Oppo BDP-831?

[Anonymous]

Back to topic a moment, I received this yesterday from Oppo..

Dear Ben,

Thanks for you interest in OPPO Blu-ray player.

The
European version is being prepared for launch(definately 2009, earliest
in early october). As soon as we get more info, we will contact you.
Please register for our newsletter, so we can send you the updates on Blu-ray player.

Thank you,
David

so it looks like we may be waiting a while longer yet....

 

[Anonymous]

Genaa:
so it looks like we may be waiting a while longer yet....

I'm not waiting

There is another way......

Hehehe

 

[Anonymous]

I know I know, but knowing my luck there will prove to be some compelling reason why I should wait for UK release and given it is (supposedly) now so close it seems daft to order a US model......

 

[Anonymous]

Best reason to stick with the UK version is if you only want Region 2 / B.

If you plan to buy the multi-region mod, then you're better off buying the US version for the following reasons:

1. You get the Spears & Munsell Video calibration disc free
2. You get the AIX audio callibration disc free
3. You get an Oppo HDMI cable free
4. You get a 2Gb Fat32 formated Memory Stick for firmware upgrades for free
5. You get the UK supplier, CRT Projector's, own 12 month warranty to take account of the fact you've opened up and modded the player
6. Oh and you can play any region DVD or BD. Which is the point of the Mod after all!

If you plan to do the mod, then in some respects you're better off paying slightly more, but getting slightly more back in return. It's a value judgement at the end of the day. But one that I've been very happy with.

 

[Anonymous]

Will Harris: It's a value judgement at the end of the day. But one that I've been very happy with.

I can second that! Great player, why wait?

 

[Anonymous]

What on earth can be taking them so long ? Do they just not want us to buy it and go for a competitive player instead.

Why can it take so long to launch a UK model after the US model has been available for some time, it's not like it needs a major technical reworking or anything, is it ?

 

[pete321]

Will Harris:Best reason to stick with the UK version is if you only want Region 2 / B. If you plan to buy the multi-region mod, then you're better off buying the US version for the following reasons: 1. You get the Spears & Munsell Video calibration disc free 2. You get the AIX audio callibration disc free 3. You get an Oppo HDMI cable free 4. You get a 2Gb Fat32 formated Memory Stick for firmware upgrades for free 5. You get the UK supplier, CRT Projector's, own 12 month warranty to take account of the fact you've opened up and modded the player 6. Oh and you can play any region DVD or BD. Which is the point of the Mod after all!

If you plan to do the mod, then in some respects you're better off paying slightly more, but getting slightly more back in return. It's a value judgement at the end of the day. But one that I've been very happy with.

Yes, worth having, but remember that all cost an extra £150! As long as the UK version gets the shopping bag, what more could a serious audio/visual fan want in life (apart from a an AVR600 that works!).

 

[Anonymous]

Ah well I don't currently own any BD discs or, for that matter, any non-region 2 dvds so it is unlikely I would require the multi-region support anytime soon....

Ampwise I have a pretty basic Sony 2400ES as don't have loads to spend on a major system but is fine for my needs - would welcome folks thoughts on best way to hook everything up when, and if, the Oppo finally arrives

 

[Anonymous]

In my experience, having tried both the analogue and HDMI's I'd just connect via HDMI and never look back.

Yes, all that stuff above does cost £150 more, but that's a drop in the ocean when you think what most upgrade companies charge to mod players into multi-region machines for BluRay. Sure you have to want all that in the first place or you won't attribute any value to it, but if you do, then you'll see this as an utter bargain.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Chiswick:
What on earth can be taking them so long ? Do they just not want us to buy it and go for a competitive player instead.

Why can it take so long to launch a UK model after the US model has been available for some time, it's not like it needs a major technical reworking or anything, is it ?

It could be a component supply issue - I know there've been shortages that have affected several manufacturers of Blu-ray products. They've certainly made a good few of the European model - our review sample included. Just glad we've got it in time to compare with all the other new players coming out Sept/Oct.

 

[professorhat]

I'm not convinced as yet on whether a multi-region Blu-Ray player is necessary - with DVD it was essential with the difference in quality between US and UK versions of quite a few of the films (especially in the early days), but we seem to be seeing more standardisation on the formats with Blu-Ray. And of the few where the US version is superior, they mostly seem to be region free titles anyway (Watchmen being a good example with the Directors Cut edition).

Of course this could all change in the future...

 

[Andrew Everard]

You want to try living with someone who wants to order discs from Japan, which are deffo region-coded.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Oh and re the price thing, you could always buy the UK 831 one and region-free it with the kit from CRT or the cheaper one from bluraychip.dk.

Of course, bang goes your warranty - although you can easily reverse the modification if something else goes wrong -, but...

 

[professorhat]

Andrew Everard:You want to try living with someone who wants to order discs from Japan, which are deffo region-coded.

Mmmm, I could see that being an issue...

 

[pete321]

professorhat: I'm not convinced as yet on whether a multi-region Blu-Ray player is necessary

I'd agree with that, I'm unlikely to buy any Zone A locked discs (although I do have a few zone free zone A's), but it's nice to have the hardware mod for DVD, I've got quite a lot of region 1 titles in my collection. With DVD, it would sometimes be several months before you'd see the UK version and then the US would get DTS and we'd get plain old Dolby! Having said that there are quite a few zone A blu-ray titles out there that haven't been released in UK, although quite a lot of these say they're zone A when they're zone free.

I'm glad I bought the US model and I'm very happy with it, but if I was buying now I'd wait for the UK model now a date appears to be in sight (assuming it is exactly the same spec).

 

[professorhat]

pete321:it's nice to have the hardware mod for DVD, I've got quite a lot of region 1 titles in my collection.

Absolutely - in fact one of the main reasons I got my Sony BDP-S550 was because my PS3 wouldn't play my old region 1 DVDs. The good thing on this was the DVD multi-region capability didn't cost any more over the standard player. I suspect we'll see the same thing from dealers once the UK Oppo is finally released.

 

[Anonymous]

pete321:
Having said that there are quite a few zone A blu-ray titles out there that haven't been released in UK, although quite a lot of these say they're zone A when they're zone free.

The Illusionist, Donnie Darko, The Lives of Others, Patton, Castaway, Wages of Fear are all region A locked and not released in uk.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Will,

Am off to the U.S.A in a few weeks and was thinking about purchasing the Oppo player over there as its priced at $499.99 which is cheaper than CRT. i have read you post above but wanted to know how much of a realistic advantage do i have over the ones being sold by CRT??

Simply because i want a player for multi region DVD-BLURAY.

Many thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

benharlley:
Hi Will,

Am off to the U.S.A in a few weeks and was thinking about purchasing the Oppo player over there as its priced at $499.99 which is cheaper than CRT. i have read you post above but wanted to know how much of a realistic advantage do i have over the ones being sold by CRT??

Simply because i want a player for multi region DVD-BLURAY.

Many thanks.

Well, it's a good question and one that's been discussed a lot on other forums. The machine is switchable from 110v to 220-240v I believe, so there should be no voltage issues. You may need to change the plug but that's all.

You obviously don't have any warranty cover in the UK, meaning you'd have to ship it back to the States for warranty repairs. Assuming nothing goes wrong, you're fine, but if it does you're rather stuck.

You need to factor sales taxes onto the price and duty if you declare it on entry to the UK (our VAT may be payable in place of US sales duty depending on how you buy it). So basically, it's unlikely to be $499. But also unlikely to meet it's equivalent in pounds.

I can't see it being a bad move to buy it in the states, I think you still get all the disks and the HDMI cable. So it really doesn't look a bad deal at all. If you can escape paying duty and take good care of it, it could turn out to be a no brainer. You just have to get yourself to the States to take advantage of it! That's the hard part for most of us! (And make room for it in your luggage, another hard part!)

 

[Andrew Everard]

UK Duty and tax typically comes to about 22% IIRC.

So that makes the $499 player around £380 or so with UK tax and duty paid, though this doesn't take into account any state sales tax you may have to pay when buying in the States, which can vary from nothing to around 8.25%. So worst case it's going to be around £410 all taxes paid.

Sounds well worth declaring it rather than risking a fine and excess duty payment.

 

[Anonymous]

Many thanks to Will and Andrew. This clarifies my earlier thoughts!!1

 

[Anonymous]

Will Harris:You just have to get yourself to the States to take advantage of it! That's the hard part for most of us! (And make room for it in your luggage, another hard part!)
Just a small detail: there are many shipping companies that offer a 'USA address' service that allows you to buy mail-order from the States from people who otherwise do not ship beyond their own borders, and ship to a domestic USA address of theirs (the shipping company's) and thence onward to yourself.

 

[Anonymous]

Oppo themselves will ship it to you from the States. Just look at their website. The real point is that most people don't do it because although you may save a little, it is only a little and you get no support if anything goes wrong because you'd have to ship it all the way back. In that respect I prefer to buy it here. I don't think it's worth the saving, personally.

 

[AndrewH13]

Andrew Everard:
Will Harris:
(Not that many choices on SACD/DVD-A really so we all end up with the same discs).

Only about 6000 SA-CD titles at the last count...

Will Harris:So HDMI was my preferred
output from the Oppo.

Although of course the TAG processor doesn't give AH13 that option.

And its only on that disc (DSOTM) that the Analogues seem laid back. Having just seen an artical from Pioneer's press release, their new amps when coupled with their Blu_ray make a massive difference to HDMI music (PCM not bitstreamed) by cutting back the jitter. Hang on a minute, keep hearing how good HDMI is for transferring, and then Pioneer can make it SO much better (reminds me of CD players all over again!).

 

[Andrew Everard]

Just have to say Oppo 831 into Onkyo 875 with add-on power amps from TMA and MF, no complaints so far at this end...