The only problems I've had with DVD players have been playing anime DVDs. Based on its deinterlacing performance in online reviews I'm looking at the Oppo 971, but said online performance tests still don't test very odd cadences used in older anime productions (like Cowboy Bebop remix).

Now I understand that some people use external video processeors and just use their players as a transport, kind of how I use an external DAC and surround processor for audio. On the audio end, though, this is usually cheaper than buying an audiophool quality CD player. Is this cheaper or more expensive for video?

The only problems I've had with DVD players have been playing anime DVDs. Based on its deinterlacing performance in online reviews I'm looking at the Oppo 971, but said online performance tests still don't test very odd cadences used in older anime productions (like Cowboy Bebop remix).

Now I understand that some people use external video processeors and just use their players as a transport, kind of how I use an external DAC and surround processor for audio. On the audio end, though, this is usually cheaper than buying an audiophool quality CD player. Is this cheaper or more expensive for video?

External video processors are pretty pricey. There is a forum: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=7&f=37

I have both the Oppo 971 and 981. Are there any commonly available titles I could check for you?

-Bill

Most important is Cowboy Bebop Remix, which does play decently, but suffers from rainbowing during the opening and dotcrawl other times (i'm not certain I'm using these terms properly).

I've had a helluva time playing FLCL properly, with a pronounced effect like this

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_1/images/dvd-benchmark-guide-to-video-flags-gq-trailer.jpg

with shallowly angled lines and at the top and bottom of circles.

Other titles I have on DVD
GitSII
Jin-Roh
Gunslinger Girl

Most important is Cowboy Bebop Remix, which does play decently, but suffers from rainbowing during the opening and dotcrawl other times (i'm not certain I'm using these terms properly).

You want me to check this out on the Oppos? If so, post some time indexes and problems you see for disc 1. It will take me a few days to get it from Netflix.

-Bill

Well you asked for it :p These are minor issues, but I figured I'd post a lot

Episode 1 asteroid blues

The instant the opening animation starts, right after he flips the pin off the grenade and smiles, that is all supposed to be grayscale. Crazy, obvious rainbowing in the rough gradient areas, but the scene itself only flashes for a fraction of a second. Also the yellow on blue text in the openening animation is all pixelated and the flame of the lighter in the bottom left blue panel is messed up.

3.56-crawling antennae on the asteroid, especially when they get near horizontal

8.14 on the sole of the boot, between the ball and heel. Can't decide what color it wants to be.

8.54 front-to-back seams on the swordfish wings flicker/crawl

13.30-40-the sunbeam crossing in front of the gas tank becomes dots in middle.

15.29-right eyelid can't decide what color it should be (it's supposed to be skintone of course).

15.52 the angled wires under the swordfish wing are freaking strobing every color of the rainbow

Well you asked for it :p These are minor issues, but I figured I'd post a lot

Episode 1 asteroid blues

The instant the opening animation starts, right after he flips the pin off the grenade and smiles, that is all supposed to be grayscale. Crazy, obvious rainbowing in the rough gradient areas, but the scene itself only flashes for a fraction of a second. Also the yellow on blue text in the openening animation is all pixelated and the flame of the lighter in the bottom left blue panel is messed up.

3.56-crawling antennae on the asteroid, especially when they get near horizontal

8.14 on the sole of the boot, between the ball and heel. Can't decide what color it wants to be.

8.54 front-to-back seams on the swordfish wings flicker/crawl

13.30-40-the sunbeam crossing in front of the gas tank becomes dots in middle.

15.29-right eyelid can't decide what color it should be (it's supposed to be skintone of course).

15.52 the angled wires under the swordfish wing are freaking strobing every color of the rainbow

Finally got a chance to try this on an Oppo 981, with a Westinghouse LVM-37w3.

I think I see the artefacts you list. although my time indexes are different for the first few. I don't know if we are seeing them to the same degree. They seem minor to me, but then I don't know what the standard for good anime would be.

Bit-rate seems quite high, so I don't think we can blame it on excess compression.

Looking at the most obvious cases, the yellow on blue titles and the sunbeams in front of the gas tanks, I used a software player (xine on linux) and extracted a couple snapshot frames. The pixelated detail is still there, so I wonder if this isn't encoded in the title itself?

Still, I see quite a lot of fine color and detail flicker throughout the episode.

-Bill

I suppose it could be a case of a poor DVD transfer, I just refuse to believe that because of the 100+ dollars I spent on it. :rolleyes:

Anyway, it's good to at least know that the Oppo plays it well, maybe when I get paid I'll plunk down for one. Need a new player anyway.