The best-selling disc players aren’t high-def models like Blu-ray machines — they're upconverting DVD players. Those are regular DVD players that sport an HDMI output for easy connection to an HDTV (HDMI carries both audio and video). Oppo has been the standard-bearer of this technology for a while, and today they announced a new model, the DV-983H. This one doesn't just upconvert; it also delivers Dolby Digital 7.1-channel sound and scales up images to 1080p with Anchor Bay’s VRS (Video Reference Series) technology, said to deliver better video than previous models.
I've personally tested Oppo's DV-980 and DV-981. Both of them proved to be excellent, but I've got a question for you, Oppo: Isn’t the $400 price point close to that of a Blu-ray player, which can also upconvert DVDs to 1080p? Why wouldn't I just get that?
Via Oppo Digital
editor@dvice.com
By Traveler at 1:40 PM ON 03/14/08
Upconverting DVD players are in no way a match for BluRay.
By Lantesh at 3:34 PM ON 03/15/08
Wow way too expensive. My Philips does a fantastic job of upconverting over HDMI. I bought it about 13 months ago for about $80. If I had $400 to spend I'd be buying a BD player. I wonder who would spend the money for this thing.
By willbry at 8:45 AM ON 03/22/08
Agreed, $400 is way too much for an upconvert player. The Oppo 981 is my upconvert player of choice. But honestly, if upconverting is all you want, you can drop $80 on an HD DVD player and use it as an upconverting player and it works just fine for most folks.
Blu Ray will not be ready for mass adoption for at least another 6 months when prices start to come down and features go up (like firmware updating support :).
By LSTAT at 1:40 PM ON 03/26/08
Keep in mind this DV-983H model is OPPO's "flagship" or "reference level" player. They do have other models at much lower cost. In terms of upconverting quality, not all upconverting players are created equal. The Oppo players have a lot of good reviews. I purchased the 983H for DVD viewing even I already have a Blu-ray player - the Blu-ray player's upconverting just cannot match what the 983H delivers.
By pat00139 at 6:10 PM ON 03/27/08
Why is everyone ragging on the price. Denon, Marantz, Arcam and many other companies make player much more expensive than this one with one fraction of the processing power. Not only that, but as of now, there are zero BD players available in the US that are able to play non-region 1 DVDs. I think it's a bargain at $400 and I would have paid a lot more for this player. The technology inside this thing is certainly worth a lot more than $400. :)
By nicecubes at 10:09 AM ON 06/11/08
Having just replaced my Philips upconvert DVD player with the OPPO 980 upconvert and A/B comparing them on my plasma TV, I can tell you that the OPPPO is far superior....the resolution is much more detailed and natural. And comparing the up-converted DVD of Blade runner to the blu ray...I was amazed that the difference was far more subtle than I would have imagined. The blu ray was better...but the up converted DVD was shockingly close thru the OPPO 980. And the quality of the standard DVD thru the OPPO was better than the standard DVD when played thru the Blu Ray.