Oppo BDP-83 BluRay player.

Posted by: tonym on 17 July 2009

I took delivery of one of these players yesterday, to replace my Panasonic BD55 - a pretty good player actually but I just fancied something a bit better, and I can relocate the Panasonic somewhere else.

The Oppo's been adapted by CRT projectors (the UK dealers) for multiregion DVD and, pretty uniquely, for A B & C region BluRay discs. I can't try the latter feature because I haven't got any region A or C disks, but it works fine on region 1 DVDs. In addition it can play DVD-A and SACDs, plus more types of video files than you can shake a stick at, on either disc or USB.

Having owned an Oppo DVD player previously (still got it) I was expecting good things, and so far I'm not disappointed - very well packaged and finished, excellent documentation and the best setup procedure and menu operation I've seen. Nice big clear remote, backlit buttons.

The player's very sophisticated and offers lots of setup options but using the quick setup routine it was up and running in a flash.

I'm using its analogue 7.1 outs into my AV2 for HD sound formats, and configuring these was very easy. I'm also using SPDIF for "Standard" DD/dts.

Once it was all set up I popped in a SACD followed by a DVD-A. Not bad! Alas, the 555 sounds much better, but then one would expect it to! (Not had a chance to give TDSOTM 4.1 DVD-A special Alan Parsons mix a try yet.)

Anyway, I watched a couple of BluRays last night (The Bourne Ultimatum & Jeff Beck in concert at Ronnie Scott's) and I was very impressed. The normal view is that when it comes to Bluray there isn't much difference in the various players but the Oppo was significantly better than the Panasonic, having an almost 3-D picture with a lovely colour rendition and very deep blacks. The sound was streets ahead; Quite surprising as I thought it was pretty good with the Panasonic before. The Oppo certainly loads in discs a whole lot quicker than either of my previous BluRay players.

Another attraction is the Oppo's "Source Direct" which bypasses its internal scaling - important to me because I use a Lumagen video processor. The DVD I played looked very fine indeed. (If I had a long enough HDMI cable I'd try bypassing the scaler & see what sort of a fist the Oppo makes of things.)

So far I'm very impressed with this player. I suppose at nigh-on £600 it's not quite the bargain the Oppo DVD players were, but then I don't know how it compares with the £1K-plus players from the likes of Sony, Pioneer and Denon; I suspect pretty well.

Posted on: 17 July 2009 by Mr Underhill

I've got my eye on one of these, modded by a company in the states. Not only updates the internal clocks but also to output high def signals via spdif.

Been very well reviewed in its basic state on a number of sites.

M

Posted on: 23 July 2009 by karyboue

quote:
I'm using its analogue 7.1 outs into my AV2 for HD sound formats, and configuring these was very easy. I'm also using SPDIF for "Standard" DD/dts.

Hi,

I am very interested in this player.
My question concerns sound only.
Can you tell me how it compares on the same BD between :

- DTS-HD Master Audio or DolbyTrue HD decoded by the Oppo connected to the 7.1 AV2 input

VS

- coreDTS or coreDD decoded directly by the AV2 using SPDIF input ?

Is the 7.1 analog connection with HD sound very much better, better, slightly better or equal to the AV2 internal decoding of SD sound ?

I am looking for a really big jump in sound in order to change my BD player (I own a Sony BDP-S350 connected via SPDIF only to my AV2).

Posted on: 23 July 2009 by Occean

I too am interested, actually I am curious how any player performs Master Audio analogue out v AV2 decoding core signal...

Posted on: 23 July 2009 by JamieWednesday

I believe there will be a direct UK/European version pretty soon

Posted on: 23 July 2009 by karyboue

quote:
Originally posted by JamieWednesday:
I believe there will be a direct UK/European version pretty soon

Here is a copy of an answer by mail from oppo :

Our BDP-83 Blu-ray player is designed for exclusive use in North America, which is DVD Region 1 and Blu-ray Region A restricted. We have no immediate plans to release the BDP-83 internationally, nor will we allow for the end-user to adjust any regional controls, as we must remain compliant with our BD Association licensing.

For all information related to a European BDP-83, we would recommend contacting OPPO.SE (INFO@OPPO.SE). OPPO Europe is responsible for the creation, distribution and support of European product.

CRTProjectors.co.uk is selling modified BDP-83 players which can be made region free, but these players are not supported by OPPO Digital, Inc.

Best Regards,

Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
2629B Terminal Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043
Service@oppodigital.com
Tel: 650-961-1118
Fax: 650-961-1119

There is a hardware patch available to provide multi zone / multi region abilities for DVDs and BDs.

But there is also the possibility of a free software patch to hack the firmware to make it multi zone / multi region.
It doesn't work with the last firmware available (620) but the previous one (601).
And that 601 firmware can be downloaded from Oppo's website if ever you buy a unit with the latest firmware.

Posted on: 24 July 2009 by JamieWednesday

HiFi news this month says it's coming via Swedish arm and if you do a google search there is a link set up to opposhop which isn't yet live, but may well be seen to back that up.

Posted on: 01 August 2009 by karyboue

I'am still looking for a comparaison between the 7.1 analog output of the Oppo into the AV2 VS AV2 decoding.

I am ready to order the Oppo player. All I need is the green light about the analog sound.

Posted on: 01 August 2009 by tonym

quote:
Originally posted by karyboue:
I'am still looking for a comparaison between the 7.1 analog output of the Oppo into the AV2 VS AV2 decoding.

I am ready to order the Oppo player. All I need is the green light about the analog sound.

I'm using the 7.1 analogues into the AV2 for HD format. They sound very good indeed!

The SPDIF output, allowing the AV2 to decode DD/dts also sounds very good. I confess I've not directly tried Oppo vs. AV2 for the latter decode option, if that's what you're asking.

Posted on: 01 August 2009 by Allan Probin

Does this machine ouput an unmolested 480i/576i via HDMI if I put a R1/R2 DVD in? And then automatically switch the output to 1080p/24 when I put a Bluray in without having to go through a menu system to switch output resolutions?

Posted on: 01 August 2009 by tonym

Hi Allan,

It does indeed - one of the machine's great attractions for me! Just set "Source Direct".

Posted on: 01 August 2009 by karyboue

quote:
Originally posted by tonym:
quote:
Originally posted by karyboue:
I'am still looking for a comparaison between the 7.1 analog output of the Oppo into the AV2 VS AV2 decoding.

I am ready to order the Oppo player. All I need is the green light about the analog sound.

I'm using the 7.1 analogues into the AV2 for HD format. They sound very good indeed!

The SPDIF output, allowing the AV2 to decode DD/dts also sounds very good. I confess I've not directly tried Oppo vs. AV2 for the latter decode option, if that's what you're asking.

Yes that's the info I am looking for.

Would you try to compare one day ?
In term of sound only, do you think that it is worth changing from a Sony S350 connected in coaxial only to the AV2 ?

I already know that the image is better but my TV is probably not good enough to show a big difference.

Posted on: 01 August 2009 by crackie

Fantastic player.

The way it boots up from off to loading blu ray discs & overall operation makes my previous Pioneer BDP LX 70a look like a poor joke in comparison.

Posted on: 02 August 2009 by Allan Probin

quote:
Originally posted by tonym:
It does indeed - one of the machine's great attractions for me! Just set "Source Direct".

Thanks Tony, I might look at getting one of these to replace my Panasonic Bluray player and Oppo DVD player

Posted on: 02 August 2009 by karyboue

quote:
Originally posted by karyboue:
quote:
Originally posted by tonym:
quote:
Originally posted by karyboue:
I'am still looking for a comparaison between the 7.1 analog output of the Oppo into the AV2 VS AV2 decoding.

I am ready to order the Oppo player. All I need is the green light about the analog sound.

I'm using the 7.1 analogues into the AV2 for HD format. They sound very good indeed!

The SPDIF output, allowing the AV2 to decode DD/dts also sounds very good. I confess I've not directly tried Oppo vs. AV2 for the latter decode option, if that's what you're asking.

Yes that's the info I am looking for.

Would you try to compare one day ?
In term of sound only, do you think that it is worth changing from a Sony S350 connected in coaxial only to the AV2 ?

I already know that the image is better but my TV is probably not good enough to show a big difference.

EDIT : I was wrong. The information I am looking for is :

Playing the same BD movie :
Your "7.1 analogues into the AV2 for HD format"
VS
"The SPDIF output, allowing the AV2 to decode DD/dts"

It is comparing HD sound with SD sound ...
But if the internal decoder and analog outputs of the Oppo are not that good, is it really worth using the analog outputs VS AV2 decoding of simple coreDTS or DD ?

Is the difference very important ?

I don't know if I am really understandable ...

Posted on: 03 August 2009 by tonym

I do understand.

What I'll do when I get a minute is play a SD DVD soundtrack via SPDIF with the AV2 decoding DD/dts, then switch to multichannel analogue input with the Oppo doing the decoding. And compare!

Posted on: 03 August 2009 by SC

Revise that test if you would Tony...!

Play a Bluray disc with SPDIF into the AV2 (which will send the core DD or DTS - often better bit-rate than SD DVD) into the AV2, then compare the full HD codec (decoded on the '83) going into the AV2 via analogue...

??

In other words, what karyboue says above..!

Steve

Posted on: 03 August 2009 by tonym

I'll try both!

Posted on: 03 August 2009 by karyboue

Thanks.

It is the blu-ray sound tests that I am interested in.
I still use the DVD5 for DVDs but an SD-DVD sound comparison may interest some people too.

Posted on: 14 September 2009 by rap

I too am close to purchasing the oppo blu Ray player. Has anyone compared sound quality of the oppo analogue outputs vs the av2 coax input and processing? While the bit rate is going to be higher for blu- Ray
i've gotta think that the av2 has better sounding hardware.

Posted on: 16 September 2009 by Vaughn3D

Has anyone tried the Oppo as a transport for CD into a dac?

Posted on: 16 September 2009 by natnc

I've had the oppo for a while now. I have it hooked up through the analog outputs for sacd/dvd audio and through the coaxial for cd/bluray/dvd into my Supernait. Movies and music sound great through the SN DAC! The analog outs are good for the price, but not fantastic. My unit is now at Modwright Instruments getting the full 2 channel treatment. I'll report back when it gets back to me.

Nat

Posted on: 16 September 2009 by Mr Underhill

Dear natnc,

Yes please!

M

Posted on: 16 September 2009 by Vaughn3D

natnc, I look forward to your report.

Posted on: 16 September 2009 by tonym

OK, here's my tuppence-worth.

Oppo analogues into AV2 multichannels, for HD sound formats, excellent. For DD/dts, very good indeed & virtually indistinguishable from SP/DIF into AV2 digital input.

Oppo multis into AV2 for DVD-A & SACD, not bad, but not really my cup of tea. CD, passable. Considerably better using SP/DIF into my Lavry DA10.

Sorry, not terribly helpful but I use the Oppo exclusively for movie multichannel, where it excels however you use it, & against the 555 for music there's no contest. But then you wouldn't expect there to be.

Posted on: 17 September 2009 by nap-ster

There are plenty of companies doing mods to the 83 out there. I've only been using the analogues too. I had a brief play with the co-ax out into a DAC but wasn't blown away with the sound.