CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

jacket_fan · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 81

Carl, I think I am with you on using the other BR features. Most times I could care less about the extras on movies. Just watch a movie and move on to the next.

Since it seems like for BR, all plaers are pretty much the same as far as PQ goes, the only other big deal for me is the audio portion. I will be using 5.1 to a Lexicon MC-12 and need to have the player decode.

Right now I am leaning towards the OPPO. From the manual it does have speaker level and distance control. A single cross over at 80 Hz is fine with me. Customer service is first rate and I believe it will be a first rate product as well. Streaming will have to wait.

dturco · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:44 am Post subject:

jacket_fan · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 81

Yes, it does. It also plays SACD and DVD-A. (I do have a collection of these disks and am listneing to one now).

A couple of threads over on AVS on the OPPO. Not sure if is worth $499, or if any BR player is for that matter. As I am sure the Sony is a fine player.

csamos · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Austin, TX

jacket_fan · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 81

Good point. Secrets has been reviewing players for quite a while and rate the OPPOs at the top. I will have to check the Panny and the Sony.

I can always fall back to using the Lumagen to do the upconversion. I have been pleased with its performance over the past couple of years with it. Perhaps these can do a better job than the Lumagen.

Nashou66 · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject:

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1356

I'm not sure if you're interested in ever making your own backups of BD's and using regular DVD+R DL media or not, but if you ARE interested in that, or PS3AVC HD discs, then you have to get the Sony BDP-S550, it is one of only 2 or 3 machines which will play absolutely EVERY iteration of "made" BD.

Also, it can be had cheaply....

For those of you with great receivers which simply don't decode the new formats, check out this little box. I'm considering buying one for my HK AVR8000 as soon as I have enough in my Paypal:

http://snipurl.com/irfob [cgi_ebay_ca]

Note: Edited to be more precise in my expression of intention.

jacket_fan · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 81

The OPPO will also output 480i according to the manual and a review that I read by Gary M. So I beleive that is covered.

Sounds like I have talked myself into the OPPO, however, uite a few like the Sony.

I went and looked at BR players at BB and Frys yesterday. The did not have the Sony 550 only the 350. I will do some more reading on AVS and see whta they have to say.

Elaine, the converter box you link too. Not sure I understand it completely. Grammer is not the best. So I understnand correctly that the box will decode from HDMI to analog out?

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1356

That box I linked to is so you can have the new HD audio formats decoded and the analog outputs sent to any receiver with the 7.1 channel inputs. It's more for someone who wants to buy a BD player wihtout 7.1 analog outputs, or who want to use all HDMI, but strip out the audio to an older, analog only receiver....

The Sony player is a LOT cheaper than the Oppo, btw. You can buy one in Canada for $299. at Future Shop...

benareeno · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 1463 Location: ottawa, canada

Why would you need that box when the Sony player has 7 channel analog output already?

**ecrabb** · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 6:40 pm Post subject:

Exactly. Considering the price of some of the Blu-ray players now with analog outputs, the box doesn't really seem necessary. If you were stuck with a certain device (like a PS3) and an older AVR with analog inputs, it might make sense, I 'spose... But, according to a post in this thread on AVS, the little box has no bass management at all.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1102731

I'd just get a BD player with analog outs and good quality DACs and bass management and be done with it until you upgrade to a newer AVR with advanced audio.

SC

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1356

benareeno · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 1463 Location: ottawa, canada

But you said you will buy one...and you have a 550 which has analog outs. Why bother?

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1356

benareeno · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 1463 Location: ottawa, canada

I guess the new 360 takes away this little feature, right?? Does it add anything?

Personally, I'm thinking about the new WD media streamer. If I can get it for $100, I would....I have all my movies on an external HD, and I can plug that right into the WD. And it plays mkv's with no problems too!

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1356

benareeno · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 1463 Location: ottawa, canada

it's the latest model on the sony site...maybe there's a 560 too, not sure.

bgotro · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Whitby, ON

Just got my Oppo last week and it works fabulously! I don't use the scaler in the player, though. I set the Oppo to 'Source Direct' and let the Anthem SSP do all the work. However, knowing Oppo's reputation from their past machines, I've no doubt the BDP-83 would do a very good job on its own. Just MHO.

"Audi" Bill

yonexsp · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 310

The new LG BD390 has Wifi, plays Divx, AVCHD and MKV files. You can also stream from your PC or Youtube etc.

It also had analog outs, and looks a real contender for $399 (still high in my book)

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1356