Would I benefit from a better Blu Ray Player???

nikolas812

Okay. So I got my new TV the other day. (65" Panosonic Plasma S64) And fell in love with it. Awesome picture. Which led me to buying a complete Polk Audio 5.1 setup and new receiver. So after getting all that. I'm wondering if my cheap LG BP620 blu ray player should be upgraded to get the best out of everything. Would I see a big difference if I went with something from Oppo? Or would it be a lateral move and a waste of money? I'm really only interested in the video aspect. I realize the Oppo would obviously be better for music. But my interests are strictly for picture quality? So would it be worth it?


Thanks


Nik

cnh

The short answer is yes. The Oppo has superior video processing as well. Certainly better than a sub $100 dollar player. As to "will I see the difference". The answer should be yes, but there is no accounting for individual capabilities. Like good audio, you have to know what to look for when you're comparing video. If you're not sensitive to differences in video, discerning them will not be that easy. Think of people who can't hear the difference between a good MP3 file and a CD quality version of the same thing!

So assuming that you have a "good eye". Get the Oppo, you'll be happy!

cnh

nikolas812

Still not completely sold. Seems that you basically said that if I know what to look for. I'll notice a difference. I'm wanting the kind of improvement that anybody would notice. Not just videophiles or audiophiles. Even a used Oppo is quite a bit of money. I'm not going to drop $300-$600 on a blu ray player to just to see a subtle difference. I'm happy with what I have for the most part. But If I could get a noticeably sharper image, better blacks, shadow detail and color. I'll get one.

ZLTFUL

Sony BDP-S590 is probably one of the best per dollar values in BDPs of recent years. Most of the capabilities of the renowned S790 but sub-$100 when I bought it at Costco.

I then bought an Oppo 103.

I had thought there was a great difference between the TV being calibrated and uncalibrated with the S590.
Without doing the calibration for the 103, there was a huge difference in color depth, picture quality was noticeably better and the sound was OODLES better than the Sony.

The Sony now resides in my bedroom and is ONLY used for its BluRay and Netflix capabilities when my wife doesn't want to watch what I am watching on the big TV.

I think of all my recent HT purchases, including the TV, the Oppo 103 is the purchase I am the most satisfied with.

nikolas812

Okay. I guess I should have just read some reviews. People comparing run of the mill players like mine to the Oppo 103. Which is the one I am looking at it. Says it blows them out of the water compared to mainstream blu ray players. I guess I'll get one and try it.

I'd still be interested in hearing anyone's experience going from a blu ray player like mine to a Oppo. But from the reviews I've read. The improvement is major.

Nik

nikolas812

That's what I wanted to hear. Searching now for a deal on a 103.



Nik

nikolas812

apparently you can buy them new from Oppo for $499. Why was I thinking they were $1200 or something?

Kex

Nikolas, I'll be very interested to know your honest opinion regarding this, if you do get the new OPPO player. I'm currently using a Samsung BR player (with streaming capability).

I'm not interested in spending money for subtle differences either (at least, not any more!), and I can't even imagine getting "blown away" by anything right now, in comparison (not talking about the audio differences either).

polkfarmboy

Get a sony BDP 790 as its just as good as oppo without all the crap you dont need for only $200 and its one of the best sreaming media players on the market.

teekay0007

Like PFB just pointed out - geez, did I really just say that? - there's a lot of real estate between the lowest end and the Oppos. Several of them are very capable machines and can be had for a fraction of the cost of the Oppo, just have to do a little research.

nikolas, the $1200 Oppo you were thinking of is the Oppo 105, not the 103. It has one more bell and two more whistles than the 103.

nikolas812

Kex, I'm in the same boat these days and couldn't agree more. I'll let you know. It might be a couple weeks before I get one. I need to get everything I've bought this week in and hooked up and let the bank account settle before I get one. But after reading review after review of people saying the difference was major. I'm optimistic. We shall see.


Nik

Kex wrote: »

Nikolas, I'll be very interested to know your honest opinion regarding this, if you do get the new OPPO player. I'm currently using a Samsung BR player (with streaming capability).

I'm not interested in spending money for subtle differences either (at least, not any more!), and I can't even imagine getting "blown away" by anything right now, in comparison (not talking about the audio differences either).

PSOVLSK

nikolas812 wrote: »

apparently you can buy them new from Oppo for $499. Why was I thinking they were $1200 or something?

Probably thinking of the 105.

If you're wanting to save a little, look for a used 93. Love mine.

Toolfan66

I purchased my first OPPO a couple years ago, I now own 3..



Nuff said.

pdxfj

Having gone from a higher end Panasonic BD player I bought roughly 4 years ago to an Oppo 83, it was a noticeable increase in picture quality. The Panny looked good, but the Oppo had a certain "feel" to it.

Then I moved up to the 93. Totally different chipset than the 83 and it was a very, very noticeable increase in PQ. Much richer colors, more depth and smoother motion.

My 93 paired with a Darblet and my JVC projector, calibrated with the meter I bought leaves people's jaws on the floor after watching a movie.

The price of an Oppo can be difficult to swallow. Once you see one in action in your home, the cost won't even enter your head anymore. My only regret is not buying one from the get go. Plus Oppo support can not be beat at any price.

Spend the extra coin.. you won't regret it.

jon s

IMHO, I really can't see much difference in the video quality between most blu-ray players. They really all look the same. The only minor differences I can see is in color accuracy and maybe some aliasing or stair stepping on diagonals, but usually occurs on non-film sources (like videos).

Boot times on newer players are quicker than older ones. If you love music and are planning to play CDs or SACDS (not all support this), you should seriously look at the Oppo 105. The DACs on the Oppo 105 (not 103) are state of art Sabre chips and are fantastic. Other than that, run of the mill players all perform about the same...

Toolfan66

My TV and my OPPO is a match made in heaven.. You don't need no 3DTV in my HT rig, it's that good!!!

Polkie2009

One of the best things about owning an Oppo is the company that stands behind it's product. Their customer service is excellent, when you need any assistance they are just a phone call away. Heck, the moment I opened the box on my 103, I knew this company takes care in presentation and quality of the product, from the user's manual all the way to the great remote that comes with it. The unit is built very well, with integrity, through and through. The new 103D has the Darbee feature for an extra $100.00 . Also, if you ever sell your Oppo, they tend to have better resale value compared to other brands of blu ray machines.

Polkie2009

Thanks Skip, you've got that right! Lol, I was trying not to go too overboard with the resale part! .

nikolas812

I've bought a couple DVD players new from Oppo. So I'm familiar with the company. They're great. I agree. But I've not had any of their Blu Ray players nor have I seen one in action. I'm going to get the 103 and see what it's all about and report back.

Thanks

Nik

jon s

I recommend you get the 103D with the Darbee processor. It really makes the image appear with more detail without adding edge enhancement when used properly. The Darbee processor sells for $300 as a separate add-on right now... $100 is a real steal.

nikolas812

Yamaha RX-V667
Panasonic S64 65"
LG BP620 Blu Ray player
Xbox 360
Polk Audio Monitor 40's, CS20, FX500i's and PSW505

polkfarmboy

Nik,listen to me......get a sony bdp 750. The bdp 750 scales a dvd just as good as the oppo and on a bluray on a small display your never going to notice where all your money went. My friend mike had the bdp 95 and on a bluray there is no difference.

polkfarmboy

My Sony bdp has dual hdmi outputs so I let the player handel the scaling and 3d and just send a compressed pcm hd audio to my old Anthem d2

tonyb

Get the Oppo and don't look back.

jbooker82

nbrowser wrote: »

eh I use a PS3 for Blu-Ray duties, it's fairly good, not on par with anything Oppo, it's not too terribly bad, plus it plays games ! But I digress...just my personal opinion is all.

I don't know seems to do a fairly good job.
http://www.soundandvision.com/category/blu-ray-player-reviews?page=2

Nightfall

The top end Pioneer AVR's have the same Sabre chip. They're also $1600+

tonyb

Nightfall wrote: »

The top end Pioneer AVR's have the same Sabre chip. They're also $1600+

Does that seem like a lot to you.....for what you get ?

Don't put so much emphasis on dac chips, put more on build quality and you'll never be let down.

Tornado Red

jon s wrote: »

I recommend you get the 103D with the Darbee processor. It really makes the image appear with more detail without adding edge enhancement when used properly. The Darbee processor sells for $300 as a separate add-on right now... $100 is a real steal.

+1
The OP mentioned he's really only interested in the video aspect, this player should be quite a jump in that regard, and like Jon said, only $100 more. Due out in the next few weeks according to Oppo.

Toolfan66

tonyb wrote: »

Get the Oppo and don't look back.

THIS ^^^^^

tonyb wrote: »

Does that seem like a lot to you.....for what you get ?

Don't put so much emphasis on dac chips, put more on build quality and you'll never be let down.

And THIS ^^^^^^^

Nightfall

tonyb wrote: »

Does that seem like a lot to you.....for what you get ?

No. I was going with the flow of the thread. Chip names were being thrown out, OP seems worried about cost, AVR was mentioned, I suggested a best of both worlds aside from the cost it seems he's worried about.

Toolfan66

Kurt300 wrote: »

It's hard to believe with all the responses that no one yet has hit upon the correct answer. It is "maybe, but maybe not". Since you are interested in the video aspect, no one has asked what AVR you are using. If it is a video processing/up-scaling AVR, then the answer changes to "no". If your AVR does not upscale at all, the answer is "yes".

Example: I have an Onkyo 3010 with top-of-the-line video processing/upscaling. Getting an Oppo for big bucks would be a waste of money. The Onyko 3010 already upscales DVDs to hig-def quality and when I finally plug in a 4K TV, it will upscale to that as well.

I disagree....