upconverting oppo vs. sony vs. panasonic vs. etc: Hi, I keep seeing reviews of oppo's being the best. any opinions from customers?
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This Sony upconverting DVD player is alright but it is nowhere as good as the HD-DVD Player and the Oppo upconverting DVD Player. I have a Toshiba HD-A20 HD-DVD Player, an Oppo DV-980HD and Oppo DV-981HD. When it comes to converting standard DVD, Oppo is better. A friend bought this Sony DVD upconverting player and I was curious how well it performs. I brought my Oppo for a comparison and the Oppo is much better than the Sony, specially the DV-981HD. The Oppo is pricier but it has other features not found in the Sony - like being Region Free - playing DVD from Region 1, 2 3, etc. It can play DVD whether in PAL or NTSC - and upgrades the signal to 720p, 1080i and 1080p for viewing in any HDTV. The Oppo is also 100-240vac so you can play it practically anywhere in the world. The Oppo has many other advanced features too numerous to enumerate here. Its really in a much higher league than this Sony upconverting DVD player. If one can afford to get an HDTV, the additional cost of the pricier Oppo is easily justified.
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Model 95 replaced by BDP 105 $1200. Gives you more digital options. 95 allows streaming Netflix, other internet stuff. My only complaint is Oppo is a bit bass shy compared to my Denon.
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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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A few testing co. like CNet and CR rated the Panasonic over the Sony. They are the tech people and I am not. And for the Panasonic to be at $400 is something I felt could not be beat. Now my only problem is picking out an SD card.
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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 quality i 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 player with 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 have best of luck to you
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Anthony: I used to have a JVC Everio, the first model out some years back. I loved the size of the thing, and it took great still pics. The only thing I didn't like was the .MOD file extensions for the videos. It was, quite frankly, a pain in the butt trying to deal with the vids. I ended up selling it. I don't know if they corrected that .MOD nonsense, but somehow I don't believe so. Go with the SONY (my opinion). Congrats on the baby :-) Mike
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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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I would say an upconverting player will show a significant difference, although NOT a DAY & NIGHT difference. Keep in mind that the limits of an upconverting player is still within the capacities of the dvd disc itself. The Oppo will upconvert dvds with copyright protection and will SPECIALLY look amazing with dvds (re)mastered in High Definition. I saw the PQ of SUPERMAN RETURNS upconverted with my OPPO compared to my friend's Blu-ray disc playing on his HDTV, the PQ of the Oppo was very close, so close in fact, except for the Blu-ray disc's more radiant REDS. Both HDTVs were capable of 1080p and same brand/model. So, I have to say 1080i broadcast may still be a tad better than the Oppo, depending on the DISC itself. Heck, some broadcasts are better than BLU-ray OR HDdvd discs.
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more importantly, how will the image quality be and will it be worth owning? reviews of the P80 were not kind. I'm hoping they have fixed this issue.
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its way more clearer than LG and Sharp!!!Sharp come close, but Sony is just way BETTER!!!!!!!!!!i remember watching a Sharp 52" vs. Sony Bravia 52" in in the store and the Bravia is just way better and have better image than the Sharp, period, no question ask, Sony beat Sharp!
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I'm wondering this too. I don't think upconverting was a feature on the previous generation until you got up to the 919. Maybe we're seeing some feature trickle down. I sure hope so...
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i have the same problem. there is a comparison option on Panasonic website, you can take a look and see what features are more important to you.
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"There are other cameras in this class that are faster and have far better sensors with far better ISO capability."Really, unless you name names, this comment is not very helpful. Could you please give examples?
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Yes it is worth every penny. It is also a 3D DVD player and works seamlessly. I also have a Sony Blueray/DVD/3D player that was significantly cheaper, but I know that the OPPO will not have any problems or issues.
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Wow, thanks David!That was an incredibly informative post, and I'm sure others will benefit from it as well. Based on what you said, and pending reviews of course, I'm going for the M300. Low light performance is important, but the sony would have to take extremely better video in low light to be $120 better. The other sony features aren't all that important to me, though I am glad to see them finally move to sdhc. I have several of those on hand already.So it looks like the M300 for me unless it tanks in reviews, which I don't see happening.Thanks again David!
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Jim,Thank you & I agree. Lets all just please try and keep the information here as unbiased and honest as possible. While I seem to make a lot of posts against the Mino HD in favor of the Vado HD, its only because I honestly believe the Vado HD is a better deal. Oscar V.
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I own a Oppo BDP-83 Blu Ray and a Oppo 971 1080i upscale DVD player. Oppo is well worth the price tag you have to pay. The 83 in particular is truly awesome, I have never had a disc not play, the upconversion on standard DVD's while not Blu Ray is clearly superior to any DVD player I have owned, which is many since I support 5 set ups. Oppo's will firmware update any time you have an internet connection and ask it to update in the menu.