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

tonyb

It's not if your AVR can upscale or not, it's how well it does it. Most BDP, good ones anyway, have proven to do that job better than most AVR's. All chips aside.

Besides, having the ability now to play 4k content, is useless when there is so little available. Your receiver you have now will likely be out dated by the time any note worthy 4k content becomes available in mass amounts.

nikolas812

Someone should send me a 103 to A and B.

jon s

jbooker82 wrote: »

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

That's a three year old review... Blu-Ray players have come a long way since then...

Tornado Red

This is what I've believed about 4k. The Oppo (and a few others) can upscale to 4k. In other words, they can take 1080p blu-ray content and upscale to 4k IF you have a 4k display like the new Sony. I have the 103 player, but I don't have a 4k display, so I'm not sure how the upscale looks. I don't believe there is a player yet that can play actual 4k content, nor have I heard there is 4k software on, say, a shiny disc. The only 4k content I've seen is on a Sony demo USB for their new displays. Am I wrong on how I perceive this? The thumb drive I saw was plugged into the Sony display. Wonder what would happen if that drive was put into the USB port on the Oppo? And yes, I am obviously quite confused )

EndersShadow

Nik, as suggested by a couple folks if your going new, look at the 103D with the Darblet processing built in. You may like it, you may not, but its a 200 dollar discount from buying the part on its own, and I am sure there is a way to turn it off if you dont like it.

I suggest the Oppo, eventually I will be snagging one and a new AVR around the same time.

Side Note: One of these days us Indiana Polkies need to do another get-together. Would love to meet a couple more of you guys that are regulars on the board.

Also how are the Maggies treating you if you have been able to use them yet.

devani

I had LG BLuray player for a while eventually upgraded to OPPO 93....you will notice the difference in improvement quality....

is it worth $300-400 over OPPO? that's your call...

I had to get analog output with Bluray player and OPPO fit the bill as sound was important factor deciding....

nikolas812

"Buy this.
No. Buy this one that cost more.
No. Buy this one that cost a few hundred dollars more than that one. You may or may not notice a difference but its well worth the money.
Forget everything above. You must buy the most expensive XXXXX on the market to get what your looking for."

In some ways, I feel this is pretty much how the forum works most of the time.

This isn't towards anyone. Just me thinking out loud I guess. So please don't take offense. I just think it's funny sometimes.

Thanks a bunch for all the responses. I'll be buying a new one from Oppo soon and I'll report back the results.

Nik

Polkie2009

You know how we roll here Nik, lol, spend the extra $100 and go for the Oppo 103D. Tornado Red made some good points about utilizing 4K technology. Just on a whim I was checking out inexpensive 4K tvs on Amazon. Came across the Seiki Digital 4K 50" that plays nice with the Oppo 103 player. There's a bit of information from various people about what can be expected from equipment that's 4K compatible etc... Sounds like when combining the Oppo 103 or any Blu ray machine that upscales 4K to a 4K tv , the display won't be true 4K , but better than 1080P??? Anyone else want to help me here and chime in , maybe explain this better,lol. PS, another thing is that 50" model of the Seiki Digital 4K only has a hDMI 1.4, not HDMI 2.0 which would be an improvement for bandwidth.

cnh

nikolas812 wrote: »

"Buy this.
No. Buy this one that cost more.
No. Buy this one that cost a few hundred dollars more than that one. You may or may not notice a difference but its well worth the money.
Forget everything above. You must buy the most expensive XXXXX on the market to get what your looking for."

In some ways, I feel this is pretty much how the forum works most of the time.

This isn't towards anyone. Just me thinking out loud I guess. So please don't take offense. I just think it's funny sometimes.

Thanks a bunch for all the responses. I'll be buying a new one from Oppo soon and I'll report back the results.

Nik

You caught us! Come on now, you've been around "long enough" to know HOW this works! In the end you'll always be told, DON'T ASK! DEMO! DEMO! DEMO! Because NONE of us can judge for "you"!

So we "up" your budget and then send you "packing"! lol There really is no other "way"!

Have fun! And if you can save "money", why not? If the new Sonys, mentioned above, look as good to you as the Oppo, go ahead!

cnh

Polkie2009

I wasn't sure if the Sony units have a HDMI input that can upconvert signals from other sources such as cable tv etc..? This is a nice little feature on the Oppo 103.

chumlie

Sony 790 does all the upscaling. Real nice player for everything BUT no SACD. If all your looking for is Blu-Ray the Sony is a great player for half the Oppo cost.

Polkie2009

Chum, does the Sony have an HDMI input or two for upscaling the cable tv or streaming signal?

chumlie

HDMI Output(s) : 2 (Rear) Dual output for multiple output or AV seperation mode
Composite Video Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Digital Audio Output(s) : 1 Optical (Rear); 1 Coxial (Rear)
Analog Audio 2ch Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Ethernet Connection(s) : 1 (Rear)
USB Input(s) : 2 (1 Rear/ 1 Front)

From Sony's website.

[Deleted User]

I think the upscale marketing is a joke. From 480 to 1080 and now to 4k. Yeah, get this player, it has 4k up scaling that works on 4K TV's. .... Ok. Let me set my budget at a couple hundies (bang for the big difference bucks) then go spend $8.000 on a 4K tv.

The upscaling? You simply can't make something out of nothing. Let's also upscale mp3 to lossless.

The oppo 103 will be a good choice.

Tornado Red

chumlie wrote: »

Sony 790 does all the upscaling. Real nice player for everything BUT no SACD. If all your looking for is Blu-Ray the Sony is a great player for half the Oppo cost.

Chumlie, I believe the Sony 790 does do SACD. Seems to me there are a couple differences between this one and the 103 though. I think the 790 only does stereo if you're looking to go analog. I found a big difference in build quality as well (Oppo over Sony) but that's personal preference.

Tornado Red

halenhoang wrote: »

I think the upscale marketing is a joke. From 480 to 1080 and now to 4k. Yeah, get this player, it has 4k up scaling that works on 4K TV's. .... Ok. Let me set my budget at a couple hundies (bang for the big difference bucks) then go spend $8.000 on a 4K tv.

The upscaling? You simply can't make something out of nothing. Let's also upscale mp3 to lossless.

The oppo 103 will be a good choice.

Yes, don't think I'd buy a 4k set just for upscaling. How old will the set be by the time actual 4k players and/or other types of software come out? As far as upscaling, I don't know how 1080p content upscaled to 4k would look on a 4k display. I will say that most people find their dvds to look better on the Oppo and HD cable box 1080i signal passed through the Oppo and upscaled to 1080p also looks better.

jon s

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4xoddic

I see a couple responses with the Pioneer BDP-51fd in the signature line . . . . with mine, at times I could pop popcorn* while it loaded & found the previews. Then, it started failing to play some BRs (dog hair inside?). By coincidence, I carted past the BR display in WallyW last Jan & saw the Sony S590 for $99. Loading much faster is the major improvement. Audio & PQ, possibly a wash. Does play SACD (have none).

*I started professionally popping popcorn in 1969 @ 16YO in a theatre with 2K seats; a Loge & 3 Balconies. By 1972, I was popping the popcorn, selling concessions & tickets, & projecting the movie in Wichita's first automated projection booth. At times, it was a one-man operation. A few observations on popcorn:

Avoid using green food coloring for St. Pat's Day kid shows. 2K kids w/buttered green popcorn look hideous when they exit the auditorium to greet parents.

A 50 lb sack of sprouted popcorn WILL pop.

Heating up pre-popped bags of popcorn adds nothing to the ambience of attending a theatre.

NEVER burn a kettle of popcorn. Concession sales plummet as patrons enter the lobby.

nikolas812

How exactly do you demo Blu Ray players again???




nik

EndersShadow

I too have a 51FD and while it is slower than any other player out there, it doesnt bother me that much.

If I am watching a movie I am watching a movie so the extra minute or 5 isnt a biggie, I just go grab a soda, and get comfy while it loads.

Until I get a Oppo downstairs (next year or so) I am more than happy with this player. And when I get an Oppo downstairs, this will go into my 2 channel along with my Denon 3910 and the winner will stay and the loser may get sold.

4xoddic

DSkip & EndersShadow good points on the 51FD. To date, I've only used HDMI to my SC-07. 51FD's analog outputs could match w/ my 1998 Yamaha RV-1103 & HTR-5960.

We now have a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever + a 1/2 NSDTR. Have had labs in the past. Shedding on a daily basis is no comparison. Will have to pop the lid on the 51FD & look for a fur coat.

nikolas812

I had a 51FD in my theater in the last place I lived. Excellent player. Analog audio was fantastic for the price. In fact. I initially bought it for a 2 channel setup and it later got moved into the theater. Really nice all around player for the money. Or at least it was back then.


Nik

Polkie2009

Wasn't the Pioneer model 51FD the one that Buy More had marked down to a ridiculously low price a number of years ago and promptly sold them out??? Seems like the big buzz back then was about their Wolfson Dacs???

Tornado Red

nikolas812 wrote: »

How exactly do you demo Blu Ray players again???




nik

Well, with Oppo you can try it risk free for 30 days, if you don't like it send it back, you're only out the one way shipping cost. I know your original post mentioned that you're after video quality...I know that no one has had their hands on an Oppo 103D yet (except some beta testers over on AVS, with positive results) but knowing what the 103 can do, and what a Darbee can do, I would think you'd be on the cutting edge of video quality in the retail market with the 103D. Oppo's now accepting orders for it, and again if you're not happy, send 'er back.

nikolas812

Tornado Red wrote: »

Well, with Oppo you can try it risk free for 30 days, if you don't like it send it back, you're only out the one way shipping cost. I know your original post mentioned that you're after video quality...I know that no one has had their hands on an Oppo 103D yet (except some beta testers over on AVS, with positive results) but knowing what the 103 can do, and what a Darbee can do, I would think you'd be on the cutting edge of video quality in the retail market with the 103D. Oppo's now accepting orders for it, and again if you're not happy, send 'er back.

I didn't know this. I will be giving one a try soon. Not sure which one at the moment.

Nik