Oppo DV-981HD
Posted in: Hardware Reviews by Jeremy Frost on May 30th, 2007
Oppo digital, while not owning the same strong name recognition as the major electronic players (Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.), are starting to make quite a name for themselves. They are doing so by producing reasonably priced up-scaling DVD players that perform very well – even when up against units priced 2-3 times higher.
Continuing their product line growth, Oppo has now added their first 1080p Up-converting Universal DVD player to their lineup – the DV-981HD.
Appearance and build qual…ty
The DV-981HD takes on a much classier look then the rest of the Oppo product roster – sporting a nice black chasse with silver accents and nice blue display. Other Oppo models have always been silver units; this black design really takes the look to the next level. Slim in form factor, this player is only 1-5/8 inches tall. Along with this small form factor comes a light weight – a mere 5.2 pounds. A thin DVD tray has been used, and while initially this tray looked a little frail, it actually is pretty stable.
Turning the unit around, we are exposed to a nice array of outputs:
- Analog Audio: Stereo, 5.1ch
- Digital Audio: Coaxial, Optical, HDMI
- Analog Video: Composite, S-Video (Y/C) – standard-definition output only
- Digital Video: HDMI with HDCP (NTSC 480p/720p/1080i/1080p, PAL 576p/720p/1080i/1080p)
The biggest noticeable omission from this unit is the lack of Component Video Outputs. While this is not an issue for owners of current display devices, it will make older televisions/projectors obsolete with this player. HDMI is the best option for transporting HD signals, so it is somewhat understandable while Oppo has chosen to exclude Component Video from this player.
The remote is pretty basic, and does not look as classy/clean as the player itself; this remote has a silver chasse with a black face. The button layout is not optimal for ergonomics or usability. The remote is also not backlit, which can be very frustrating in dark dedicated theaters.
Performance
This player holds two huge advantages over similarity priced competitors – Disc compatibility and up-converting.
This DVD player will play almost every know disc type. While this compatibility may not be a necessity for the average Joe consumer, it sure is a nice benefit to those who are not standard DVD users. Here is what you can expect this player to support…
- DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Video universal playback
- Compatible with Audio CD, HDCD, WMA, Kodak Picture CD, and other digital audio/video/picture media and formats
- Official DivX® Certified product, certified to the Home Theater Profile
- Plays all versions of DivX® video (including DivX® 6) with standard playback of DivX® media files
- Plays XviD and .SRT, .SMI, .IDX and .SUB format
Most mid to high priced DVD players on the market today support some form of up-converting… but very few tout 1080p up-converting playback. This 1080p output is a huge benefit for the DV-981HD, helping to entrench this player as a leader in quality and features, and not only for its price point. Video quality produced by this player is very good, and while it really does not compare to output from HD DVD and Blu-ray players, it gets as close as can be expected from a SD DVD player.
The HDMI cable sends a beautiful picture with crisp and accurate colors. Many digital flaws that may be noticeable on cheaper players are often cleaned up when playing the same disc on the DV-981HD – something is to be said for a quality player. Digital audio through the HDMI cable, while currently not accessible through most receivers or separates, does a great job when run through standard speakers on your HD display.
Final Thoughts
The DV-981HD player is a great product – especially for its very reasonable price point. Its video output quality is class-leading, and the feature set is very impressive. The only slight drawback is the remote, but that is a small flaw for this great unit. If you are tentative to jump into the next-generation HD and BD players, but want the best bang-for-the-buck DVD player, look no further then the DV-981HD.
Screenshots
