OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio

I ordered the Oppo because I heard that divx/xvid content viewed on it looked better than on other players. What I discovered was that DVD content looks better too! Compared to my Pioneer (with Faroujda), the Oppo's custom Mediatek chip does a vastly superior job of deinterlacing, producing a much better picture.

An example of where the Oppo really cleans house is Chinese/Korean historical shows with thatch roofed dwellings. The thatch is sharp and well defined with the Oppo, where the Faroujda chip just couldn't cut it.

Excellent player! Video upscaling of standard DVDs are excellent. Audio playback quality for DVD Audio and SACDs are also excellent. Do yourself a favor and buy it!!

I did some research and found the OPPO dvd player to be the best reviewed up-converting dvd player out there. They were right! The picture is second only to Blue-Ray at less than half the cost. I have no problem recommending it to any of my family and friends. Can't say enough good things about this player. It makes my new 1080p HD tv look awsome.

I normally don't bother with writing reviews, but for this, I HAD to add my voice to the chorus of praise.

After getting this player, I bought the "Planet Earth" DVDs instead of waiting to buy a Blu-Ray player so I could watch the "HD" version of "Planet Earth," and I can't believe how good the Oppo's HD upscaling picture is on my 1080p LCD TV! I don't think I will buy a Blu-Ray player for some time, at least not until it comes down in price to about $100. Why should I? The Oppo turns all DVDs into HD-quality, or at least something good enough to fool me. Blu-Ray manufacturers must consider Oppo Enemy #1.

I bought this because everyone was giving it rave reviews for TV's 46" and below. My TV is a Samsung 46" LN46A650. Previously, I was using my PS3 to play all DVDs, including Blu-Rays. I decided to buy a standalone up-converting DVD player in hopes that my standard DVDs would be "enhanced" to a level fairly close to Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray discs look incredible! I realize the term "up-convert" means that the DVD player takes the DVD's native resolution and "smartly" blows it up to 1080p (or whatever resolution you so choose). But, people keep saying that there is no need for a Blu-Ray player because up-converted DVD's look just as good!

FYI: All HDMIs are connected direct to the TV, not through my audio receiver (which I find unnecessary considering it's an audio receiver and does nothing with video). I say this to clarify that there is no issue with my HDMI-switching receiver - I don't use that feature. Also, I'm using top-quality, and overpriced, Monster HDMI cables. (I doubt even the cheapest cable would make a real difference anyway so long as the gauge of wires are the same.)

I first started with a Pioneer unit for $89 because all my home theater equipment (except for the Samsung 46" TV) is Pioneer. The standard DVD playback at 1080p with it looked no better than when I played my DVDs through my PS3 and the picture actually looked darker and noisier, as if someone aged the picture in Photoshop. I spent an hour with different DVDs (e.g., Ronin, Kill Bill, American Gangster) attempting to notice a difference, especially one worth spending $89 for. I decided to return it to Abt.com.

I then typed in "Best Up-converting DVD Player" into Google and the Oppo line came up. I decided to go with the least expensive one because all of them were extremely expensive relative to the Pioneer I had. I figure just over double the price of the Pioneer I just had should get me an up-converting DVD player I'll be satisfied with. Boy was I wrong!

Just like the Pioneer, this thing doesn't up-convert any better than my PS3. It certainly up-converted better than the Pioneer, but not by much and certainly not enough to justify its price relative to the Pioneer. I consistently felt as if standard DVDs looked better coming through the PS3. I tested and tested and tested, same feeling. I also consistently felt that DVDs played through the Oppo had a subtle green hue where dark grays and browns were. Through the PS3, everything was natural and normal looking. Not to mention this weird issue: title credits and moving text would actually skip around or get all discombobulated for a quick second everyone once and a while. This never, ever happened with any DVD player connected to any TV I've ever had (including my PS3 and the Pioneer I tried first). My TV checks out fine.

I'm going to try, just because Amazon.com has a fair return policy, the more expensive Oppo 981HD with the Faroudja chipset and see if it will finally satisfy me. If my standard DVD's don't "enhance" to near Blu-Ray quality with the 981HD, I'll stick with using the PS3 and keep my money for something worth it. As far as I'm concerned, if standard DVD's don't look "better" by using this Oppo over a PS3, then it isn't worth two-cents.

Also, just so you know, when the laser eye is moving about the disc, this thing makes more noise than my dust buster, I swear. It sounds like Robocop moving. This isn't a quiet machine. I'm sure it's built well with high quality parts, but it's loudness doesn't reflect that. Plus, why the blue screen text? What home theater set-up uses blue text? Most are green or amber. Blue is hard to read in the dark because there are less blue receptors in the eye than other colors and therefore causes eye strain. (This is why I always wonder why VW still has that blue interior!)

Am I going to say don't buy this? No, because you may not have a PS3 or Blu-Ray player and/or Blu-Ray discs. Nor would you want to pay for either if you don't. (I rent Blu-Rays from Blockbuster Online!) I'm going to say, if you have a big 46"+ TV, I have a feeling you and I will be sticking with Blu-Ray discs only and skipping the whole "up-convert" thing because it just ain't good enough.