Took the liberty of reposting this here, since it may be pertinent here than on the PJ forum.

I have searched on this topic, but given the replacement of the 970/971 models, and the fact that products typically get firmware updates along the way, I'm wondering about the results folks are getting these days on a 4805 with a 980 or 981 mostly (since the 983 is not in the budget for me).

I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone who thinks that one of the discontinued models would be a better fit to pick up used.

Any comments on 2 channel audio performance would be welcome also, as whatever I buy will also serve as my redbook player. Audio performance in the multi-channel realm probably won't be a factor to me for the foreseeable future.

The 4805 seems to be kind of an oddball in this world, since it's got Faroudja processing but only DVD resolution. On paper, it sounds like these two features would cancel out any benefits from the Oppo 981, but that's just me guessing. Plus, the real world has a way of wadding up what's on paper!

FWIW, unless I'm forgetting something along the way, my one and only DVD player remains a Sony DVP-NS500V, which was one of the first budget players that could read a SACD. Gads, this thing has got to be at least 6 years old, maybe more.

I realize that a nice Oppo product could be justified on the basis of sowing to the future, since my whole system is long in the tooth. But I'd like to have clear present gains through the 4805, since I figure the time is coming when a great, inexpensive Blu-ray, SD DVD combo will be available. So I don't want to buy a standard DVD player just for future benefit.

Thanks in advance!