Oppo 980 H for NON HD TV Sr. Citizen Needs Tech Guidence??My Sony DVD player just bit the dust but we will not be upgrading our TV to HD until we move to our new home in June. We have a 52 "Hitachi - 8 year old TV now and want to be able to use whatever we buy now on a new HD TV later this year. (Have a HK AVR 247 as receiver) Oppo 980 H for NON HD TV Sr. Citizen Needs Tech Guidence??My Sony DVD player just bit the dust but we will not be upgrading our TV to HD until we move to our new home in June. We have a 52... » Read More Oppo 980 H for NON HD TV Sr. Citizen Needs Tech Guidence??My Sony DVD player just bit the dust but we will not be upgrading our TV to HD until we move to our new home in June. We have a 52 "Hitachi - 8 year old TV now and want to be able to use whatever we buy now on a new HD TV later this year. (Have a HK AVR 247 as receiver) « Show Less
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@ LeoThe HDMI output of the Oppo DV-980H will work equally well with your 1080p LCD HDTV.I have both the HD-A35 and the DV-980H.Do not worry about the Oppo's HDMI Version 1.2. Most of the advanced capabilities of the HDMI Version 1.3 (higher data throughput) are not even utilized by most audio-video equipment in the market. It will be a while before new equipment will be able to utilize the full capabilities of HDMI Version 1.3.
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Umm... since you didn't actually ask a question, I'll answer the one I think you meant to ask. Yes, the 980H will work with non-HD TVs. It has composite and s-video connections for "legacy" connectivity, and it can output 480p over component for progressive scan TV sets.Hope that's what you were looking for.
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Thanks, again, Larry. So, for the HD A-35 user, the upconversion of the Oppo chipsets is no better in action than the A-35? The Oppo site mentions, as I recall, a different video processor in each Oppo, the 980, the 981 and the 983. I seem to recall that the 981 has a Farouja (spelling) processor? With, as you say "picture quality of a DVD played back on the HD-A35...about equal to the PQ of a DVD played back on Oppo's new top of the line DV-983H", there's no upconversion benefit in owning the Oppo.That leaves universality the big benefit: How is your DV 981HD at converting PAL TO NTSC and the reverse? The procedure of making the Oppo Region Free seems easy enough. Any glitches?Do I really want to import foreign SD DVD's? Thanks, again, Larry. So, for the HD A-35 user, the upconversion of the Oppo chipsets is no better in action than the A-35? The Oppo site mentions, as I recall, a different video processor in each Oppo, the 980, the 981 and the 983. I seem to recall that the 981 has a Farouja (spelling) processor? With, as you say "picture quality of a DVD played back on the HD-A35...about equal to the PQ of a DVD played back on Oppo's new top of the line DV-983H", there's no upconversion benefit in owning the Oppo.That leaves universality the big benefit: How is your... » Read More Thanks, again, Larry. So, for the HD A-35 user, the upconversion of the Oppo chipsets is no better in action than the A-35? The Oppo site mentions, as I recall, a different video processor in each Oppo, the 980, the 981 and the 983. I seem to recall that the 981 has a Farouja (spelling) processor? With, as you say "picture quality of a DVD played back on the HD-A35...about equal to the PQ of a DVD played back on Oppo's new top of the line DV-983H", there's no upconversion benefit in owning the Oppo.That leaves universality the big benefit: How is your DV 981HD at converting PAL TO NTSC and the reverse? The procedure of making the Oppo Region Free seems easy enough. Any glitches?Do I really want to import foreign SD DVD's? « Show Less
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L. Go is correct. You will not be able to use the HDMI connection if your TV is not HDCP compliant. Note also that the 980H, like almost every other player, will not upconvert copy-protected discs over component video connections. This means that pretty much any legally purchased DVD will be limited to 480p over component.Your best option (for optimal picture quality) is to find a used Oppo DV-970HD and utilize a fairly simple firmware hack that will allow it to upconvert to 1080i over component video (google "970HD component hack" for more details). The 970HD is one of very few DVD players that is capable of allowing this form of upconversion. L. Go is correct. You will not be able to use the HDMI connection if your TV is not HDCP compliant. Note also that the 980H, like almost every other player, will not upconvert copy-protected discs over component video connections. This means that pretty much any legally purchased DVD will be limited to 480p over component.Your best option (for optimal picture quality) is to find a used Oppo DV-970HD and utilize a fairly simple firmware hack that will allow it to upconvert to 1080i over component video (google "970HD component hack" for more details). The 970HD is one... » Read More L. Go is correct. You will not be able to use the HDMI connection if your TV is not HDCP compliant. Note also that the 980H, like almost every other player, will not upconvert copy-protected discs over component video connections. This means that pretty much any legally purchased DVD will be limited to 480p over component.Your best option (for optimal picture quality) is to find a used Oppo DV-970HD and utilize a fairly simple firmware hack that will allow it to upconvert to 1080i over component video (google "970HD component hack" for more details). The 970HD is one of very few DVD players that is capable of allowing this form of upconversion. « Show Less
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@ LeoI have the DV-980H and the DV-981HD. I also have two units of HD-A35 in use (with several more HD-A30s as backup). Toshiba's giving up on HD DVD was a big disappointment but the lowered prices on its HD-A35 and HD-A30 was a boon to many. The picture quality of a DVD played back on the HD-A35 and HD-A30 is about equal to the PQ of a DVD played back on Oppo's new top of the line DV-983H. This is not surprising since they all use the same ABT video processor.
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Thanks, Larry. For a month I've been teetering on the brink of getting the Oppo 980 or 981. The street price of, maybe $170 would be acceptable. I also have an A-35, with a backup A-30 in the closet in its box.I've been having a lot of fun ordering HD DVD's from Europe. When the supply of HD DVD's dries up, if I had an Oppo, the Region Code, and NTSC/PAL wouldn't matter and I could switch to import SD DVD's.Anything to mess with censorship and marketing plans.
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@ JonThe Oppo 980 has several video outputs. There is the HDMI, Component Video, S-Video and the Composite Video.I believe that HDCP is an issue when playing back on HDMI but it should not be an issue for Component Video, S-Video and Composite Video. I would like to suggest that you check directly with Oppo at www.oppodigital.com. The tech support guys there have been very helpful on past queries.Please let us know what Oppo's response is so it will be of help to other similar inquiries in the future.
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I have an HD TV LCD 1080p that is working well with my Toshiba A-35, that outputs in HDMI 1.3. I am considering buying the Oppo 980H for its conversion capabilities. The Oppo outputs in HDMI 1.2. Are HDMI 1.2 and 1.3 mutually compatible? Will the Oppo's output over HDMI 1.2 work as well as HDMI 1.3?
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I have an NEC 63" plasma that is non HDCP compliant. Most new DVD players will not work with this set. Will the Oppo DV 980 or 981 work?? That is, are they non-HDCP compliant?Thanks
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Thanks so much! You have me convinced to get the 980! I have had a problem with a previous DVD player's sound, and I would rather get the sound quality with "a little less picture quality." Although, reading throught the reviews, the OPPO 980 sounds absolutely wonderful in picture quality too! If it is everything people say it is, I know I will be very pleased! Thanks again!
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Thanks for the infor, but I returned mine and they sent me a new one including hdmi cables. Maybe they just did not want the hastle. They also have an exchange policy. I find that Sony electronics are not as good as they used to be. I am still in love with their tv"s, but nothing else. I don't think anyone can beat there tv"s. Thakks for your reply.
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I'm glad I found your post Alan... I almost sold this TV over the OPC issue. I found it terribly irritating, but turning it on and to 1 fixed it.
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I was passing time and looked up this TV on the Sony site to see what the cost is now because I bought it in December '08. I really like it and was surprised to see that Sony has discontinued it. It's disappointing to find my expensive new TV already obsolete. Anyone know why that would be, especially so soon? It's gotten good reviews.
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I've heard this models great with HD. But I'm not planning on updating the box or getting a newer generation gaming system quite yet.I currently have no TV. My goal is to find the most cost efficient TV I'll be happy with for years. In other words, one that handles SD well for now, but handles HD good enough that when I switch to it I won't feel like I should buy a newer model.
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You probably don't need this top-of-the-line Oppo player for a 23" set unless you plan to watch a lot of PAL discs from overseas (the 981 has the best PAL-to-NTSC conversion of any of their players). I would guess that you probably don't need an upconverting player at all, but I don't have any actual experience to base that on. Just a guess. You might try asking over in some of the forums for TVs that you're considering to see if any owners have bought (or regretted buying) and upconverting player.
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Thanks for the information.I already have a sony ps3 (and hence a blu-ray player). So right now I am not inclined to buy another one. Also the recent (2012) user-reviews on sony NSX-32GT1 is mixed.I want to get Google TV for its android platform and the future possibilities. I am not sure how robust and extensible roku or other such devices are. Do they get meaningful firmware upgrades? Do they have an appstore or atleast apps for general use by 90% of people?
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I have owned an Oppo upconverting DVD player for several years. It does a wonderful job improving the quality of my standard DVD movie disks. But a $500.00 Oppo Blu_Ray player? I have a big problem with that. Can we really SEE the difference in a Blu_Ray movie played on an Oppo machine versus a player costing half the price. I cannot say, but I personally doubt it. I'd really like someone to explain this (in non-tech terms) to me.
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If you will be sticking with standard DVDs and want good upconversion and HDMI out for later upgrades to a better TV then your absolute best bet is the OPPO 983, now discontinued but still available from amazon 3rd party sellers.OPPO DV-983H 1080p Universal Up-Converting DVD Player with SACD and DVD-Audio
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Hello George. Talked to Sony customer service three times today. Gave them Model & Serial numbers of our Vega Triniton. They confirmed it was a projector TV that entitled people to a free tv with free shipping. Our TV was not a projection TV. Suppose yours was? Anyway, the TV is at the curb for the City to pick up on Wednesday. Sony and I are no longer going to do business, but that's OK. Thanks for all your help.
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to try and offer some advice:i just upgraded from the BDP83 to the BDP93, i have only watched 1 Blu on the new one (BDP93) but was amazed at the pic qualityi had the BDP83 for almost a year before upgrading and the only issue i had was watching LOTR extended versions on DVD and would see a 'hiccup" every so often - i believe this was where they added the extended footage in - otherwise i NEVER had a single issue with my playerwith an Oppo or PS3 OR whatever bluray player you have or decide to buy i always make sure the firmware is updated to resolve any 'issues" you may havebest of luck to you to try and offer some advice:i just upgraded from the BDP83 to the BDP93, i have only watched 1 Blu on the new one (BDP93) but was amazed at the pic qualityi had the BDP83 for almost a year before upgrading and the only issue i had was watching LOTR extended versions on DVD and would see a 'hiccup" every so often - i believe this was where they added the extended footage in - otherwise i NEVER had a single issue with my playerwith an Oppo or PS3 OR whatever bluray player you have or decide to buy i always make sure the firmware is updated to resolve any... » Read More to try and offer some advice:i just upgraded from the BDP83 to the BDP93, i have only watched 1 Blu on the new one (BDP93) but was amazed at the pic qualityi had the BDP83 for almost a year before upgrading and the only issue i had was watching LOTR extended versions on DVD and would see a 'hiccup" every so often - i believe this was where they added the extended footage in - otherwise i NEVER had a single issue with my playerwith an Oppo or PS3 OR whatever bluray player you have or decide to buy i always make sure the firmware is updated to resolve any 'issues" you may havebest of luck to you « Show Less
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I hear the Oppo is a great DVD player (although I do not have one myself). There are several models and I think you can find them here at Amazon quite easily. They are standard DVD players (not HD DVD or blu-ray) who do up-conversion of your DVDs to 1080p.The up-conversion on the Toshiba HD DVD players are also regarded as being among the best (if not the best)... but the DVD playing is region locked. Try the Oppo, then.Also, Onkyo announced their first HD DVD player due next Fall. It will probably be the best HD player on the market by then. However, I'm not sure if the DVD playing will be region locked or not. I hear the Oppo is a great DVD player (although I do not have one myself). There are several models and I think you can find them here at Amazon quite easily. They are standard DVD players (not HD DVD or blu-ray) who do up-conversion of your DVDs to 1080p.The up-conversion on the Toshiba HD DVD players are also regarded as being among the best (if not the best)... but the DVD playing is region locked. Try the Oppo, then.Also, Onkyo announced their first HD DVD player due next Fall. It will probably be the best HD player on the market by then. However, I'm not sure if... » Read More I hear the Oppo is a great DVD player (although I do not have one myself). There are several models and I think you can find them here at Amazon quite easily. They are standard DVD players (not HD DVD or blu-ray) who do up-conversion of your DVDs to 1080p.The up-conversion on the Toshiba HD DVD players are also regarded as being among the best (if not the best)... but the DVD playing is region locked. Try the Oppo, then.Also, Onkyo announced their first HD DVD player due next Fall. It will probably be the best HD player on the market by then. However, I'm not sure if the DVD playing will be region locked or not. « Show Less
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OK guys, I'm sure there must be some really smart people out there who can figure out how to get the 2500 to upgrade to the 2550 firmware. My wife got me the 2500 for Christmas....and I don't have the heart to return it for the 2550 (not to mention the price difference). Has anyone found a way to get Pandora on the 2500?BTW: Since the BD player is already internet interactive... why doesn't some clever person create "applications" for this unit that will connect to the internet? Like putting firefox on the box? Can this be done?
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breaux, compralo, es una great tv, espera por un buen precio, couple a days before new year, i aw in sony style the 55hx800 in 1850 and the 46 size 1350, but with no bundle, so maybe wait, look the newest models are 480 hz sure they are going to be expensive but for july, i think you can get a new sony model, and who knows ... ps3, glasses and 3, o even 4 3d movies incluided may be, jeje so wait for the right or the better moment, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS, LA 55HX800 TIENE FABULOSA IMAGEN
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Is there any chance to preview an Oppo unit in a local store? (Portland, OR). I have limited funds but my wife would feel much better if she could see how our home movies would look. I have been using a high quality Sony 3 chip SD camcorder for many years. The videos of my family are my most valuable videos.
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I did call customer support. He just said the better the DVD the better the upconversion. I could have guessed that. I have high quality home movies in 480i. They look very good but have jaggies on straight edges. Is there any body out there using the Oppo for home movies??