Advice on DVD Players

smglbrth · March 2008

Hello All!

I need some advise on a possible new DVD Player. The one I have now is an Onkyo DV-S555 which has been great for the past 5 years or so. Lately it's been doing some funny things as in stopping for no apparent reason, "sticking" in one spot like it's in pause and such. It also has a BIG tendency to seem like it "skips" when the DVD requires the switch between the two layers of the disc. When it was new this was barely noticeable but I know it's there now!

First off, I don't have an HD (plasma or LCD) TV to deal with (at least at this point in time). Someday I think that's all there will be but for now what I have works great. A plain Jane Dolby Digital set-up which is good enough and still keeps my excellent two channel right handy when I want it! I have an NAD C542 for the two channel listening so that's not as critical of a point.

I've been looking at the NAD T585 and the Onkyo DV-SP504. The price difference is significant but I can get the NAD cheaper than full retail. I like decent equipment so I don't consider cheap electonics that I could buy at REX or the big box stores. So..., these are the two I'm looking at.

Any advice you could give me would be appreciated. If you have either of these I'd like your opinion! If you know of the reliability of either I would appreciate that as well!

I don't purchase equipment often and things like this I keep until they blow or burn up, usually...

Sami · March 2008

Since you're not going to go with HD, which I would personally recommend, and you like good quality gear...there is a used Denon DVD-5900 on the Polk flea market from a trusted seller. Not sure if you insist on buying new or not but if I was looking for a SD player in that price range I'd definitely consider that player as an option.

smglbrth · March 2008

Sami - I've been looking at the forums lately and have noticed a couple of Denons on the block. While they are nice they are too big for the space which I have to work with. It stinks, I know, but that's the way things are right now. If I tried to squeeze more room out of the "living room" the WAF would go right out the window! But to be honest, guess I would like something newer as this would be the only player in the house.

As for the HD part until my current TV decides to take a turn for "meltdown lane" I'll keep it. I have no doubt I'll eventually get a nice HD TV but the last TV I had lasted around 9 years, I've only had this one for 4...:D Guess I'm one of those people who like to run things into the ground. With most stuff, that is, not all stuff.

Does anyone know what the life expectancy of a DVD player is? Well, within the price ranges I'm looking at? I read on another forum where a person said he would be surprised if one would make 5 years with no problems.

madmax · March 2008

The oppo players are really nice. Should look great on your tv and sound great.
madmax

smglbrth · March 2008

Madmax - I've never heard of Oppo players, or Oppo period. I went to their website and the two they offer looked pretty neat. Boy are they small! Price was small as well. Do you have one of these? Do you have any information on the background of the company? They sure are neat little players, now I have an itch... But, the itch can't be scratched until my Onkyo really starts to get irritating, or quits.

Even if you can't give me much info I appreciate what you have already laid out. Seems like a no nonsense player with not a lot of frills which would be good for a guy like me. I still can't get over all the kinds of discs these new DVD players "play". One reason I REALLY like my 542. It plays CD's and sounds great doing it!

Poee7R · March 2008

I have an Oppo 971 and Ill keep it til the wheels fall off. Great picture bar none. I've had mine for over a year now and never a hiccup. I have a 61" Mitsubishi DLP, which is large enough to really see the difference between my old player and the Oppo.

Even the packaging is something you would expect to find surrounding a couple thousand dollar piece of equipment. I was in your position (never heard of them) when my last pioneer dvd player bit the dust and from all of the recommendation's online I took a leap and ordered one. One of the best audio/video purchase's I think I've ever made.

Haha actually the Oppo was the only thing that kept me from buying into the Blueray/HD-DVD war. And I would of chose HD at that point. So yeah im a fan.

Dave

cmy330go · March 2008

+1 on the Oppo's. Awesome players for the $.

Fongolio · March 2008

I have an Oppo 981HD and can vouch for the quality. Great picture. Good music cd playback and sacd and dvd-audio. Upscaling. Oh wait, the only video output is HDMI. That may not work for you. I also have two Pioneers that I'm very happy with. DV-79avi and DV-400V. The 79avi is very expensive but has superb audio (sacd and dvda) and slightly better video than the Oppo and the other Pioneer. For the money the Pioneer DV-400V at around $100.00 is a steal. It just doesnt do sacd and dvda but does upconversion divx and good audio cd playback.

The setup:

Pioneer Elite VSX-52TXi 7.1 Receiver
Polk Audio RTiA7 Fronts
Polk Audio CSi40 Center
Polk Audio RTi70 Surrounds
Klipsch RF-25 Surround backs
Pure Acoustics RB 1150 Active Subwoofer X2 (one on each side of room)
Hitachi 42HDS69 Plasma Screen
Pioneer DV-400V DVD player (for divX playback)
Pioneer Elite DV-79AVi DVD player (for sacd, dvd-audio and dts audio playback)
Oppo HD981 DVD player (universal player)
Sony Playstation 3 for Blu-ray and music server
Bell ExpressVu 9200 HD-PVR Satellite Receiver
Monster Cable speaker cables and interconnects

millerman 3732 · March 2008

Toshiba HD A2 or the HD A3 at Walmart for $74 bucks, they are great DVD players/upscaler, and at that price they would be very hard to beat.

Willow · March 2008

madmax wrote: »

The oppo players are really nice. Should look great on your tv and sound great.
madmax

I don't own one , but every man and their dog own do, so it has to be a good player. Ohh and they are cheap..in price that is! I think there is still one in the FM

Atomic Turtle · March 2008

I have an Oppo 980, and I really could not be happier with it. I shopped around quite a bit, and am convinced I could not have gotten a better universal player for under $500. Excellent picture, and incredible sound. I bought it it solely as a CD player, but fell in love with the video quality, and now use it as my DVD player as well.

If you're thinking of Oppo, be aware that they have different characteristics. The 980 is generally considered to have the best sound, and the 981 the better video output. Not that the 980 is lacking in that department, but the 981 is probably a bit better.

smglbrth · March 2008

Thanks for all the advice fellow Polkies! I had no idea OPPO was so well known. I usually have a pretty good idea concerning regular audio equipment and such but when it comes to the "video" aspect, especially the last couple of years, I'm kind of in the dark. Not that I mind, however. It's just not my passion, music is!

Anyway, yes, the 981 would not work as it does not have component outputs which I now run. If I did purchase one it would be the 980. I still can't believe how small that machine is, only two inches tall.

I did look at HD TV's tonight for a little bit while I was out. They are interesting and have a great picture (which probably goes without saying). Glad none of them were on sale in my price range! Talk about an excuse for a new DVD player! My wife would have fun with that one. Too bad she can see through my thought patterns when it comes to this hobby.

Thanks again for all of your inputs. If the Onkyo goes soon I just might order the 980H.

Atomic Turtle · March 2008

I don't think you'll be disappointed if you go that route. I got mine direct from the factory on EBay, as a factory refurb, with full warranty and the works. $145 bucks, shipped. Pocket change - for 145 bucks, you can hardly go wrong.

dorokusai · March 2008

The OPPO 980 is a great player and alot of bang for the buck.

smglbrth · March 2008

Only one question on the 908H player. Does it play MP3's? I don't mess with MP3 discs but my wife does and this will be a need to have feature. It's probably a stupid question with everything else it does but I've looked and can't find this information specifically. I've listened to MP3's and just don't see, or hear, any advantage over regular CD's other than having more music on the disc. In fact, I think (opinion here!!) a good recorded CD still kills MP3's when it comes to sound quality. Remember, it's an opinion!! Records still sound better than anything else in a music format anyway.

Fongolio · March 2008

Yes, the Oppo 980H plays mp3 disks. And you are absolutely correct regular (redbook) cd's sound better than mp3. Most mp3's are encoded at bit rates between 128 kb/s and 320 kb/s whereas cd's are at about 1411 kb/s. You do the math, the mp3 file has lost between 5 and 10 times the information on the original cd recording. For some unknown reason the average consumer cannot hear the difference or does not care, thus the explosion of ipod's and mp3 players. Most people on this forum certainly can hear the difference and care about it a whole lot. Even better sounding is high resolution formats like sacd and dvd-audio both of which the Oppo 980H will play. Vinyl of course is king because it maintains the best analog representations of the original recorded sound waves. I'm sorry a long answer to your question but in short yes, it will play mp3 and your ears are correct.

Advice on DVD Players

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