Blu Ray Player Upgrade
Posted by: GeraldUK on 22 March 2014
hi - I'm using an 8 year old Pioneer Blu Ray player with audio outputs on the rear to my AV2. Im finding the player slow to load discs and also wondering whether the current players from OPPO would be decent upgrade both visually and audibly. I've just moved back to Hong Kong from UK and whilst lucky enough to have found a dealer here he is over in Mong Kok ( i think the mostly densely populated place in the world and off the island) and finding his shop going to be quite difficult. He will however deliver to me and only 2 models there to choose from 103d and 105d - is the extra expense worthwhile on the more expensive model ?
Hi, Gerald. I use an Oppo 93U into my n-Vi and have been very pleased with it. They come beautifully packaged, reminiscent of Apple products, look and feel quality products and are smooth in operation. My 93U is the older equivalent of the 103D I believe, and cost £500 but it looks and feels as if it comes from the same price range as the n-Vi.
As to which of the two latest models are suitable for you I think that rather dependents on what you plan to use it for and the HT system you will integrate into. I was steered by my dealer to the 93U on the basis that the n-Vi wouldn't be able to take advantage of the capabilities that the higher spec model offered.
the reviews sound good so will go with the 103 - seems no point to spend the extra when the entry level seems so well equipped.
Do let us know what you make of the 103D, Gerald.
Having recently purchased an Oppo BDP103D I think you'll be very happy with it.
See thread here for more info - http://www.avforums.com/thread...-stereo-room.507595/
The picture quality is excellent out the box, I didn't feel the need to tweak, or even play about with Darbee settings (we view in a very dark room) but I might experiment in future. As for the sound - I'm using a loaned amp while our Onkyo is away but have been impressed all the same, running it through your AV2 should produce some nice results......
Forgot to say - disc load speed and functionality of the Oppo is excellent - I recently ran network cable (and hdmi) had no issues connected to our network or NAS and it has proved a worthwhile addition at fair expense.
Enjoy!
Is it stupid for me to ask? Can't you buy it off amazon or something. Is Amazon not active in China?
I would also agree the Oppo is a superb machine. I use the 105 (not D) and have been incredibly happy with every aspect of it.
Features-wise it is right up there but sound and picture quality are far greater than I have seen from other blu-ray players. The difference it made to my Virgin TIVO box through it's scaler was quite staggering. The picture from any source is far more cinematic than I have experienced in the past and that includes owning top of the range Pioneer and Arcam Blu-ray players (Since my N-Vi). It is actually quite nice musically although clearly not in line with a Naim CDP.
Well worth the money. +1 on the unboxing comment made by MDS.
The remote control and set up menus are excellent and the networked side of things is very smooth and reliable (mine is connected wirelessly as well).
Great machine! 10/10 from me
As posted in another chat i ended up with the 105d having had a chance to play with both.
Excellent video and audio is superb , build quality is top notch and very happy. This
will be the last player i buy , well till 4k is off the ground !!
Can echo 10/10 and can recommend.
Good to hear someone else is chuffed with it. Cant believe it took me so long to know about Oppo....
Indeed Gerald. If you've a decent display and surround sound system, BluRays are considerably better quality than anything you can get by streaming.
For those of us with large movie collections on disc, (and there are lots of folk who have a decent number) then a high-quality disc player is still the best thing to own. I think Oppo will continue to be successful for many more years in their field.
I can only echo the views above.
The 105 is a fine player, solidly built, incredibly versatile (being a universal disc player, multi media player, network streamer, stand alone DAC, pre-amp, head-amp, and surround processor all in one), and outstanding value for money.......
To earn the Blu - ray player badge all Blu Ray must reach a certain standard visually so there wont be a difference there but the Oppo does so much more than a bargain basement player.
Start and load up time is very short, it has a dual core chip and it moves fast. Another thing that impresses me is the quietness of it's operation as I sometimes watch a movie later at night with the sound down low.
I am with all the OPPO guys here, build quality excellent as is their after sales. Kinda remind me of NAIM.