Best multiregion BD/DVD Player?

[admin_exported]

I'm looking to buy a multiregion player for both BD and DVD as i buy regularly discs from all over the world. I know there aren't many of the market but I would like what options I have.

What I care about is picture quality both from BD and DVD. I don't care about 3D and music performance and I want to be able to upgrade with all future firmware updates. For audio I'm going to bitstream through HDMI to my amplifier.

Currently the best option looks to me to be the Oppo BDP-83. I've read excellent stuff from users about it's performance with BDs and especially DVDs.

Does the Oppo have any major flaws that I should be aware of? Are there any other Multiregion players available now that offer better performance?

Or should I stick with my current setup of an American Panasonic DMP-BD30 and a European PS3?

 

[Andrew Everard]

The Oppo is apparently very good, but remains an unofficial import here in the UK. The alternative is the Cambridge Audio Azur 650BD, which can be user-modded to become multiregion for DVD and region-selectable for Blu-ray, as explained here.

 

[Tom Moreno]

The OPPO is indeed a very good deck. I've got one and am more than happy with it. I've never had so much as a niggle from it. If the Cambridge Audio BDP's mod is the same as the one in the OPPO then Andrew is correct in stating that it's very easy to perform. At the time I bought my OPPO CRT had too many backorders to supply a prefitted multiregion unit within a couple of weeks so they sold me the unit with the uninstalled mod. It took abot ten minutes and was extremely easy.

 

[Anonymous]

So which of the 2 is better with BDs and DVDs?

 

[bigboss]

Oppo BD83 employs Anchor Bay chipsets, & should offer superior performance theoretically.

Incidently, Cambridge Audio 650BD is manufactured by a Chinese company called Winbase Electronics, who apparently also makes Oppo players. Many users claim the 650BD to be the same as Oppo BD80.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Although in fact there's nothing in it between the BDP-831 I have (the orphan Euro version of the BDP-83) and 650BD when it comes to picture quality, and I think the Cambridge Sounds better when playing through its analogue outputs.

 

[John Duncan]

Oh dear Andrew...clicky

 

[Anonymous]

I am looking at getting the Oppo 83 as well,

Andrew,

When What Hi-Fi review blu-ray players sound capabilities, are you commenting of the onboard audio decoding or bitstreaming?

 

[hammill]

Andrew Everard:Although in fact there's nothing in it between the BDP-831 I have (the orphan Euro version of the BDP-83) and 650BD when it comes to picture quality, and I think the Cambridge Sounds better when playing through its analogue outputs.
I only use the HDMI output on my Oppo, I read that the SE version is worth the extra if you need analogue outputs.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Prime Cuts:When What Hi-Fi review blu-ray players sound capabilities, are you commenting of the onboard audio decoding or bitstreaming?

Both.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Andrew, i have heard people say there is no difference in sound when HD audio is sent over bitstream. Now i know thats not the case.

On the topic of best Multiregion BDP, i have availible to me an Oppo 83 multiregion and a Pioneer LX 52 multiregion. Unfortunatly i have no way of testing these players myself so i rely on recommendation. What Hi-Fi reviews favoured the LX 52. How big is the difference in picture and sound qaulity between these 2 players? Is it something you could pick easily from a quick demo?

Taking into account the sluggish performance of the LX 52, does the image and sound qaulity get it over the line ahead of the Oppo as a player you would be more than happy with at home.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Is the Pioneer multiregion for both BD and DVD?

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Is the Pioneer multiregion for both BD and DVD?

Yep, both the BDP 320 and LX 52. And the Oppo is both BD and DVD multiregion.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Ah, right.

 

[Anonymous]

How does the Oppo compare in terms of picture quality against the Sony s370 and the Panasonic BD85?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Given the one I have is an orphan, and I'm not sure how it compares to the unofficially imported current production, I'll pass on that question.

 

[Tom Moreno]

pppp1:How does the Oppo compare in terms of picture quality against the Sony s370 and the Panasonic BD85?

Sorry I can't help, since I've been quite happy with mine I've stopped looking at newer decks to compare it to. Trying to keep the upgraditis bug focused on areas of my system that actually need attention at the mo.

 

[bigboss]

Not many people have experienced both the Oppo & other players. You certainly cannot compare them in shops. The one forum member I know who has compared the Oppo with quite a number of players, is pete321.

Check his posts in this thread: http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/489525.aspx

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Ah, right.

Lol, not exactly the informative answer i was hoping for.

Thanks for that Big Boss. What i gathered from that is basicaly with every new player that comes out it is probably bettering the previous higher model.

 

[Anonymous]

There's a quite well known online retailer selling the Sony 470 multiregion for both BD and DVD for £380. Would that be a good option? Would a new 3D HDMI 1.4 player work with my 3 year old HDMI 1.3 equipment?