it output hi rez audio(SACD,DVD-A) when outputting 576i video signal?
Or does it have to be set at 720p(video) or higher to output the hi rez audio?

Thanks in advance

[Kal Rubinson]

will it output hi rez audio(SACD,DVD-A) when outputting 576i video signal?

No.

Or does it have to be set at 720p(video) or higher to output the hi rez audio?

Yes.

Kal

[avrtRick]

Hi Kal,

Do you think that oppo could change this via F/W upgrade?

[Kal Rubinson]

Hi Kal,

Do you think that oppo could change this via F/W upgrade?

I don't know. Why is this a problem?

Kal

[Jack Van]

I get most of my films from www.dddhouse.com most are in DTS but the bitrate compaired to our ntsc dvd is like`separates vs. receivers. Also the 1080p upconvert is a plus also. I A/B F.F. Rise of the Sliver Surfer our dolby digital compaired to their DTS version and it was a night & day difference.

I remember this argument from years gone by.
Never was proved right but it is a good argument. DTS is not always better. Usually the same though. Separates vs receivers comparison, well there you have it. I really need to and will shut up now. :W

[june]

jack,

check your private messages.

[avrtRick]

Kal,

Not so much a problem, but I have a dvdo VP50 and soon I will buy the VP50pro and would like to let the VP do the work,but still get the hi rez audio playback.
Im going to buy the 980 in a couple of weeks anyway(this is a minute setback but not enough to not bother getting it)
So,not a problem,it would be conveniant though

[avrtRick]

Theres no oppo's in Ausie at the moment and the Aussie distributors are waiting to get the 983 in soon( I got an email that stated this today)

This is an absolute bummer as I wanted the 980 for christmas so I sent an email directly to Oppo and now im just waint for there response!!

[bigburner]

Theres no oppo's in Ausie at the moment and the Aussie distributors are waiting to get the 983 in soon( I got an email that stated this today)

This is an absolute bummer as I wanted the 980 for christmas so I sent an email directly to Oppo and now im just waint for there response!!

I bought my 971 directly from Oppo and it arrived in New Zealand within a week.

[avrtRick]

Thats quick,bigburner(thanks for the time frame)

Did you pay by CC?
I got an email from them yesterday,and am happy to know that I can get the 980 before christmas!

[avrtRick]

On the positive side,it will be cheaper(only by $20 but a saving nonetheless)

[deke]

I'm considering a 980HD or 981HD. However, given that the new Toshiba HD-DVD players are only $50 or so more, does it make sense to get a SD upconverting player?

[Chris D]

I'd personally only say yes if you get one that does a TOP job of upconverting, OR if it also does other things, and does them well, like play SACD and DVD-A.

[littlesaint]

I'm considering a 980HD or 981HD. However, given that the new Toshiba HD-DVD players are only $50 or so more, does it make sense to get a SD upconverting player?

If the new player is primarily for video, I'd go with an HD-DVD player. However, IMO the current HD-DVD players are not very good at playing CDs, so if your looking for something up to par for playing music, and aren't quite ready to make the leap to HD media, the Oppos are very good for the price. I believe the 981H is the "video" optimized Oppo.

[deke]

Thanks guys.

[avrtRick]

I got my 980(yippee)on the 24th dec

very happy indeed,
gives better PQ than my LG,but the LG does not have HDMI.
have not yet tried its upconverting(I have the VP50 doing that)
now I have to get some SACD and DVD-A's to give the audio a try-out.

[june]

hello all,

i just left a friend that has blu-ray & hd-dvd. so far the hd-dvd has the better picture quility(transformers).

but my 981hd picture quility was just as good as his.

thanks oppo for helping me with this format war :T

i'll take my oppo over his house one day for the real a/b test.

oh, by the way my tv is a 60' xbr2 sxrd

[Chris D]

Ah... but what media were you testing on BD? And how is his setup configured, that upconverted SD was on parity with either HD format?

[bigburner]

I'm considering a 980HD or 981HD. However, given that the new Toshiba HD-DVD players are only $50 or so more, does it make sense to get a SD upconverting player?

deke, the range of material available on SD is huge compared to HD.

If content is more important to you than presentation, then it is essential to own a piece of equipment that plays SD well.

Nigel.

[june]

Chris,

HD: Transformers, Mission Impossible 3,
BD: Spiderman 3, Erogon, Eastern Promises

HD looked better, BD was a little grainy. I'm still not upgrading. The best bang for my buck is the Oppo 981HD.

[littlesaint]

deke, the range of material available on SD is huge compared to HD.

If content is more important to you than presentation, then it is essential to own a piece of equipment that plays SD well.

Nigel.

Some of the best upconverting DVD players are HD-DVD and Blu-ray players.

[littlesaint]

hello all,

i just left a friend that has blu-ray & hd-dvd. so far the hd-dvd has the better picture quility(transformers).

but my 981hd picture quility was just as good as his.

I find this very hard to accept. After watching films on my XA2 which has one of, if not the best, scalers for upconverting SD, HD-DVD is still far and away better PQ overall. In truth, it's impossible to make an apples to apples comparison due to variables in transfer quality. There are some very bad HD-DVD transfers and very good DVD transfers, but you'd still be very hard pressed to find up-converted SD quality that equals HD-DVD or Blu-ray.

[bigburner]

Some of the best upconverting DVD players are HD-DVD and Blu-ray players.

Correct. That would be the ideal solution.

[june]

littlesaint,

this is just my humble opinion & what i've seen. i brought the oppo bcause of the region free option. but my first test was SD vs HD with the transformers and a lg dual player. yes it was a difference but not a $700 difference. next was the test at my friends home. again i'm very happy with my oppo player.
one other thing was, he did not have an upscale player before getting his BD & HD players. watching dvd's 480 then going to 1080 was the big difference. that's why he's very happy. i've been upscaling for almost 2yrs.

[deke]

I guess this begs the question: what are the best upconverting DVD players? The Toshiba XA3?

[littlesaint]

I guess this begs the question: what are the best upconverting DVD players? The Toshiba XA3?

Anything with a Silicon Optix (REON) or ABT (DVDO) scaler is very good. Some put Silicon Optix above ABT, but I've also heard some say the newer ABT chips are better. Oppo is rumored to be working on a new player (983H???) that will include the newest ABT chips which would put it well above all the other upscaling, non-HD players, but the price point is expected to be in the $300-400 dollar range.