http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/ Engadget HD Comments for http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Why is Blu-Ray/ HD-DVD better than this? Does this player take a standard DVD and upscale it to 1080p?
I use HDMI, but why wouldn't they eliminate the composite and include component?]]>Dec 7th 2006 12:10PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 7th 2006 12:41PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/ Why is Blu-Ray/ HD-DVD better than this?

HD-DVD and Blu-ray store movies as 1920x1080p. All DVDs are 720x480. Upscaling can't create resolution and detail that isn't there in the first place.

Think of a 1920x1080 picture taken with a multi-mega pixel camera. It has a lot of detail. Now consider another picture taken at 640x480. You can resize the 640x480 image to 1920x1080 with a image utility, but that won't make it look anywhere near as good.

Upscaling players like the Oppo often produce a better DVD picture than standard players because they do a better job at the upconversion than your TV. They introduce fewer artifacts, preserve more of the original 720x480 detail in the upscaling, etc.

> I use HDMI, but why wouldn't they eliminate the
> composite and include component?

Composite didn't cost them anything extra. Component requires more expensive video DACs. Plus, supporting component output creates additional complexity for the firmware, because DVD licensing restrictions prohibit upconversion over component.]]>Dec 7th 2006 12:24PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 7th 2006 12:38PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 7th 2006 1:17PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 7th 2006 3:59PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 7th 2006 1:05PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-HD-DVD-Player/dp/B000JHO4L0/sr=8-1/qid=1165522281/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7839280-4681649?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

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To change to region free mode do this:

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 region free)
Press Setup on remote again to exit]]>Dec 7th 2006 8:47PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 7th 2006 8:59PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 7th 2006 10:13PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
As part of licensing agreements, hardware manufacturers are compelled to comply with the content control rules established by the major studios (via AACS).

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/vectors/brcp.pdf
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/showthread.php?t=230184
http://www.resolutionmag.com/pdfs/TECHNO~1/HDMI.pdf
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You seriously thing the drive it self is all that eh...

I've read enough to call B.S. on that, it's the chipset IMO not the laser lense or drive buddy. What the heck are you using for a TV, lol. Wal-mart Olivia or what...

I've read enough to put in my 0.02 - Unless you spend the 1500 bucks for the Denon then the Oppo with the DCDi by Faroudja video processing technology with progressive scan is renown for superior quality.

Check it out-
http://www.oppodigital.com/dv981hd/dv981hd_spec.html

Microsoft has a long way to go in the AV world IMO, while (and I thank God they are an American company) they are the ones for PC operating systems and up and coming with console gaming, they leave a lot to be desired for the serious AV/philes, remember they still do not have native optical support (DTS) as the PS/2 did.

The
Genesis/Faroudja is supposed to be the best bang for the buck, the cable companies are testing it in Europe for HDTV.

I agree Antonio is smoking crack!

Keep you're console as for games, especially when it doesn't come with native HD DVD support and requires a lame ad-on, Sony may actually make some headway with Blue-Ray with the PS/3

I'm from California so don't think I'm pro-nip either, just some food for thought.]]>Dec 13th 2006 12:16AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
I'll let ya know how both of them look on my Westinghouse 42" LCD here in a week or so. ;)]]>Dec 13th 2006 12:26AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/1) I have the Faroudja DCDi in my Sony Bravia XBR 32" (1366x768). The best setting for my Pioneer HDMI upconverting DVD player is simply 480i because the Faroudja does such a great job of deinterlacing inside my HDTV. However, the whole reason I got an HDMI DVD player was to pass through a pure signal that was not converted via D/A then A/D via Component.

2) Despite the "pure" signal, my other DVD player (an older Toshiba) that was hooked up via Component looked almost identical on most movies. The trained eye could notice a difference but only in superb video and even then usually only when lines or edges didn't look quite right from the component and rarely appeared to "shake." I use my Toshiba to watch NTSC video that I don't think would look any different in my Pioneer HDMI upconverting player.

3) As far as this player goes, it simply comes down to what your setup is. Now, assuming that the signal quality over HDMI is comparable to my own Faroudja experience, then this setup is for:
a) someone with an HDTV with HDMI
b) someone who does NOT have Faroudja DCDi in their HDTV already
c) also, for someone who's TV does not upconvert well or at all

If you buy an HDMI DVD player you really don't need Component so why pay for it? They have the right idea here. I think this will be a good player for those that need most or all of its features.

High Def Quality? I've been really surprised how different many DVD's look. Cable TV looks a little worse than I'd hoped but many DVD's look awesome. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith in particular looks pretty awesome on my Sony Bravia and it definitely has a "high-def" feel to it. It's a must-have DVD. You should check out some of the scenes early in the movie inside the large spacecraft and compare an HDMI and Component input on the same HDTV. You'll definitely see a difference in some of the scenes.

Verdict: Highly Recommended (again, for those who need it)

]]>Dec 13th 2006 2:53AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
Thanks in advance for any feedback.]]>Dec 21st 2006 11:39PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
Here are a couple of interesting reads on the subject;

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=191838
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/sony-zings-microsoft-re-xbox-360-hddvd-player-202328.php

I still think its slightly bizarre that the Xbox 360 ad-on HD drive wound up being brought into the mix lol, it's almost comical (makes me wonder if someone works for MS or something - *snicker*) and compared, and I have to stand by that, once again I think the Oppo is a wolf in sheep's clothing (in good way) for what it does and what it costs.]]>Dec 13th 2006 3:53PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
Toshiba: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=128#ToshibaHD-A1%20(HDMI)

Oppo: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=124#Oppo%20DigitalOPDV971H%20(DVI)

The Toshiba HD player scored an 84 while the Oppo scored a 98.

As you can see, just because an HD player can upscale doesn't mean it does that as well as a SD player. As for the price, economy of scale is what keeps the parts for the Toshiba HD expensive. If the OPDV971H outperforms units that cost several thousand dollars, for just one example, see:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=124#LexiconRT-20%20Universal%20DVD%20Player%20(HDMI)

then the DV-981HD looks to be an exceptional buy.]]>Dec 14th 2006 1:38AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
Thank you for the data, - most excellent!

Awesome benchmark, - appreciate the links as well.

I think we're almost back on topic. ;

We'll get this figured out! leave the waste of money to the those who subscribe - (or believe the hype) or something. ! - Heh.

Great debate in any case.

GB A./]]>Dec 14th 2006 3:36AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
The video comparison was made on a 61 inch 720p Panasonic. Feel free to quote statistics all you want, the 360 HD DVD picture looked better. I have an Oppo and it looks great, it just doesn't look as good as the regular or upconverted picture on the 360.

Maybe you should due a side by side comparison like I did before blow a lot of hot air.

]]>Dec 14th 2006 11:06AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
One more thing. I was replying to Eric's question regarding wether or not he should pick up a 360 HD DVD add on (which can do upconverting) or an Oppo. So I wasn't just pushing the 360 HD DVD for no reason. It is just better in my opinion (and i will continue to use my Oppo in my upstairs TV - since it is so good!).]]>Dec 14th 2006 11:21AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 16th 2006 1:05AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/
I am considering buying the Oppo DV-981HD. But, before I do, could someone clarify something for me. I'd like to know if this player is suitable to use with the Panasonic AE-900E LCD projector which has HDMI input? Will HDCP stop me from using the projector?

Thanks for your help.

xenonex]]>Dec 16th 2006 2:24AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/07/oppo-dv-981hd-adds-1080p-dvd-upscaling-loses-component-outs/Dec 26th 2006 10:35PM