Oppo BDP-831?

[Big Aura]

pete321:

Big Aura:Oooh, cat/pigeons.... What ranks above for purely dvd/bd use? (in your opinion).

I reckon it'll be one of the new Pioneer's, probably the 320 for purely BD/DVD playback. Having said that it depends how important the SD scaling is to you. The Oppo turns a DVD picture in to near on blu-ray standard, I suspect the Pioneer's won't match the Oppo/Anchor Bay for upscaling of DVD's, but that's just a guess. I put the scaling qualities of the Oppo purely down to the Anchor Bay chip, but having recently got the Yamaha Z7 which uses the same chip, it appears the Oppo adds something else to the equation, because it's better than the Z7 at upscaling.

When it comes to blu-ray playback at normal viewing distance, i.e. not standing in front of your TV with a magnifying glass, I'm with Will, I don't think the differences are that massive between any of the top rated palyers.

Indeed - I want a player that's (a) quick to load; (b) great with blu-ray; and (c) that will do justice to my 400+ DVD collection. I imagine for the first year or so of ownership, (c) will be most important to me on a day-to-day basis.

Am very interested to see what (if anything) comes out ahead in the awards issue.... (And FAOD I've subscribed, so not looking to circumvent buying the magazine

)

 

[The_Lhc]

pete321:the_lhc:pete321:Will Harris: Why would you buy a dedicated CD player if you had the Oppo?

I've had plenty of CD players that sound better than the Oppo, you'd probably have to spend in excess of £300 to notice a difference, but you would notice. I played a ripped CD (WMA Lossless) via my external DAC to the AVR600 and then the actual CD both via the DAC and direct to the AVR600, the WMA Lossless via the DAC beat the Oppo hands down. It's and excellent BD/DVD/SACD/DVD-A/MKV player but it doesn't compare to a dedicated CD player.

How would you know? You didn't compare it to a dedicated CD player!

Playing the Oppo using CD's on my own system and know from previous experience it's the equivalent of a £200 CD player using analogues.

So you're comparing it against the memory of a CD player, interesting.

However, if you're using the Oppo as a CD player, you're likely to be streaming it, in which case if you have an AV amp like the AVR600, then you'll get more out of it because of the abilities of that amp. But if you're talking a straight fight between a good £300+ CD player and the Oppo using analogues, it'd be the CD player that won, I'll re-phrase that, I'd bet it would be the CD player that won.

Sounds slightly less convincing when you put it like that doesn't it?

If you're one the people that think the Oppo is as good a CD player as an Arcam CD37, then that's good news for you as you'll be saving a lot of dosh! Personally, it wouldn't satisfy my needs if I was back in the market for a CD player.

Don't look at me, I don't own a CD player, I stream everything from the PC via Sonos, so that's one thing I wouldn't be using the Oppo to do, if I owned one, which I don't.

I'm not on either side of the argument here, I'm just pointing out that you can't compare the Oppo as CD player against network streamed music and then say it's not as good as a dedicated CD player, because you haven't actually done that test.

Can you imagine the uproar if WHF conducted a test like that?

 

[skr1]

Andrew Everard:No, the set-up won't work with Vista. Fortunately it works fine with XP, and since I've long since ditched the flaky nightmare that is Vista in favour of XP - oh, and a trio of machines running Leopard or Snow Leopard -, no problem there...
I had no problem loading the link with Vista. But lots of issues. Seems better with the latest firmware.

 

[The_Lhc]

Will Harris:From standby, my Oppo takes just under 3 seconds to extend it's disc drawer once the button's been pressed on the remote. Not bad wouldn't you say?

Yes but how long does it take from loading the disc to actually playing the film?

 

[Big Aura]

the_lhc:

Will Harris:From standby, my Oppo takes just under 3 seconds to extend it's disc drawer once the button's been pressed on the remote. Not bad wouldn't you say?

Yes but how long does it take from loading the disc to actually playing the film?

I have a feeling that in ten years Will's proud statement will be the equivalent of saying - I have a computer that weighs only 2.5 metric tonnes.

 

[skr1]

the_lhc:
Will Harris:From standby, my Oppo takes just under 3 seconds to extend it's disc drawer once the button's been pressed on the remote. Not bad wouldn't you say?

Yes but how long does it take from loading the disc to actually playing the film?

Its Quick! Faster than a speeding play- station

 

[Andrew Everard]

mains cables r us:why is everyone waiting for the review by what hi-fi when most other forums have stated it is a blindingly good player, are we all trying to be respectful, all oppo players box far above their own weight, I mean who makes a bd player that plays dvd audio and sacd's as well as being a good up-scaler of standard dvd's, just buy it and rest assured it is well future proofed until 3d get's established.

mains cables r us, please read and abide by House Rules, notably Rule 9.

 

[The_Lhc]

skr1:the_lhc:Will Harris:From standby, my Oppo takes just under 3 seconds to extend it's disc drawer once the button's been pressed on the remote. Not bad wouldn't you say?
Yes but how long does it take from loading the disc to actually playing the film?

Its Quick! Faster than a speeding play- station

For the non-PS3 owner among us, what's that in numbers?

 

[Anonymous]

the_lhc:skr1:the_lhc:Will Harris:From standby, my Oppo takes just under 3 seconds to extend it's disc drawer once the button's been pressed on the remote. Not bad wouldn't you say?
Yes but how long does it take from loading the disc to actually playing the film?

Its Quick! Faster than a speeding play- station

For the non-PS3 owner among us, what's that in numbers?

EDITED BY MODS for House Rules

Seriously, it's quicker than any other player I've tested and it responds quickly to remote control too. Virtually no delay and fast at chapter skipping.

Very useful feature when watching DVD's is the yellow button on the remote. Load a disk wait about 5 seconds for it to spin up and begin to load, then press the yellow button and just like that, the film begins to play. No menus, no trailers, no copyright warnings, just straight into the main feature. If only you could do that with BluRays! BluRay loading time is the quickest I've tried.

I wasn't going to say anything, but it's getting a bit annoying so I will. Please could those of you who have something personal to say about me, please keep it to yourselves. You don't find me taking the mick out of any of you, or being rude in general. I'd appreciate it if the sniping would stop. Cheers.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Can anyone clarify what files it plays? Specifically if it allows MKV files?

Also of interest are if it plays ~ avi, mp4 and mpg files

Also does it allow viewing of photos in jpg format?

Cheers

(Im almost certainly going to get one anyways, its just im kinda intruiged just how much it will do in place of my PS3)

 

[The_Lhc]

Will Harris:the_lhc:skr1:the_lhc:Will Harris:From standby, my Oppo takes just under 3 seconds to extend it's disc drawer once the button's been pressed on the remote. Not bad wouldn't you say?
Yes but how long does it take from loading the disc to actually playing the film?

Its Quick! Faster than a speeding play- station

For the non-PS3 owner among us, what's that in numbers?

Seriously, it's quicker than any other player I've tested and it responds quickly to remote control too. Virtually no delay and fast at chapter skipping. <snip> BluRay loading time is the quickest I've tried.

<whimper> Numbers? Even roughly, I've never had a blu-ray player, so I have nothing to compare to.

 

[pete321]

aliEnRIK:Can anyone clarify what files it plays? Specifically if it allows MKV files?

It plays MKV files fine, a converted DVD less than 4gb on a USB stick is OK, HD scaling is excellent. HD MKV's which are likely to be larger than 4gb have to be played from disc. I've tried this on a BD-RE but not on a DVD-/+R. I've also converted some 1080p HD trailers to MKV which play to a high standard from a USB stick.

 

[pete321]

the_lhc:I'm just pointing out that you can't compare the Oppo as CD player against network streamed music and then say it's not as good as a dedicated CD player, because you haven't actually done that test.

I think people are well aware that I don't professionally review hifi products, but just pass on my personal thoughts on quite a few years of owning various levels of hifi kit. No, memory isn't the same as doing a side-by-side test, but on a personal note, there's no way I'd be relying on the Oppo as CD player. That's just knowing how much better my past CD players have sounded, that includes Cambridge Audio, Arcam, Linn and Cyrus. In the Oppo's favour, I wouldn't expect it to sound as good as any of those, it may well beat a the Denon AU1D, but then Denon's standalone CD players aren't exactly exciting to listen to.

For me, the Oppo is a superb digital streaming and video processing machine.

 

[aliEnRIK]

pete321:
aliEnRIK:Can anyone clarify what files it plays? Specifically if it allows MKV files?

It plays MKV files fine, a converted DVD less than 4gb on a USB stick is OK, HD scaling is excellent. HD MKV's which are likely to be larger than 4gb have to be played from disc. I've tried this on a BD-RE but not on a DVD-/+R. I've also converted some 1080p HD trailers to MKV which play to a high standard from a USB stick.

Cheers Pete

Very similar to the PS3 then (Except it is possible to put ANY size file on the PS3s hard drive via a networked media player)

 

[AndrewH13]

Will Harris:

I take it that means you love them now but didn't before?

I recommend the Keane BluRay live from Wembley. Unbelievable. If you like Keane of course!

Hi Will, glad that BluRay player you bought doesn't seem a dud after all ;-)

Most DVDs I've bought are Concerts (as I havn't already seen them and know the ending!) and I have been underwhelmed by the sound for years despite having a mega-money DVD player. Bought recent Rush BluRay and lip sync is out terribly and BluRay Foo Fighters pretty good. But this disc which I hired from LoveFilm on a recommendation somewhere or other is different class. Jazz Rocky, not my particular cup of tea, but after a few minutes listening I was engrossed, suddenly surround-sound heaven and the Oppo83 producing the best Video/sound I've achieved in 25 years of upgrading. (It betters the Flaming Lips DVD-Audio which I had previously thought showed what surround-sound/Oppo could achieve). If you get the chance, take a listen, beware the bass on a few tracks moving objects round the room!

PS - I chose Snow Patrol over Keane at V festival as closing act. Would have caught them if prats Oasis hadn't pulled out at last minute.

 

[Anonymous]

AndrewH13:
Will Harris:

I take it that means you love them now but didn't before?

I recommend the Keane BluRay live from Wembley. Unbelievable. If you like Keane of course!

Hi Will, glad that BluRay player you bought doesn't seem a dud after all ;-)

Most DVDs I've bought are Concerts (as I havn't already seen them and know the ending!) and I have been underwhelmed by the sound for years despite having a mega-money DVD player. Bought recent Rush BluRay and lip sync is out terribly and BluRay Foo Fighters pretty good. But this disc which I hired from LoveFilm on a recommendation somewhere or other is different class. Jazz Rocky, not my particular cup of tea, but after a few minutes listening I was engrossed, suddenly surround-sound heaven and the Oppo83 producing the best Video/sound I've achieved in 25 years of upgrading. (It betters the Flaming Lips DVD-Audio which I had previously thought showed what surround-sound/Oppo could achieve). If you get the chance, take a listen, beware the bass on a few tracks moving objects round the room!

PS - I chose Snow Patrol over Keane at V festival as closing act. Would have caught them if prats Oasis hadn't pulled out at last minute.

Sounds impressive. Must say that with some sadness I have to keep the sub turned down as it upsets the neighbours below. One day, I dream of a house in the countryside with plenty of space and a 20 x 30 ft cinema room to really enjoy myself in. And maybe a paddock or two outside. Can't live in front a screen forever

 

[pete321]

I managed to re-aquire Fleetwood Mac's Rumours on DVD-Audio albeit that at just under £50 it was more expensive this time around and it was secondhand! Considering the age of the original recording I think this is a must have disc for your Oppo if you don't mind Fleetwood Mac. I also got Bowie's Ziggy Stardust SACD last week, the 5.1 mixes have been done really well.

 

[Davo2008]

Hi Andrew. Thanks for your blog onthe Oppo. Now that you've had some time to have a play on it, in your opinion, what's "better", the Oppo or the Denon 2500BT? I've heard the Oppo is the same with blu Ray, better at upscaling DVDs but maybe a shade not as good in the sound department. By sound, I'm generally referring to movie soundtracks. Would you agree with that? Thanks!

 

[Andrew Everard]

For my needs, the Oppo.

 

[Davo2008]

Thanks, but would you agree with the comments about DVDs and sound? i.e Oppo's sound lacks a bit but has superlative upscaling abilities? DVDs are very important to me, but so is sound and the Denon pumps out a wall of sound fantastically! I wouldn't like to think that by purchasing the Oppo, I'd lose out on sound, even fractionally.... What do you think?

 

[Anonymous]

Davo2008:Thanks, but would you agree with the comments about DVDs and sound? i.e Oppo's sound lacks a bit but has superlative upscaling abilities? DVDs are very important to me, but so is sound and the Denon pumps out a wall of sound fantastically! I wouldn't like to think that by purchasing the Oppo, I'd lose out on sound, even fractionally.... What do you think?

Davo, if you get the chance, try one out. Compare it to the 2500, the 3800 and the A1UD. If you plan to connect via HDMI, then how exactly do you expect they would manage to sound "different". They're pulling digital data off a disc and transmitting it digitally to an amp to process. Do it "correctly" and the answer cannot vary. This is the theory and in practise this has held true for me.

I therefore suggest that you're asking the wrong question. You'd be better off asking whether you thing your amp and speakers will do the best job for you with the signal they're fed. That's the upgrade path now, not the player.

 

[skr1]

the_lhc:Will Harris:the_lhc:skr1:the_lhc:Will Harris:From standby, my Oppo takes just under 3 seconds to extend it's disc drawer once the button's been pressed on the remote. Not bad wouldn't you say?
Yes but how long does it take from loading the disc to actually playing the film?

Its Quick! Faster than a speeding play- station

For the non-PS3 owner among us, what's that in numbers?

Seriously, it's quicker than any other player I've tested and it responds quickly to remote control too. Virtually no delay and fast at chapter skipping. <snip> BluRay loading time is the quickest I've tried.

<whimper> Numbers? Even roughly, I've never had a blu-ray player, so I have nothing to compare to.

Some where can not / not sure where ? A thread reports on a number of Blu-ray devices and speed is recorded including the Oppo sorry I know its not much help. But someone will know and may point you in the right direction .

 

[Big Aura]

skr1:
Some where can not / not sure where ? A thread reports on a number of Blu-ray devices and speed is recorded including the Oppo sorry I know its not much help. But someone will know and may point you in the right direction .

That begins as a rather promising haiku, but then trundles off in an entirely different direction.

 

[skr1]

Big Aura:
skr1:
Some where can not / not sure where ? A thread reports on a number of Blu-ray devices and speed is recorded including the Oppo sorry I know its not much help. But someone will know and may point you in the right direction .

That begins as a rather promising haiku, but then trundles off in an entirely different direction.

Yes Teacher and the Master is this way_______________OPPO we are not worthy.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Will Harris:Davo2008:Thanks, but would you agree with the comments about DVDs and sound? i.e Oppo's sound lacks a bit but has superlative upscaling abilities? DVDs are very important to me, but so is sound and the Denon pumps out a wall of sound fantastically! I wouldn't like to think that by purchasing the Oppo, I'd lose out on sound, even fractionally.... What do you think?

Davo, if you get the chance, try one out. Compare it to the 2500, the 3800 and the A1UD. If you plan to connect via HDMI, then how exactly do you expect they would manage to sound "different". They're pulling digital data off a disc and transmitting it digitally to an amp to process. Do it "correctly" and the answer cannot vary. This is the theory and in practise this has held true for me.

I therefore suggest that you're asking the wrong question. You'd be better off asking whether you thing your amp and speakers will do the best job for you with the signal they're fed. That's the upgrade path now, not the player.

I see where your coming from Will, and im certainly not starting an argument on it

But in my own personal experience ive had 2 pioneer dvd players and my ps3 connected digitally to the same amp. The original Pioneer dvd player wasnt HALF as good as the new Pioneer (LX50). And the PS3 wasnt as good as the LX50 until I fitted my braided mains cable to it

So in that respect id say that 'jitter' certainly makes a difference

Maybe there is a point whereby it cant get any better (In fact im sure there is), but certainly ive personally heard differences using diferent digital 'sources'