Home Theater Systems - Electronics and Forum - HomeTheaterShack - Blu-ray | DVD

Home Theater Systems - Electronics and Forum - HomeTheaterShack - Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/ Discuss all the various Disc Media Players including Blu-ray, HD-DVD, SD-DVD, Upconverting Players, Satellite Receivers and any other media players. Owner threads and reviews are welcome! Moderators: eugovector, Jungle Jack, mechman, recruit en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:49:36 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Home Theater Systems - Electronics and Forum - HomeTheaterShack - Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/ Oppo BDP-83SE Reviews http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/23038-oppo-bdp-83se-reviews.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:20:47 GMT My Oppo BDP-83SE Review

Ok here’s my story.

Background: I purchased my BDP-83 player back in May 2009. Over the past six months, the player has been a pure pleasure to own. Video quality is outstanding and the sound quality, although not as resolute as my $2000 custom modified SACD player, was much more enjoyable to listen to. Yes, at times the bass was fat and, a little un-tidy. And yes, the treble didn’t always extend as much as I would have liked. And yes, the sound was not as dynamic as my custom modified player. But for some reason I always found myself listening to the BDP-83 and it finally replaced my $2000 player.

Shell-Shocked: On 11/10/2209 I received an email from Music Direct, you know, one of their sales ads. So I opened it and could not believe what I saw. A new audiophile version of the BDP-83! Immediately I went to the Oppo web page and ordered the SE upgrade. I received a purchase confirmation on the 11th, dropped my BDP-83 off at Oppo in Mtn. View on the 12th and picked up my upgraded BDP-83SE on Friday the 13th.

Painful Beginnings: I’ve been listening to new audio equipment for more years than I like to admit and every new piece of equipment requires some minimum amount of break-in before the sound stops changing and you can fully evaluate the equipment. But first three days of break-in for the BDP-83SE were seriously painful. Yes, there was much more resolution, the bass was very controlled, and the treble was extended well beyond any source component I have ever owned. However, there was an irritating upper midrange glare, the images were thin and ghost-like, and there was a total lack of musical enjoyment. This continued throughout Saturday and Sunday. I remember thinking to my self “I made a wrong decision. The star of my audio system is gone and if something positive doesn’t happen soon, I’m going to call Oppo and see if I can switch back to the original version”.

Light at the End of the Tunnel: It was late Sunday night about 2 am (I never sleep when I get a new audio toy). I was making another attempt at listening to the BDP-83SE when all of a sudden the images started solidifying, the upper midrange glare subsided, and the sound stage widened and even began to “wrap” around the room (something I’ve only experienced on rare occasions). But most importantly, I was enjoying the sound again. The sound was not perfect but at this stage in the break-in process I knew the BDP-83SE had potential. I continued the 24/7 break-in process that I started on the previous Friday by running 320 KB/sec mp3 files on a hard disk connected to the rear USB input. Every day after work this week I’ve been listening for 2 to 3 hours and the sound still continues to improve.

My Current Opinion: As of last night (11/18/2009) the BDP-83SE is definitely sounding more enjoyable than its predecessor (the BDP-83). Granted it don’t hear as much romantic fat-bass, but the overall sound is still very similar in terms of musical enjoyment. At this point the in break-in process, what I really find myself enjoying are huge improvements in dynamic contrast between musical notes, major increases in resolution (some mp3 files are sounding like SACD’s sounded on my old player), great bass control and bass energy, and still the ability to provide me with my most important requirement “musical enjoyment”. If the Oppo BDP-83SE didn’t improve any more than what I’m experiencing now, I would still keep her. Even though I loved the sound of the original, I just don’t think I could give up the improvements my audio system has gained from this upgrade.

Best of luck to all of you in your audio endeavors,

Vic ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players BDP83SE http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/23038-oppo-bdp-83se-reviews.html For All Those Looking For a Cheap Blu Ray Player http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22984-all-those-looking-cheap-blu-ray-player.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:57:32 GMT Hello, From DVD... Hello,
From DVD Town:http://www.dvdtown.com/news/blu-ray-...og-at-799/7142

DVD Town got an advance copy of Best Buy's Black Friday flyer. 149.99 Sony and Samsung Blu Ray Players in addition to super cheap Blu Ray Disc prices. It appears they are selling all single titles for 12.99 and many older titles for less.

Hopefully, this sale will last from Friday till Sunday rather than the first few hours. With BB's Black Friday Flyers, some deals last through Sunday, while some are only for a few hours.

Also included is information about Target and Wal Mart's sales.
Cheers,
JJ ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players Jungle Jack http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22984-all-those-looking-cheap-blu-ray-player.html <![CDATA[I don't want internet, streaming Netflix or Pandora. Just one great stand alone BR player.]]> http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22955-i-dont-want-internet-streaming-netflix-pandora-just-one-great-stand-alone-br-player.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:49:23 GMT I have a 110" screen from my Epson 6100 1080p, so picture quality is of supreme importance because if it is inferior it's just magnified on that huge and beautiful screen. When my wife watches netflix on the laptop the quality sucks so I can only imagine how bad it will be projected on my wall at 110".

Currently I have the Panny but it's going back to Costco because of a sound issue. I was going to buy a Samsung 3600 or 2500 or an LG 390 but now that I don't care about internet or netflix, more options (stressing video and sound quality) are open. And I have an Onkyo 705 so tons of analog hookups in the back are not needed. HDMI will be fine.

Oppo is out of my budget (> $250) but what about Denon or Pioneer? We have a Wii, so a PS3 would just be a waste of a gaming system I am afraid.

If you have an opinion or a website with a killer deal, I'd appreciate it. ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players Rancho5 http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22955-i-dont-want-internet-streaming-netflix-pandora-just-one-great-stand-alone-br-player.html Oppo 83 in Canada http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22792-oppo-83-canada.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:28:03 GMT I must be blind,but where can you buy an oppo blu-ray in Calgary ( Canada ) Thanks I must be blind,but where can you buy an oppo blu-ray in Calgary ( Canada ) Thanks ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22792-oppo-83-canada.html Blu-ray Recommendation - Buying Black Friday http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22781-blu-ray-recommendation-buying-black-friday.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:36:26 GMT Everyone, Black Friday is coming up so I plan on picking up a decent Blu-ray player to go with my Anthem AVM-30 which is... Everyone,
Black Friday is coming up so I plan on picking up a decent Blu-ray player to go with my Anthem AVM-30 which is capable of applying BM to the 7.1 ch analog inputs. I plan on holding on to the Anthem for a bit and I already have a pretty good Oppo DV-983H that I use for my DVD collection. Now it's time to upgrade my system to include Blu-ray so Black Friday is a good time to pick up a deal on a player. What are your reccomendations on players available that output HD audio via the 7.1 ch outputs? I'm open for anything except a Sony because I've had a bad experience with that brand and wont buy any of their disc players. My budget for a blu-ray player is under $300. Thanks. ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players southworth http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22781-blu-ray-recommendation-buying-black-friday.html <![CDATA[Oppo BDP-83SE *Special Edition* & NU FORCE BDP-83SE *Special Edition*]]> http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22712-oppo-bdp-83se-special-edition-nu-force-bdp-83se-special-edition.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:49:00 GMT Oppo have just announced and on there website a new version of the great BDP-83, the BDP-83SE, this is a modified turbo... Oppo have just announced and on there website a new version of the great BDP-83, the BDP-83SE, this is a modified turbo charged version of the original with upgraded power supply and analogue section...

Ummm, very tempting :spend:

http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-83SE/

Features

The OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition Blu-ray Disc Player is an exciting upgrade based on the highly acclaimed BDP-83. Already well known for its exceptional audio and video performance, the BDP-83 is upgraded with an an all new analog audio stage and improved power supply to become the Special Edition. Designed for the discerning audio enthusiast, the OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition Blu-ray Disc Player delivers an exceptionally wide dynamic range, ultra low distortion, accurate sound stage and jitter-free music clarity via its dedicated stereo and 7.1ch analog audio output.

The OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition uses the state-of-the-art Sabre32 family of Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC) from ESS Technology. The Sabre32 family is known as one of the industry's highest performance audio DACs and are often found in high-end audiophile and professional equipments. The OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition uses an 8-channel Sabre Premier (ES9006) DAC chip for its 7.1 multi-channel output. The dedicated stereo output uses another 8-channel Sabre32 Ultra (ES9016) DAC chip by stacking 4 DACs for each of the Left and Right channels to achieve even greater audio performance.

Just like the BDP-83 it is based on, the OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition is a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player featuring bit-stream and full decoding capability for high resolution audio tracks such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Designed for both home theater viewers and music listeners, it plays DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD) and standard CD with excellent video and audio performance in addition to Blu-ray Discs. For a detailed list of features, please refer to the BDP-83 Features and Specifications page.

OPPO Digital recommends the BDP-83 Special Edition to customers who primarily use the analog audio output to connect to either a dedicated stereo or a multi-channel surround system. For customers who primarily use the HDMI output to connect to an A/V receiver or directly to a TV/projector, and for customers who primarily use the optical/coaxial digital audio output, the standard BDP-83 is recommended.

Retail Price: $899.00 ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players recruit http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22712-oppo-bdp-83se-special-edition-nu-force-bdp-83se-special-edition.html <![CDATA[Marantz UD9004 Flagship SACD / Blu-ray / DVD-Audio & Video / CD Universal Player: Official Thread]]> http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22694-marantz-ud9004-flagship-sacd-blu-ray-dvd-audio-video-cd-universal-player-official-thread.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:08:25 GMT Flexibility to bring your favourite sources to life. Quality to satisfy your passion for the best. Simplicity for intuitive... Flexibility to bring your favourite sources to life. Quality to satisfy your passion for the best. Simplicity for intuitive operation. That’s what the UD9004 delivers.

Pick a disc. Any disc. From your oldest CD to your newest Blu-ray. The UD9004 seamlessly reproduces them with absolute clarity and in stunning high definition. From orchestral masterpieces to the latest Hollywood blockbuster, the UD9004 masters them all. And the front-panel SD card reader lets you enjoy digital photos and portable music play lists as well.

Audio reproduction directly traceable to our vaunted Reference Series components. Video presentation of both standard and high-definition sources that rivals film’s transparency.

The UD9004 is a no-holds-barred assault on conventional design. The super-rigid copper-plated chassis eliminates unwanted vibration and external interference. The exclusive disc mechanism extracts every bit of information while proprietary circuitry preserves and enhances every nuance of sound and picture.

This is home entertainment as only Marantz can deliver – more than 55 years of transforming ordinary products into extraordinary, award-winning solutions.

The UD9004 Universal Disc Player. For the past. The present. And the future.

Specifications

Dual HDMI outputs allows Audio Video separate output for High Fidelity Playback
BD-Profile2.0(BD-Live), BD-Java, BONUS VIEW support
Plays SA-CD(Stereo/Multi), BD-Video/-ROM/-RE/BD-R, DVD-Audio/-Video/-R/-R DL/-RW/+R/+R DL/+RW, CD-R/RW and MP3/WMA/DivX(ver.6)/AVCHD/JPEG/Kodak Picture CD discs
Copper plated chassis and Tri box construction
Sophisticated new aluminum/reinforced resin front panel w/ Front door design
Machine milled solid copper block feet
Copper shielded Large Toroidal Transformer
Zinc Die-cast Enclosure, Aluminum Die-cast Tray Mechanism
Total 4 boards, Marantz HDAM-SA2&HDAM analog audio circuits w/ Custom audio parts
Balanced (XLR) Stereo analog audio output
192 kHz/32-bit Audio DAC AK4399 for all channels
Analog Devices SHARC 32bit DSP for HD audio Decoding
Dolby True HD, dts-HD MA decoder
REALTA HQV Video Processor
Support 24fps, 36-bit Deep Color
297MHz/14-bit Analog Devices Video DAC ADV7344 for Component Video Out
297MHz/12-bit Analog devices Video DAC ADV7340 for S-Video/Video Out
Anchor Bay Technology I/P & Scaler ABT2010, ABT1012 for Analog Video Out
Vertical Stretch function for 2.35:1 aspect movie
1080p, 1080i, 720p 480p scaled output
SD Card slot for playback MP-3/WMA/JPEG
Firmware update capability via Internet
Display Dimmer, Source Direct, Pure Direct Mode
Audio Delay (up to 200msec.)
Component, S-Video and Composite Analog Video outputs
Digital audio outputs (Optical/Coaxial)
RS-232C for System control
Flasher In/Out
Discrete power on/off commands
Detachable Power Cord
Aluminum Top Device Remote
Region Codes: BD-Video: A, DVD: 1
Available Option Rack Mount Kit RMK9004UD

Retails @ $5999.99 ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players recruit http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22694-marantz-ud9004-flagship-sacd-blu-ray-dvd-audio-video-cd-universal-player-official-thread.html Blue Ray-ray player with Direct Source Ability ? http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22429-blue-ray-ray-player-direct-source-ability.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:52:33 GMT Wondering if someone might be able to help me.

As I have a big collection of Standard Def DVD's, I am looking for a Blue-ray player that can simply pass-over the video signal to my AV Amp without tampering with it. My AV amp will have the ability to up-convert or up-scale the SD signal to 1080p for output via my projector.

I don't want to spend tons of money on a high end BD Player with all the bells and whistles. I was seriously considering the Panasonic DMP BD35 or BD60 but neither of these players is able to hand over the video signal coming off a SD-DVD to my amp without processing it. In other words they lack a source direct mode.

I'd like to know whether there is someone out there who knows how I can solve this problem without having to lay down the extra cash for a player like the Oppo BDP-83 just because it has the so called direct mode. I know the Oppo has a ton of features and is capable of loading Blue-ray discs much faster but I may not need those features and speed.

Any solutions or suggestions will be appreciated.

Alternatively, I'm wondering what kind results one would get if they used a Panasonic DMP BD35/60 to play SD-DVDs and hooked it up to an AV amp with a good up-scaler like the Onkyo TX-NR906 (or Denon AVR-4310). I'm of the opinion that a double up-scaling process would occur, once in the player itself and then in the amp. This double processing or up-scaling of the video might deteriorate the final video quality or may add artifacts to the final projected image.

Does anybody here have any knowledge or experience with such stuff ? :help: ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players Sam Ash http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22429-blue-ray-ray-player-direct-source-ability.html Oppo BDP-83 Multiregion Hardware MOD http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22306-oppo-bdp-83-multiregion-hardware-mod.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:23:43 GMT I have been running the firmware mod on the BDP83 to make it region free for DVD and BD playback since May this year, but I... I have been running the firmware mod on the BDP83 to make it region free for DVD and BD playback since May this year, but I decided that I needed to upgrade the firmware to correct the PAL shift image issue where it was cutting off part of the picture on PAL DVD's and to make sure the player runs as smooth as possible, anyway by doing this I lost Multi region playback so I ordered the hardware mod and this morning recieved it.

It took me approx 5min to install and works perfectly and have multi region DVD playback all the time, but when changing regions for BD I need to put the unit in standby then press the blue button for approx 5sec and then hit either 1,2 or 3 which changes the regions to A,B,C accordingly!!

***If you do decide to try a hardware MOD it will void any warranty if you bought direct from Oppo and anything goes wrong, so at your own risk***

Here are some pics of the inside of the oppo if anyone is interested....

]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players recruit http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22306-oppo-bdp-83-multiregion-hardware-mod.html Oppo BDP-831 Postponed in Europe Indefinitely http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22258-oppo-bdp-831-postponed-europe-indefinitely.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:17:14 GMT Oppo are not going to release the European version of the BDP83 and on the website it is quite blunt with an apology, I am a... Oppo are not going to release the European version of the BDP83 and on the website it is quite blunt with an apology, I am a bit suprised as the 83 is one of the best players I have used, a lot of people in the UK and Europe are going to be very dissapointed but I see imports the only access to this great player now

http://www.oppostore.co.uk/ ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players recruit http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22258-oppo-bdp-831-postponed-europe-indefinitely.html blu-ray http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22249-blu-ray.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:45:32 GMT what is the best blu-ray player out there?? what do you have ?? what is the best blu-ray player out there??

what do you have ?? ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players hvyres http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22249-blu-ray.html Confused about BR processing vs. receiver processing http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22209-confused-about-br-processing-vs-receiver-processing.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:25:22 GMT I have an older Yamaha RXV3000 which I'm using as a prepro with an OPPO 980H player, and am looking to upgrade. I'm looking at the BDP-83 which has great reviews. I'm also looking at a processor such as the new Integra's or maybe Emotiva.

My question is if the Oppo has great audio/video processing, is there a need to get a processor with the same ability, especially on the video side? It seems like a duplicate of efforts. I can see if you have multiple video sources, and/or outputs.

Am I thinking right if my sources will only be a BR, maybe a cd, a pc music server, sat/cable, ipod, and my outputs will be to a display and separate rooms for music?

Thanks,

Greg ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players intrinsic http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22209-confused-about-br-processing-vs-receiver-processing.html Multiregion Blue Ray http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22198-multiregion-blue-ray.html Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:29:59 GMT Does anyone have any advise on purchasing a blue ray player that can handle at least Regions A&B for blue ray and 1&2 for DVD? ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players snowscaper http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22198-multiregion-blue-ray.html How low do you think Blu-Ray player prices will go this holiday season? http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22143-how-low-do-you-think-blu-ray-player-prices-will-go-holiday-season.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:41:36 GMT Last week I bought a Panasonic DMP-BD605 (Costco version of the BD60) for 159.00 and I love it. The main reason was that I... Last week I bought a Panasonic DMP-BD605 (Costco version of the BD60) for 159.00 and I love it. The main reason was that I could plug in my SD HC card to watch my home video, but I cannot get it to work. It only reads the JPEG's on the card. And then we recently subscribed to NetFlix blu-ray and I'm going to probably end up just returning this Panasonic and get the Samsung 2500 or LG 390, so I stream Net Flix.

With Costco's 90 day return policy I have plent of time to watch the prices fall this hoiday season.

Two questions:

1) In your opinion, how much will either of these two models come down in price?

2) Which would you purchase, if they were within $30 of each other?

The best DVD upscaling is what I am most concerned about. Wi-Fi reliability not so much since I can run a cable to the back. ]]> Blu-ray | DVD | Disc Media Players Rancho5 http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-disc-media-players/22143-how-low-do-you-think-blu-ray-player-prices-will-go-holiday-season.html