I bought the 971H about 10 months ago to replace a Bravo D1. I finally got around to using the 971H and am surprised that the picture is really no better then the D1. With the Oppo I get weird blocking and what I'll call low rez mosquito noise on the screen in semi dark sceens. I have a DVI switcher and hooked up both players, freeze framed exact seens and 4/5 people thought the D1 looked better. The D1 had none of the weird low rez blocking noise that the 971H had.

I have a Infocus 7200, 720P DLP front projector. I have a 120" 16:9 screen. Both players were hooked up to the dvi switcher with either a HDMI/DVI cable or DVI/DVI cable into the Gefen DVI switcher. My projector is fully calibrated.

I now see there is a Oppo 981HD player. Is this a true 720P/1080P player, or does it just upconvert like the 971H does. I wonder if it's possible to exchange the 971H for the 981HD if the 981HD doesn't have the low rez noise/blocking like the 971H does.

Thanks a lot.

Sounds like you may be seeing the effects of the Faroudja macroblocking enhancement. Make sure you recalibrate the PJ to match the 971 too.

larry

Let me see if I got that: You bought a player 10 months before you intended to use it, don't like it and wonder if the manufacturer will take it back for a newer model??
I think Oppo should take it back and pay you $500 for your trouble.

I now see there is a Oppo 981HD player. Is this a true 720P/1080P player, or does it just upconvert like the 971H does. I wonder if it's possible to exchange the 971H for the 981HD if the 981HD doesn't have the low rez noise/blocking like the 971H does.


The 981, like the 971, is an SD-DVD player. It is just like the 971 in this regard but has HDMI and adds 1080p. Both have a Faroudja chip which is often implicated in enhanced macroblocking on DLP and plasma displays.

You might try these tips on reducing the effect: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7270763&&#post7270763

Or, try the Oppo 970 which has no Faroudja chip.

-Bill

Great answer Tyro.

After reading all the problems Oppo has had with macroblocking issue, it's surprising their DVD players are so highly rated. I and others noticed the macroblocking problem within 30 seconds of the first DVD watched. I can't believe people put up with this picture and haven't contacted Oppo about this problem. I'll be curious to what they have to say when I contact them on Monday.

Maybe the problem is more relevent with large displays using DLP front projectors then small 40-50" displays. Maybe this is the market Oppo is going after. I'm spending over $10,000 replacing my current projector. I wouldn't think that anyone that's spent $10,000+ on their H.T. would be very happy with the picture Oppo presents.

I just went and bought the Toshiba HD-A2 and this has none of the problems the Oppo has. The picture is better then the XBox 360 HD add on drive and doesn't have the sound issues. Thanks for the replies.

Ken

Bill, I just saw your intelligent and useful answer. Thanks a lot. It's easy to see why some make it and some don't in this world.

Ken