Received OPPO DV-980H

[madmax]

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv980h/default.asp

So far I'm fairly impressed. Last month I bought the 970 and think it is great. The 980 gives a little extra in looks and feel. A great example of this is the DVD tray. Being dark colored and shaped differently it gives the impression it is very strong compared to the 970. Its actually not but looks like it is (and I think it is plenty strong enough). It has blue LED's (which matches the Manley gear :) ) and they give it a more quality look than the 970's tube orange glow. Just my opinion of course. Oh yea, the door is gone which used to cover the USB port. Now a very cheap (but good looking) plug inserts over the port.

The small power cord connector in the back has been replaced with a standard IEC connector. Now we can all plug our $600 ten pound power cables into it, assuming we put a brick on the lightweight player to keep it in place... :D

Video is every bit as good as the 970. Very close to high definition look through component output. (480p to my plasma, no hdmi on my set). Both OPPO's look much better (video wise) than any other players I've tried.

No word on sound quality. I'm letting it burn in to the same place as my other player before listening.

They seem to have fixed some bugs in the USB photo playback system. It is much faster than the 970 to move around.

I still don't like the menu system for DIVX they use. Both 970 and 980 are the same. They show a few words and you have to wait for them to scroll to read.

Ergonomically, the 980 gives the look and feel of a better unit although it will depend somewhat on what you like and the other equipment it sits beside.

madmax

[jakelm]

I was looking at this player as well.

I am shipping my 981 back (for the second time) to Oppo because of freezing with layer changes and it freezes when left on over night.

I asked the rep at Oppo, since the unit will probably just be replaced with a new one and shipped back to me, why not swop it out with the less expensive 980.

The 980 does not use the Faruja chip, which would actually be better for me since I have a CRT. So the slight "green" push or tint, as some may call it, and the macroblocking, would be less apparent on the 980.

Unfortunatly, since I did not purchase directily from Oppo, but purchased brand new from Surf Audio/Video, Oppo cannot exchanged the 981 and ship me the 980.

But congrats on the new player Mad.

Jake

[madmax]

I have had the 980 on for 16 hours playing a DIVX disc and it hasn't frozen up. The 970 never froze up either. Maybe with DIVX it wouldn't anyway, I don't know.
madmax

[jakelm]

I would love to compare the 980 and 981 side by side. To see if the Mediatex (however its spelled) chip and the Farudja chip compare.

I only wished that the 981 had component out like the 980 and 970 does. That way I could hack to 1080i over componet.

Which brings up another question. I wonder if the 970 hack would work on the 980?

[madmax]

That would be interesting to see what 1080i out of the component video looks like.

[jakelm]

Put screan shots up if you can. I'm curious to see the PQ of a non Farugja chip.

[Disc Jockey]

I would love to compare the 980 and 981 side by side. To see if the Mediatex (however its spelled) chip and the Farudja chip compare.


I did have the 970 and the 971 side by side and I can tell you that the Faroudja chip was noticeably better. Not that the 970 looked bad, it was still a really good pic, the 971 was just better. Fewer jaggies and better detail were two of the things I remember.

This was on a 55" set, the smaller you go the less you'll notice the difference. I have had no issues with macroblocking.

DJ

[jakelm]

Thanks DJ, thats what I have a 55" Mits CRT. I guess I made the right choice in going with the 981 instead of the 970