It only recently dawned upon me that Oppo now has two models of DVD players, with the 971 being the original award-winning, incredibly high scoring DVD player. I was wondering, in a nutshell, how these two DVD players stacked against one another? With the 970 being sold at $50 cheaper, is it sacrificing PQ performance?

It is ILLEGAL to compare such worshipped DVD players like these.

It only recently dawned upon me that Oppo now has two models of DVD players, with the 971 being the original award-winning, incredibly high scoring DVD player. I was wondering, in a nutshell, how these two DVD players stacked against one another? With the 970 being sold at $50 cheaper, is it sacrificing PQ performance?


The SEARCH function is your friend. :)

The OPPO 971H is a better choice if you are going to the player for 720p or 1080i DVI output.

The 970H would be best if you plan to feed a 480i HDMI signal into an external scaler.

OPPO say get the 970 for displays 37" and under but get the 971 if you are getting a bigger display.

Someone else told me I would not tell the difference with my 43" set sitting further than 6' away.

My actual impression of the 970 was that the picture at 480p/720p or 1080i was good but just about the same as my old sony pushing out 480p over component feed

I posted a performance comparison here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7962776&&#post7962776

For a feature comparison, the best place is the Oppo web site.

Be aware that the conclusions I reached are specific to my NEC PX-50XR5A plasma. Other displays will yield different results.

For people with 1080i native CRT RPTVs - I wonder if the 970 for film-based DVDs would actually be a better solution than the 971. I hear the 970 has better 1080i output and a sharper image. The deinterlacing of the 970 should be pretty close to the 971 for film based movies I hear.

I'm getting my 970 in this week...should be interesting to compare to my 971.

David -

Looking forward to your 970/971 comparison! I too have a Sony RPTV that is 1080i native but, like yours, will accept (and convert) 720p. I'm currently using a Zenith DVB318 via component but have an HDMI port open. Keep us posted!

Just corrected a major typo in my last post.

Tony, I'll definitely post my thoughts. What model do you have? I have a KP-57WS520.

I posted a performance comparison here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7962776&&#post7962776

For a feature comparison, the best place is the Oppo web site.

Be aware that the conclusions I reached are specific to my NEC PX-50XR5A plasma. Other displays will yield different results.

Well done, that was a very nice comparison. As for a subjective comparison on my Panasonic PT50LC13 (HD LCD) and Toshiba 52" 720p DLP RP, the results are similar. The 971 is a clear winner. The 970 is no slouch, but it is easy to see the difference from my viewing distance (~8 to 10 feet).

Just corrected a major typo in my last post.

Tony, I'll definitely post my thoughts. What model do you have? I have a KP-57WS520.
David - I have the KDP-51WS655, which I believe is the same model year as yours. Again, looking forward to that comparison!

Will we soon have a new addition to the Oppo family? Something more like the 971, with Faroudja and 2:2 cadence for PAL discs, but with an HDMI interface?

I understand that the Oppo's play PAL discs. However, do they do PAL -> NTSC conversion, so that PAL discs can be played on a NTSC set?

Oppo Digital has two superb DVD players, the DV-970HD and the OPDV971H.

The DV-970HD is a complement to OPDV971H. We will continue to sell the OPDV971H and Oppo Digital is going to release another new firmware for it soon. In short, the DV-970HD is a more “consumer oriented” version of the OPDV971H.
The difference between DV-970HD and OPDV971H are as follows:
The DV-970HD utilizes a new MediaTek upscaling chipset MT1392 for up-conversion. Visually the picture quality is excellent. However when doing benchmark test, it doesn’t score as high as the OPDV971H. For example, it does not pass as many cadence tests and cannot pass some HQV test very well. OPDV971H utilize the Genesis DCDi Faroudja chipset. The overall video processing is well known and can receive high scores in any benchmark test.

The DV-970HD is designed for customers seeking a lower cost and still fully featured up-conversion DVD player. Its selling points are HDMI, SACD and lower price. For most users who can afford $199, we should always recommend OPDV971H for its superior picture quality.

Since DV-970HD support 480i/576i over HDMI output, it also good for those high end users who want to utilize their own expensive video processors or scalars.
Q: What are the main differences between the OPPO DV-970HD and OPDV971H DVD players?
While both the OPPO DV-970HD and OPDV971H are excellent DVD players with high definition up-conversion, the OPDV971H emphasizes more on the video performance and the DV-970HD emphasizes more on the overall performance and value. The main differences between the two models are:

1. The OPDV971H features video processing with "DCDi by Faroudja" technology and video chipset by Genesis/Faroudja; the DV-970HD uses a different chipset and technology for video de-interlacing and up-conversion. While both player produce excellent picture quality and the difference is subtle, the "DCDi by Faroudja" technology is able to handle some tricky video contents. On very large TV or projector screens, the difference could be noticed by experts or videophiles. When benchmarked with contents designed to test video performance, the OPDV971H will score higher than the DV-970HD.

2. The OPDV971H has a DVI output for digital video that optimize video performance; the DV-970HD has an HDMI output for both digital video and audio.

3. The DV-970HD has a flash memory card reader and USB interface while the OPDV971H does not.

4. The DV-970HD supports Super Audio CD (SACD) in addition to DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Audio CD etc. supported by OPDV971H.

5. The OPDV971H front panel has a brushed aluminum finish; the DV-970HD front panel has a reflective mirror finish.

Both are excellent upscaling DVD players and would look great with your new HDTV.

Well, today I received my 970. As you know, I also have the 971.

My display is a year-and-a-half old Sony 57" CRT RPTV (KP-57WS520) which has been fully calibrated, tweaked, and ISF'd. 1080i native.

My comments are not yet definitive and I'll post more later this weekend; I need to do more A/B comparing, but I spent well over an hour tonight with some film-based DVDs which I'm very familiar with.

The results may surprise some.

After re-calibrating for each player, I am leaning toward the 971. One of the main reasons is the vertical squeezing at 1080i on the 970. I find it unacceptable. Period. It's just too distracting for me. I also think this is one reason why the image is very slightly sharper than the 971. I think if this image was not compressed, it wouldn't look as quite as sharp as it would be spread out more. I say that because at 480p where there is no compression, the image is not quite as sharp. Still good definition, just not quite as much if you know what I mean.

In addition, the 971 is a bit cleaner - that is, fewer artifacts.

Finally, if you factor in the Faroudja deinterlacing, that adds more impact.

As I mentioned, I'll be doing more comparisons and post more thoughts later. By the way, the 970 makes a very good 480p component player.

I thought the main difference was people with older displays that do not have HDMI input should go with the 970 since it upconverts over component inputs.

I understand that the Oppo's play PAL discs. However, do they do PAL -> NTSC conversion, so that PAL discs can be played on a NTSC set?

Yes.

-Bill

I thought the main difference was people with older displays that do not have HDMI input should go with the 970 since it upconverts over component inputs.
The 970HD won't upconvert copy protected DVD's over component. It will only allow 480p over component with copy protected DVD's.

My comments are not yet definitive and I'll post more later this weekend; I need to do more A/B comparing, but I spent well over an hour tonight with some film-based DVDs which I'm very familiar with.



I've concluded the 971 is definitely the way to go in my case.

David - thanks for the comparison! Any macroblocking with the 971 on your Sony TV?

David - thanks for the comparison! Any macroblocking with the 971 on your Sony TV?

Occasionally, I do see what I would call "hints" of it.

In every case, it's been a disc that already has some compressioning issues (as I've looked as the same disc on a non-Faroudja player and see the compression problem); the Faroudja sometimes seems to very slightly enhance it for that particular "badly compressed" scene. And, we're talking less than 1% of the time this crops up based on the movies I've watched so far.

Just make sure your display is as well calibrated as possible using Avia or DVE. There's a post somewhere by "GSB" on calibrating tips for Oppo to help avoid it. The only tip I haven't done a lot with yet is reducing or increasing saturation on the Oppo while simutaneouly doing to the same on the display.

All in all, I don't consider macroblocking an issue at this point.

David, would you recommend the 971 for use with the new Sony A2000 SXRD? Would it be susceptible to MB? Do either one of the Oppo machinew put out 1080p?

David, would you recommend the 971 for use with the new Sony A2000 SXRD? Would it be susceptible to MB? Do either one of the Oppo machinew put out 1080p?

Sorry, I'm not sure about the A2000 and possible macroblocking with the 971. Neither Oppo outputs 1080p. I would imagine a good 1080p display would just upconvert the 1080 interlaced signal to progressive and you'd be good to go.

I thought the 971 will NOT pass 480i over its HDMI port? This is reason to go with the 970 if it is to be hooked up to one of the uberscalers (vantage, etc)

Thank You David,

My question about the Oppo putting out a 1080p signal was clearly a lapse in sanity, of course they don't...not even the new high def units output a 1080p signal yet. My real question should have been something about the competence of the Sony to deinterlace the 1080i signal, and noone knows that yet. Your preference for the 971 carries a lot of weight with me, by the way. I just wonder if the Toshiba HD-DVD player is enough better at upscaling SD to justify the extra $300 and putting up with the quirks of that new product.

Thank You David,

I just wonder if the Toshiba HD-DVD player is enough better at upscaling SD to justify the extra $300 and putting up with the quirks of that new product.

Funny you mention that, because I did A/B comparisons with the RCA HD player (Toshiba rebadge) and 971 a few weeks ago.

Overall, I would say they are very close. The Toshiba is sharper and slightly more defined, however, it shows more digital artifacts. I don't know if these are compression artifacts from the source (disc), or from the scaler/player. But even with reference quality DVDs, I see artifacts on the Toshiba which I don't see on the 971. The Oppo is a bit softer, but smoother and cleaner. The deinterlacing is superior with the Oppo....especially for video-based material. Color rendition and richness of blacks seem about equal for both players. Both players have a very filmlike or "analog" looking image...the Oppo maybe a bit more. Both are excellent.

My advice is this: if you are buying the Toshiba primarily because of it's SD DVD upscaling capabilities and aren't terribly concerned with actual HD DVD, don't buy it. Save a few hundred dollars and buy the 971...especially since, overall, they are overall pretty close for film-based DVDs.

P.S. The Samsung Blu-ray player does output 1080p, however, it has been speculated that it's not doing it in the most ideal manner.

Thanks again for that tremendous insight. I am going with the 971 to go with either the A2000 or the JVC FH97, and I will wait till the HD format thing works out, and/or a good dual mode player appears for a reasonable price. Having seen the HD demos at CC, I really can't wait until everything comes together. You are a great help and I appreciate it!!

I intersted in Rich Malloy's question too
will oppo be coming out with a 971 with HDMI out? I don't want to get the 971 now and 2 month later finds out a new model is around the corner
I'm mainly concerned about the whole DVI->HDMI solution will I expereince overscan/underscan?

A DVI-HDMI conversion will not cause ill effects, as it is a straight digital pin to pin transfer. There is no interpretaton of the signal. The only time this can be an issue is if the destinaton device does not support the DVI specifications, or you add another chain of adapters which could potentially polute the signal.

There is speculation that a replacement to the OPDV971H with HDMI and SACD support will be released late August. But this same unit was speculated to have been released in February.

Yes.

-Bill


That's great. Time to get rid of the Memorex. :)

Is the 970 that inferior to the 971? I just ask because I own a Samsung DLP, and the whole 'macroblocking' concern...

That's great. Time to get rid of the Memorex. :)

Is the 970 that inferior to the 971? I just ask because I own a Samsung DLP, and the whole 'macroblocking' concern...

The 970 is still a good player. If macroblocking is an issue despite calibration, then I'd stick with the 970. However, the picture compression would bother me too much; although you could just stick with 480i until there is a fix and have your Samsung upscale....or just use 480p.

which one should I get to with my new samsung 50in plasma?

Regarding macroblocking on the 971...

Tonight while watching A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen at around 46 minutes into the movie, there was a gray background behind Connery and another actor....pink blotches of artifact very prevalent. On the 970, it was barely even noticable...extremely faint. However, on the 971, the stood out very noticably. It was just for this particular scene, but probably the worst I've seen of it so far.

Just to be clear, the 970 is a very good DVD player. I've been watching more and more of it this weekend. My initial impressions might have come across a bit more harsh on the 970, but make no mistake: it puts out a very nice image whether it's component 480p or upscaled to 1080i. The vertical compression is my biggest criticism of the image, but it's something that you can get used to a bit I suppose (none to speak of at 480p). As mentioned before, the image is sharper than the 971 if that is a concern and there is no macroblocking.

Please forgive the noob question (first post): what is macroblocking? Thanks.

Bill

David,

How would you compare the 970 to the Sony 3100ES? I'm considering buying the 970 as a replacement because the mechanical quirks of the 3100 are really starting to wear on me.

Thanks,
B-

B,

The 970 is actually better than the 3100ES. The image is slightly sharper and more detailed; color reproduction is a bit better too. However, the biggest image improvement over the 3100ES is the lack of edge enhancement. There is built in EE in the 3100ES which cannot be removed. I made some further calibration tune-ups with this player last night (such as individual color decoding in my service menu to match the 970) and I'm very impressed.

As far as mechanics and load time, no comparison between these players as the Oppo is far better here.

Great news!! Thanks for information...looks like I'll be getting the 970. Actually this is fantastic news, because I do like the performance of the 3100 as far as video is concerned. I was considering one of the new Denon players, but I really don't want to spend that kind of money.

I agree about not spending the money on something like a Denon right now with the whole HD DVD/Blu-ray thing upon us.

Please forgive the noob question (first post): what is macroblocking? Thanks.

BillSearch is your friend, but here you go...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7641277&&#post7641277

Can anyone suggest which of the 2 players would be better to go with a 720p LCD projector (Panny 900u)?

Thanks!

There is speculation that a replacement to the OPDV971H with HDMI and SACD support will be released late August. But this same unit was speculated to have been released in February.
My personal experience with hardware purchases: patience is almost invariably the greatest virtue.

Good to know the Oppo folks have this in development... I'll probably be buying two! :)

Thanks, Disgruntled1.

Bill

Any recommendations between the 970 or 971 for a Samsung LN-S3251d LCD?

Rich is there any speculation as to how that new player will perform with regards to macro blocking?

The 971 replacement will have the same Faroudja chip as the current model.

Should macroblocking be against the law?

Should macroblocking be against the law?

Most Definitely!

The 971 replacement will have the same Faroudja chip as the current model.

That Sucks.

Thanks DH

OK..these players look nice...I'd never heard of them till I read this post.

So if I get the Pioneer 5070 plasma...what do I really want? Is the scaler/processor stuff in that TV considered good enough to the point where I use THOSE rather than the DVD player's 'stuff'? This would point me towards the 970, if I'm grasping this properly.

And what about HDMI output vs. DVI?? I was looking at players that only had HDMI, cuz I assumed that was the best connection...the plasma has it...therefore it's a must. But now it's getting more complicated....some players upconvert via certain connections and not others?? I don't really want/need HDMI outputs??

Two things...1) can someone point me towards a DVD player...Oppo or something else...that will work great with the Pioneer 5070? 2) Can you tell me what kind of upscaling(if any...maybe the plasma's elecronics make that unnecessary), outputs & features I need to look for when shopping for a player? And/or, perhaps point me to some 'tutorial' that explains the relationships between connections, having the player do the 'work' vs. the panel, types of upconverting, etc.?

Just when I'm grasping the features of the TV itself, now I'm getting way MORE confused with how to match it to compontents!!

THANKS!!

OK..these players look nice...I'd never heard of them till I read this post.

So if I get the Pioneer 5070 plasma...what do I really want? Is the scaler/processor stuff in that TV considered good enough to the point where I use THOSE rather than the DVD player's 'stuff'? This would point me towards the 970, if I'm grasping this properly.

And what about HDMI output vs. DVI?? I was looking at players that only had HDMI, cuz I assumed that was the best connection...the plasma has it...therefore it's a must. But now it's getting more complicated....some players upconvert via certain connections and not others?? I don't really want/need HDMI outputs??

Two things...1) can someone point me towards a DVD player...Oppo or something else...that will work great with the Pioneer 5070? 2) Can you tell me what kind of upscaling(if any...maybe the plasma's elecronics make that unnecessary), outputs & features I need to look for when shopping for a player? And/or, perhaps point me to some 'tutorial' that explains the relationships between connections, having the player do the 'work' vs. the panel, types of upconverting, etc.?

Just when I'm grasping the features of the TV itself, now I'm getting way MORE confused with how to match it to compontents!!

THANKS!!

Unless you need, (or want) SACD (Super Audio CD) support, and/or will be using a super, duper external scaler then buy the 971H. Using a DVI-HDMI converter cable will work fine. Feed your audio out the digital link of the Oppo 971.

redjr...

Unless you need, (or want) SACD (Super Audio CD) support, and/or will be using a super, duper external scaler then buy the 971H. Using a DVI-HDMI converter cable will work fine. Feed your audio out the digital link of the Oppo 971.

redjr...

I couldn't disagree more! As has been written above, the 970 is an outstanding mate to the Pio 1130 (i.e, 480i HDMI into the 1130). I can see no reason why the same result would not be achieved into the 5070. You do not need a "super duper external scaler" to get the most out of the 970 - a good internal scaler will bring out the best that the 970 has to offer - and the Pio's have a very good internal scaler.

LIY

I couldn't disagree more! As has been written above, the 970 is an outstanding mate to the Pio 1130 (i.e, 480i HDMI into the 1130). I can see no reason why the same result would not be achieved into the 5070. You do not need a "super duper external scaler" to get the most out of the 970 - a good internal scaler will bring out the best that the 970 has to offer - and the Pio's have a very good internal scaler.

LIY

Disagreements are allowed. :D I never said you NEED a "super, duper scaler". I said, 'if you will be USING a .....'. This implies you already own a super, duper scaler, or will be buying one to use with the 970. In that case, the argument can be made for the 970. They are both very good upscaling SD DVD players.

Having said that, please refer to this post...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8045111&&#post8045111

In particular the following quote;

"....The DV-970HD is designed for customers seeking a lower cost and still fully featured up-conversion DVD player. Its selling points are HDMI, SACD and lower price. For most users who can afford $199, we should always recommend OPDV971H for its superior picture quality....."

Another point that should be made is the 971H allows a bit more future versatility when upgrading your panel to one that may not have as good a internal scaler, or moving it to another TV.

redjr.... :)

The 971 replacement will have the same Faroudja chip as the current model.
Which is to say that it'll be subject to the same "macroblock enhance" effect.

That's a defect I can live with. My current player is also Faroudja-based, and while I do see MB on certain titles (usually in very low-lit scenes with the color red prominently featured), the Faroudja chip is so much better than any other I've seen in every other area, that it's an easy trade-off for me.

I'm perplexed as to why Oppo would release a player that's PAL capable and able to do PAL>NTSC conversions, and yet NOT be capable of rendering a 2:2 cadence? My guess is that since the 970 is targeted at consumers wanting a "clean" 480i signal to feed through their expensive external scalers, that perhaps these external scalers would also properly cadence a PAL signal? That's just a guess, and given that I don't have an external scaler (pricey or otherwise), and the internal scaler in my monitor is also not sufficient, this a deal-breaker for me, as I have tons of PAL format discs. (This will be of no import for those of you who purchase only NTSC format discs.)

Which is to say that it'll be subject to the same "macroblock enhance" effect.

That's a defect I can live with. My current player is also Faroudja-based, and while I do see MB on certain titles (usually in very low-lit scenes with the color red prominently featured), the Faroudja chip is so much better than any other I've seen in every other area, that it's an easy trade-off for me.

I'm perplexed as to why Oppo would release a player that's PAL capable and able to do PAL>NTSC conversions, and yet NOT be capable of rendering a 2:2 cadence? My guess is that since the 970 is targeted at consumers wanting a "clean" 480i signal to feed through their expensive external scalers, that perhaps these external scalers would also properly cadence a PAL signal? That's just a guess, and given that I don't have an external scaler (pricey or otherwise), and the internal scaler in my monitor is also not sufficient, this a deal-breaker for me, as I have tons of PAL format discs. (This will be of no import for those of you who purchase only NTSC format discs.)

I think the 970 deinterlacing is fine for (Region 1) film-based DVDs....which is about all I watch. Also, there is a bit of over-softening with Faroudja on some displays using 1080i (Oppo even told me this). I have a CRT RPTV. Even though it is well converged and has optimal focus, compared to digital displays, CRT RPTV is a bit softer (analog in nature). As a result, I think a DVD player that has a sharper image is a better match. The 971 over-softens the image slightly in this case.

I did a lot of A/B comparing with both players this past weekend. Initially I liked the 971 better, however, after further calibration, by Sunday night I prefered the 970. :) Again, much of this depends on your display, calibration and personal tastes. While macroblocking really wasn't too much of a problem for me using the 971, it did rear it's ugly head on one particular movie (not visible at all on the 970). I rather stay away from it if possible.

Disagreements are allowed. :D I never said you NEED a "super, duper scaler". I said, 'if you will be USING a .....'. This implies you already own a super, duper scaler, or will be buying one to use with the 970. In that case, the argument can be made for the 970. They are both very good upscaling SD DVD players.

Having said that, please refer to this post...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8045111&&#post8045111

In particular the following quote;

"....The DV-970HD is designed for customers seeking a lower cost and still fully featured up-conversion DVD player. Its selling points are HDMI, SACD and lower price. For most users who can afford $199, we should always recommend OPDV971H for its superior picture quality....."

Another point that should be made is the 971H allows a bit more future versatility when upgrading your panel to one that may not have as good a internal scaler, or moving it to another TV.

redjr.... :)

Implicit in your post is the proposition that a "fully featured up-conversion DVD player..." is the equal of (or superior to) a 480i HDMI player outputting into a capable scaler. My observations (again based primarily on my Pio 1130 HD) is that no upconverting DVD player can match the PQ obtained from a 480i HDMI source. What makes the Oppo 970 remarkable is that you are able to obtain this 480i HDMI source for a mere $149.00! :D

LIY

Will Oppo ever make a great upconverting DVD player that doesn't have macroblocking?

Yes... the 970

971 replacement with HDMI, I'll preorder today.

Will Oppo ever make a great upconverting DVD player that doesn't have macroblocking?

Any player that utilizes the particular Faroudja chip will have macroblocking....and this is the case with some of the Panasonics, Denons, etc.

I'm considering the 970, but have a question...

I would want to connect the HDMI to my TV, the optical 5.1 audio to my Receiver, and the Composite audio/video to a modulator that feeds other TVs elsewhere in the house.

Are all the outputs (hdmi, 5.1 optical audio, and composite audio/video) active simultaneously?

I'm considering the 970, but have a question...

I would want to connect the HDMI to my TV, the optical 5.1 audio to my Receiver, and the Composite audio/video to a modulator that feeds other TVs elsewhere in the house.

Are all the outputs (hdmi, 5.1 optical audio, and composite audio/video) active simultaneously?

I can say for sure that HDMI Audio and 5.1 optical are both active simultaneously, can't verify the analogR/W.

... In short, the DV-970HD is a more “consumer oriented” version of the OPDV971H.
I am somewhat puzzled by the product tiering at OPPO. 970 model has more mainstream video circuitry, but adds SACD and HDMI. 971 has superior video performance but lacks the two key features of 970 mentioned above.

My current universal Pio player is aging and I am starting to look for options. At this point I hesitate to invest a lot into the current technology, so I would love to get the OPPO, but I need a universal player. Choosing between the two models looks like I have to either sacrifice video quality or forget about SACD.

I would think the more expensive model should be the one with additional advanced features, not he "consumer oriented" one.

While I am still looking around I hope OPPO comes up with a model that would combine the best features of 970 and 971 in one unit.

971 replacement with HDMI, I'll preorder today.

Just curious. Do you want the HDMI for audio out to your receiver?

/steve

Just curious. Do you want the HDMI for audio out to your receiver?

yes

I am somewhat puzzled by the product tiering at OPPO. 970 model has more mainstream video circuitry, but adds SACD and HDMI. 971 has superior video performance but lacks the two key features of 970 mentioned above.

My current universal Pio player is aging and I am starting to look for options. At this point I hesitate to invest a lot into the current technology, so I would love to get the OPPO, but I need a universal player. Choosing between the two models looks like I have to either sacrifice video quality or forget about SACD.
If you are even the slightest bit picky about audio reproduction, then the SACD-application of the 970 will not cut it for you. It down-rezzes the DSD signal to PCM. A nice unit for a secondary stereo that's capable of SACD-playback, but this will never be your no. 1 SACD player.

As for HDMI, I am hoping that the successor to the 971, one that includes HDMI and hopefully of the sort that can pass multichannel SACD/DVD-A to a receiver capable of receiving/processing the digital data, will soon be announced!

There's supposed to be an announcement or a new Oppo by the end of August.
J

If you are even the slightest bit picky about audio reproduction, then the SACD-application of the 970 will not cut it for you. It down-rezzes the DSD signal to PCM. A nice unit for a secondary stereo that's capable of SACD-playback, but this will never be your no. 1 SACD player.

As for HDMI, I am hoping that the successor to the 971, one that includes HDMI and hopefully of the sort that can pass multichannel SACD/DVD-A to a receiver capable of receiving/processing the digital data, will soon be announced!

Good point, especially if the SACD signal is really down-rezzed, not just converted to LPCM. Of course I do not expect miracles from budget priced players. But decent audio performance would keep me afloat until I invest in a let's say BluRay/universal player when they eventually come around.

It down-rezzes the DSD signal to PCM. Incorrect terminology for the most part. It converts DSD to PCM. There are SOTA, $11K players that do the same. Unfortunately there will never be a good test of the results one way or the other because no one single player will give the option of doing one or the other. Comparing two different players is apples vs oranges. Too many people get caught up in specs instead of seeing or hearing.

larry

Any thoughts or rumors as to if the Oppo replacement for the 971 will be able to output 1080p? With this being the year of 1080p input compatible displays it would be good timing :)

Any thoughts or rumors as to if the Oppo replacement for the 971 will be able to output 1080p? With this being the year of 1080p input compatible displays it would be good timing :)

It's possible, if Oppo could somehow implement the Faroudja Genesis FLI8668 chip announced last fall. Might just be for LCD TV's though:

http://www.audioholics.com/news/pressreleases/FaroudjaFLI8668CortezController.php

Well don't just sit there, ask Oppo if they are going to use the Genesis FLI8668 chip.

Anyone by chance using either of these with any of the new Sony E2000 sets? I just picked up the 46" and am curious about any MB with them and just overall impressions.

Thanks.

Oppo told me the only difference between the current model and replacement model for the 971 will be HDMI, SACD, and it will now be black. Same chipset.

Search is your friend, but here you go...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7641277&&#post7641277

Man that guy was on an acid trip or what?

Much easier shorter explanation here.


http://www.animemusicvideos.org/guides/avtech/avspostqual.html

Oppo told me the only difference between the current model and replacement model for the 971 will be HDMI, SACD, and it will now be black. Same chipset.
Sounds good to me (and black is a BIG plus!) Did you get a feel for how soon they would be released? I'm ready to buy...

Like September at the earliest now.

Oppo told me the only difference between the current model and replacement model for the 971 will be HDMI, SACD, and it will now be black. Same chipset.

any idea if it will go for the same $199 as the 971, or for a bit more?

I got an Oppo OPDV971H today. All's well thus far.

It was to replace a dying DVD player.
It's currently plugged into a dying 27" Samsung CRT using the s-video cable -- so I won't comment on the video quality, because even if the Oppo were steller the decade old CRT certainly isn't. I'm considering plasma.

It arrived by regular mail, so I had to go to the post office to pick it up.
There was a brown outer box, around the colourful product box -- but there was no additional padding between the boxes/layers. No obvious damage to either box.

I plugged it in, used the codes to change it to region 0 (region free).

It played
- Final Destination 3 DVD
- Day of the Triffids (region 2 DVD)
- a DVD of a friend's wedding
- a normal CD (Bodyrockers)
- a CD that was recorded (Bing Crosby's How Lovely Is Christmas)

It responds to the remote quickly (much faster than the Denon 3910, and a little faster than the JVC XV-S60 it's replacing).

To set it to Video 2 you have to open the tray (Video 2 is for DVI only -- so I didn't leave it on Video 2 for long. waaa)

any idea if it will go for the same $199 as the 971, or for a bit more?I emailed Oppo regarding this and their reply was:

Tony,

The replacement should be the same price as the OPDV971H, but we do not currently know at this time what the final price will be.

The unit will have the same Faroudja chipset, so the performance in video reproduction will be the same as the OPDV971H.

Best Regards,

Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.

It's currently plugged into a dying 27" Samsung CRT using the s-video cable -- so I won't comment on the video quality, because even if the Oppo were steller the decade old CRT certainly isn't. I'm considering plasma.


Note that Oppo makes no claims for the analog ports on the 971. To me, component out looks comparable to the component on my 1999-era Toshiba player. I presume current players are better but I've done no testing.

Make sure your next display has DVI or HDMI!

-Bill

wmcclain:

Make sure your next display has DVI or HDMI!
That is the plan, and the reason for the purchase.
I just wanted all the source possibilities installed before the new screen arrives, so I can test the expensive one right away. I got a cable box Motorola DCT6412 last week. No point in getting everything the same day and trying to find/learn all the menus at the same time.
Might get an HD-DVD player -- and plug that into a composite (one wire) TV input the first week. :(

.....Might get an HD-DVD player -- and plug that into a composite (one wire) TV input the first week. :(

I'm sure you're well aware of the HD-DVD players on the market, but did you happen to see the review in the August issue of HT magazine about the Toshiba HD-XA1? The inside of that thing looks like it's built like a tank! I've been eyeing it myself, but $800 clams is mucho money. :D I guess I could argue that my screen (Westy w3) deserve to be treated to it! ;) I have the 971 and am very pleased with its performance. No MBing issues with the Westy - that I've noticed, yet.

redjr... :)

redjr:
Over in the HD-DVD Players forum, there's talk of the next version after the Toshiba HD-XA1 also passing 1080p (instead of the current reading 1080p signal and downconverting it to 1080i for output, then having the plasma upconvert it to 1080p for display -- or something like that).
What to buy. What to buy. Where to get the funds...

....What to buy. What to buy. Where to get the funds...

Isn't that the truth! :D

redjr...

from a pricing perspective, if one were to buy a 971 and didn't have the appropriate cables, one would still have to purchase an optical cable AND a DVI-HDMI adaptor should your tv not have any DVI inputs. (which my 4360 doesn't). so effectively, the 971 costs more than the $50 price difference between the 970 and 971.

i'm in a quandry...i need a new player, but don't want to spend more than ~200 at the most with the new stuff around the corner. on the other hand, i want the best possible picture for the money. i'm not a DVD geek so tweaking the thing isn't for me like the Oppo website proclaims for the 971. but then i hear the 970 isn't quite as good. i would like to avoid potential annoyances, like the MB issue with the 971. coming from an OLD sony player connected via crap component cables, if i never saw what a 971 could do, would i be happy with a 970?

I believe the 971 when purchased from Oppo comes with a "bonus" DVI to HDMI cable included, along with the DVI to DVI cable. And you will need to buy an optical cable with any player you buy, if that's how you want to connect. I find S/PDIF with a standard RCA cable works just as well.

/steve

I believe the 971 when purchased from Oppo comes with a "bonus" DVI to HDMI cable included, along with the DVI to DVI cable. Mine did.

Can't wait for the updated "Black" color 971 w/ HDMI to come out!!! Will be hooking one up via HDMI to Optoma HD72, and prefer black components (what can I say, I'm a traditionalist).

from a pricing perspective, if one were to buy a 971 and didn't have the appropriate cables, one would still have to purchase an optical cable AND a DVI-HDMI adaptor should your tv not have any DVI inputs. (which my 4360 doesn't). so effectively, the 971 costs more than the $50 price difference between the 970 and 971.

i'm in a quandry...i need a new player, but don't want to spend more than ~200 at the most with the new stuff around the corner. on the other hand, i want the best possible picture for the money. i'm not a DVD geek so tweaking the thing isn't for me like the Oppo website proclaims for the 971. but then i hear the 970 isn't quite as good. i would like to avoid potential annoyances, like the MB issue with the 971. coming from an OLD sony player connected via crap component cables, if i never saw what a 971 could do, would i be happy with a 970?


Sometimes, you can know enough about something that it will cause you permanent discontent. I've read every post on this issue. I received the 970 early last week. It's a secondary player in a small bedroom system connected to a 32 inch samsung lcd via hdmi. The picture is awesome. I have a dish 211 going to this tv via hdmi and always thought the picture was off- too saturated, something. I thought is was the tv. The 970 has restored my faith in the tv.

Point is. There are tons of people in this thread alone that talk circles around a lof of us in technical jargon and videophile-ese. Reading this one makes me think I bought the step-child. Maybe all the tests and gurus prefer the 971 over the 970. Maybe I would notice a difference too. But I think the 970 is pretty amazing right now in my application.

Disclaimer: My parents recently bought a 55 inch sony lcd. Reading this thread has made me decide that I am going to buy the 971 for them. Partially, so that I can see the performance of it. Should look awesome. Hopefully no mb.

Sometimes, you can know enough about something that it will cause you permanent discontent. I've read every post on this issue. I received the 970 early last week. It's a secondary player in a small bedroom system connected to a 32 inch samsung lcd via hdmi. The picture is awesome. I have a dish 211 going to this tv via hdmi and always thought the picture was off- too saturated, something. I thought is was the tv. The 970 has restored my faith in the tv.

Point is. There are tons of people in this thread alone that talk circles around a lof of us in technical jargon and videophile-ese. Reading this one makes me think I bought the step-child. Maybe all the tests and gurus prefer the 971 over the 970. Maybe I would notice a difference too. But I think the 970 is pretty amazing right now in my application.

Disclaimer: My parents recently bought a 55 inch sony lcd. Reading this thread has made me decide that I am going to buy the 971 for them. Partially, so that I can see the performance of it. Should look awesome. Hopefully no mb.

thanks for the post. it kinda made me realize that for the price, performance and direction i'll be heading once the HD/BR players come down in price, i'll be good with the 970. compared to the other players i looked at, the 970 still kills them as far as the Secrets reviews are concerned. i like the simplicity of HDMI, and the fact that even though it''s not "quite" as good as the 971, it's still better than 95% of the other players out there.

infomation is good, but i guess you can be TOO well informed as well. my tendency to over analyze things make making decisions an arduous task somtimes

Will the "new" 971 also include MB??? ;^0

The unit will have the same Faroudja chipset, so the performance in video reproduction will be the same as the OPDV971H.

I emailed Oppo regarding this and their reply was:

Tony,

The replacement should be the same price as the OPDV971H, but we do not currently know at this time what the final price will be.

The unit will have the same Faroudja chipset, so the performance in video reproduction will be the same as the OPDV971H.

Best Regards,

Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.

Will the "new" 971 also include MB??? ;^0

The unit will have the same Faroudja chipset, so the performance in video reproduction will be the same as the OPDV971H.

Video Performance could be better on the upcoming HDMI 971 as the HDMI connection will allow the full 10bit color of the Faroudja chip to be sent versus the current DVI connection which is limited to 8bit color(HDMI can pass up to 12bit, DVI is limited to 8 bit). Theoretically, this could allow for less banding and color artifacts. I have no idea if it would help the MB issue.

I am looking at purchasing a 971 for my bedroom setup... The TV has an HDMI connection... I know that the “current” 971 comes with a DVI-to-HDMI cable, should I wait for the "new" 971 that is scheduled to release in a few wks that will have the HDMI connection on the unit…

Mine did.

Mine also came with the DVI->HDMI cable. It was a refurbished player I received today.

I am looking at purchasing a 971 for my bedroom setup... The TV has an HDMI connection... I know that the “current” 971 comes with a DVI-to-HDMI cable, should I wait for the "new" 971 that is scheduled to release in a few wks that will have the HDMI connection on the unit…

The hdmi connection is the main reason I went with the 970 over the 971. I wasn't aware of the upcoming release of a 971 with hdmi at the time. And frankly, I wouldn't have waited anyway because I am impatient. I can tell you that I really like the 970 and I use mine in a bedroom set up as well. People in the know state that the 971 is superior based on its video performance. So I guess it's just preference. I'm not sure what Oppo's return policy is in case you got the 971 and then they released the hdmi version a couple of weeks later.

The hdmi connection is the main reason I went with the 970 over the 971. I wasn't aware of the upcoming release of a 971 with hdmi at the time. And frankly, I wouldn't have waited anyway because I am impatient. I can tell you that I really like the 970 and I use mine in a bedroom set up as well. People in the know state that the 971 is superior based on its video performance. So I guess it's just preference. I'm not sure what Oppo's return policy is in case you got the 971 and then they released the hdmi version a couple of weeks later.


And what in the hell are you guys doing up at this time posting about dvd players. What the hell is wrong with us people:)

And what in the hell are you guys doing up at this time posting about dvd players. What the hell is wrong with us people:)


Well I work 12hr days (3rd shift) if I am lucky, usually it's more... When I have downtime I need to do something :)

And what in the hell are you guys doing up at this time posting about dvd players. What the hell is wrong with us people:)

It was around noon when I posted. I'm from Denmark :p

I have a sony 34xbr960. It's native resolution is 1080i. I don't have an external scaler so am I right to assume that the 971 is a better fit than the 970? After reading some of these posts that's where the information seems to lead.

I have a sony 34xbr960. It's native resolution is 1080i. I don't have an external scaler so am I right to assume that the 971 is a better fit than the 970? After reading some of these posts that's where the information seems to lead.

In theory the 971H might be better, but in practice, on a 34" display at normal viewing distance, I seriously doubt you're going to see any difference at all between the two players.

The 970HD is offers more features, like SACD audio, and discrete on and off commands (if you have a programable remote) that make it a better choice, in my opinion, if all else is equal. It's also offers power on when you hit the 'tray eject' button, which the 971H doesn't. And it's $50 less!

/steve

I am looking at purchasing a 971 for my bedroom setup... The TV has an HDMI connection... I know that the “current” 971 comes with a DVI-to-HDMI cable, should I wait for the "new" 971 that is scheduled to release in a few wks that will have the HDMI connection on the unit…

I wouldn't wait, for the simple reason that we do not know when it will actually be released (remember, OPPO talked about this same unit back in January as a possible February/March release; the DV-970HD was also originally slated for February).

The only advantage of a true HDMI connection is audio and video being on the same connection. OPPO has not commented on what bit the HDMI connection is, so we do not know if there will be any benefit (8 versus 12-bit). However, their statement that the replacement unit will have the same performance, leads me to believe it is only 8-bit.

infomation is good, but i guess you can be TOO well informed as well. my tendency to over analyze things make making decisions an arduous task somtimesBoy, do I ever hear ya! This happens to me quite often. I've got a strong perfectionist streak which, combined with my interest in computers and electronics/technology in general, prompts me to compulsively spend what most people would (probably correctly) consider a wholly irrational amount of time reading, considering, weighing, and finally choosing my purchases.

That said, I just ordered the 971, which I'll be pairing with a Westinghouse LVM-37w3 (the latter still to come, pending receipt of refund money from a previous CRT).

Compulsive tech perfectionists, unite!

(Well, of course not before we've considered all the factors surrounding such a unification to ensure we aren't inadvertently unifying in a sub-optimal way, or one that might be incompatible with future unification standards, or that might show macroblocking... :D)

Boy, do I ever hear ya! This happens to me quite often. I've got a strong perfectionist streak which, combined with my interest in computers and electronics/technology in general, prompts me to compulsively spend what most people would (probably correctly) consider a wholly irrational amount of time reading, considering, weighing, and finally choosing my purchases.

That said, I just ordered the 971, which I'll be pairing with a Westinghouse LVM-37w3 (the latter still to come, pending receipt of refund money from a previous CRT).

Compulsive tech perfectionists, unite!

(Well, of course not before we've considered all the factors surrounding such a unification to ensure we aren't inadvertently unifying in a sub-optimal way, or one that might be incompatible with future unification standards, or that might show macroblocking... :D)
spurdy,

I have the 37w3 and 971 combo and you won't be disappointed. It's the next best thing to true HD. :D Very little adjusting of the Oppo will be required once you calibrate your Westy. I am continuely and completely amazed at the PQ and upscaling offered by the 971. I bought mine right before the 970 was introduced, and have no regrets. From everything I've read (yes, I research purchases too much too!), the 971 still has a slight edge on PQ over the 970 unless you're using an external video processor/scaler. But both are solid units for viewing legacy SD-DVDs on your soon-to-be Westy.

BTW, once you get your Westy, you'll want to try some native 1080p material for sure. Will your Westy be hooked up to a computer? If so, download some WMV-HD clips (available on the net here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx)), and sample what's available. Many of these clips originated from IMAX features and are absolutely stunning, if not totally breathtaking. Try Coral Reef for starters. Enjoy.

redjr... :)

I have an 1130 and I keep hearing that the 970 is the way to go. Have you actually tried the 971 in addition to the 970 with your 1130?

I am looking to buy one within the next couple of days so your input is greatly appreciated!
Implicit in your post is the proposition that a "fully featured up-conversion DVD player..." is the equal of (or superior to) a 480i HDMI player outputting into a capable scaler. My observations (again based primarily on my Pio 1130 HD) is that no upconverting DVD player can match the PQ obtained from a 480i HDMI source. What makes the Oppo 970 remarkable is that you are able to obtain this 480i HDMI source for a mere $149.00! :D

LIY

spurdy,

I have the 37w3 and 971 combo and you won't be disappointed. It's the next best thing to true HD. :D Very little adjusting of the Oppo will be required once you calibrate your Westy. I am continuely and completely amazed at the PQ and upscaling offered by the 971. I bought mine right before the 970 was introduced, and have no regrets. From everything I've read (yes, I research purchases too much too!), the 971 still has a slight edge on PQ over the 970 unless you're using an external video processor/scaler. But both are solid units for viewing legacy SD-DVDs on your soon-to-be Westy.

BTW, once you get your Westy, you'll want to try some native 1080p material for sure. Will your Westy be hooked up to a computer? If so, download some WMV-HD clips (available on the net here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx)), and sample what's available. Many of these clips originated from IMAX features and are absolutely stunning, if not totally breathtaking. Try Coral Reef for starters. Enjoy.

redjr... :)Glad to hear they work well together!

I'm very much looking forward to the Westy 37w3 + Oppo 971 combo. I'm assuming the way to go will be having the Oppo output upconverted 1080i via DVI, so that the Westy only has to worry about deinterlacing for final display (no secondary scaling involved). Would this match your recommendation?

I do have a homebrew HTPC/DVR, though I'm not sure if the relatively weak integrated video can drive full 1920x1080. I was going for small and unobtrusive when I built it, and so used the EPIA-M MiniITX platform. Sadly, the video in the VIA CLE266 chipset may top out at 1280x720 from what I've read. Also, it'll be running analogue VGA, as the EPIA-M lacks DVI output (has only VGA and S-video). I'm using the single PCI slot for the tuner card, so no go on a video upgrade.

I may just try hooking the Westy up to my new dual-core Opteron system (has a 7900GT in it) for a bit to bask in the 1080p glory before it takes its spot in the A/V center.

I'm very much looking forward to the Westy 37w3 + Oppo 971 combo. I'm assuming the way to go will be having the Oppo output upconverted 1080i via DVI, so that the Westy only has to worry about deinterlacing for final display (no secondary scaling involved). Would this match your recommendation?

I also have that combination. 720p looks best to me. 1080i seems a bit soft on motion. This may be because 1080i requires too much manipulation: 480i on the disk is deinterlaced to 480p, which is scaled to 1080p, then interlaced to 1080i. Then the display has to deinterlace this to 1080p. Why no 1080p output? I don't know. Probably wasn't important when the unit was designed.

I would very much like to see 1080p output on this or a future Oppo unit, just to find out if SD DVD images benefit from one-step scaling. In my setup the player scales 480 to 720, then the display scales from 720 to 1080.

-Bill

Glad to hear they work well together!

I'm very much looking forward to the Westy 37w3 + Oppo 971 combo. I'm assuming the way to go will be having the Oppo output upconverted 1080i via DVI, so that the Westy only has to worry about deinterlacing for final display (no secondary scaling involved). Would this match your recommendation?

I do have a homebrew HTPC/DVR, though I'm not sure if the relatively weak integrated video can drive full 1920x1080. I was going for small and unobtrusive when I built it, and so used the EPIA-M MiniITX platform. Sadly, the video in the VIA CLE266 chipset may top out at 1280x720 from what I've read. Also, it'll be running analogue VGA, as the EPIA-M lacks DVI output (has only VGA and S-video). I'm using the single PCI slot for the tuner card, so no go on a video upgrade.

I may just try hooking the Westy up to my new dual-core Opteron system (has a 7900GT in it) for a bit to bask in the 1080p glory before it takes its spot in the A/V center.
I have read on one of the forums that setting the Oppo to output 720p is best for the Westy. Can't locate the exact thread though. I was surprised when I read that thinking that 1080i seems the most logical. I guess only one de-interlacing and scaling step is involved - from 480i to 720p. All the Westy has to do then is scale to 1080 without further de-interlacing. I have found that personally I can't tell much (if any) difference between 720p and 1080i. I generally leave the Oppo set to 720p. However, I am guilty with just about every movie I've watched of stopping it and trying the other DVI setting - just to make sure I'm not missing out on a difference from one setting over the other!

redjr... :)

I also have that combination. 720p looks best to me. 1080i seems a bit soft on motion. This may be because 1080i requires too much manipulation: 480i on the disk is deinterlaced to 480p, which is scaled to 1080p, then interlaced to 1080i. Then the display has to deinterlace this to 1080p. Why no 1080p output? I don't know. Probably wasn't important when the unit was designed.

I would very much like to see 1080p output on this or a future Oppo unit, just to find out if SD DVD images benefit from one-step scaling. In my setup the player scales 480 to 720, then the display scales from 720 to 1080.

-BillTheoretically, it would seem (to me) that once the player had constructed the upscaled 1080p frame, a 1080p->1080i->1080p transition should (key word) be able to happen innumerable times with no quality loss, so long as we're in the digital domain the entire time. No scaling is happening, so no interpolation of new data or discarding of existing data need occur. Just identify the matching fields and reassemble them, or split them, back and forth.

Is my logic missing something? I realize there's the issue with inverse telecine for film source material, but wouldn't that be happening inside the Oppo (during the 480i->480p stage) before we get to the "about to be interlaced for output" 1080p frame? It sure seems at that stage we should in principle be able to go from interlaced to progressive and back at the same resolution digitally 'til the cows come home without loss.

Still, I guess your eyes don't lie :D but it seems strange if it can't be done.

However, I am guilty with just about every movie I've watched of stopping it and trying the other DVI setting - just to make sure I'm not missing out on a difference from one setting over the other.Wow, you really are a kindred spirit with respect to obsessive perfectionism! :D

I'm sure I'll give the Oppo's remote a good workout switching back and forth many times and squinting at the screen before I come to a conclusion on my personal preference... ;)

(note to self: make sure I'm watching alone when performing such testing, lest the wife physically attack me)

Theoretically, it would seem (to me) that once the player had constructed the upscaled 1080p frame, a 1080p->1080i->1080p transition should (key word) be able to happen innumerable times with no quality loss, so long as we're in the digital domain the entire time. No scaling is happening, so no interpolation of new data or discarding of existing data need occur. Just identify the matching fields and reassemble them, or split them, back and forth.

Is my logic missing something? I realize there's the issue with inverse telecine for film source material, but wouldn't that be happening inside the Oppo (during the 480i->480p stage) before we get to the "about to be interlaced for output" 1080p frame? It sure seems at that stage we should in principle be able to go from interlaced to progressive and back at the same resolution digitally 'til the cows come home without loss.

Still, I guess your eyes don't lie :D but it seems strange if it can't be done.

In theory: you're right. IF every component is doing a perfect job. In practice: let us know when you've experimented with yours for a while.

In one of the magazine reviews the reviewer was complaining about 1080i quality as handled by the Westinghouse (I think it was the 42") and Westinghouse commented: "these units are optimized for 1080p."

Two caveats: just because someone at the manufacturer said 1080i is not as good as 1080p, doesn't make it so. And: they may have been talking about broadcast/cable/satelite signals, which are often much degraded compared to DVD. I think this is the origin of the "SD looks terrible on flat panels" common wisdom. It's just not true: with a well-mastered disk and a good player, SD DVD is very impressive. It's honestly hard to believe there are only 480 vertical pixels in the original image.

-Bill

In theory: you're right. IF every component is doing a perfect job. In practice: let us know when you've experimented with yours for a while.

In one of the magazine reviews the reviewer was complaining about 1080i quality as handled by the Westinghouse (I think it was the 42") and Westinghouse commented: "these units are optimized for 1080p."

Two caveats: just because someone at the manufacturer said 1080i is not as good as 1080p, doesn't make it so. And: they may have been talking about broadcast/cable/satelite signals, which are often much degraded compared to DVD. I think this is the origin of the "SD looks terrible on flat panels" common wisdom. It's just not true: with a well-mastered disk and a good player, SD DVD is very impressive. It's honestly hard to believe there are only 480 vertical pixels in the original image.

-BillI'm not too worried about 1080i vs 1080p, really. I was more just musing on why they might not essentially turn out the same if originating from a perfect 1080p frame (like that derived from inverse telecine of interlaced film source) when shown on an inherently progressive device with a decent deinterlacer.

Good lord, I really am a geek. (Just had one of those, "WTF, I spend time chewing over stuff like this, and enjoy it?!?" moments)

Anyway, I agree that SD DVD content can look mighty good upconverted. I was quite impressed by my previous upconverting player and HD CRT. I'm sure I'll be pleased by the Oppo 971.

....with a well-mastered disk and a good player, SD DVD is very impressive. It's honestly hard to believe there are only 480 vertical pixels in the original image.

-Bill

I agree. The wonders of accurate interpolation! :D

redjr.... :)

... I'm sure I'll be pleased by the Oppo 971.

You will.

redjr...

Do Ya'll think that there could be a chance that the new 971 replacement could be HDMI 1.3 compliant? That certainly would not be the case if Neuro is correct in his feeling that the implementation will be 8-bit. But Oppo would miss a great chance to sell a million machines...REAL FAST !

Boy, do I ever hear ya! This happens to me quite often. I've got a strong perfectionist streak which, combined with my interest in computers and electronics/technology in general, prompts me to compulsively spend what most people would (probably correctly) consider a wholly irrational amount of time reading, considering, weighing, and finally choosing my purchases.

That said, I just ordered the 971, which I'll be pairing with a Westinghouse LVM-37w3 (the latter still to come, pending receipt of refund money from a previous CRT).

Compulsive tech perfectionists, unite!

(Well, of course not before we've considered all the factors surrounding such a unification to ensure we aren't inadvertently unifying in a sub-optimal way, or one that might be incompatible with future unification standards, or that might show macroblocking... :D)

well after a little debating i think i'm going to go with the 970. a good upconverting DVD player at $150 is a hell if a deal. i figure i can save the $50, get a good player than most out there in it's price range and have $50 to spend on what the DVD player was designed to to....play DVD's.

one question. i have a Pio4360 and some say to output at the panels naive resolution (mine is 720) others say use 480i and let the panel do the scaling. what do you guys think. the scaler in my Pio is supposed to be pretty good.

I am in the same boat as you and I am trying to decide between the 970/971. I have the pio1130 and have heard there is minimal diffrence between native 480i and 720p (at least from owners of the 1130 that is...which I would think be similiar to 4360 owners)

I am driving myself bonkers trying to figure out which one to buy!
well after a little debating i think i'm going to go with the 970. a good upconverting DVD player at $150 is a hell if a deal. i figure i can save the $50, get a good player than most out there in it's price range and have $50 to spend on what the DVD player was designed to to....play DVD's.

one question. i have a Pio4360 and some say to output at the panels naive resolution (mine is 720) others say use 480i and let the panel do the scaling. what do you guys think. the scaler in my Pio is supposed to be pretty good.

Order both and send one back during the thirty day return period.

Yeah I thought about ordering both, but I will probably just call them and see what they recommend for my set. I just noticed they are local too. If I have time I might drive over there and pick it up to save the $8 on shipping.

just to beat a dead horse, I have the 971H paired with my Panny 8UK.

On the majority of DVDs, the picture looks amazing, some big name ones have macroblocking (Indiana Jones) and some half assed ones like Labyrinth.

All in all, I can and have lived with it, because when you get a good DVD (5th Element, Finding Nemo) it makes it all worth while

anyone try the 971 or 970 with a hitachi plasma? i recently purchased a hitachi 42hdt79 and am trying to decide between the 2, I'm not certain if the dcdi would be great with the plasma or go with the 970 and let the tv scaler do the work (which seems to be quite good)
anyone with this same problem? suggestions?

8-10 feet away from a 50" TV? Wow. You must sit in the front row at the movies.

anyone try the 971 or 970 with a hitachi plasma? i recently purchased a hitachi 42hdt79 [snip]

I also have a 42HDT79 (although I may jump ship to the new XBR2 LCD). I bought the 971. I was concerned about macroblocking, but I haven't noticed it at all. The 971 is at least as good as the HDT79's internal processing. I expended little effort comparing the 971 to the Hitachi's internal scaler. The 971 is at least as good IMO. I leave it at 1080i output. The pic is simply amazing. If I do go to the Sony, I will not even consider swapping the 971 for the 970.

For me, the $50 got me peace of mind. Does TV "X" have better internal scaling? Perhaps. But for $50 over the cost of the 970, I know my 971 will output a fantastic picture on any set. If it turns out that the set's internal scaling is better, I'll simply allow the set to do most of the work. For me 480i over HDMI was the biggest benefit the 970 had over the 971. But since I don't ever plan to use an external scaler on this set, it's just another unused feature (like DVD-A, SACD, etc).

In the end, when deciding between the 970 and the 971, I bought the 971 for it's blue display, which is silly, but lacking any other clear differentiation of features which mattered to me, that was the deciding factor! :D

well I called oppo today and they recommended the 971. I went and picked it up today and after setting it up, I must say it looks good. I played with the settings and switched between 720p and 1080i. 1080i looked the best on the particular dvd I was watching, but 720p looked really good too. All in all it seems like a great player so far.

Hey thanks PierreRobert, thats what i was thinking too, I think thats what I'm gonna do also :)

I bought my first HDTV in 2001, so I've missed a lot of techology since then.

I bought a new one (Vizio 50 inches} and bought an LG upconverter, but it would not let me upconvert. I called LG and was told it does not upconvert copywritten DVDs, which most are.

My first question is, then why would I buy an upconverter if it cannot upconvert commercial DVDs?

The second one is, should I return the LG and get the Oppo? I have HDMI connections on the Vizio, so which Oppo, and will it upconvert commercial DVDs?

Thanks much!!

How is it that no one has asked which is best for the Panny PT-AE900U? I've had the Panny AE700u and the 971 did not sync well with it. Has anyone tested these with a AE900?

I bought my first HDTV in 2001, so I've missed a lot of techology since then.

I bought a new one (Vizio 50 inches} and bought an LG upconverter, but it would not let me upconvert. I called LG and was told it does not upconvert copywritten DVDs, which most are.

My first question is, then why would I buy an upconverter if it cannot upconvert commercial DVDs?

The second one is, should I return the LG and get the Oppo? I have HDMI connections on the Vizio, so which Oppo, and will it upconvert commercial DVDs?

Thanks much!!

Both Oppo 970 and 971 will upconvert over their digital ports. Upconverting over analog ports is restricted by licensing agreements to close the "analog hole" which would allow easier copying of copyprotected material. This makes absolutely no sense with SD material, but such are the licenses.

Some people have removed copy protection from their backup copies and can play them however they want. It is illegal to do this, try to do it, or even talk about doing it.

An unofficial firmware hack for the Oppo 970 has recently appeared which allows it to upconvert over the component port.

-Bill

So Someone like me who has a 65 inch RPTV with only component and DVI inputs has no use for the Oppo since I need the DVI input for my HD set top box? I hear the 971 is lousy using component cables and the 970 only outputs 480P on component and I need 1080i.

Hmmm, Is there a DVI switcher out there?

This is available from Value Electronics and I would assume others.
http://www.*********************/accessories.htm#video/audio%20switches

I just picked up a 970 and so far everything is going well. The one thing I have noticed is the remote or the player seems to have very limited range. You really need to be pointed at the thing for it to work/respond. Has anyone confirmed if this is the player or the remote? I am planning on using a old pronto I have and am hoping this will improve?

Also it seems like all the controls are very slow to repond? Loading a disc, stop, play, etc. Maybe it's because of the IR issue, it just seems very slow compared to my older DVD players (non-progressive).

Lastly, is the 971 any better in this regard? I would assume no, as the remote is newer in the 970 and the 970 is a newer product.

Thanks,

Mike

The 970 and 971 share the same remote.

Oppo told me the only difference between the current model and replacement model for the 971 will be HDMI, SACD, and it will now be black. Same chipset.
ONLY - WOW that's fantastic - let's hope it's available soon!

Have the 971 now but would like another for a 2nd room which has TV/HDMI.

Oppo told me the only difference between the current model and replacement model for the 971 will be HDMI, SACD, and it will now be black. Same chipset.
Lets hope it's HDMI 1.2 also...

Did they give you any timeframe for this new model's release?

Lets hope it's HDMI 1.2 also...

Did they give you any timeframe for this new model's release?


How about a price??????

Did they give you any timeframe for this new model's release?

They said August, but the launch date keeps getting pushed back for whatever reason.

How is it that no one has asked which is best for the Panny PT-AE900U? I've had the Panny AE700u and the 971 did not sync well with it. Has anyone tested these with a AE900?

There is some slight shifting when using the OPDV971H and the PT-AE900U. Don't know about the DV-970HD, though.

How is it that no one has asked which is best for the Panny PT-AE900U? I've had the Panny AE700u and the 971 did not sync well with it. Has anyone tested these with a AE900?

I have both models, the 971 and also the 970.
Im using the Panasonic 900 with HDMI and I prefer the Oppo DV970HD. :)

Thank you just what I wanted to hear!!!!!

I just bought a Sony KDL-46XBR2. Right now I am watching DVD's with my XBOX 360. Should I purchase a dedicated upscaling DVD player? Which one the 970 or 971? Any opnions?

I just bought a Sony KDL-46XBR2. Right now I am watching DVD's with my XBOX 360. Should I purchase a dedicated upscaling DVD player? Which one the 970 or 971? Any opnions?
Both are great players. However, the concensous is the 971 has the slight edge in PQ over the 970. The 971 use the Genesis/Faroudja chipset. The 970 supports SACD and also has USB and media reader ports. I have the 971 and am very pleased with the quality of upscaling it does. It's not true HD, but very good nonetheless.

redjr...

8-10 feet away from a 50" TV? Wow. You must sit in the front row at the movies.
I sit about 8' away from a 57" TV, and no I don't sit at the front row in the movies. :p

I sit about 8' away from a 57" TV, and no I don't sit at the front row in the movies. :p

You're sitting just about where you should be from a 57" diagonal set Actually you should be a little closer. To be at a 30 degree veiwing angle you should be sitting at 7.7 feet from a 57" set so you're fine at 8 feet 30 degrees is the angle that you can see the entire screen without distractions from the sides and also without looking left and right like at a tennis match.

-Maximum SMPTE recommended viewing distance: SMPTE standard EG-18-1994 recommends a minimum viewing angle of 30 degrees for movie theaters. This seems to be becoming a de facto standard for front projection home theaters also. Viewing from this distance or closer will result in a more immersive experience, and also lessen eye strain caused by watching a smaller image in a dark room.

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

I spent a lot of time researching where my front row of seats would be in my theater when I was building it and I'm 14.6 feet from a 104" diagonal screen and it's great.

BTW I don't sit in the front row at theaters either.

I sit 10 feet back from my 57" display. Is that considered a bit too far? It feels comfortable. I'm only watching SD DVD right now (no HD).

I sit 10 feet back from my 57" display. Is that considered a bit too far? It feels comfortable. I'm only watching SD DVD right now (no HD).
It's not too far if it's what you prefer. There is no right or wrong distance you sit from your screen! Oh, there might be 'guidelines' you see in magazines and on various forum threads, but if you like where you sit from YOUR screen, that's all that matters. Don't let anyone else influence where you sit and how you like to enjoy your screen. :D

redjr... :)

I have both models, the 971 and also the 970.
Im using the Panasonic 900 with HDMI and I prefer the Oppo DV970HD. :)

Same here, except that I prefer the 971 to the 970 for the AE900. :D

The slightly superior deinterlacing of the 971 gives it the nod on a big screen. Also, if you have any PAL disks, you're better off with the 971.

A little bit of knowledge really screws me up. :)

I just bought a 60xbr2, and I'm trying to decide on whether to buy the 970 or the 971. The macroblocking issues worry me, so I'm leaning toward the 970.

Does anyone have the same set and have any recommendations? :D

I own a 4 year old pioneer 43 inch plasma that only has component in,no hdmi or dvi.Which oppo should i buy?I want as good a pq as my old panny xp50 that my son inherited.

I own a 4 year old pioneer 43 inch plasma that only has component in,no hdmi or dvi.Which oppo should i buy?I want as good a pq as my old panny xp50 that my son inherited.

The 970. The 971 is recommended for its DVI port only.

-Bill

I have a Sharp 37" Model LC-37D40U LCD TV. Can anyone here please tell me if the 970 or 971 would be better for this TV? Thanks for your suggestions...

I've done a search and read this whole thread, without luck.

And I know it must be here somewhere, so I must ask...

What Opps for a Panosonic 42" and/or 50" 60U? ie the new 2006 plasma models

Thanks for any help...

They have the same relation to lasts years models...

i need some help. I've got a Pioneer 4360 plasma. On one hand, the guys over in the pioneer threads say that the scaler/de-interlacer in the PDP is as good if not superior to the one in the 971, and with that, that i should get the 970 and send it 480i over HDMI. then i read this off Oppo's website:

Q: Why should I buy the OPPO DVD player when my HD display has an internal scaler?
A: That’s because, in general, the scaler in a high-performance up-converting DVD player, such as the OPDV971H, is more specialized in de-interlacing and scaling DVD signals than an HD display's scaler, leading to better picture quality. The process of converting a standard-definition DVD signal to the native resolution of your HD display may cause a host of video artifacts if not performed properly. These flaws will be especially noticeable on large and high-resolution screens. Quality de-interlacing and scaling are the key components to stable, artifact-free movie watching, and frequently the components built into the display (and into many competing DVD players) to perform these tasks are not up to the challenge. The top-quality Faroudja scaler, built into the OPDV971H, is more suitable for up-converting DVD video signal to high def video signals, because:

The de-interlacing and scaling are performed at the point closest to the video source, thus avoiding video artifacts that can be introduced when analog video signal travels from the DVD player to the TV display. Once unconverted to HD signal, the video signal is carried to the TV in pure digital format via DVI or HDMI output, and is no longer susceptible to analog noise.
The Faroudja up-converter in OPDV971H has a direct digital hookup with the DVD reader, so that it can get the flags and additional information encoded in the DVD disc directly and performs the up-conversion accordingly. Doing up-converting outside of the DVD player may lose this advantage.


i just can't decide. it doesn't help that most of the guys over in the pio threads have the elite models which has a better scaler/de-interlacer than my pure vision. one poster has a 4360 with the 971 and recommends it, but doing the conversion from 480i>768(native)once rather than converting off the disc from480>720>768 makes too much sense to discount. please help! :(

I was confused about which one to get for my HLS5687W
I just went for the 971 just because it seems to be the standard and it's probably far better than what I have.
If it's as good as people say, then I can buy another one down the line.

Which has a sharper picture...the 970 or 971?
Put another way...does a player with Faroudja DCDi (the 971) have a sharper or softer picture than a player than does not (the 970)?

Which has a sharper picture...the 970 or 971?
Put another way...does a player with Faroudja DCDi (the 971) have a sharper or softer picture than a player than does not (the 970)?

The 970 has a sharper image. In order to smooth out aliasing, Faroudja slightly softens the image in comparision to MediaTek (which shows more jaggies).

The 970 has a sharper image. In order to smooth out aliasing, Faroudja slightly softens the image in comparision to MediaTek (which shows more jaggies).Thanks.

I've done a search and read this whole thread, without luck.

And I know it must be here somewhere, so I must ask...

What Opps for a Panosonic 42" and/or 50" 60U? ie the new 2006 plasma models

Thanks for any help...


i bought the 50" panasonic from costco last week, the 6U, and bought the toshiba upconvert dvd player there as well. i like the picture of the movie but the toshiba unit is very crappy. it freeze and stutters on most of what i watch so that lead me to search for another upconvert player. which oppo is best for the panasonic and how does the picture compare to the toshiba? thanks

My main question: DVI is video only, no audio signal. Does that mean that if I get the 971 (and my Philips hdtv has HDMI), the adapter only carries the video, and I would need to connect the audio to a tv or stereo receiver input? And if I got the 970, the HDMI connection would carry both video and audio (only one cable needed)?

My main question: DVI is video only, no audio signal. Does that mean that if I get the 971 (and my Philips hdtv has HDMI), the adapter only carries the video, and I would need to connect the audio to a tv or stereo receiver input? And if I got the 970, the HDMI connection would carry both video and audio (only one cable needed)?

Yes to both.

-Bill

They have the same relation to lasts years models...

Can you point me to those posts as I have the same question, and the search function has not allowed me to find them. Do the PX series panny plasmas have better pq with the 970HD or 971H. Thanks.

All Panny plasma's (AFAIK) have the macroblocking issue.

...and as with that, a properly configured (see: calibrated) Panny Plasma will show much less macroblocking.

I have no regrets about my 8UK and my Oppo.

It appears that the bigger the screen, the more you'd want the 971. I have a Mits HD1000U at 80 inches and just bought the 970. Should i re-up for the 971? Or more to the point: is the difference in PQ between the two really that big? Might it be comparable to the difference in a standard 480 player and a standard upconverting player?

Can someone tell me if 970 is SDI modifiable, using the BT656 board used for the 971 SDI-modding?

It appears that the bigger the screen, the more you'd want the 971. I have a Mits HD1000U at 80 inches and just bought the 970. Should i re-up for the 971? Or more to the point: is the difference in PQ between the two really that big? Might it be comparable to the difference in a standard 480 player and a standard upconverting player?

I have a 51 inch Hitachi and for me the difference was big. With the 971 you get a cleaner, smoother, more stable picture. I bought a 970 and borrowed my friend's 971, and after viewing both I am returning the 970 and getting a 981. The 970 is no doubt a good dvd player, but honestly you could probably do better at Best Buy for less or maybe a little more. But the 971 is worth every penny and more in my opinion.

I think they're talking about sending 480i-hdmi to an external scaler. I have Elite 59avi, which can send 480i-hdmi to my 1130, PQ looks much better w/ upconvert 720p/1080i than @ 480i-hdmi.

I also have Oppo971 and it's not day & night better between 59avi & 971, according to my 'untrained' eyes ;-)

Cheers,
TP.

i need some help. I've got a Pioneer 4360 plasma. On one hand, the guys over in the pioneer threads say that the scaler/de-interlacer in the PDP is as good if not superior to the one in the 971, and with that, that i should get the 970 and send it 480i over HDMI. then i read this off Oppo's website:




i just can't decide. it doesn't help that most of the guys over in the pio threads have the elite models which has a better scaler/de-interlacer than my pure vision. one poster has a 4360 with the 971 and recommends it, but doing the conversion from 480i>768(native)once rather than converting off the disc from480>720>768 makes too much sense to discount. please help! :(