Oppo DV-981HD Universal DVD Player with HDMI, 1080p Up-Converting, DivX & SACD
by OPPO Digital
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List Price: Our Price: $99.99 You Save: $199.01 (67%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Home Theater See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Oppo DV-981HD Universal DVD Player with HDMI, 1080p Up-Converting, DivX & SACD
Customer Review: My HD TV is alive!
Summary: 5 Stars
This player is awesome. I bought a new 1080i hdtv about 3/4 months back and had picked up a cheap phillips dvd to get me going. I was so dissapointed with the picture. It made me think back to how i felt when i compared standard VHS to DVD in the first place. It was fuzzy, just very average and didn't scale up well to the bigger screen. I had been doing some searching around on the forums to see what other toys I could buy and there was a lot of talk about Oppo. I had never heard of this company, like most people I suspect, but people on the forums could not speak highly enough about Oppo. Everywhere I read it was telling me that it could basically convert my dvds to HS like picture. I couldn't really buy this, didn't really understand, but obviosuly I wanted it! (i sound like Jessica Simpson :( ) I was really close to buying a Oppo 970 when I read a rumour of a new version. Against my will I held out, and held out and eventually it appeared on the Oppo website. I ordered it the same day and had it a week later.
I was nervous because you now what it's like when you've hyped something up in your own mind and it nearly always doesn't meet expectations. Like when the trailer has all the good bits, and the movie itself sucks. Once I got this baby up and running (make sure you get the right resolution first) I was truely blown away. It was just like watching HD. I had both of my dvds connected and kept switching between them and rubbing my eyes. For the average punter who just likes to sit and watch DVD movies in great quality I can't believe there is a better DVD player for the price. Dont' worry that you haven't heard of this brand, their support is excellent, there is some many forum posts on it if you need help or assistence, and it's just better than anything else out there within the price range.
It plays every format you through at it, and plays them well. Great sound as a CD player.
There is also a very simple multi-region hack you can apply so if you are like me and have lots of DVDs from all over the world (from living different places) - you are covered!
Make sure you download the latest firmware from the website. The version I got had a problem if you switch HDMI ports on your TV and then switch back, it loses all it's constrast settings. Fixed with the firmware though so that won't affect my rating.
Customer Review: Oppo DV-981... Serious Bang-for-the A-V Buck!
Summary: 5 Stars
Like many of my friends and acquaintances, I am not-so-patiently waiting to see who wins the High Definition DVD "format of choice" tug-of-war. I want to optimize my HDTV purchases we've made over the past few years (42" Plasma and an 32" LCD so far).
Let me say that until the dust settles, the Oppo DV-981HD provides the perfect stop-gap solution at a terrific price-point. I will agree that some of the current features (i.e. the fragile look & feel of the DVD tray, lack-luster appearance of the remote and Spartan "r00t" display when on the main menu) may give you cause to reflect on the wisdom of your initial purchase decision.
<Sidebar: If the folks at Oppo read this please think about using a slot feed DVD mechanism... I know I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for this feature and I bet others would too!>
Back to the good stuff! Once you hook up your DV-981HD (by the way a good quality HDMI cable is included in the purchase price!) and crank up the resolution to 1080p that feeling of apprehension quickly fades! This unit really provides a phenomenal audio-visual experience which is orders of magnitude better than the standard 480i fare!
I highly recommend this unit to any and all who want to extend the return on investment of their current collection of standard DVDs if it numbers more than five, but especially for the value minded videophile!
I've heard via CNET that some DLP owners experience macro-blocking issues which may require some fancy footwork in the color calibration arena. Also, it should be noted that this unit only has the HDMI digital interface as it is the only one that supports upconversion to 1080p though it does still have the S-Video & RCA inputs as a back-up. So it's possible that owners of some older HDTV's may need to look at the even less expensive Oppo DV-971H which only supports upconversion to 1080i but has the component-video output and has USB & card readers all for around $149 USD.
Even with these few caveats in mind, unless you have the cash to blow on either separate Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players or high priced LG combo-player to hedge your bets format-battle outcome, I recommend getting the DV-981HD and start enjoying the viewing difference immediately!
Customer Review: NO REGRET AT ALL
Summary: 5 Stars
I did my shopping and did it well with this unit. Quite an unknown brand, I relied my decision to purchase this OPPO model based on others who gave their positive feedbacks and after using it for a week now I'd say definitely no regrets. I'm a high definition nuts since it's inception in the US market about 6 years ago and had been using and following it's development when VOOM satellite network first came out about 3 years ago. I love watching the 1080i broadcasts up to now with Dish Networks who purchased the original VOOM channels. My first 1080i DVD upconverter started with a unit called Neo Neu a couple of years ago. With no other unit that's comparable to it's price then, I was upconverting regular DVDs to 1080i for more than a year now. Then months ago, Neo Neu came up with an upgraded unit that upconverts to 1080p. I bought this new unit named HELIOS H4000 for $160 but unfortunately the HDMI didn't work well with my 1080p TV and I relied on it's component output which did the trick based on analog-digital upconversion to 1080p. Not too happy about it, I tried to return the unit but was told that they are working on a new firmware that will solve this problem. Six months now and still HELIOS hasn't come up with anything yet. Never buy from HELIOS!! I didn't give up my quest for a 1080p upconverter until my search came across the OPPO DV-981. I'm very pleased with its features. Very user-friendly RC, nice and cool blue LED, plays Super Audio CDs, and played my other HDTV clips and HD demos which I previously ran only on my laptop DVD-ROM player. These HD demo clips were digitally upconverted to 1080p like watching blue-ray or HD dvds. Amazing clarity and vividness. I have a few DVDs filmed in HD and this unit really does a great job of digitally upconverting to 1080p and the player runs smooth and very quiet. About reliablity, I can't comment on that yet since the model is fairly new. It's manufactured in China by a US company which is very common. For the price, I'd say it's awesome, no regret at all. It even comes with a neat travel dustbag and HDMI cable. If you're like me who's into the 1080p mentality and have a 1080p monitor or LCD/plasma displays and you can't wait for the blueray or HDVD prices to fall down to the $200s, try this. I'm sure you'll love it too.Customer Review: Outstanding Audio Features for DVD-Audio and SACD.
Summary: 5 Stars
This DVD player can deliver not only fabulous picture quality but also Outstanding Audio Features for DVD-Audio and SACD audio titles.
Having Blue-ray player I use this Player to play my Music albums.
This is new and exiting titles I enjoy with OPPO DV-981HD player and my home theater:
UNCOMMON BACH - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DVD-Audio DTS 24/96 Surround Music Disc. Volume 1.
UNCOMMON MOZART - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DVD-Audio DTS 24/96 Surround Music Disc. Volume 1.
SPATIAL DYNAMICS - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DTS ES 5.1 and 6.1 Extended Surround Music Disc
VIVALDI: THE FOUR SEASONS - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DVD-Audio DTS 24/96 Surround Music Disc
JAZZ STANDARDS - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DVD-Audio DTS Surround Music Disc, Volume 1.
SIXTH SENSE - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DTS ES 5.1 and 6.1 Extended Surround Music Disc
SOLARIS - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DTS ES 5.1 and 6.1 Extended Surround Music Disc
SPACE or DREAM of LIFE Music experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DTS 5.1 Music Disc.
THE MASTER AND MARGARITA - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM, DTS 24/96 Surround Audio DVD
Customer Review: For the price, it's Stuning!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the very best multiplayer for the price. The picture quality is almost (very close) on par with other players that cost 5x. I have Denon 3930ci. The Oppo picture quality is just amazing. BUT you need to use 1080p Monitor and use Oppo at its full resolution up convert to 1080p, to appreciate this wonderful player. You'll see what I am talking about.
BE very careful with the DVD media (source), Oppo and 1080P monitors will shows all the flaws of those badly made DVDs (old movies) with no mercy. If you have a very good source, such as DVD that was recorded using Pro Hi Definition cameras (usually printed on the back label), then this player will shine, and very close to Blue ray picture from PS3. However, this is not true HD by any means.
For the sound, forget the analog(RCA) channel, it is terrible. Obviously, it is not designed for super HQ audio (not audiophile grade quality), to reduce cost. Use Toslink (Fiber optic) link to the external processor (Receivers) to get the better sound. Then, the quality of the audio depends on the D/A (digital to analog) converter processor of the receiver. Get the D/A 192khz/24 sampling capable converter or receiver. Oppo is capable to produce signal up to 192/24 sampling on audio digital output channel. Other option, you can use HDMI capable Receiver to simplify the HI Performance audio /video cabling.
Put some weight on top of the player (Small sand bags) tweak to reduce case vibration, you'll see more details on the picture and sound, it is a very cheap and effective tweak. It is a known tweak in high end audiophile world.
BTW, "Pro" quality calibration is a MUST for both the monitor and the Oppo, to get the best result. This also apply for most (or All) Hi Def capable devices.
This is the best player for the buck, for people who are waiting for the winner of Blu ray vs HD dvd format war, want to keep their precious DVD collections, and to get the best from available HQ DVD movies.
Free HQ HDMI cables (not the cheap one), that is another bonus. No need to spend extra megabucks for monster cable. Digital is digital. Just get more HQ dvd movies, and enjoy.