Questions Before I Buy An Oppo Multi-Region Player

[takeasneededforpain]

Hi all,

So after unexpectedly coming into some extra cash I've 90% decided on biting the bullet and just getting a multi-region Oppo player. However I have a few questions as I'm not sure about a few things.

A. In simple terms is there really that much of a difference between this model http://www.world-import.com/Oppo-BDP...Ray-Player.htm and this one http://www.world-import.com/oppo-bdp...dvd-player.htm besides the price?? Would I still have a kick ass player if I just bought the regular BDP-103 or is the Derby version that much better and worth the extra cash????

B. Where is the best place to get a multi- region Oppo player from??? I was thinking of ordering from the World-Import site that I linked earlier in this thread or are there better places??? And since I'm in Canada, out of curiosity are there any places online that are Canadian that sell multi-region Oppo's that I could maybe order from so that I wouldn't get nailed by customs with duties???

C. Can Oppo players really play things in 4k??? I'm just asking for future reference when I get a 4K TV.

D. What's Oppo's customer service and warranty like for multi-region players? Are there good extended warranties available for multi-region players???

Hopefully you Oppo owners can help me out. And if there's anything I should know before buying anything....please feel free to chime in and tell me.

[solarrdadd]

you do realize that with just a little research on this site, all of your questions can be answered, many times over as they have been asked many times over. don't get me wrong either, i'm sure people will respond, but, you could have gotten this info by using the search feature.

just sayin......

good luck, keep us posted whatever you decide to do.

[bigshot]

Easier just to answer...

Yes, Darbee is very effective, especially with very good HD video and a large monitor. I think it's worth the money.

I bought my region free Oppo BDP-103D on eBay. There are two dealers there who specialize in it.

Oppos won't play 4K but they will upscale to it.

Oppos customer service is great, but the warranty is voided by the hardware region free hack. If you are concerned you can buy a third party warranty when you buy the player. I didn't bother. The seller warrantied it for 30 days which is enough to make sure it works fine.

[ZoetMB]

Darbee is in effect, a special effects generator. It might best be described as a visual equalizer. While many are pleased with the results, it is not creating what the director intended. If they did intend that, they would have mastered the equivalent of the Darbee effect into the disc in the first place. IMO, it cannot make up for faults in the TV.

So the question becomes, do you want to view an "accurate" picture or do you want to see a picture that you might like better? If it's the latter, then you might want the Darbee. If it's the former, then you don't.

I can tell you that none of the "experts" at the Value Electronics Shootout thought Darbee was a good idea. On the other hand, there are obviously plenty of people who think it's just fantastic.

[bbrown5222]

I will only say that I have purchased from World Imports about 10 times and I have always been happy with the way they do things. and the way they stand behiond thier items after the sell.

of the items in my signature were from them.

[hometheatergeek]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Darbee is in effect, a special effects generator. It might best be described as a visual equalizer. While many are pleased with the results, it is not creating what the director intended. If they did intend that, they would have mastered the equivalent of the Darbee effect into the disc in the first place. IMO, it cannot make up for faults in the TV.

So the question becomes, do you want to view an "accurate" picture or do you want to see a picture that you might like better? If it's the latter, then you might want the Darbee. If it's the former, then you don't.

I can tell you that none of the "experts" at the Value Electronics Shootout thought Darbee was a good idea. On the other hand, there are obviously plenty of people who think it's just fantastic.

Well like I have stated before if you want to see an accurate picture that the director intended you would just invest in a 35/70 mm projector and skip all of the other components in a typical home theater environment. You will not get any awards for being a purist. The only thing you posted that I find factual is "it cannot make up for faults in the TV."

[takeasneededforpain]

So out of you guys here who own Oppo BDP-103 multi-region players do the majority of you have them with that Darbee effect thing or do more of you just have the normal hacked multi-region BDP-103 player???

Going without that Darbee effect on an Oppo player isn't that big of a deal is it???

[bigshot]

I think the whole concept of "as the creator intended" is backwards. The creator didn't see it on your particular monitor in your particular room with ambient light or seating distance. The reason that equipment includes settings is so you can suit your own particular situation. One size does not fit all.

Every speaker setup requires equalization to work at its best. Every monitor or projector requires a little tweaking to provide the best picture. Darbee is very effective and is a much more artifact free way of enhancing the image than any other I've seen. I can't see how anyone would be unhappy with the results. For $100, it's definitely worth it.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I think the whole concept of "as the creator intended" is backwards.

No it isn't. It works perfectly fine, as long as you don't use a Darbee or some other thing that destroys the contents of your Blu-ray disc.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by takeasneededforpain

So out of you guys here who own Oppo BDP-103 multi-region players do the majority of you have them with that Darbee effect thing or do more of you just have the normal hacked multi-region BDP-103 player???

Going without that Darbee effect on an Oppo player isn't that big of a deal is it???

You don't want the Darbee screwing up your Blu-rays. Save the $100.

And a few question marks as well, maybe.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

Well like I have stated before if you want to see an accurate picture that the director intended you would just invest in a 35/70 mm projector and skip all of the other components in a typical home theater environment. You will not get any awards for being a purist. The only thing you posted that I find factual is "it cannot make up for faults in the TV."

Getting a 35 or 77mm projector isn't really an option. And you know this perfectly well. Just because you can't make it look PERFECT on a normal budget, doesn't mean you should just say "f*ck it" and pay $300 to intentionally move further away from what the director intended.

[takeasneededforpain]

Actually the BDP-103 with Darbee is an extra $150 at World Imports.

Hmm...what to do???

[hometheatergeek]

Originally Posted by Naiera

Getting a 35 or 77mm projector isn't really an option. And you know this perfectly well. Just because you can't make it look PERFECT on a normal budget, doesn't mean you should just say "f*ck it" and pay $300 to intentionally move further away from what the director intended.

The Darbee does not change the directors intent. Only your purist who have not seen the DVP action for themselves are mistaken when you think it changes the directors intent. Quote me one director who has made that public that they disapprove of the DVP and I'll step aside in this disagreement. Until then... you have your misguided non factual opinion and I have mine based on using the Darbee for 2 years now.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Naiera

Getting a 35 or 77mm projector isn't really an option.

You're screwing up your movies and defying the Director's intent!

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by takeasneededforpain

Hmm...what to do???

Simple... listen to what the people who own a Darbee Oppo say.

[Naiera]

Claiming that the Darbee will IMPROVE things is highly disingenuous.

Get a BD player that does chroma upsampling correctly and that is IT. There's no more to squeeze from a Blu-ray Disc. Ever.

A random thingamajig added to the HDMI cable won't improve a display either.

Darbee will CHANGE what's there. Maybe for the better, in your eyes. Maybe not to others.

[bigshot]

Tonight I started experimenting with the Darbee Full Pop setting. This is the best up sampling that I have ever seen. I tried some really rough DVDs of old B&W films from the 30s, and it did a remarkable job. I can't imagine anyone looking at this and thinking it doesn't significantly improve lo res images. It helps hires stuff too, just in smaller details and textures. Which is what you would want from image processing.

[Kirsty_Mc]

I purchased my 103 from AvAficianado. The original multi zone and multi region board malfunctioned... They collected it from my work address on the Tuesday and it was back with a new board in on the Friday, no charge. No problems since.

Excellent customer services.

I would highly recommend.

[takeasneededforpain]

So out of you guys here who own Oppo BDP-103 multi-region players do the majority of you have them with that Darbee effect thing or do more of you just have the normal hacked multi-region BDP-103 player???

And are those 5 year extended warranty plans that places like World Imports sell worth it??? Or are they just a cash grab??

[Iain-]

Originally Posted by takeasneededforpain

...

And are those 5 year extended warranty plans that places like World Imports sell worth it??? Or are they just a cash grab??

I would only get an extended warranty for high-value irreplaceable items. That's what I did for my primary monitor with Square Trade in 01/13.

Anything else is a cash-grab.