- Highest-rated DVD player in 2005 Benchmark Review by "Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity"
- Up-converting DVD player scalable to 576P (PAL)/720p/1080i for LCD/plasma/DLP displays for better picture
- Faroudja DCDi technology produces superior, crisper, clearer images on DTVs
- Plays DVD, DVD+/-RW, MPEG4/DivX/XviD, VCD, SVCD, CD+R/-RW, HDCD, MP3, WMA, JPEG, CD
- Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, free 5-foot DVI cable, PAL/NTSC compatible
Our Oppo/HT setup: Panasonic AE700 widescreen lcd projector hdmi, ht=61" x wd=108" diy "blackout" screen (viewing distance=3.5meters), Yamaha RXV2095 receiver, Pioneer DV515 (old non-progressive dvd player via 12meter sVideo, 1.5meter fiber optic audio), Oppo DV971H (via dvi-to-hdmi adapter, 5meter hdmi cable, 3.7meter 75ohm component video cable, 10meter 75ohm coax audio), Speakers: Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 L/R/C and Bose AM10 L/R/C/Surr, Wiring AWG12. Home Theater PC setup (6meter VGA output, 1.5 meter fiber optic audio, Asus Pentium 4-2.67GHz notebook, ATI Radeon 9000-64MB, 512MB, 40GB HDD, ZoomPlayer, FFDShow, PowerStrip, WinDVD6, PowerDVD6). (1meter = 3.28ft)
I have observed a significant video improvement over our old pioneer DVD player. I also tried a 1970's movie (I won't mention the title) that was so poorly transferred to DVD (region3), and I noticed a significant improvement in the video playback over the old player. The noise artifacts were minimized, and the sharpness had a significant improvement. I guess that was the DCDI/Faroudja chip doing its work.
I've tried the 480p,720p,1080i upconvertion using the "dvi" button on the remote and although I couldn't really notice the difference in quality between the three modes even on such a large screen, the lcd projector saw the difference and reported the corresponding "input source signal". I may have to observe some more and change the projector's picture mode, we usually leave it at "Cinema1 mode".
ADDED: okay, I've now looked A LOT closer using Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon region3 DVD. Basically, as I move up the DVI resolution from 480p to 720p to 1080i, I did noticed that less and less horizontal lines were becoming visible (a good thing).
BUT, since our projector uses hdmi, the picture does suffer from hdmi cropping issues (varies with the resolution being used). Using component/analog gives the largest picture that can occupy the screen (unfortunately there is no upconversion using component, only the Oppo's DVI output has the upconversion). At the projector side: Using hdmi input, the picture appears cropped (black bars at the left and right, sometimes at the top and bottom, sometimes a combination of both). I also cannot change aspect ratio using hdmi, while you can using component/analog inputs of the projector.
ADDED: The Oppo I have can play DVD-Audio, something not stated in the manuals or the unit's array of logos. The DVD-Audio sampler disc I used came from Creative Lab's Audigy 2 for the PC.
ADDED: I also compaired the Oppo's component output vs. the dvi-to-hdmi output, basically, there's a big difference in the picture quality, you should connect using the dvi output if possible.
I also noticed that the subtitles on the movies are much easier to read now when compaired to the old dvd player, but on one brief moment the subtitles on Dying Young were garbled -that's never happened before on the Pioneer.
ADDED: Okay, this has now happened to a bunch of other DVDs, sometimes it garbles one single line of subtitle per entire single dvd I watched. That is still an acceptable problem to me.
I also heard no apparent difference in audio quality between the Oppo and the old Pioneer despite the length of the coax. Naturally I set all audio sound effects to off when compairing audio CDs.
I also compaired the Oppo to our HTPC. Basically, the HTPC could output better video than the old Pioneer, but when compairing with Oppo, I prefer the Oppo. I don't want the hassle the HTPC is giving me. I saw no significant video quality difference between the HTPC and the Oppo. So my take on this is if you're happy with your HTPC, stick to it. If you want convenience then Oppo is something to look at. If you can't demo an Oppo, try looking at anything with DCDI/Faroudja.
Bottom line: I am happy with the purchase. Good value for the money. It's region free and can upconvert, and that's what's important to me. I chose Oppo vs. Momitsu V880 because I prefer Faroudja over Sigma Designs. BUT, BUT, here are my Oppo gripes....
1. I don't like the remote's key layout, it also seems flimsy, it could use a backlight.
2. I don't like the el-cheapo plastic disc tray. It looks like it will break easily. It's weird having to insert a disc if the tray doesn't comeout 100% all the way. I just hope this is the design, not a defect.
3. I don't like the bright blue light which is distracting in a completely dark home theater room.
4. The player's buttons are a little hard to press, well, maybe because it's still new. As with other players, not all remote functions can be found on the unit itself. So take care of the remote.
5. I wish the unit was color black instead of silver.
6. I don't like the OSD font, could use a better readable font.
7. The setup menu could be more descriptive, the manual helps but not enough...
8. I wish it was HDMI rather than DVI, but the adapter solved that issue.
ADDED: 9. Subtitle display is sometimes garbled (sometimes happens once on a single line per DVD watched).
ADDED 05/28: Okay, after 3 months and almost 200 hrs of use, I am still happy with this purchase. However, not all DVD titles appeared fantastic thru the DVI upconversion output (hdmi input on our projector), such as Top Gun r1. I had to watch it thru the component output. It appeared too visually noisy via DVI.
Eric Gutierrez
Manila, Philippines
Buy OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player Now
There is confusion about whether this player is multi region and multi voltage. The web site says 100-250V 50-60~. The player says 110v 60~, support says multi voltage. The support team were so helpful I decided to plug it in to a 250v supply. It is multi voltage.There is also a multi region hack on videohelp which is:
Press Setup on remote control to access the setup page
* Enter 9210 on the remote
* A secret menu will pop up
* Select 0 to 6 in region code. 0 is multi region
* Press Setup on remote again to exit
After setting region 0 I've tried region 1 and region 2 discs and both work.
It also pays DIVX and Xvids written to a DVD RW and is the only player I know which has smooth forward and reverse search for these. I strongly recommend this player.
With all its features, a goodprice and active support this is an excellent player for all including international travellers.
Read Best Reviews of OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player Here
I want to make an update to my review: After several months I am still recommending this player to all of my friends and other people I know that are looking for a good HD DVI Up-Converting DVD Player. I have a friend who bought Samsung with HDMI, and the quality on that one is nowhere near of that of OPPO. It's firmware upgradable, and OPPO constantly improves with new features and various fixes/upgrades. It's one of the best purchases that I've made in years. Highly Recommended!!!I've had 4 different DVD players in a span of 5 years. The reason I started looking for another one was a new 32" Kreisen HDTV LCD (model 321T) that I bought about a month ago. Since my TV has a DVI input, I really wanted a DVD player with DVI output to maximize TV's performance/capabilities and to get the best possible picture quality. However, DVI was not the only requirement. I also wanted support of various formats, including DIVX, as well as PAL/NTSC conversion capability since I have a lot of DVD's from different regions. I started doing some research, and that's how I came across this OPPO DVD Player. Imagine my surprise when I found out that not only it meets all of my requirements, but also uses Faroudja DCDi technology, which is the best on the market. That alone is worth more than $200 bucks. I did a little more digging and learned that this player was named the best DVD player of 2005. It did better in every category when compared to other leading DVD player manufacturers. The only one that came close to it was a $2,500 Denon unit. Hmm... Let me see. $200 vs $2,500. "Tough decision". But let's get back to Oppo. Here is my first impression of it in a form of Pros and Cons:
PROS:
Price One might actually think that $200 is a lot for a DVD player. My wife would fall into the category of those people. She asked me why can't I just get another $30 dollar Cyberhome. She stopped complaining though after I hooked it up to the TV and showed her how dramatic the difference was in picture quality. I also told her if she doesn't shut up, I'll get a $2,500 Denon :-) .
Picture Quality I've tried 3 different DVD players (Sampo DVE612, Cyberhome DVD500, and Philips DVP642) first using various connections to determine which one works the best, and then compared it to Oppo. Here are the results of my test: Sampo (no progressive scan output) worked best using S-Video connection. Cyberhome (with progressive scan) had the best picture quality using component connection with Progressive Scan turned off. Philips (with progressive scan) had the best result when using the same component connection, but with Progressive Scan turned on. Then, I held my breath and connected the newly acquired Oppo to my TV using the DVI connection. I put my daughter's favorite Lion King DVD in it, and pressed the Play button. I thought my eyes are going to pop out. The difference was astonishing. It's like watching the same movie in a regular movie theater and then in IMAX with 3-D experience. Simply amazing.
Versatility It handles everything I through at it. Burned DVD's, MP3's, JPEG's, DIVX, VCD's, etc. I haven't had a simple hiccup yet. It didn't come "region free" out of the box though, as other users mentioned in their reviews. But all you have to do is to apply a simple remote control hack. It's funny, but Oppo support page itself actually mentions how to access the hidden menu. They tell you that for the purposes of checking the firmware version, but you can also use it to your advantage. Here is the procedure: Press "Setup" button on your remote control. Then enter "9 2 1 0" using the remote. The menu pops up and all you have to do is enter "0" for "region free" playback. I played several different PAL DVD's from different regions and it handled them very well. Also, it's probably a good idea to switch the TV type to "Auto" in the setup menu. That way it recognizes the format automatically, and uses the correct output.
Features If you are the owner of HDTV LCD or Plasma with DVI and/or HDMI inputs, then I would highly recommend you take advantage of it and purchase this DVD player. There is not a lot of DVD players on the market these days that have DVI capabilities. There is even less that offer Faroudja chipset that makes the picture quality so exceptional. As far as I know Denon is pretty much the only one. Denon has several different models with DVI output, ranging from $700 to $3,500. But not one has as many features as Oppo does. And why would you want to spend 10 times more money on something that will probably be obsolete in a couple of years? I rest my case.
Support Try to contact Cyberhome. I have... about a month ago... still waiting for a response. Philips is the same way. Oppo, on the other hand, strives for perfection. I've already tried Oppo's customer service/support by phone and e-mail, and was pleasantly surprised by quickness and knowledge of the staff. My questions were answered in professional and timely manner every time. Oppo's website is also quite impressive. It provides tons of useful information. Keep up the good work, Oppo!
CONS:
Remote Control Probably one of the worst remote control designs that I have ever seen. Button layout is absolutely horrible. Whenever I try to Stop, Pause, Forward, Rewind, change a setting, or do anything else, it takes me a long time to find the right key on the remote control. Not user-friendly at all. Hopefully Oppo will address this issue with future models.
Tray Maybe I'm been too picky here, but I don't like when the DVD tray doesn't open all the way. It makes it a little hard to insert the disc in it. Also, it's somewhat on a cheap side looks very flaky and easily breakable. You have to be very careful with it.
Summary:
Despite a few minor drawbacks, I still think I made the right choice with Oppo. The features, the performance, and the price make it a perfect buy. Highly recommended!
Want OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player Discount?
The excellent performance has been well documented. You may know it scored a 94, second to the Denon 5901 which costs a bit more, in very techical evaluation of DVD players:http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=122
What is not well documented is the unexpected superb customer service.
* Emails are replied to quickly even in the evening.
* Phone calls are answered by a real person.
* Firmware upgrades are released online very quickly and easy to apply. So, you don't lose the opportunity to use the player.Unlike others that require you to send in your unit to a service center to apply a firmware upgrade.
* Warranty problems are fixed very quickly even when it's clearly not the fault of the player. During this past weekend, I accidentally bumped the tray as it was opening with a center channel speaker, Adire LCR... heavy... big. The speaker did not give. The tray did, throwing it out of alignment. I could not get the tray to load again. It was jammed. Distraught! Panic! I called Oppo, explained what happened and it was clearly my mistake. I shipped it to them on Tuesday. They sent me an e-mail today (Thursday) that they fixed the tray and applied the latest firmware upgrade and are FedEx'ing back to me. I should have it by this weekend. Less than a week turnaround. And they didn't have to fix it since it was clearly my error.
That shows me that Oppo is very serious about establishing a high-excellence for customer service. And this is for a player that has excellent picture quality (with DVI) and sound quality for $199. There is little risk since they provide 30/31 day trial when buying directly or through Amazon.
For those who have HDMI displays, you can buy an DVI-HDMI cable for the cost of a lunch from:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&style=
I wish Oppo would release a HT preamp processor.
Highly recommended!
Let's start with the features which I have issues with
1. Resume-to-play function: Most of DVD player allows you to resume scene from last time you stop. For this product, it does also only when power still on. If you power down the product, then it will resume from the begining of the disc next time you power-on the product. One way to get around it will be to eject the disc before power down and allow the disc to load while power down. Then, you can press the "select" buttom to resume the last scene next time when you turn on the product. It works but very annoying.
2. Quality control: The DVI-HDMI cable comes with the product seems varies a lot in quality. My 1st units arrived with good cable and everything works fine. My 2nd unit arrived with questionable cable and I saw lots of flicker noises when played at 720P mode. I returned the unit and re-order another one, same problem. Gladly, the OPPO company locates close to my area and I am able to bring the product to their site. They tested the unit with no issue at all and I stood there embrassed since I was so sure it was the unit has problem. They swapped me with new cable. For the very same unit, it works flawlessly with the right cable.
3. Compatibility: If you have Toshiba rear projection large size TV, this product is not for you but rather the OPDV970 does. Accordingly to OPPO technical personnel, Nathon and Jin , OPDV971 has clocking incompatibility issue with Toshiba TV. You will see 3 finger wide of light green bars on 1/20th and 2/3 of the screen. I swapped my 971 with 970 and it works well with my Toshiba rear projection TV.
Now, let me share what I really like about this product
1. It can read all format, all regions disc with superior video quality. My Toshiba DVD player, costs me more than 1KUSD 5 years ago , can't even compare video quality at 480P through component output.
2. Video coming out from DVI, Component, Sviode, composite all are available. Easy for anyone to compare video quality from 720P through DVI with the component output at 480P.
3. Compact and sleek
4. Service: OPPO is very hard to find. I went there twice and each time took me more than 20 minutes to locate them. Their technical personnel is very knowledgeable and helpful. As soon as you open up your issue statement, they seems to know the cause and promptly address your issue. Here is the number to reach them, 650-9611118.
5. Video quality: DVI output at 720P has this cool-feeling video quality while component output provide warm video quality. So, you can change from cool to warm video images on the fly based on audiance acceptance.
6. Cheap. I was very skeptical about what a $200 upconversion DVD player can do when I had my 42 inches LCD HD TV ordered. Now, I am deeply satisfied with this product. Most importantly, I have my perceptions changed about product-made-in-China since this product indeed comes from China and it is GOOD.
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