Comments for Oppo Digital DV-983H DVD Player - The Rest of the Story at http://www.hometheaterhifi.com , comment 1 to 53 out of 20 comments http://www.hometheaterhifi.com Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:46:34 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-2004 I have opted to wait a bit before jumping into the Blu-ray pool. At the time just before release of Bluray a Sony guy at an LA stereo / home theater show by LAX spoke about how the technology was still being worked on and that upgrades would continue for some time. As such, I decide that I'll wait on Bluray and got the 983 as my DVD and CD player. I do not have some uber audiophile system but the sound and video from the 983 is extraordinary and had me upgrade my A/V receiver and then my main speakers. I like the way my cd's sound and the job it does on my regular dvds on my Panasonic TH50PZ 1080p plasma. It makes old films like Bogie's version of the Big Sleep look great and new stuff Like Spiderman or Pirates of the Carribean sparkle. I do see a bluray in the future and i figure the Oppo one ma work into my budget in 2010. In the mean time the 983 is doing a fine job in my home theater, I do not regret its purchase one iota. - John C Erickson Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:40:13 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-1027 Go Oppo go - 27ph Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:31:22 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-909 I know that the PS3 was really bad at playing DVD's when it came out but recent firmware upgrades claim to have made it excellent. Is that pure marketing bs or is it true that the PS3 now is quite outstanding at playing SD DVD's and upscaling them? Best regards, - Jens Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:16:49 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-908 The Oppo 983 or Dvico TVIX HD M650? :-) - Jens Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:14:00 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-795 I am considering using a 4X2 1.3 HDMI compliant matrix to route video from my PS3 and my Oppo 983H to my JVC HD-RS2 projector, and at the same time audio from the PS3/983H to my HDMI 1.3 compliant receiver (Yamaha RX-V863). I am comsidering this because I understand my receiver (as are many receivers) do not "pass thru" the full spectrum of the 1080P video signal. Speciically, the receivers clip signals below 16 or above 235 on the black level (this is apparently not an uncommon issue amongst many receivers out there). However, I hesitate to take this route if by doing so I may cause lip sync issues. Can anyone offer any feedback on this? - David Y. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:19:27 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-779 Hi there, First, this is a great website and I truly enjoy all the resources it has offered in the past years. Second, I own the 983H (fresh out of the box) and love it. Coupling the 983 with the JVD-RS2 via HDMI, and up converting the video to 1080P at the 983H, gave me the best video quality of SD DVDs I've ever seen. This has been a great relief for me in terms of no longer feeling compelled to replace my entire DVD collection with Blu-Ray. Second, I have a question that I would like to throw out to the forum regarding audio/video connections, and this question is independent of the 983. Assume you have the ability to 1) connect everything via HDMI (i.e., HDMI from DVD player to receiver (which is fully D/A capable), HDMI from receiver (assuming it supports 1080p switching) to the video monitor/projector, or 2) connect the DVD player directly to the monitor via HDMI and separately connecting the audio fromt the DVD player to the receiver/amplifier using mutli-channel analog audi0, which of the two options is better for purposes of both video and audio quality? I tried both type of connections using both my PS3 and the 983, and it seems to me that the first option results in more noise in the video image that requires me to lower the brightness level a bit to get better blacks (I have the Yamaha RXV-863 receiver). I can't really tell (by just listening) whether there is any major difference in sound. Thanks in advance! - David Y. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:56:08 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-580 peter said: So, in order to play SACDs you though the HDMI port, you need HDMI 1.2 or above. HDMI 1.1 will won't play SACDs, but will play DVD-audio through HDMI. (peter) No. SACD can be passed as unpackaged PCM via HDMI 1.1. - S. Chiz Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:49:51 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-579 The 983 will play SACDs as it has v1.2 HDMI but without DSD so it will turn the signal to PCM so it can be passed through the HDMI. But the 980 has the option of PCM and DSD so the format on the SACD won't have to be turned into PCM format, but you will get slight quality loss from the 983 playing SACD, but only slight. - peter Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:40:51 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-576 I think the previous review of the 983 said that because of the MediaTak chipset, it was unable to pass DSD via HDMI. I thought the 980 used the same chipset. Could it maybe be that the Anchor Bay will not pass DSD? - Big C Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:54:44 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-572 I think it was in an earlier 983 review that claimed that because of the MediaTek solution, DSD via HDMI cannot be possible with the 983. However, if both models use the same chipset, that can't be so. Could it maybe be that the Anchor Bay will not pass a DSD signal? - Big C Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:08:39 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-570 Which format would you say is better PCM (most common) or DSD? Why did they downgrade the transfer format from 1.2 for the 980 to 1.1 for the latest 983? HDMI 1.0: Single-cable digital audio/video connection with a maximum bitrate of 4.9 Gbit/s. Supports up to 165 Mpixel/s video (1080p60 Hz or UXGA) and 8-channel/192 kHz/24-bit audio HDMI 1.1: Added the support of DVD-Audio HDMI 1.2: Added the support for one bit audio, used on SACDs, up to eight channels. Availability of HDMI Type A connector for PC sources and the ability for PC sources to use native RGB colour space. HDMI 1.3: Added Increases single-link bandwidth to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbit/s) Optionally supports 30-bit, 36-bit, and 48-bit xvYCC, sRGB, or YCbCr with Deep Color up from 24-bit sRGB or YCbCr in previous HDMI versions. In terms of number of color combinations 24-bit allows for 16.7 million colors, 30-bit allows for 1 billion colors, 36-bit allows for 67 billion colors, and 48-bit allows for 281 trillion colors. Incorporates automatic audio syncing (Audio video sync) capability. Optionally supports output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams for external decoding by AV receivers.[9] TrueHD and DTS-HD are lossless audio codec formats used on Blu-ray Discs. If the disc player can decode these streams into uncompressed audio, then HDMI 1.3 is not necessary, as all versions of HDMI can transport uncompressed audio. Availability of a new Type C mini-connector for devices such as camcorders So, in order to play SACDs you though the HDMI port, you need HDMI 1.2 or above. HDMI 1.1 will won't play SACDs, but will play DVD-audio through HDMI. - peter Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:22:43 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-557 peter said: Will the Oppo 983 pay SACD through the HDMI cable, because I know that the SACD used analog out only and not digital? (peter) It has been possible to pass SACD via HDMI for a while, now. With HDMI 1.1 it could be passed as PCM. With HDMI 1.2 it can additionally be passed as DSD. And yes, the 983 allows passage of SACD as PCM. The 980 allows it to be passed as DSD. - S. Chiz Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:46:24 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-546 Will the Oppo 983 pay SACD through the HDMI cable, because I know that the SACD used analog out only and not digital? - peter Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:28:56 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-544 The DV-981HD has the famous DCDi by Faoudja while the 983H not(correct me if i'm wrong). Is there any difference in picture quality between the two? - Thomas Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:09:17 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-541 Well you can always hope. I guess taking the cheap way out seldom works when it comes down to getting the quality of sound many of us come to expect. I kind of figured two players would be the only way to go. Like many people I will wait for the high def Oppo player and continue my search for a Cd player. As with my vehicles I keep my hifi stuff a long time and try to take my time picking it out. I really like the sound of the Musical Fidelity stuff and even had a used Trivista home for a few days. The price was good, maybe to good. On doing some research I came across some unsettling news about the company or supplier and did not want to take the leap. Would like to thank all for your input. Will ask for recommended players in another part of Secrets, as word of mouth is so much better than most sales people pushing a brand. Thanks - S.A.B. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:20:28 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-534 The analog audio output (RCA coax jacks) performance of a top CD player will be better than the Oppo. The Oppo is really designed to send everything - audio and video in digital bitstream form - out through the HDMI port and let your receiver or SSP do the decoding. If you are focused on having analog out from a player to a stereo preamp that does not have a DAC, then you need to consider something like the Musical Fidelity mentioned above, or a Classe (which I use in my two channel setup). - JEJ Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:15:11 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-531 S.A.B. wrote: "Now finally to my point. Would the new Oppo player reviewed here have the audio performance using the two channel analog output to compete with the already mentioned players I am considering." In my experience my Oppo 981H doesn't come close to the analog CD output of my Musical Fidelity A3.2 CD player (MSRP $2,000 circa 2002). I spent half a day A/B'ing the two and the difference was obvious. If you are looking for audiophile redbook playback look elsewhere. Good deals can be had on the MF A3.2CD now (~$700) a stereophile Class A component. - AA in CA Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:05:25 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-525 I second that. I have an XA-2 and a DV-981HD and would like to know if the DV-983H is better at upscaling than the former. Also, can someone please squeeze a timeline out of OPPO for their Blu-Ray player? - Demon3 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:41:54 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-519 Does the analog audio outputs cut out if the HDMI cable is plugged in? I have a computer monitor with speakers. The 983 I will plug directly into the monitor to obtain audio and visual from the HDMI, but I want to use the rest of the analog outputs for surround sound. Will all outputs be available for use at the same time. - MESSHEAD Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:02:54 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-players/289-a-secrets-dvd-player-review.html#comment-496 Still would like to know if the Oppo 983 visually handles SD-DVD's better than the Toshiba XA-2 HD-DVD player - DKDiveDude Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:39:06 +0100