Official OPPO BDP-103 Owner's Thread - Page 180

When it comes to the Netflix issues? Yes, that's my impression. It's either blamed on the app or the unproven (and basically unfounded) notion that certain devices get priority over others when it comes to streaming bandwidth. The idea that Netflix would lessen the quality of streams for a few thousand Oppo owners thinking that it would somehow save significant bandwidth and improve the experience for millions of other devices is quite silly.

I don't know how the Netflix app interacts with the playback device when it comes to different levels of quality. My suspicion is that the resolution of the stream, regardless of the actual image quality, is always 1080p. I say this because using Source Direct with Netflix always results in 1080p output from the Oppo; it doesn't switch resolutions and re-sync with the display when the quality changes mid-stream. Netflix handles all the deinterlacing and scaling on their end when they first encode the video.

I haven't done the same extensive testing with Blu-ray playback as I have with Netflix because I've been generally pleased with the quality of Blu-ray on the 103. Others, including Bob, disagree with that assessment and think that Blu-ray playback is a bit on the soft side. Based on what I have checked, I don't see an appreciable difference between 1080p and Source Direct when viewing 1080p Blu-ray content. I do, however, see a significant difference between 1080p and Source Direct while watching Netflix because the 103 is applying heavy noise reduction to Netflix streams when set to 1080p. I've tested a lot of streaming HD content; significant detail is lost and motion artifacts are common when using 1080p. This noise reduction is bypassed using Source Direct, resulting in a considerably better image.

I didn't pay $500 for a streaming device. I paid $500 for a high-end Blu-ray player that includes Netflix streaming as a feature. Expecting it to provide the best performance possible in all its advertised features isn't unreasonable at this price point, especially considering far less expensive devices are able to provide better performance.

I already subscribe to Amazon Prime, so I have no need for Netflix. But I can say that AP plays beautifully through the 103. Movies look SUPERB, and the menus are very crisp and clear.

I have a similar problem - what is the solution
HC;)

I'm still unable to get DirecTV 3d to work - are you running it through the Oppo?

 

Thanks DSperber:

 

I can 'see' my NAS and wireless printer but not the TV and other devices. I wish there was a way to show them all. Windows Media doesn't see anything at all!

I guess there is no "solution", because there's really no problem. It just doesn't show up in Network's graphic view although it clearly does have Internet connectivity and access through its Internet-required apps (e.g. YouTube).

As to why my Yamaha RX-V867 shows up but the Oppo BDP-103 doesn't? Don't know. There aren't any PC apps requiring connection to the V867 that I know of, so that couldn't be the explanation for this difference.

My Panny 65VT50 shows up, but then I also have PC calibration software for the TV that talks to the HDTV, so obviously Panasonic designed the network interface of the VT50 to show up in Network.

Anyway, I don't feel this to be a "problem". As long as the 103's Network setup shows an IP address, and as long as its Internet apps work and your router shows an IP address assigned for the "attached device" of the 103, you know the whole networking of the 103 is working just fine.

I understand. I, too, was actually surprised that the 103 didn't show up in Network, despite the fact that it obviously WAS on the network and had been given an IP address so that the router is obviously aware of it.

As long as the Oppo itself can (a) get to the Internet, and (b) get to other Network resources like music/video folders on other network devices/locations, that's really all that matters. You don't need to talk TO the Oppo, so to me this is just an interesting aspect of its network implementation... but not a "problem".

I'm running Windows 8 and the Oppo and my other multimedia devices show up in the Hardware and Sound section of Control Panel. They do not show up in Network. I believe it is the same for Windows 7. So you need to look in the Hardware section to see the Oppo and other media devices you may have attached to your network. I my case I also my plasma TV, receiver and the other computer in the house since all of these can play media using the network.

Regarding dull and dim, try sending a different color space to the TV and see if that improves it. Muted or dull and dim describes what I see on HDMI 2 Source Direct using 422 output from the Oppo. S&M says you see this if the 422 to 444 up sampling is screwed up somewhere in the chain. In my case this shows up as less luminance in colors. If you have a Kuro, others find improvement with RGB out of the 103.

Every time Netflix streaming service goes down, it always does so for specific devices and locations first, then others. This is convincing evidence that certain devices are routed differently than others. Still it's all speculation, since Netflix will never own up to the mysteries of how it all works.

Thanks I'll try that.

I took some more pics, my camera sucks apparently I knew I should have just replaced my broken Canon instead of getting a Nikon. Anyhow the pictures were taken using; OPPO HDMI 1 +0, OPPO HDMI 1 +1, OPPO HDMI 2 +0, and Panasonic DMP-BDT320.Personally I think HDMI 1+1 is the most detailed with HDMI 2+0 and Panny tied for 2nd and 3rd and HDMI 1+0 last. The defference can be seen in the small detailed areas, corners, windows etc... as well as the street level and snow. While there is varying degrees of sharpness increase, there is also something going on color wise with HDMI 2 appearing slightly lighter or cooler. Please take these pics as relative to each other not relative to pictures in general, maybe someone else can take some better ones.

Oppo HDMI 1+0

Oppo HDMI 1+1

Oppo HDMI 2+0

Panasonic

Panasonic

Oppo HDMI 2+0

Oppo HDMI 1+1

Oppo HDMI 1+0

To the guys that are saying that the oppo with the sharpness at 0 is to soft, and at +1 is to sharp, list your sharpness settings on your tv?

This can also happen if your Display or AVR mistakenly applies its RGB Video Level vs. RGB PC Level input configuration setting to YCbCr input. All YCbCr input *SHOULD* be treated in the same fashion as RGB Video Level, but incorrectly applying this setting to both RGB and YCbCr input is a fairly common bug.

By my testing, both HDMI 1 and HDMI 2 are putting out correct levels for YCbCr 4:2:2.

Some of this stuff can be frustrating to track down -- e.g., the bizarre discovery on some Samsung displays that they alter black levels for no good reason simply because the input is 1080p/24 instead of 1080p/60. It simply comes down to trying the different combos until you identify where the gotchas might be in your video chain. There's no logic to this stuff of course. They are just bugs, and bugs don't exist for logical reasons. You just try the combos and see. For example there's no logical reason why the Kuro sets, as good as they are, should prefer RGB input. It just shows that even sets that good can have bugs.
--Bob

"The idea that Netflix would lessen the quality of streams for a few thousand Oppo owners thinking that it would somehow save significant bandwidth and improve the experience for millions of other devices is quite silly."
But this seems to be actually happening but not just to Oppo owners. Netflix is cutting bandwidth to service providers (Time Warner being a major one) who refuse to sign up for their new Open Connect service.(http://www.avsforum.com/t/1450510/netflix-adds-3d-and-super-hd). Open connect has a new interface with super HD and 3D option settings but many people who can't get the news service are saying they are being held hostage and getting lower streaming rates to force their providers to join up. This could be a factor in this whole Oppo/Netflix debate depending on who you're ISP provider is.

I believe maybe some early switches (or maybe I am thinking of hubs) would revert to the slowest connection. But I believe the more modern switches are smarter and just don't do that any more.

As to upgrading your older machine if there are drivers still available for it then upgrading it to G/E might give a speed up . I remember when I hacked up my Tivos at first I only used USB-100T dongles. My original rational was well the processor is so limited and it was just USB I don't think I would see any improvement. Then I heard others were having great success with the USB-1000T dongles. So I switch over and it was a notice difference in transfer times. The difference was the Jumbo packets that G/E uses was more efficient on the system and allowed it to transfer closer to the HD's max speed.

I have the Kuro 151.
On the oppo 103- My color space setting was set to AUTO.
I changed my color space setting to RGB and it looked better- but I then went ahead and set it directly to 444 and it looks really good.
I also turned on the deep color setting and set it to 36bits. (I should have done this right off the bat. Somehow I missed it) Makes a big difference to my eyes.

I returned the sharpness to 0- since i do not like adding artifacts it brings.

These few tweaks are giving me very nice results so far.

I love my sharpness at +1.

Reducing stream quality based on network congestion in specific locations is plausible. I have yet to see proof that specific devices get targeted first, at least in this thread. I'm genuinely interested in reading about this if you can point me to it.

Regardless, the quality of the stream isn't the issue here. Netflix on HDMI 1 using Source Direct is fine. Netflix on HDMI 1 at 1080p is not because the 103 is performing aggressive noise reduction.

Given that some folks think that all content is a bit soft when using 1080p, it wouldn't surprise me if some type of intelligent noise reduction is enabled in QDEO that gets more aggressive as it perceives more noise in the source. This would have a mild effect on high quality content and a more pronounced effect on streaming content. It would also explain why clean test patterns show no real evidence of the problem, but actual material does. I remember Bob saying something a while back about the softness not being evident on test patterns.

Again check the netflix test stream "example short 23.976" to determine what stream you are able to receive.

You will get a overlay of resolution and bit rate.

There should be no mystery here and need for speculation.

Exactly. I've checked the bitrates. My 103 and PS3 get the same max bitrate and image quality (when using Source Direct).

HDMI 1 has a noise reduction problem when using 1080p. That's the issue here.

Yup, understood. My comment was more just to educate folks that they can check to ensure their players are receiving the same Netflix stream with the test clip, so the stream can be ruled out as a cause to the issue.

Thanks for the information. The person who I talked to yesterday morning told me a lot of things about gigabit in a 15 minute period. My biggest bottle neck is my router and then the older computer. He said I can put a gigabit card in but since the hardware in the machine is older it will not equal the transfer speeds that my 6 core HP can. He figures that I can reduce the transfer rate by half. He said that gigabit is a big advantage if your are constatnly transfering very large files from one computer to another. He mentioned streaming is not the same as transfering but said he preferred wired networks over wireless for any streaming. He said I should use my HP computer to do the streaming instead of my older PC as the HP is far more powerful and is capable of doing more processes at once than the older PC. He mainly deals with computers and networks in a corporate setting than for home use. When I get the 103 in I am going to change out the fast ethernet switch in the panel and at my main tv with gigabit switches and hook the OPPO and the HP to the same switch and then the switch to my router until I find a small size gigabit router that will fit in the tray of my panel.

I want to apologize to the forum members as I can not spend enough time to compose and post my thoughts properly as I got to many mundane and stupid things that are bogging my life down. I have Bank of America calling my house morning, noon, and night, that they are going to foreclose on my mortgage even though I do not even have a mortgage on my home. They got my home confused with the burned out house across the street from me and I took over a week of phone calls to get this to stop. In the mean time my neighbors water line goes through my basement and the water company shut my water off instead of theirs. Try getting your water turned back on if you are not delinquent. They then put a reconnect fee on my bill and it took a half a dozen phone calls over a three week period to get this straigthened out. My phone rang at 8:30 this morning and its Bank of America again, so I guess its back to square one again.

It is there but it is listed as an unknown device and will not show up in your network map. To see it go to:
Control Panel
Network and Internet
Network and Sharing Center
Change Advanced Settings on left side
Scroll down to Media Streaming and click on "choose streaming and media options"
Change drop down box to "show all networks" next to show devices on:
Scroll down list and it will be unknown device. Make sure you set it to allow.
I think the OPPO doesn't send out any identifying information to the network. It might be that OPPO might need certification from Microsoft to do this. This is pure speculation on my behalf as I really don't know but my onkyo receiver is seen by my network and it states that it works with Windows 7.

The "Oppo BDP-103/5" should show up as a media device in Win-7, (network and sharing center under "view network computers and devices").

Be aware that this is different than what you'd find in Windows Media Player or Media Center.

I think the Oppo does send identifying information. As I mentioned previously, I am on Windows 8 and when I look at Multimedia Devices under Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers it specifically lists my devices as 1080p Plasma TV, Oppo BDP-105, SC-68. I didn't enter any of this information so it must have gotten it from the devices themselves. I am using a Homegroup and this may affect things.

Spending the snowed in day testing out my new 103.
I think I have the settings at the best I'm going to get.
While picture looks fine- not much difference between 103 and my old Pioneer 51FD.
oh well.

One issue is starting to worry me.
The 103 has frozen up twice on me.
Once while trying to play a netflix stream.
I later turned off the machine with a blu ray disc on the menu screen. When I turned the machine back on I got nothing but black screen.
It would not play. It would not return to the Oppo menu screen. Nothing. I had to reboot by turning the 103 off and on again.
I'm not liking this. Perhaps I was lucky, but this never happened on the 51FD.


Load times are excellent and so is sound quality.
All else- I'm still on the fence.

How would one play amazon premium on the oppo 103?
Edited by jmschnur - 2/9/13 at 1:49pm