OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player

by OPPO Digital

Product Details

Product Manual [19.67mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 21.5 x 15.5 x 21 inches ; 8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00078GLJY
• Item model number: OPDV971H
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (227 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,358 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Improve the picture quality of DVD movies shown on your high-definition television with the versatile OPPO Digital OPDV971H DVD player, which provides 480p/540p/576p/720p/1080i resolutions and can upconvert 480i video from DVDs to the high definition 720p/1080i formats. Featuring a slim and elegant design, it featurs a sleek, silver design that will fit in nicely the rest of your home theater's components. In addition to standard DVD move and CD audio discs, it's also compatible with DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, (S)VCD, HDCD, and CD-R/RW discs as well as WMA and JPEG digital content. It also plays DivX 5, DivX 4, DivX 3, and DivX VOD video content (in compliance with DivX Certified technical requirements).

The OPDV971H features Faroudja's Emmy award-winning DCDi deinterlacing and scaling technology to up-convert standard video in DVDs to HD resolutions. DCDi (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing) technology eliminates the jagginess that conventional upconverters introduced to diagonal edges in video. FaroudjaÕs unique DCDi algorithm identifies all the moving edges in a scene and adjusts the angle of interpolation at each pixel so that the interpolation always follows the edge instead of crossing it, eliminating staircasing or jagged edge artifacts.

Other features include a 108MHz/12bit video D/A converter, super error correction with twin laser and intelligent laser wavelength control, NTSC/PAL output (from both NTSC and PAL formatted discs), multi-angled view capability, virtual surround sound, and built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders. Future upgrades to the firmware can be updated to the player via a CD-ROM disc. It offers the following connection options:

• DVI Out: 1 (480p, 576p, 540p, 720p, 1080i resolutions)
• S-Video Out: 1
• Composite AV Out: 1
• Component Out
• Subwoofer Out: 1
• Optical digital audio Out: 1
• Coaxial digital audio Out: 1

Tech Talk
DivX is a video codec (a piece of software encoding and decoding video) based on the MPEG-4 compression format, that blends good quality video with a low bitrate. This translates to a smaller file size (around 15 percent of a standard DVD's video file), making it easier to transfer to portable devices as well as quicker to create (encode).

HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) is a disc encoding format for audio CDs and DVDs. It can encode 20 bits of audio information into a conventional CD 16-bit channel, yielding a greater dynamic range and a more true-to-life sound when decoded. HDCD-equipped players will improve audio quality for even traditionally recorded CDs and DVDs. Conversely, because of the recording process, HDCD-encoded media will also sound better than traditionally CDs and DVDs on players that don't have the HDCD chip.

DVI (Digital Video Interface) provides an uncompressed transfer of high definition video from a digital video source to a digital display device. HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) ensures copy protection of the content. The DVI output is also essential if you want to watch copyrighted DVDÕs at a higher, upconverted resolution (other video connections do not provide upconversion).

What's in the Box
DVD player, remote control (with batteries), video cable, RCA L/R audio cable, printed operating instructions

Product Description

This highly acclaimed OPPO upconverting DVD player was rated #1 in 2005 DVD Player Benchmark Review by Secrets Of Home Theater And High Fidelity magazine using a proven test procedure involving 22 individually measured criteria. The forte of the Oppo OPDV971H is support for the latest HD display devices using DVI or HDMI connection. Utilizing the same Faroudja DCDi de-interlacer that powers much more expensive, custom-installer grade DVD players and scalers, the OPDV971H produces the highest quality upconverted images in 480P, 576P (PAL), 720P, and 1080i resolutions. The Mediatek decoder chip is utilized to its fullest potential, offering extremely fast menu navigation and a seamless layer change. This unique implementation of Mediatek decoder and Faroudja deinterlacer offers exceptional video performance with super fast responsiveness. Video: The built-in, top-of-the-line FLI2310 Faroudja DCDiTM analyzes video on a single-pixel granularity to detect angled lines and edges and select optimal filtering to eliminate motion artifacts. With video-based material, the FLI2310 removes coloration artifacts produced by conventional video decoders. The OPPO OPDV-971H features DVI connection to HDTV/ Projector/ Plasma displays and monitors that support HDMI or DVI connectors. Audio: Full Dolby DigitalTM and DTSTM decoders are built in with full DSP menu and setup controls. In summary, the Oppo's intelligent design, impressive performance, reliability, and relentless effort to provide personalized customer support have sold this DVD player to thousands of customers. If you have recently purchased a LCD or Plasmas TV or DLP projector with DVI or HDMI output, or are considering one, you should test drive this OPPO player. What's in the box: This player comes in a sliver chassis. A remote control with easy to navigate buttons. Remote batteries (2 AA), 5-feet DVI and audio/vieo cables, and a user manual.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

419 of 436 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars oppo dvi upconvertion, February 16, 2005

By 

E. Gutierrez (world) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player (Electronics)

I just got this player thru Amazon, and ran two region1 DVD disks: LOTR Return of the King Platinum and Dying Young. The short review: The wife is so impressed with the Oppo's picture quality (that's probably the most important consideration when buying anything like this). I was expecting the quality, since I was able to demo a Samsung earlier that could do DCDI/Faroudja/upconvertion. ADDED: I also tried Star Wars DVD. WOW!! The picture quality really blew me away. I can see details in the movie I have never seen before on a TV.

Our Oppo/HT setup: Panasonic AE700 widescreen lcd projector hdmi, ht=61" x wd=108" diy "blackout" screen (viewing distance=3.5meters), Yamaha RXV2095 receiver, Pioneer DV515 (old non-progressive dvd player via 12meter sVideo, 1.5meter fiber optic audio), Oppo DV971H (via dvi-to-hdmi adapter, 5meter hdmi cable, 3.7meter 75ohm component video cable, 10meter 75ohm coax audio), Speakers: Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 L/R/C and Bose AM10 L/R/C/Surr, Wiring AWG12. Home Theater PC setup (6meter VGA output, 1.5 meter fiber optic audio, Asus Pentium 4-2.67GHz notebook, ATI Radeon 9000-64MB, 512MB, 40GB HDD, ZoomPlayer, FFDShow, PowerStrip, WinDVD6, PowerDVD6). (1meter = 3.28ft)

I have observed a significant video improvement over our old pioneer DVD player. I also tried a 1970's movie (I won't mention the title) that was so poorly transferred to DVD (region3), and I noticed a significant improvement in the video playback over the old player. The noise artifacts were minimized, and the sharpness had a significant improvement. I guess that was the DCDI/Faroudja chip doing its work.

I've tried the 480p,720p,1080i upconvertion using the "dvi" button on the remote and although I couldn't really notice the difference in quality between the three modes even on such a large screen, the lcd projector saw the difference and reported the corresponding "input source signal". I may have to observe some more and change the projector's picture mode, we usually leave it at "Cinema1 mode".

ADDED: okay, I've now looked A LOT closer using Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon region3 DVD. Basically, as I move up the DVI resolution from 480p to 720p to 1080i, I did noticed that less and less horizontal lines were becoming visible (a good thing).
BUT, since our projector uses hdmi, the picture does suffer from hdmi cropping issues (varies with the resolution being used). Using component/analog gives the largest picture that can occupy the screen (unfortunately there is no upconversion using component, only the Oppo's DVI output has the upconversion). At the projector side: Using hdmi input, the picture appears cropped (black bars at the left and right, sometimes at the top and bottom, sometimes a combination of both). I also cannot change aspect ratio using hdmi, while you can using component/analog inputs of the projector.

ADDED: The Oppo I have can play DVD-Audio, something not stated in the manuals or the unit's array of logos. The DVD-Audio sampler disc I used came from Creative Lab's Audigy 2 for the PC.

ADDED: I also compaired the Oppo's component output vs. the dvi-to-hdmi output, basically, there's a big difference in the picture quality, you should connect using the dvi output if possible.

I also noticed that the subtitles on the movies are much easier to read now when compaired to the old dvd player, but on one brief moment the subtitles on Dying Young were garbled -that's never happened before on the Pioneer.
ADDED: Okay, this has now happened to a bunch of other DVDs, sometimes it garbles one single line of subtitle per entire single dvd I watched. That is still an acceptable problem to me.

I also heard no apparent difference in audio quality between the Oppo and the old Pioneer despite the length of the coax. Naturally I set all audio sound effects to off when compairing audio CDs.

I also compaired the Oppo to our HTPC. Basically, the HTPC could output better video than the old Pioneer, but when compairing with Oppo, I prefer the Oppo. I don't want the hassle the HTPC is giving me. I saw no significant video quality difference between the HTPC and the Oppo. So my take on this is if you're happy with your HTPC, stick to it. If you want convenience then Oppo is something to look at. If you can't demo an Oppo, try looking at anything with DCDI/Faroudja.

Bottom line: I am happy with the purchase. Good value for the money. It's region free and can upconvert, and that's what's important to me. I chose Oppo vs. Momitsu V880 because I prefer Faroudja over Sigma Designs. BUT, BUT, here are my Oppo gripes....

1. I don't like the remote's key layout, it also seems flimsy, it could use a backlight.
2. I don't like the el-cheapo plastic disc tray. It looks like it will break easily. It's weird having to insert a disc if the tray doesn't comeout 100% all the way. I just hope this is the design, not a defect.
3. I don't like the bright blue light which is distracting in a completely dark home theater room.
4. The player's buttons are a little hard to press, well, maybe because it's still new. As with other players, not all remote functions can be found on the unit itself. So take care of the remote.
5. I wish the unit was color black instead of silver.
6. I don't like the OSD font, could use a better readable font.
7. The setup menu could be more descriptive, the manual helps but not enough...
8. I wish it was HDMI rather than DVI, but the adapter solved that issue.

ADDED: 9. Subtitle display is sometimes garbled (sometimes happens once on a single line per DVD watched).

ADDED 05/28: Okay, after 3 months and almost 200 hrs of use, I am still happy with this purchase. However, not all DVD titles appeared fantastic thru the DVI upconversion output (hdmi input on our projector), such as Top Gun r1. I had to watch it thru the component output. It appeared too visually noisy via DVI.


Eric Gutierrez
Manila, Philippines

238 of 245 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent multi region multi voltage main with lots of fe, April 13, 2005

By 

ph (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player (Electronics)

There is confusion about whether this player is multi region and multi voltage. The web site says 100-250V 50-60~. The player says 110v 60~, support says multi voltage. The support team were so helpful I decided to plug it in to a 250v supply. It is multi voltage.

There is also a multi region hack on videohelp which is:
Press Setup on remote control to access the setup page
* Enter 9210 on the remote
* A secret menu will pop up
* Select 0 to 6 in region code. 0 is multi region
* Press Setup on remote again to exit
After setting region 0 I've tried region 1 and region 2 discs and both work.
It also pays DIVX and Xvids written to a DVD RW and is the only player I know which has smooth forward and reverse search for these. I strongly recommend this player.
With all its features, a goodprice and active support this is an excellent player for all including international travellers.

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate DVD Player!!!, September 28, 2005

By 

Vladimir Ratner "vratner" (Upstate NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player (Electronics)

I want to make an update to my review: After several months I am still recommending this player to all of my friends and other people I know that are looking for a good HD DVI Up-Converting DVD Player. I have a friend who bought Samsung with HDMI, and the quality on that one is nowhere near of that of OPPO. It's firmware upgradable, and OPPO constantly improves with new features and various fixes/upgrades. It's one of the best purchases that I've made in years. Highly Recommended!!!

I've had 4 different DVD players in a span of 5 years. The reason I started looking for another one was a new 32" Kreisen HDTV LCD (model 321T) that I bought about a month ago. Since my TV has a DVI input, I really wanted a DVD player with DVI output to maximize TV's performance/capabilities and to get the best possible picture quality. However, DVI was not the only requirement. I also wanted support of various formats, including DIVX, as well as PAL/NTSC conversion capability since I have a lot of DVD's from different regions. I started doing some research, and that's how I came across this OPPO DVD Player. Imagine my surprise when I found out that not only it meets all of my requirements, but also uses Faroudja DCDi technology, which is the best on the market. That alone is worth more than $200 bucks. I did a little more digging and learned that this player was named the best DVD player of 2005. It did better in every category when compared to other leading DVD player manufacturers. The only one that came close to it was a $2,500 Denon unit. Hmm... Let me see. $200 vs $2,500. "Tough decision". But let's get back to Oppo. Here is my first impression of it in a form of Pros and Cons:

PROS:

Price - One might actually think that $200 is a lot for a DVD player. My wife would fall into the category of those people. She asked me why can't I just get another $30 dollar Cyberhome. She stopped complaining though after I hooked it up to the TV and showed her how dramatic the difference was in picture quality. I also told her if she doesn't shut up, I'll get a $2,500 Denon :-) .

Picture Quality - I've tried 3 different DVD players (Sampo DVE612, Cyberhome DVD500, and Philips DVP642) first using various connections to determine which one works the best, and then compared it to Oppo. Here are the results of my test: Sampo (no progressive scan output) worked best using S-Video connection. Cyberhome (with progressive scan) had the best picture quality using component connection with Progressive Scan turned off. Philips (with progressive scan) had the best result when using the same component connection, but with Progressive Scan turned on. Then, I held my breath and connected the newly acquired Oppo to my TV using the DVI connection. I put my daughter's favorite Lion King DVD in it, and pressed the Play button. I thought my eyes are going to pop out. The difference was astonishing. It's like watching the same movie in a regular movie theater and then in IMAX with 3-D experience. Simply amazing.

Versatility - It handles everything I through at it. Burned DVD's, MP3's, JPEG's, DIVX, VCD's, etc. I haven't had a simple hiccup yet. It didn't come "region free" out of the box though, as other users mentioned in their reviews. But all you have to do is to apply a simple remote control hack. It's funny, but Oppo support page itself actually mentions how to access the hidden menu. They tell you that for the purposes of checking the firmware version, but you can also use it to your advantage. Here is the procedure: Press "Setup" button on your remote control. Then enter "9 2 1 0" using the remote. The menu pops up and all you have to do is enter "0" for "region free" playback. I played several different PAL DVD's from different regions and it handled them very well. Also, it's probably a good idea to switch the TV type to "Auto" in the setup menu. That way it recognizes the format automatically, and uses the correct output.

Features - If you are the owner of HDTV LCD or Plasma with DVI and/or HDMI inputs, then I would highly recommend you take advantage of it and purchase this DVD player. There is not a lot of DVD players on the market these days that have DVI capabilities. There is even less that offer Faroudja chipset that makes the picture quality so exceptional. As far as I know Denon is pretty much the only one. Denon has several different models with DVI output, ranging from $700 to $3,500. But not one has as many features as Oppo does. And why would you want to spend 10 times more money on something that will probably be obsolete in a couple of years? I rest my case.

Support - Try to contact Cyberhome. I have... about a month ago... still waiting for a response. Philips is the same way. Oppo, on the other hand, strives for perfection. I've already tried Oppo's customer service/support by phone and e-mail, and was pleasantly surprised by quickness and knowledge of the staff. My questions were answered in professional and timely manner every time. Oppo's website is also quite impressive. It provides tons of useful information. Keep up the good work, Oppo!

CONS:

Remote Control - Probably one of the worst remote control designs that I have ever seen. Button layout is absolutely horrible. Whenever I try to Stop, Pause, Forward, Rewind, change a setting, or do anything else, it takes me a long time to find the right key on the remote control. Not user-friendly at all. Hopefully Oppo will address this issue with future models.

Tray - Maybe I'm been too picky here, but I don't like when the DVD tray doesn't open all the way. It makes it a little hard to insert the disc in it. Also, it's somewhat on a cheap side - looks very flaky and easily breakable. You have to be very careful with it.

Summary:
Despite a few minor drawbacks, I still think I made the right choice with Oppo. The features, the performance, and the price make it a perfect buy. Highly recommended!