Official OPPO BDP-83 Owner's Thread [technical talk only] - Page 639

Let me answer the "reset settings" question, while I'm not as qualified an audio geek as most here, there is some detailed answers on why it's a good idea in this thread, most likely buried. But ask yourself, after taking the time to do the update, wouldn't you WONDER if all was well, right and correct if you did NOT reset? I know it would bother me, as I have a lot of computer experience and after doing any kind of firmware, it's a good idea to follow proper procedures afterward, whatever they may be. In this case it's often "recommended", so take the time and just do it. Take digital photos of your display with the current settings you like as reference. After a while you are going to KNOW all the settings anyways. As I have discovered the Oppo does not have all that many settings anyways, far less then my Onkyo 906 AVR. These updates happily are coming out fairly quickly since the Oppo is so new, and maybe one of them will NEED a RESET, for me it's simple: PEACE OF MIND = RESET

I asked OPPO and posted the response. Bill added it to the FAQ. See up thread.

I'm not familiar with those two codecs. Where do they come from, and how are they different from mpeg2 and pcm?

The known supported audio and video codecs are in the FAQ:

• What are the supported media file video codecs?
  
• What are the supported media file audio codecs?

-Bill

I'm sure they are no different. They are files that Cirlinca HD-solo built in an attempt to listen to hi-res music files without having to burn them to dvd-a discs, which HD-solo does great, btw.
I used mkvmerge to see what was in the container.
And yes, I have only read the faq about 120 times.

Hi stevec325,

I beg to differ with you on this comment. I love my Oppo-83, and I have been comparing it to my ModWright modified Pioneer DV47A with tube analog stereo mods and an external tube power supply.

The Oppo is superior on DVD performance. It sounds pretty good on CD and SACD when you listen to it by itself.

But on redbook CD's and SACD's, played through the analog ports out to a BAT VK-51SE preamp, using identical Jena Labs Symphony cables, I did an A/B test, using two identical SACD's, and also a CD in the Pioneer, and its identical SACD version in the Oppo. The results?

In both cases, the modified Pioneer blew away the Oppo. With a quick A/B switching of the same track, I found that the Oppo sounded muddy, and the sound staging was congested. Switching to the Pioneer would immediately make the music and sound staging clear and crisp. You couldn't miss it. Even the rest of the 99%.

I plan to use my current B&K Ref 50 S2 pre-pro, and use the analog 5.1 out from the Oppo. Instead of spending thousands on a new pre-pro, I have reserved a slot with Dan Wright to modify my Oppo with his 9-channel analog out total mod for a little over $1,000. I believe for that price, I will get a world class universal BR player, as well as a world class CD/SACD player. It will then replace my Pioneer.

This would be the best high end bargain in the business, I think.

loonski, I have to ask. Where do the 9 channels come from??? I can see the 7.1 totaling eight but what is the extra channel?

Is it just a matter of labeling the MKV contents differently, and is there a tool to do that?

-Bill

According to the manual the Onkyo 906 does have limitations in its DSP processing power. "The Equalizer settings have no effect on 176.4/
192 kHz input signals." On a PR-SC886 that means no Audissey EQ for 176.4 and 192 KHZ. It most likely means the same thing for the 906.

No filters for the calibration disc yet.

They are being mailed out right now in waves. As long as you player is registered with OPPO, you should get one soon.

Does anyone know if the dollhouse season 1 fix is only on the experimental firmware, or if it is also on the latest public beta build as well?

I'm familiar with their mods, I'm sure it's a good value. I just wish I could afford it right now.

But then again, there will prolly be quite a waiting list for a while, by the time I can afford it I'll be able to breeze right on through!

There is no public beta revision currently. Only the official release and the experimental. The Dollhouse fix is only in the experimental release.

ah, my bad. Thank you for the info. There was a few posts earlier in this thread questioning whether or not the experimental was cumulative. Would the safe bet be to install the latest official firmware, and THEN install the experimental on top of that if I need the dollhouse fix?

You can install any version you like. Flashing any FW revision completely over-writes the existing FW, so any newer revision contains all previous changes. In other words you can skip releases, go back or forward, whatever.

The full multichannel mod is the 2 stereo channels plus the 7 multichannel outputs; the .1 for the sub output is not modified.

The Official firmware release contains all 3 parts of the firmware.

The 0805 "experimental" release contains only an update to the "Main" firmware part.

Thus, yes. To be sure you have the latest of everything, first update to the Official 0620 firmware and then update that with the 0805 "experimental" firmware release.

Alternatively, check your current versions in the Setup > Device Setup > Firmware Information menu, and compare to the versions listed at the top of the release notes for the 0805 "experimental" firmware. If you already have the Loader and Sub firmware versions listed in the 0805 release notes then you can just apply the 0805 install to update the Main firmware version and you'll be done.

The latest version numbers for the three parts -- including the 0805 Main firmware update -- are:

Main Version: BDP83-36-0805
Loader Version: BE2403 85752403
Sub Version: MCU83-23-0513
--Bob

very informative. This makes it a bit easier for me to follow. Thank you for that

Yes the only firmware in the 08/05 release is the main firmware.


See below.


The improvements in 2ch downmix are better separation of the sound track.
Also I was playing with DRC in auto mode for BDs. This is something up until now I would never use.
However I was impressed with how DRC auto used the dynamics of the BD.


I installed Main Version: BDP83-36-0805 when it was first posted.

I have reinstalled BDP83-36-0805, using a blank TY CD. Also via thumb drive.

At first BDP83-36-0805 worked fine. Then after a few BDs my oppo started to not load the BD, and just go back to the Oppo splash screen and say stop.
Or load and start to play the BD and then just freeze.

In both cases I had to remove the BD, clear the flash memory and shut down the Oppo.

I don't use BD live. However I did try BD live with My Bloody Valentine 3D. The interesting thing with the DL was in 2D mode the PQ was less washed out. Also there is a feature with this DL, there are 3 pop up windows.
One for my local time, one for my current weather and one for Lyons Gate upcoming releases. And that feature seem to work.

As noted before about playing with DRC in auto mode for BDs. When I first switched from DRC off to Auto, my audio was way out of sync and the video was jerky. How ever once I turned off my Oppo and then back on DRC worked well.

Please note that my Oppo is connected directly to my display via HDMI 1.3 high speed cable (1M). My 2ch analog audio is connected directly to my amp via interconnect cables (1M).

Edit:
I reinstalled Main Version: BDP83-31-0620
Loader Version: BE2403 85752403
Sub Version: MCU83-23-0513
Still the same, will not load.

Oh well its back to my BDP-09


ss

You may have a hardware problem in your player. You should get in touch with Oppo tech support and describe what you've done and the details of the problem.
--Bob

Bob, I was thinking the same thing.

Thanks for your reply. I guess I just needed to be told this.

Peter.

Edit:
I should add that when I use Main Version: BDP83-31-0620
Loader Version: BE2403 85752403
Sub Version: MCU83-23-0513
All is well.

That's correct. Thanks, Merubin. In addition, Dan upgrades the master clock, power supply and damping for the transport.

I use the 7 MCH for BR/DVD/HD audio/SACD/DAD-A to the B&K, and the stereo channels for stereo CD/SACD music directly to the BAT 51SE. I connect the FL-FR from the B&K to the BAT for pass-through for MCH audio.

I believe the DACs in the Oppo deliver world class performance. I need the 9 analog channels to be the best they can be. I expect Dan's mods will do that.

Hi, I've installed the 430 hack, but the read me instructions don't seem to have any effect. They say:

Oppo BDP-83 Codefree Firmware
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This release based on version 0430


The Blu-ray region is switched by entering a 4 digit code on the setup menu.
Press setup on remote once so the menu appears, then hit:

7891 : Region A and codefree DVD
7892 : Region B and codefree DVD
7893 : Region C and codefree DVD


You can restore the standard firmware and select "Reset Factory Default"
option to reset the player back to standard if required.

Enjoy!

However, inputting 7891 has no effect. The digits don't show up anywhere after you press setup, this is just painful. Has anyone successfully done this? How do you do this?

I would also add that you should power off all your equipment first before unplugging HDMI. At least I have heard of somebody that shorted the HDMI board on a NAD processor by accident. He pulled the equipment forward a couple of inches while it was running and the HDMI cable came out and the board ended up needing to be replaced.

I do not know if it was a fluke or something that can easily happen, but just in general, i would power everything down first before changing cables. But that goes for any cables as well.

Just do as the instructions say. Nothing will appear on screen, it just does it silently so to speak.

This is where OPPO's excellent customer service and support come into play. Don't be afraid to email or call them. They are very responsive and will help you troubleshoot the problem and if need be, get your unit repaired/replaced asap. The sooner you contact them, the sooner you will be back in business.

You're right! Thank you! Incidentally, I had to press the P/N button for it to display a PAL DVD properly. That was the thing that was throwing me off.

I'm seeing a little different version of this anomaly. I don't use an AVR.

I use the Oppo analog 5.1 outputs, and when I play the AIX DTS-HD MA ID test, the output is indeed there and extremely low, UNLESS I set the Oppo downmix mode to 7.1 - then it's normal level at the analog outs.

I use the Oppo HDMI directly to my Samsung panel for video and casual stereo audio, and I get the extremely faint sound on this AIX test whether the Oppo is set for LPCM or bitstream on HDMI and regardless of my downmix setting.

1) I have a question regarding the De-interlacing Mode. As far as I know the Film Bias Mode or 2:2 is the right choice if (PAL) DVDs are flagged wrong. So is there any reason not to leave it always on Film Bias Mode or 2:2 instead of Auto?

2) I've read the FAQ about Deep Color but I don't really understand it. My receiver (Yamaha 663) does support it (36 bit). What is the use for it if BD and DVD doesn't support this? I saw no difference. And what is the difference beween dithered and not dithered?

3) Yesterday I said I can hear the disc drive while playing BDs. I watched a movie (Accidental Spy) and it seems the drive does only work for the first 10-15 minutes, then it went silent. I only heard it another time about 3/4 of the movie. But it's not annoying (I'm sitting very near close to the OPPO, 2.6 meters)

Hi.
2.2 Odd is a excellent deinterlacing mode for PAL Film never seen it trip up yet.
It's specific though so you can't use this option for anything else..