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REVIEW: Oppo DV-981HD Universal SACD/DVD-A Players

Model:	DV-981HD
Category:	Universal SACD/DVD-A Players
Suggested Retail Price:	$229
Description:	Unieersal CDC/CD Player including Red Book, SACD, DVD-A, HDCD
Manufacturer URL:	Oppo
Model Picture:	View

Review by svisner on June 18, 2007 at 20:48:36 IP Address: 66.92.147.207

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This is the first product review I’ve posted. Caveat – I purchased this unit because I wanted a DVD player with HDMI output and with upscaling that would allow me to take advantage of a new LCD monitor’s 1080I/1080P resolution. I am aware of some debate regarding the benefits some think do or do not accrue from this resolution as well as from upscaling. I have neither the experience nor the equipment to measure carefully these differences, but I can say that the difference on some media between this unit’s HDMI output and apparent upscaling, compared to an earlier unit’s component video, is remarkably apparent to untrained eyes.

The unit itself is slim and sleek, representing what I regard as sound industrial design. It has the same footprint as the Pioneer Elite DV-45A it replaced. The Oppo offers 7.1 analog output, optical and coaxial digital output, S-Video, and HDMI. The Oppo also has a removable power cord, allowing me to use an Audioquest cord I already had.

Setup is easy; remember(!) though to work through setup without a disk inserted. The manual makes this point. There are a few options apart from setup that one selects on the remote control (e.g., HDMI output resolution, Pal/NTSC). I am not sure why these are not part of the setup menu, but I can’t say it’s a bother.

Unit mechanical performance is smooth and quick. I wish the remote control were a bit easier to read, but I’m getting used to using it. The unit is quiet and appears rugged. I am told Oppo has very good customer service. I can only say that it was shipped quickly and packed very well. The manual is well organized and well written. Explanations of technical features, including HDMI, are informative, clear, and useful.

Again, I find the unit’s video performance impressive. Detail and color are rendered to a level I had not thought attainable on non-Blue Ray or non-HD DVD. I cannot compare this unit to other upscaling, non-Blue Ray, non-HD players as I have not used them. I have connected this unit directly to my LCD television via the (included) HDMI cord. It appears to be of high quality. My preamplifier does not offer HDMI switching I have disabled HDMI audio; all audio is switched via my preamplifier

I regard my audio system as fairly revealing. I use a Cary P7 preamplifier, a McIntosh 240 power amplifier (redone by Circle Stereo and tubed with KT66 Groove Tubes), and Magnapan 1.5 speakers. Center channel, subwoofer, and home theater equipment can be seen on my Member’s System page. (My center speaker is a JBLab Cobalt…) My Cary P7 does not offer HDMI switching; later Cary’s may do so. It does provide extensive audio and component video switching, as well as 7.1 analog bypass. So, it still serves my needs.

For all audio, this unit appears to have a low noise floor.

Red Book via analog output: Good imaging and depth, good low and high frequency extension. I think this unit provides a bit more bass than I’ve heard on some other CD players. Best conventional Red Book recording so far is David Finkel and Wu Han (Johannes Brahms, Artistled Label). However, Mark Knopfler’s Golden Heart (an HDCD recording) is quite impressive, and I think played with even greater clarity than on my non-HDCD-capable players.

SACD via analog output: Even better imaging. Well balanced frequency response.

DVD-A via analog output: Again, very good imaging. Impressive extension.

HDMI 1.1 support DVD-A and SACD (converted to PCM) digital output. I have not tried this function.

I have not auditioned the unit’s Dolby and DTS digital decoding as I use the unit’s digital output (via Cardas coax) to the decoder within the Cary P7. This arrangement provides really impressive directional discrimination, frequency extension, and spatial sense. I tend to like DTS, but Dolby digital films are quite impressive with this arrangement (frequency extension and dynamic range, both).

I’ll gain more experience with this unit. It’s low-priced for “audiophile” gear, but I think its performance points to what our technology is making possible. High-end engineering, equipment, and standards are leading to better entry-level availability.

I would certainly be curious to learn of others’ experience with the Oppo. For my part, I think this unit satisfies my requirement for high-quality audio reproduction in a variety of formats with my desire to take advantage of high-resolution video.

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Product Weakness:	Small buttons on remote
Product Strengths:	Video quality is superb. Audio quality is excellent - particularly for the price - with surprising Red Book imaging.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	McIntosh 240
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Cary P-7
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	DV-981-HD
Speakers:	Mapgnapan 1.5 plus Hsu 10 Inch Subwoofer
Cables/Interconnects:	IKimber PBJ
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Jazz, Folk
Time Period/Length of Audition:	less than two weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Tripplite
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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