Oppo BD-83 Standard DVD Performance

[McPanse]

It's already been well established here that most Blu-Ray players on the market today offer comparable Blu-Ray playback (See Gonk's excellent reviews or check out this unofficial Oppo BD-83 FAQ)

However, when it comes to DVD playback, all Blu-Ray players are not created equal.

The Oppo BD-83 is widely regarded as one of the best -- if not the best -- DVD players on the market.

But how does it compare to other high-quality DVD players, specifically -- but not limited to -- Oppo's discontinued dedicated DVD players?

Would anyone buy the BD-83 primarily to get better DVD performance than the Oppo DV-980H, for example*?

* a self-interested example, admittedly, for that's the very dilemma I'm wrestling with at the moment.

[Tall Dog]

Originally Posted by McPanse

It's already been well established here that most Blu-Ray players on the market today offer comparable Blu-Ray playback (See Gonk's excellent reviews or check out this unofficial Oppo BD-83 FAQ)

However, when it comes to DVD playback, all Blu-Ray players are not created equal.

The Oppo BD-83 is widely regarded as one of the best -- if not the best -- DVD players on the market.

But how does it compare to other high-quality DVD players, specifically -- but not limited to -- Oppo's discontinued dedicated DVD players?

Would anyone buy the BD-83 primarily to get better DVD performance than the Oppo DV-980H, for example*?


* a self-interested example, admittedly, for that's the very dilemma I'm wrestling with at the moment.

The 83 does a great job of upconverting standard DVD's which is one of the reasons I bought it. Having said that, if you already have a BD player you're happy with for BD, and a 980 for upconversion on your standard DVD's, I don't think I would make the jump to an 83 unless you just want one machine that does both well.

[Alkaline]

Originally Posted by McPanse

It's already been well established here that most Blu-Ray players on the market today offer comparable Blu-Ray playback (See Gonk's excellent reviews or check out this unofficial Oppo BD-83 FAQ)

However, when it comes to DVD playback, all Blu-Ray players are not created equal.

The Oppo BD-83 is widely regarded as one of the best -- if not the best -- DVD players on the market.

But how does it compare to other high-quality DVD players, specifically -- but not limited to -- Oppo's discontinued dedicated DVD players?

Would anyone buy the BD-83 primarily to get better DVD performance than the Oppo DV-980H, for example*?

* a self-interested example, admittedly, for that's the very dilemma I'm wrestling with at the moment.

Dvd upconversion in the bdp-83 is a solid step up from that in the dv-980H. Bdp-83 is basically the dv-983h with blu-ray; bdp-80 is basically the dv-980h with blu-ray.

[McPanse]

"solid step up" sounds promising. Anyone done a comparison and can provide more detail?

After going through a prolonged phase where I wanted to watch nothing but Blu-Ray, I'm starting to dip back into my DVD library while at the same time realizing there's still a bunch of stuff I want to see that's only on DVD.

Better mastered DVDs look nearly Blu-Ray quality on my 980H. Some examples include most well-done animation and newer DVD transfers that weren't churned out at bargain-basement retail prices. That said, it's usually the tight frame close ups that look the best. Wider shots with a lot going on show the limitations of 480i.

I'm in the market for a second Blu-Ray player for a secondary setup that has only a 32" LCD and Boston Tvee Two soundbar/subwoofer, so my standards aren't as high here.

I've narrowed my choices down to:

• Buying a BD-83 for my main system (check out my HT gallery for the details) and moving my Sony BDP-S550 and Oppo 980H upstairs with the 32" LCD
• Buying a PS3 Slim for the 32" LCD and leaving the S550 and 980H downstairs in my main system

Option 1 costs $500. Option 2 costs $370 (250GB PS3 + BR Remote (120GB are in short supply))

Option 2, of course, gives me games + Netflix streaming upstairs and down (I have a Roku in my main system).

Any thoughts/advice?

[mugupo]

tv upscale chip matter more, if you had high end tv most likely has much better upscale chip than find in oppo. I had samsung plasma which use higher upscale chp than the Oppo one.

[McPanse]

Originally Posted by mugupo

tv upscale chip matter more, if you had high end tv most likely has much better upscale chip than find in oppo. I had samsung plasma which use higher upscale chp than the Oppo one.

I have a Panasonic 58PZ800U. I have no idea what kind of scaling solution it employs. My Denon AVR-1910 uses a similar chipset as the Oppo DV-983, which is basically what the BD-83 uses. I'm currently running my 980H into my AVR-1910 at 480i and letting the 1910 scale it to 1080p. The result is better picture quality than running the 980H at 1080p.

I'm beginning to think my money would be better spent on a PS3 -- that the Oppo 83 offers marginal-at-best DVD performance compared to what I've got and I'd be wiser to wait for the next Oppo Blu, which could conceivably offer better performance and/or Netflix streaming and built-on wireless.

While I'm willing to spend the $500, I don't want to spend $150-$200 more than a PS3 for no discernible PQ improvement. The PS3, after all, is a PS3.

[Clark Kent]

It is a tough call. If prices for the two players were equivalent, the Oppo BD-83 is the clear winner. But Oppo is probably costing themselves a large amount of volume by leaving it priced at $499. I realize it is part of their corporate strategy by setting a price and sticking to it, but the BD-player market has drastically shifted down in price. Even Denon has responded somewhat to the change.

[McPanse]

I definitely hear you. I'm not all that hung up on the price difference. If all I wanted was the ability to watch Blu-Rays on my 32" LCD, I could buy an open box Sony, Samsung or LG for a little over $100.

My goals are to either seriously improve my DVD playback in my main system OR bring Blu-Ray plus a little something extra to my secondary system (something extra being games and Netflix streaming).

If anyone who is familiar with the 980H could tell me that the BD-83 kicks its ass when it comes to DVD, I'd probably buy the BD-83. If it's merely a split decision or TKO, I'll probably buy a PS3 and wait for my Sony BDP-S550 to fail or wait to see what Oppo comes out with next before going for an upgrade.

I'm by no means a gamer, but I do like to play once in a while and I have a six-year-old son who no doubt would enjoy some of the PS3 offerings, if not now, then definitely in a year or two.

[Alkaline]

Originally Posted by McPanse

I have a Panasonic 58PZ800U. I have no idea what kind of scaling solution it employs. My Denon AVR-1910 uses a similar chipset as the Oppo DV-983, which is basically what the BD-83 uses. I'm currently running my 980H into my AVR-1910 at 480i and letting the 1910 scale it to 1080p. The result is better picture quality than running the 980H at 1080p.

I'm beginning to think my money would be better spent on a PS3 -- that the Oppo 83 offers marginal-at-best DVD performance compared to what I've got and I'd be wiser to wait for the next Oppo Blu, which could conceivably offer better performance and/or Netflix streaming and built-on wireless.

While I'm willing to spend the $500, I don't want to spend $150-$200 more than a PS3 for no discernible PQ improvement. The PS3, after all, is a PS3.

I second your notion to pull the trigger on a ps3. Since you're feeding 480i from your 980H into a Denon AVR with the anchor bay chip, any improvement you stand to gain in dvd upconversion with the 83 would be minimal and likely even imperceptible--any potential difference hinging on the 83 having a newer version of the same chip from the Denon. As for blu-ray playback, 1080p/24 playback isd pretty much uniform across all players, at least from major brands. This is something any AV enthusiast will agree with. So you don't really stand to gain anything in BD playback with the 83 over either your current setup or the potential ps3. I'd go with the ps3 and enjoy its added value features.

[McPanse]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

Since you're feeding 480i from your 980H into a Denon AVR with the anchor bay chip, any improvement you stand to gain in dvd upconversion with the 83 would be minimal and likely even imperceptible--any potential difference hinging on the 83 having a newer version of the same chip from the Denon.

To be fair to the Oppo 83, I've read elsewhere in this forum --thanks, Gonk! -- that the Denon AVR-1910 uses essentially the same scaling chip but lacks the 83's de-interlacing.

FWIW, I e-mailed Oppo earlier today to ask whether the BD-83 offers a clear improvement over my 980H>Denon AVR1910 installation for DVD performance and this is what they said:

Depending on the algorithms used by the Denon receiver, having a dedicated output resolution on the BDP-83 may improve the visual performance versus using the BDP-80 at Source Direct. If you are satisfied with the DV-980H performance, then we would recommend the BDP-80 as it will offer the same Source Direct video quality for your receiver to manipulate.

I'm not entirely sure they understood my question, since I thought I made clear I am looking for BETTER DVD performance than what I am able to get from the 980H.